As an art major, I’m all for the free expression of emotions and ideas through both traditional and digital artistic mediums. We already recognize the creative potential of a pencil on paper or a brush on a canvas. Digital tablets — tablets that come with a pen that allows you to draw more naturally — have become the main tool for those wishing to pursue digital comics, illustration and vector art.
How do computer languages fit into these new tools? Are they compatible? Don’t computer languages require logical and mathematical skills while art engages expressive skills?
Failing to recognize the artistic and creative possibilities of programming is a common mistake. When we think of computer science, we often think of IT people in glasses or white-collared workers sitting in cubicles. Computer programming is far from the stale, logical subject that I originally thought it was. Like any other art tool, it requires time to master, but once the hard skills are acquired, the creative possibilities are endless.
You’ve all probably stumbled upon a website that shows a beautiful visual of data that would’ve looked banal if organized in a normal cell-by-cell chart. Or you’ve downloaded an app on your Android that lets you create amazing abstract patterns on the screen with a swish of your finger.
The powerful tool of computer programming helped create these websites and apps. Learning multiple programming languages opens up endless possibilities for creation, like websites that can convert handwriting into a font or apps that can check for when the cops are coming. Our current technology has given us the chance to express our creativity on a whole new level.
Yes, learning the hard skills of programming will require you to think logically and systematically. A high level of persistence and dedication is important if hard logic is not your forte. However, this is no different from learning the mechanics of applying oil paint onto a canvas or analyzing how the light affects shadows on a drawing. Once you understand the tool, the ability to create something with your newfound knowledge will be worth it.
Whether you’re a natural artist or more of an analytical person, give programming a chance. I’m your typical art student who loves to draw, but I’ve dabbled with JavaScript over the summer out of curiosity. I am by no means gifted at this new foreign subject, but I’m getting better every single day. And guess what? I actually enjoy it, and you may also.