Lately, I've been trotting out my AI artwork to all sorts of places: slick commercial galleries, bustling open-air art fairs, and even cozy little coffee shops. It's been a wild ride and along the way, I've had some fantastic conversations with folks about what I do. Almost without fail, a few of the same questions pop up in these talks. The repetition got me thinking maybe it's time to get a blog post going to answer these common curiosities. But it's about more than just those frequently asked questions, you know. There have been a handful of questions, the kind that comes out of deep, meaningful chats, which have kind of stuck with me. They've echoed long after the conversations have ended, nudging me to ponder a bit more. These answers have been marinating in the sauce of introspection and are now ready to serve. I hope this [BB] Q and A blog will be satisfying.
1. What is your artistic process?
In creating my AI-driven works, I begin with my own digital photographs, edited and refined using Photoshop. This image then takes a deep dive into the realms of a generative AI platform, where it gets metamorphosed under the influence of text-based prompts. Going through several iterations, I guide the image to find a cohesive composition, after which Photoshop once again steps in to bring additional refinement. Post-digital manipulation, the image transitions from the virtual to the physical realm as it gets printed, and then I adorn the image with paint or gold leaf. Each of my creations carries an undeniable stamp of originality; they're unique, one-off pieces no prints or reproductions here. Every piece finds its genesis in an original photograph and receives the personal touch of my hands.
Photograph
AI Collaboration
2. Why, then, does your work still look like AI work?
For me, this is intentional and critical. I'm not looking to pretend that my medium is something it's not. This whole arena of AI gives us a unique chance to talk about how we've programmed technology, shaped its thought processes, and integrated it into our daily lives. Art is about telling our stories and sharing commentary on our culture. And in that spirit, I want my AI art to stay true to its medium–indeed, the medium is the message. I don't feel a need to mask the computer creation to make it seem more human-like. I want the AI elements to co-exist with my human elements to create a composition together. There's something about this generative AI that's wholly unique, carving its own niche in the vast art world, especially when fused with other human elements. So, why downplay this synthesized computer form?
3. Can you tell us more about the role of AI in shaping your creative vision? How does it inspire and influence your artistic decisions?
It's undoubtedly coaxed me out of my cozy comfort zone more than once. When I began this dance, I fancied myself the lead, steering our twirls around subject matter and theme. But wouldn’t you know it, the tables are often turned! That wily algorithm tends to churn out pieces that, by their very nature, cater to a broader audience than my usual whimsy.
My “traditional art” likes to frolic in the absurd. That's just me, delighting in the ludicrous. I adore colors that scream obnoxious, that are unapologetically tacky and deliciously kitschy. You’d look at my creations and say, "I adore it, but I wouldn’t dare hang it in my living room!" It’s an artistic aesthetic that flirts with the edge of counterculture, making my journey to success a bit more... meandering.
Yet, my collaboration with artificial intelligence seems to nudge my work closer to the mainstream, creating a curious tug-of-war between my vision and the algorithms. It’s an intriguing balancing act, to say the least! And my AI artwork has a style all its own.
4. How do you balance integrating AI technology into your art while still maintaining a personal touch and artistic signature? In what ways do you ensure that your artwork remains a reflection of your unique creative voice?
Considering my unique approach to the process, walking the tightrope as an AI artist is perhaps a tad easier for me. It's like this – as an artist, you usually start with a vision, an aesthetic appeal, and work your way backward from there, designing your process around achieving that final product that embodies your voice. But with AI art, I knew there would be a magnifying glass scrutinizing the authenticity of my work, examining whether it was indeed 'mine.’
This led me to delve into fundamental questions about art, ownership, and the essence of copyright. I built my process, fully aware of the incoming wave of skepticism and criticism that would accuse me of 'stealing' or question the validity of my work. The core of my process lies in my own award-winning photography, an unmistakable stamp of authenticity, as complete compositions themselves.
From here, I tested the boundaries of digital editing, transforming my photos into digital compositions. Then, by applying generative AI, I grappled with the question of when my artwork might stop being 'mine.’ I chose AI styles that resonated with me yet weren't identical to any living artist I knew. I loved the sketchy ink blot style, but to make it distinctively mine, I chose black and white over the typical colorful aesthetic, and I blurred the sharp, crisp details to set my work further apart.
I have always wrestled with the idea of endless copies versus original art. Rejecting the concept of numbered or limited editions, I pledged to create only originals. To further strengthen the human touch in my work, each piece features an analog element done by hand, often traditional gold leaf gilding like what you would see in religious iconography. Certain elements required paint, so I made my own using gold leaf scraps as a pigment.
My entire process is built in response to potential objections to AI art. I've crafted an artistic process around the challenges that my creation might be dismissed as not being art or not being my art.
