New portraits by David Hockney of his family and friends are on show at Salts Mill.
But unlike the Bradford-born artist’s previous portraits these were not drawn in pencil, painted in oils or watercolours, photographed or videoed.
Instead, he made them on his computer in his Bridlington studio, where he has been based for the past five years.
Hockney, always a keen innovator since his student days at Bradford Art College and London’s Royal Academy of Art, used Adobe Photoshop and Graphics Tablet software to produce the images.
He said: “Photoshop is a computer tool for picture making. In effect it allows you to draw directly in a printing machine.
“One draws with the colours the printing machine has, and the printing machine is one anyone can have. They are now superior to any other kind of printing.
“I used to think the computer was too slow for a draughtsman. You finished a line and the computer was 15 seconds behind, an absurd position for someone drawing. But things have improved, and it now enables one to draw very freely and fast with colour.
“The speed allowed here with colour is something new; swapping brushes in the hand with oil or watercolour takes time.”
Among the images are Hockney’s sister Margaret, brother Paul and friends and studio helpers and assistant Jean Pierre de Goncalves de Lima.
Salts Mill is open from 10am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and until 6pm at weekends. Admission is free.
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