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Inspiration – Qing Dynasty Clothing

The most featured characteristic of clothing in Qing dynasty is the detailed and exquisite embroidery. The complexity of the pattern is also the symbol representing the nobility of the highness: the more complex pattern a clothing has, the nobler the owner is.

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I really like the clothing in a Chinese TV series, and I chose three styles.

Idea – Pencil Drawing & Digital Painting

Many of my previous works were also made this way: first drew by pencil, then scanned, and finally edited (painted) by computer. I think this process is very similar to “embroidery”: start with a draft and sew (paint) following the line, so I picked this title and I want to share more my work experience.

The reasons I draw by pencil and paint by computer are comfort and convenience. I feel more comfortable to use a pencil rather than a stylus. It is a torture to use stylus on the regular tablet because I have to look up and down constantly. Digital painting is cheaper and more convenient than traditional painting. I do not need to buy brushes and paints if I use computer. I can change mistakes very easily if I set up several layers in photoshop.

Technology & Humanity

I do not think technologies can replace humanity. That also means machine-made will not replace hand-crafted. For example, digital paintings can never replace oil or acrylic paintings. Technologies are just new choices for humans. People can wash by hands or machines; people can draw by pencils or surface pens — the two ways are not equivalent. It is fair to say that iPhone 8 has replaced iPhone 7 because they are both technologies, but it is weird when people say that iPhone has replaced socialization. Technology and humanity should not be equivalent, though it is funny that technology is also a creation by human.

We often hear the report that in the future, machines will replace human labor. Perhaps it is a signal showing the advance of the human society, but I wish not to use the word “replace.” I think this word undermines the dignity of humanity. Humanity and technology should grow together: machine cannot be an excuse that stops humans to work. I have watched a documentary AlphaGo, and I was inspired a lot. AlphaGo is an AI program that plays the board game Go. In the end, the best human player was defeated by it, but I was more shocked by the positive aspect that the human player became much better after playing with AlphaGo. This proves that the ultimate goal to use technology is to help humanity instead of replacing it.