Surfing Life While Being Analog: Art, Technology, and Creative Resistance
What does a 57-year-old analog artist do when the art world goes digital?
I am an artist.
My hands know the smell of acrylic paint, the touch of feathers and other treasures found in Beirut, the weight of a traditional brush, the sounds that surround my studio.
I am 57 years old — yes, I am analog to the core.
But artistic life sometimes asks us to dance on digital grounds we didn’t choose. And when the floor of contemporary art trembles — as it has here in Beirut, under the weight of this humanitarian crisis that devours even “pão duro” (stale bread) — an artist cannot wait. We must fly.
From Traditional Art to Digital Art: A Journey of Transformation
And so — with my heart rooted between Brazil (where I was born and raised), Japanese wabi-sabi (where I inherited the art of imperfection), and Lebanon (where life tests me with every heartbeat) — I decided to sell my art online in Brazil, reinventing myself in Beirut.
But how does an analog artist in a digital world make digital art while being analog at heart?
The Technical Challenge of the Analog Artist in a Digital World
The answer came in the form of technical trials: error messages that made no sense, passwords I couldn’t remember, websites that crashed at 3 AM, links that led nowhere… Terms that sound like spells to someone who paints with traditional acrylics — not with code.
I felt lost. Out of place. Like a fish asked to climb a tree.
And yet — I did not abandon art.
Because in those days of trial and error, I learned something beautiful:
“We don’t need to master technology to use it.
We only need the courage to ask for help, to try again, and to believe we deserve to be here — in the digital world.”
Resilience in Art: Learning from an Analog Life
After weeks of frustration, something shifted. And then, like a daily miracle, it worked.
My online store began to breathe again — because, for those who don’t know, Lebanon (the Middle of the World) is facing an unprecedented crisis, worsening year after year.
That’s why my art products are print-on-demand, fulfilled by Printful, with fast shipping worldwide — and at more accessible prices than my original pieces, still sold here in Beirut.
The Beirut Birds — these imaginary birds born from the ashes of the port explosion — now have wings ready to adorn the walls of those who understand their message:
- 🌱 Hope.
- 🕊️ Creative resistance.
- 🌀 Cultural hybridity.
To understand more about the Birds of Beirut series, read the full story here.
Analog Art vs. Digital Art: You Don’t Have to Choose
And if you, like me, feel “too analog” for this digital world — don’t fear digital transformation.
Life now offers us technological helping hands — sometimes as a WordPress plugin, sometimes as an AI that appears on the screen and says: “Try again. I’m here.”
Surfing artistic life isn’t about being digitally perfect. It’s about not giving up when the sea of technology is rough — and trusting that, even with hands stained by brush and paint, you can still build something beautiful online.
The Analog Artist in a Digital World: A New Chapter
Being an analog artist in a digital world doesn’t mean losing your essence. It means expanding your reach without losing your soul.
My studio still smells like paint. My hands still touch feathers and real materials. But now, my art also travels through pixels, reaching people I never imagined — from São Paulo to Tokyo, from Beirut to Moscow.
And that, my friends, is the beauty of creative resistance: adapting without surrendering.
About the Author
Visual artist based in Beirut, I work with experimental painting techniques and wabi-sabi, finding ways to bring analog art into the digital world. My “Birds of Beirut” series was born as an artistic response to the humanitarian crisis and celebrates resilience through art.
“This image doesn’t show a replacement.
It shows a handshake.
Where the machine offers the structure —
and I offer the soul.”
To understand more about the wabi-sabi philosophy that influences my work, explore this guide on Japanese aesthetics.
Explore my full collection of art prints in my online store and discover how traditional art can find new life in the digital world.
If you’re interested in my artistic journey, read about my cultural identity here or discover the Godivas series.
If you’re an analog artist ready to take your first steps online, read my guide on selling art as an analog artist — or just start. One brushstroke at a time.
For every analog artist out there — you belong here too.
And if you just need someone to say “you can do this” — consider this your sign. 🤍
