Roland dev

Oct 24, 20237 min read

AI: The Great Art Revolution - Everyone Can Now Be an Artist

Updated: Aug 15

An evocative art studio scene, designed to look chaotically creative with canvases and art supplies scattered around, some ablaze with small fires. A dramatic, large-scale painting dominates the background, depicting an apocalyptic landscape with fiery skies and crumbling structures. The setting conveys a sense of destruction being transformed into creation, a metaphor for the disruptive power of AI in the art world. The studio's classical architecture, including arched doorways and balustrades, adds to the atmosphere of old meeting new — Virtual Artist Studio Space in Paris - Making Art with Artificial Intelligence

Can everyone be an artist with AI? Welcome to ShootLab's latest exploration into the world of AI and art. In this groundbreaking post, we unveil how how AI is revolutionising the art world, making it possible for everyone to be an artist. Dive into our insights on AI tools for creating digital art, offering tools for both novices and professionals to express their artistic vision like never before. From generating stunning digital paintings to reshaping the boundaries of traditional art, discover how AI is opening new doors for artistic expression for all.

Shootlab as Content creators have always admired great works of art but sadly lack traditional artistic skills, so we were amazed when we first discovered AI generative Art. With just a few clicks and prompts, we were creating digital paintings and art that looked incredibly professional. For the first time, we felt that technology had empowered us to unlock our inner artist. So is AI the 'Great Art Revolution' with AI can everyone now be an Artist?

A serene and somewhat surreal garden blooms within the ruins of an old building, where nature has reclaimed the space. Overgrown columns and ivy stand as witnesses to the merging of architecture and wild flora. The central feature is a lush bed of wildflowers and foliage against a cracked concrete wall, with the garden's reflection in a still pond at its base, creating a perfect mirror image. This image encapsulates the theme of rebirth and the intersection of technology and organic growth, symbolizing how AI is enabling a new era where art flourishes in unexpected places — ART Installation in an Ancient Villa Gardens in the South of France - AI generative art

Making Art with Artificial Intelligence

Our experience experimenting with Midjourney showed us that AI (artificial intelligence) has the potential to revolutionise art, to make it more inclusive and accessible. With the right tools, anyone can now explore their creativity and engage with art in exciting new ways of creating. You no longer need formal training or artistic skills to be an artist. In this post, we will discuss how AI is democratising creativity with AI art and allowing more people to embrace their artistic side. The implications are far-reaching, both for aspiring casual creators as well as the art world establishment

Historical Context of Artists and Art Creation

Throughout history, the label of "artist" was reserved for those with specialised talents and extensive training. The art world tended to be exclusive, catering to elite patrons and galleries. Without access to prestigious institutions and instruction, everyday creativity was discouraged. But technologies like photography first opened the doors to art democratisation. With a camera, suddenly anyone could capture artistic images. Now, AI systems are vastly expanding creative opportunities.

An industrial warehouse transformed into an explosion of artistic expression with vibrant, multicolored wool-like materials cascading down the walls and spilling onto the floor. Sunlight streams through the skylight, illuminating the space and highlighting the riot of colors. This captivating scene blurs the lines between art installation and workspace, embodying the spirit of innovation and the transformative impact of AI in the art world — Art Installation Berlin Warehouse in Auguststrasse 2022 - Democratising art with AI

What Defines an Artist?

“Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso.

An artist is commonly understood as someone who creates visual art like paintings, drawings, sculptures, or installations. However, the term "artist" can apply more broadly to creative individuals working in varied mediums from music to writing. Fundamentally, an artist is distinguished by their imagination, creative vision, and ability to translate concepts and emotions into an artistic medium. Artists are lifelong learners, constantly developing their technical skills and evolving their artistic voice. Their work conveys unique perspectives and ignites thought and feeling in the viewer or audience. An artist sees the world differently, noticing beauty, irony, and meaning that others may overlook. They have strong aesthetic sensibilities and intuition. While art can serve decorative purposes, great art expresses timeless ideals and universal truths. Artists contribute tremendous value to society by enhancing our understanding and appreciation of the human experience. Their identity as artists stems not just from what they create, but from how they see and engage with the world on a deeper creative level.

Marcel Duchamp challenged conventional notions of art with his readymades, ordinary manufactured objects like a urinal that he designated as art. This shifted focus away from material craft to the artist's creative conceptualisation in defining a work as art. Duchamp's radical gestures opened the doors for found objects, conceptual art, performance art, and many other nontraditional forms of creative expression in the 20th century and beyond.

“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse.

Dynamic image capturing a vibrant splash of various colored paints in mid-air, creating a lively and energetic explosion of red, yellow, blue, and purple against a dark background. The energetic motion of the paint droplets conveys a sense of creativity unleashed, symbolizing the boundless possibilities brought forth by AI in the realm of art and self-expression — Explosive Pop Art - AI Generated Art using Midjourney the software generates images from natural language descriptions

Mechanisation of Art by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst

Taking this a stage further several highly influential contemporary artists like Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst are known for pioneering conceptual approaches to art while also embracing industrial modes of production. They devise initial ideas and provide direction, but do not physically create most of the artworks bearing their names. Warhol mass-produced screen prints relying on assistants in his New York studio known as The Factory. It is estimated that Warhol made over 60,000 silkscreen paintings and prints throughout his career with the help of his assistants.

