Art is a reflection of the times, constantly evolving alongside modern technology. Today, we find ourselves in the middle of yet another major transformation with the rise of digital art, which uses technology to give artists more tools and opportunities to take their artwork to the next level.

Over the past few decades, the popularity of digital art has skyrocketed due to the advancement of technology and the increasing popularity of social media. This growth has allowed artists including cheriise.art and haranikala to promote digital art by creating posts on apps like TikTok and Instagram. Furthermore, digital art has become a popular medium for artists thanks to its portability. Unlike traditional art, such as painting, which requires numerous supplies, including paint, paint brushes, a water cup, and a pencil, digital art only uses two instruments: a device and a stylus. Digital art softwares also offer customizable settings that allow users to easily adjust their brush size, brush type, opacity, and canvas size with just the tap of a button.

While digital art is gradually changing the creative world with its flexibility, traditional art remains a vital pillar to the foundations of art. Traditional art forms, such as sculpture, print-making, and painting embody techniques and a historical significance that will last throughout human history. Art movements such as the Renaissance, Impressionism, and Cubism are all tied to centuries of culture and societal reform. Traditional artworks from different artistic movements remain a way for people to admire, study, and understand the past.

Digital art and traditional art, just like how one might compare handwritten letters to emails, are two unique ways to express oneselves — neither can replace the other. Both may communicate the same message, but the experience and creation processes for each are vastly different. While traditional art may hold the weight of art history and craftsmanship, digital art has opened artistic creation to new realms once thought unimaginable. The efficiency and mobility of digital art is often disregarded with a lack of time, effort, and heart. But in reality, digital art is just a different form of creative expression.

Art is never a competition between different styles and media. Every new art form draws inspiration from previous styles, such as how digital brushstrokes are made to mimic traditional paint brushes, and how the emphasis in contrast and shadow in digital photography art is a model of traditional still lives. Despite the rapid growth of new art styles and movements, art cannot be replaced, only transformed.