CG vs. traditional media

I said from the start that I'd like to keep this blog anime free. But I like how my latest CG turned out and wanted to share. I couldn't decide which one I liked better, do let me know which one you prefer more. :)


0.5mm mechanical pencil, PaintTool SAI 1.01 & Photoshop CS2, 11x17 in. resolution

I was originally going to do this as a watercolour/gouache painting. I was figuring out the composition and colour scheme on Photoshop CS2 first, but I got way too carried away and finished colouring it in PaintTool SAI.

After finishing it as a CG, I wonder if I could've pulled it off as a watercolour painting. I had 10 layers, tweaked colours, rotated elements, saved 3 different versions at a time, and ctrl-z'd like a crazy person. But with a watercolour, once the colour's down, it's there for good (well, it's removable to some degree). I think this is why I'm always so impressed by people who work with traditional media - something like watercolour is so unforgiving (thank goodness for gouache). And there aren't nearly as many shortcuts e.g. using images from the web as patterns or textures or changing the entire colour scheme with a couple clicks. On the other hand, there's no material costs except for the initial investments in a computer and tablet.

Any thoughts on CGs vs. traditional artwork?