We typically think of artists in the more traditional sense of visual arts, artists who draw, paint and sculpt. There are also photographers, writers and musicians, who all create their own unique forms of art. Along with endless possibilities, computers have opened the door for new breeds of artists such as graphic designers. Many artists, who were once unable to make a living doing what they loved are now able to. With the introduction of computers, all of these artists now have so many different options in regards to creating, modifying, and sharing their art with others. .
The creative process is often long. An artist might have several ideas in mind for a particular piece of work, but the artist using a canvas and brushes must decide upon one specific concept to create. On the contrary, the artist using their computer has the ability to try several concepts simultaneously by simply pressing a button to change colors, brushes or styles. Through the use of photo enhancing software such as Adobe Photoshop, artists have discovered entirely new ways of producing artwork. The convenience of change that software such as Photoshop provides gives speed and efficiency to the artist that was never dreamed possible two decades ago. However, endless possibilities do not always make things easier. Inanna McGraw, an artist from Portland Oregon is easily frustrated by the choices and decisions she must make. She says, "The computer didn't save me time because the computer opened up a zillion possibilities and I wanted to try them all. And I did!" (Meltzer, p 4).
Computers have even been turned in to actual art. Darel Eschbach, the executive director of telecommunication services for Arizona State University, held an exhibition entitled, "DNA: Digital Not Analog," in which he displayed art work made from discarded computer parts. He combined hard drives, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and other items to create an entirely new form of sculpture.