Teaching ‘Tradigital’ Thinking

Birthday triptych by Kim Lee Kho 2015 | Based on a photograph of a gift bow that I made myself from patterned paper, a detail from one of my acrylic paintings as well as hand-drawn (but digital) lines and some digital magic, I dedicate this to my friend Diana for her birthday.

I'm a little late posting this week's blog as I've only recently returned from teaching a course called Tradigital 2, part of the Digital Image Design certificate at Fleming College/Haliburton School of the Arts (what long names!).

The course is designed to help students develop a fluid relationship between work that is made digitally and in the real world, moving and borrowing back and forth between traditional materials and techniques and digital methods.

I love both the real and digital worlds of making, so the course (along with its precursor Tradigital 1 which I also taught) seems a perfect match for me. 

In addition to introducing students to some specific techniques and tools, I really focus on ways of thinking and working, in whatever medium. 

First of all, to create lots of elements from which to choose. 

Secondly, to think in layers, building them up and creating interesting, effective relationships between the layers, between the obscurings and the reveals. 

Then to work iteratively. Making work is a continuum really and along the way you want to capture certain things. Don't be shy to capture plenty of them if you've struck a rich vein of discovery.

And finally, not to get stuck thinking and working only in front of a computer. There are differences between the virtual and real worlds (despite incredible developments in the former) and how we think when we interact with each. 

Physically, mentally and creatively we are creatures made for change and variety. Working back and forth between our digital and physical studios keeps us healthy, fresh and balanced. 

Jostled | One of my demo pieces from the Tradigital 2 course. This one combines photos of my articulated dolls, painting, pattern, digital masks and custom brushes.

“Making work is a continuum really and along the way you want to capture certain things. Don't be shy to capture plenty of them if you've struck a rich vein of discovery.”

Another, simpler demo piece to show students some ways of creating digital collage "papers" from which to build collage pieces.