5. How do you use the algorithm to create artwork in your style?
When I began using this medium, I knew that my "style" would be a different beast altogether. I decided to work in black-and-white compositions only. It is easy to hide a lousy composition by wrapping it up in bright, vibrant colors that distract the eye. Black and white images would allow the color palette and aesthetic to unify work that dealt with any themes the AI and I could dream. I always feed the algorithm a black-and-white image, so the AI is starting with that color palette.
Beyond the input image, I prefer to let the algorithm do its own thing as much as I can. Of course, generative AI requires a text-based prompt, but too much interference from me would make it too human. Instead, I want to showcase what humanity has shared with the internet about our culture and societies. Hence, I keep my prompts vague, abstract, sometimes just a single word, and sometimes as ambiguous as punctuation. I want the computer to offer something 'original' in collaboration with and response to the input image and with minimal human filtering. I don’t want it to be another human work of art. It’s more of a duet between man and machine.
Even on the other side of it, with Photoshop and the gold leaf gilding or gold paint, I’m always looking to balance my contribution to the piece so that I am not hijacking the work completely.
6. What do you say to people who say that artificial intelligence artwork doesn't require any skill and that it takes away from “real” digital artists, maybe that it isn't even real art?
When people downplay graffiti as lacking skill or being trash art because it is "street" art, they neglect to see the skill and talent exhibited by renowned artists who work in the medium masterfully. Any rube can buy a can of spray paint from Home Depot. Spray painting his mailbox doesn't make him a graffiti artist. Likewise, the assertion that AI art requires no skill disregards the reality that AI is simply a tool, one that requires vast human guidance and interaction to yield remarkable compositions. Those fully engaged in the art community can discern the distinct human touch in AI art, acknowledging it as a purposeful and considered choice. When you see a piece that is the result of simplistic prompt writing, poor input imagery, or a novice’s understanding of composition, the piece reflects that lack of skill. Viewing AI art as a detractor from the capabilities of digital artists seems more a critique of the intelligence of the general public than of the medium itself. The fact that AI art is sparking dialogues and helping people engage with human stories is indicative of its authenticity as art.
Yet there's another angle in the AI art conversation that is often overlooked - its democratizing effect. Generative AI is an incredibly disruptive technology. AI art has the potential to level the playing field between aspiring artists with raw talent and classically trained ones, which can be unnerving for the gatekeepers of the highbrow art world. The emergence of AI art challenges the traditional structure of art, offering a new, accessible platform for creativity. This disrupts our usual understanding of blue chip art but also expands our capacity for storytelling and understanding the human condition. To me, AI art is as much about democracy, equality, and inclusivity as it is about innovation. By enabling more people to share their stories and contribute to the collective narrative of humanity, AI art advances not only technology but also our societies and civilizations. Hence, I wholly embrace AI art - if it empowers even one more person to tell their story and connect with others, it's undoubtedly worth the progress and the controversy.
7. How do you answer the question that AI artwork is built off the backs of other artists, instead of being your own original creation?
You know, in this beautiful world of art, we artists are all standing on the shoulders of giants, in a manner of speaking. Be it wandering through galleries, soaking in the aura of museums, or even thumbing through social media feeds of fellow artists, it's an ever-evolving learning curve. There are countless moments when an intriguing reel on Instagram might pique my curiosity, and I'm off, trying something new. Not all experiments pan out, mind you, but that's part of the fun. Take my paint carvings, for instance. They're like love letters to Hannah Jensen. Her work is such an inspiration. I've sent her direct messages asking about her tools and techniques. There's a delightful camaraderie among us paint carvers, a tiny community of artists spread across the globe, and we're all unabashedly learning from Hannah and each other. That's just how the magic of art unfurls, doesn't it? It's all about trying, tinkering, experimenting, and, occasionally, spinning things off a bit. Like, I admire Hannah's carvings, but I have my own take on backgrounds. It's a dash of regional flair, a pinch of personal style. So, your question, while absolutely valid, is a bit like asking why a chef tweaks a recipe - it's all part of the creative stew. Over the span of my art career, even the span of my entire life, I will never be able to survey the number of artistic voices that AI can survey in seconds. AI gives me the ability to prompt machine learning to help me find an artistic aesthetic that I might not otherwise ever be able to run across in real life. That makes me a better artist, and that makes the artistic community stronger, not weaker. It’s a matter of perspective.
8. Despite anything anyone might say about inspiration, there's still a lot of controversy about artificial intelligence artwork. Do you think that AI artwork is stealing from another artist?
