Technology is growing quicker than ever. And when it comes to art, the interwebs and technology are making art more and more accessible to everybody.
Here are some ways I’ve noticed that the modern age is making art easier to access:
Art museums ‘2.0’
Some larger institutes have taken to the internet to post virtual online tours of the galleries (for at least some paintings and sculptors). Big museums like the Louvre in Paris, especially, have opened up their exhibits to the web for those who may not be able to make a trip out to the City of Lights. Many art museums have also opted to create their own app with fully accessible exhibits where you can zoom in as close as you want to, say, a Jackson Pollock piece. It’ll be interesting to see if smaller galleries start partaking in these virtual tours.
Social media
From an art museum standpoint, social media has become a great way to build a relationship between art curators and visitors. Platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, for example, are places to post visually enticing consumable content to really engage viewers – which makes them great tools for artists to take advantage of to share their work through. Even for students and young artists, you can reach out to art professionals directly via Facebook and Twitter DMs. The conversation options on social media that you can now have are endless and have taken regular e-communication to new levels.
Art Editing & Creative Apps
In the always-on-the-go age we live in, having your laptop on you at all times armed Photoshop or a tablet or whatever editing software you use to create art isn’t always an option. But developers have made great strides in making these programs available at your fingertips – literally. The Adobe Creative Suite that most digital artists use has created some pretty easy to access professional apps that help you do your job on the go. And of course, there are several free options as well, like VSCO to edit your photographs.
Art Market
There’s a plethora of art websites out there that are created to be truly experiential, especially when it comes to the art market. Sites like Etsy that make it simple to sell art online allow prospective buyers to browse other pieces online before purchasing, as they would in a store. And Threadless Artist Shops make it easy to see (or show) various designs on different products, materials, and colors. There are also start-up businesses in development that allow a “try before you buy” option when it comes to art work (not terribly different from the Netflix or Warby Parker model) where you can rent the piece before throwing down the money.
What do you make of the internet and technology when it comes to art? Do you see more pros or disadvantage to this new accessbility for art? Leave your thoughts below!
Make YOUR work more accessible – open your very own Artist Shop!
