Debate: Should digital art showcases include the full process or just the final piece?

I keep seeing people post finished pieces with no WIP shots or timelapses, and it bugs me (as someone who loves seeing how stuff is made). On the flip side, I get that not everyone wants to show their messy sketch stages. I run a small hardware store but do digital painting on the side, and I feel like sharing at least one progress image makes the final piece hit harder. What's your take - do you want the process or just the polished result?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessica92110d ago

Yo "it bugs me" really hit home cause honestly I used to be the opposite. I thought process shots were just flexing or gatekeeping art secrets, but seeing how a sketch turns into a finished piece actually made me appreciate the work more. Like one time I saw a painter rough out a whole landscape in 10 minutes then spend 3 hours tweaking tiny shadows, and that changed my mind completely. Now I get why people want that behind the scenes stuff, it makes the final piece feel more earned. I still don't share my own messy sketches though cause they look like trash half the time lol.

fiona_carr269d ago

Honestly that's where I landed too after seeing a timelapse of someone doing digital art. The ugly sketch phase is real and it makes the final thing look way more impressive knowing they started with a total mess. No shame in keeping those messy sketches hidden though, half my own digital doodles look like a toddler got hold of a tablet. It's actually kind of freeing knowing even pros have those rough stages.

nina_taylor9d ago

oh man @jessica921 you totally nailed it with the painter example. i had the same thing happen watching a friend do a portrait in procreate. the first sketch was just these messy blobs and I was like what is that even supposed to be. but then she kept layering and fixing and suddenly it was this super realistic face. i feel like seeing those ugly stages makes the whole thing less intimidating for beginners too. like yeah your first attempt might look like garbage but thats okay cause even the good stuff starts that way. i keep most of my sketches hidden too though haha.