There's no denying that artificial intelligence art could, in the wrong hands, be used as a shortcut to mimic another artist's work. Those stories have already climbed out of the depths of the internet. But I think that is pretty far from how AI Art will end up impacting the art world. My own process, for example, is steeped in respect and care, beginning with my own original image, carefully tweaked both before and after its encounter with the AI generator. And of course, each piece bears the personal touch of my hands. While it's true that new tools, like AI, can open up avenues for misuse, I believe it's our responsibility as artists to champion ethical practices. We should weave a vibrant tapestry of creativity, where we can distinguish between responsible, original art and plain old copyright infringement.
9. Do you think the artist push back against AI work is valid? Do you feel they will ever see it as a tool that is useful, as opposed to being something that is putting them out of work?
It's quite simple, really - an honest man will always be honest. As for those who worry that AI will kick them off the artist's perch? Well, a lot of people were playing the blame game long before AI was even a pixel on the scene. Folks who find shelter in excuses will always find excuses. They'll unearth a reason for every unsold piece, for every stalled growth, for their social media lagging behind, for imperfect materials, for their lackluster final product, or why the jury is biased, and why they always miss out on awards. A negative outlook always finds a landing strip. Right now, it might be AI. But that's not the point - there's always going to be an excuse. Truly inspired creators will look at AI as a portal of possibility. They'll give it a go, and either shrug and say, "Tried it, but I'm a watercolor soul, it's not for me," or they'll jump in with both feet exclaiming, "This is revolutionary! I'm already dreaming of a whole psychedelic series this fall!" But those who indulge in excuse-making, well, they're always going to make excuses. Trust an honest man to stay honest, always.
10. Are you concerned about other people using AI to recreate the work that you've made, particularly because your work is on AI platforms?
In this wild, wonderful world of ours, it's a given that the moment your artwork finds a home on the Internet, it's opened up to a spectrum of possibilities, including the less welcome ones like scams, fakes, and rip-offs. But really, this dance with deception isn't a fresh number; scammers have been forging art for centuries, just swapping their old tools for the shiny new ones offered up by technology. I truly believe that the discerning eyes of the art world will continue to weed out the fakes, no matter the medium or method used. The birth of AI didn't herald the dawn of criminal intent; it's just another tool in the hands of the artist and the fraudster alike. So, no. I am no more concerned about this issue now than I was a few years ago. I do my bit to maintain the provenance and integrity of my work, and then, well, I move on. There are mountains more things to ponder in our world than the chance of someone attempting to copy my work.
11. Do you see this as an artistic tool or as a complete work of art?
Generative AI is a masterful tool, but it will never be a self-contained art form. It's like a painter's brush; it has potential but needs a hand to guide it. Sure, AI has room to grow, I mean, who doesn't, right? But here's the thing about art - it's all about human stories. A computer can help tell these stories, but it will never have its own human story to tell. So even when AI-created art seems almost free from human intervention, it remains a work of human art itself. The algorithm, the engineering, the mechanics - all these are strands of humanity woven into its creation. Trying to separate the human element from AI is like trying to separate water from the ocean. It's a conundrum, isn't it? Could AI ever make AI? It's already writing code, so who knows? But whatever happens, let's not forget that the first stitch in this complex tapestry was made by a human hand. In that sense, even the AI itself becomes a work of art, a testament to human creativity and ingenuity.
12. How do you see AI evolving in the art world in the future? Do you anticipate any significant changes or advancements?
Peering into the future of artificial intelligence in the art world is akin to gazing into a crystal ball - the trajectory remains elusive. It's challenging to predict where AI will stand in art five days from now, much less five months. At present, the evolution of AI hinges on how the artistic community engages with and responds to the work that AI crafts. We're witnessing incremental progress in AI training sets and subtle software enhancements. However, these strides are far from the massive leap we experienced a year ago when these platforms transitioned to open-source. Currently, we're in a phase of refinement rather than explosive growth. We are also seeing a lot of Capitalistic adaptations to AI. The age-old question of, “How do I make money with this?” That seems to be of greater significance at the moment than artistic enhancements. I am watching the growth of generative AI audio and video capabilities. That is fascinating to me. It is one thing to generate a static image. It is quite another thing to generate entire sequences of them and I am excited about these possibilities.
If you’ve read this far, I would love for you to take a closer look at this fascinating intersection of technology and art. Our engagement with AI and art allows us to forge new dialogues about the definition of art, authorship, and the boundaries of creativity. Whether you're an art connoisseur, a tech enthusiast, or a creator looking to tap into this burgeoning field, the journey promises to be as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. I welcome you to visit my website Alice Absolutely Studios. Browse through my collection, get to know the stories behind each piece, and perhaps, even acquire an AI artwork that speaks to you. My pieces, with their intricate dance between human touch and AI's influence, are sure to provoke thought and evoke emotion, capturing a slice of our collective story in an entirely novel medium. Thank you for being on this exciting journey into the realms of AI art together, pushing boundaries, asking questions, and creating beauty in the process.