You can find or do literally everything on the Internet these days. Next weeks weather forecast, the score to last night’s game, what celebs are dating or breaking up, movie times, the latest local and national news, read a book and so much more it boggles my mind!

Feel like going shopping but don’t want to get your lazy butt off the couch? No problem! Just bring up your favorite store’s website and everything you want is just a click and credit card number away.

Have research for an important project to do but forgot to go to the library? Not an issue, again you can just do a web search for the info you need and bam its right there. So many books, articles, blogs etc. are accessible through the Internet that stepping foot in a library isn’t even necessary.

So what did we do before the Internet? People had to wait for the 9 o’clock news to come on to find out what was happening in their community, read newspapers, actually get in the car and drive places to go shopping and even pay their bills with a stamp and envelope and hope the post office got them there on time.

Don’t get me wrong, I have become just as spoiled by the Internet as the next person but I’ve become pretty dependent on it at the same time. Anything I could possibly want is a Google search and a click away. If I missed last night’s episode of my favorite show, I can just watch it on the net whenever I want. If I didn’t love the experience of actually going shopping so much I would constantly be buying crap on the Internet more than I already do, I even stay in touch with friends I haven’t scene in years based on Facebook and email.

Again I love how convenient it has made my life but I wonder just how much different my kid’s lives will be based on it’s rapid development and endless capabilities it has to offer. I wonder if the future of society will even need half the things we still use on occasion now such as books, magazines, stores you actually walk into to do your shopping and everything else the Internet has made even more convenient for us to access right on our computers.

Even more so I find myself wondering what on earth I would do if I lost access to the net. I have become so dependent on it for so many different aspects of my life. I pay my bills online, manage my bank account, research for work related topics and even catching up on tv shows, movies and the news. Anytime I have a question I just Google it to find the answers I am looking for.

So with all that in mind and with the ever so rapid development of technology I am excited to see how it will continue to advance in the world as we know it. The popularity of the Internet has proven how important it is for companies to build well balanced, easy to navigate websites that are able to make an impact on those that visit them.

A lot of older companies are still behind the curve and don’t even realize how often people are online searching for their services and products. At BrightBox we are able to create and provide our clients with impactful web presence that allows them to have a lasting impression based on site design and the ability to get their message across in a memorable way.

Its important to update your company website as technology does advance and Internet capabilities continue to grow.  BrightBox offers all the tools your company needs to make the most out of your online identity. Our team offers cutting-edge design and advanced web applications that will make sure users come back time and time again. 

The other day, I had a thought – What happened to all the celebrity artists?

For most of the last century, there were artists that were active and influential enough to be household names. They lived the lives of rock stars – fame, money, women – rubbing shoulders with movie stars and heads of state. Where are they now?

The thought was sparked by a video link a friend posted on Twitter. It was Andy Warhol painting Debbie Harry on a Commodore Amiga computer in 1985 (pretty freakin’ cool, in its own right). It was a public event, with an audience and media attending. Think about that. When was the last time an artist could pull national coverage without some sort of bodily fluid being involved? When was the last time the news mentioned a living artist you’d heard of? This was less than 25 years ago, and I can’t think of an artists since then that was a household name (For the record, the most recent artists that I can recall being a “household name” was Patrick Nagel, with his art-deco influenced minimalism. If there are others, feel free to correct me in the comments).

During his life, Picasso was world renowned. There’s a famous story about Picasso paying for a meal in a restaurant by doodling on a napkin. I’ve heard that he stopped cashing checks for less than $100 because his signature on the back of the returned check was more valuable. Now that’s celebrity.

Where are those artists now? There’s still plenty of talented, forward thinking, creative people out there. Picasso died in 1973. Warhol died in 1987. Dali died in 1989. What’s changed since then?

My guess? Computers. I think the digital age has drawn that talent pool away and replaced the paintbrush, charcoal, and chisel with Photoshop, Flash, and Lightwave. In reality, my definition of “Artist” is outdated. Somewhere along the way, I decided that if you dabbled in paint or pencil, you were an “Artist,” but if you did it on the computer you were a “Graphic Designer.” That’s pretty limited thinking. Kids are growing up inspired by what they see on the internet, not the museum. And really, that’s pretty exciting.

Technology and art are combining more and more frequently. Computers are allowing us to create artistic experiences that have never been possible before. Not only do we have a richer range of mediums available to more people, but we also get to explore interactivity. Gone are the days of standing idle, looking up at a framed picture. Now we see things online that react to us, giving us our own unique experience. Starting with the web browser, then Flash, and most recently with the iPhone, we’ve been given more and more creative ways of interacting with technology, and some very talented people are taking advantage of that.

There have been a lot of artistic movements in the past century – cubism, surrealism, art deco, abstract expressionism, pop art – and all have a long-reaching influence on design and art today. I feel like we’ve crossed into a new era. Artists are combining artistic expression and technology to create experiences that are unique to every viewer; and generated by the act of viewing them. Call it “Techspressionism.”

Here are some Web sites with examples of “Techspressionism”:

Levitated
Toxi
Yugop
StrangeFruits
Meditation Flowers

We’re in exciting times. It seems like every week I read about some new invention that makes me say “Wow, we’re in the future. These are the toys I dreamed about as a kid.” I’m curious to see how things progress as this next generation (the one that never knew a world without the internet) starts exerting more and more influence on art and design. Netscape Navigator was released in 1994, so that puts that generation at 15 years old and younger. Maybe in 10 years we’ll see that next celebrity artist emerge online.

Thoughts? Feel free to suggest your own examples of Techspressionism in the comments.