The Impact of Digital Technology on Traditional Painting Practices

Abstract

The incorporation of digital technology in traditional painting practices has brought great change in production of painting works, economy and culture.  In this research study, the researcher applied a mixed-methods experimental design combining quantitative surveys through questionnaires of 200 participants in the art sector and qualitative interviews with 25 participants in the art sector also experimental trials of similar evaluations of digital and conventional outputs.  The findings revealed that artists are embracing a greater use of hybrid forms and the results indicated that there are increases in the expended time, the cost of materials and the sources of income to be more digital in nature.  It was seen that participation in online was much more as compared to participation at physical exhibitions. This demonstrates that things can be seen much more on digital platforms.  The statistical analysis showed that there were high differences in frequencies of partnership and training path-ways, and the qualitative results highlighted themes of originality, affordability, and in innovative trial.  Experimental comparisons revealed that there was not much difference between creativity perception scores of traditional and digital outputs. This is contrary to the perception that digital is not good.  In its findings the digital technology is altering practices of people painting by the creation of new job prospects, the expanded networks of collaboration partnerships and modifications of the perceptions of innovation as people continue to preserve the ideological worth of the traditional practice.  This paper shows that the hybrid nature of painting will emerge as a result of the intersection of tactile and digital innovations in the future.