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Research Paper | Information Technology | Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 1128 - 1133 | India
Traditional Art versus Digital Art: A Comparative Study of Environmental and Economic Sustainability
Abstract: The rapid expansion of digital technology has transformed the way art is created, stored and distributed, raising an important question for the modern artist: which medium is truly more sustainable? This paper presents a comparative study of traditional art and digital art across two critical dimensions- environmental impact and economic cost. Traditional art is examined through its dependence on physical materials such as canvas, paper, paints and brushes, while digital art is analysed through its reliance on electronic devices, electricity, cloud infrastructure and emerging blockchain technologies. Using published data on energy consumption, carbon emissions, waste generation and material costs, the study quantifies and compares the life-cycle footprint of both mediums. The findings reveal that neither medium is wholly sustainable: traditional art exerts greater pressure on physical resources and generates visible chemical and plastic waste, whereas digital art shifts the burden toward electricity demand, e-waste and data-centre emissions. The paper proposes a practical decision framework that helps artists minimise both their ecological footprint and their long-term cost, and outlines directions for future innovation in sustainable art practice.
Keywords: traditional art, digital art, sustainability, environmental impact, carbon footprint, e-waste, economic cost, NFT, life-cycle analysis
How to Cite?: Guneet Kaur, Raghu Raja Mehra, "Traditional Art versus Digital Art: A Comparative Study of Environmental and Economic Sustainability", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1128-1133, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26620170735, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26620170735