COP3: *Reflection* What Am I Doing

Once again, like every year I've had with COP on illustration, I'm finding it difficult to condense down my research to gain a clearer focus of what I'm actually investigating. 

Ultimately my research has been focused on the concept of digital vs analogous methods of making pictures, how this effects contemporary illustrators, and if or not the development of creative software e.g photoshop/illustrator is beneficial to the growth of the industry or not. I feel that over time the role of the illustrator has changed due to technological developments, as 50 years ago, an illustrator was a craftsman with a pencil, who had to have a high level of craft. Nowadays, especially with an undo button (referring to digital creatives) they are doing something that anyone could do with enough experience? (this may be a completely offensive view which I'm not entirely sure I believe, however I feel it is a view that is shared - "digital art is not real art").

My personal view on the matter is that modern day creative software are becoming easier to use, encouraging more hobbyist creatives, making it more difficult to stand out as a practitioner. I'm not sure how I'd go about researching into this, questionnaires? 

I'm also struggling to find academic sources relating to this, as it's quite a modern topic. I really need to do more research into philosophers(?), looking at theories to do with nostalgia perhaps? why society craves artwork that is not on a screen. 

MY RESEARCH IS JUST FLAT LINING AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO NEXT

Maybe look into how technological advancements are changing the role of the illustrator? technology is changing therefore so must the illustrator. Having an online presence is now a key part to being a successful illustrator, as at the end of the day IT IS A JOB and that's what's needed to be successful? All illustrative work will be refined/photographed in a certain way to display in digital format, so can they really be craftsmen with their dependence on technology? 

This reminded me to go back to this article: The Death Of Freelance Illustration, Passion Projects & Why we quit our dream jobs. (http://chrisoatley.com/freelance-illustration/)

There are many points about how Trends are having a huge effect on freelance illustration:

"Scarcity Drives Value. Generalist freelance illustrators are ANYTHING but scarce. There’s nothing special about generic “freelance illustration” any more. Generic artists attract generic clients.Generic clients offer generic work. Generic work attracts more generic clients. This pattern will eventually attract bad clients (if it hasn’t already)." 

I think this is a really important issue that needs further exploration.