“An artist is someone who produces things that people don't need to have but that he – for some reason – thinks it would be a good idea to give them.”– Andy Warhol.

Jeff Koons designs sculptures that are fabricated by teams of specialised artisans. Hirst employs over 100 assistants in the UK to paint dots or polish pills in his studio factories. This detachment from hands-on artistic labour allows them to churn out prolific bodies of work, raising questions about authenticity.

"I try to educate people about materialism through my work"– Jeff Koons

Their collaborative creative processes demonstrate how some artists now function more as directors overseeing manufacturing than as sole creators. By outsourcing physical production, these artists align artistic creation with industrial models of efficiency. Their use of assistants and mechanised approaches provides commentary on consumerism and the commercialisation of art in contemporary society. They embody how the role of the artist is evolving thanks to new technologies for replication and mass production.

A striking scene set in an expansive, rustic warehouse where a mountain of colorful fabric engulfs a classic Jeep. Textiles in a multitude of hues cascade from the ceiling to the floor, creating a visually rich landscape that blankets the entire space. Natural light streams in through the skylight, highlighting the textures and colors of the fabric. This image juxtaposes industrial decay with artistic abundance, illustrating the transformative power of art in any environment, a metaphor for the innovative disruption of AI in the creative industry — Art Installation Shoreditch London Warehouse 2023 - AI Generative Art

The Emergence of AI in Art

Leading generative AI tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion enable users to create original AI artworks by simply providing text prompts. This removes almost all technical barriers to art creation. Some projects like Obvious' Portrait of Edmond Belamy, created with GAN AI, have even sold for over $400,000 at auction. The rise of AI art makes it clear that potentially anyone who can learn the software, input text prompts and work with computers can now exhibit their own creative capabilities. After creating the artwork, you can then secure it on the blockchain by utilising non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

A vivid and densely populated mural depicts a crowd of stylized human figures in a variety of bold colors and patterns, with a prominent blue figure with black polka dots standing in the foreground. Each figure has a unique pose and expression, contributing to the overall tapestry of interconnectedness and diversity. This piece captures the essence of communal diversity, highlighting the role of AI in democratizing art creation and celebrating a multitude of voices and style — Pop Art Image New York 1980's Scene - created using Mindjourney, a generative artificial intelligence program

Accessibility of AI Art Creation

Generative AI removes almost all technical barriers to art creation. With free and paid options available, anyone with access to a computer can explore art generation. Without needing drawing or painting skills, individuals can guide AI's to reflect their creative visions.

I've seen many friends with no background in art creating fascinating digital images using Midjourney and embracing their inner artists. The threshold for casual art participation is lower than ever.

A person stands in awe within an immersive art installation featuring undulating, organic shapes in shades of pink and purple that envelop the room. The surreal environment resembles a fantastical cave or a coral reef, with the walls and floor blending into a continuous flow of sculptural forms. This striking scene represents the merging of art and technology, where AI enables the creation of otherworldly experiences that transport viewers to entirely new dimensions of creativity — Immersive art experience - Image created using midjourney, a well-crafted text prompt can help make unique and exciting images.

Democratising Creativity with AI Art

Accessibility of AI Art Creation, in the past, sources of creativity seemed limited to those born with innate talents. AI now provides an outlet for creative expression to those previously intimidated by art. Occupations and backgrounds that are stereotypically un-artistic suddenly have a new way to channel their creativity. Engineers, accountants, teachers, doctors - anyone can tap into AI generative art to unlock their creative potential, this will have a powerful effect of democratising art.

Challenges and Controversies in AI Art

Despite the possibilities enabled by AI art, it also poses some complex challenges. The fact that AI's are trained on pre-existing artwork raises copyright issues. Some argue that AI could disrupt creative professions and industries. These concerns warrant examination, but likely won't outweigh the profoundly positive impacts of AI in enabling more people to partake in artistic creation. AI art and more diverse creativity should always be embraced.

A dynamic and ethereal floral arrangement seems to burst into life, with a vivid explosion of flowers in rich oranges, reds, and yellows set against a dreamlike background of blues and grays. The flowers are rendered with such detail and depth that they appear to be in motion, as if underwater or in a gentle breeze, showcasing a blend of natural beauty with a surreal, painted quality. This image exemplifies the fusion of traditional artistry with AI innovation, creating visuals that transcend the boundaries of conventional art formsackground — Infinity Flowers by shootlab using Midjourney AI

AI Tools for Professional Artists

While concerns persist about AI art replacing artists, professionals can also utilise generative art tools to augment their workflows. AI's excel at producing iterations and variations that would be tedious manual work for humans. Some companies like Anthropic are even developing AI assistants specifically for creative professionals. Rather than competing with artists, properly designed AI art stands to complement human creativity.

A person observes a wall filled with vibrant graffiti art in an urban exhibition space. The graffiti, in a range of reds and grays, features a mix of text and iconic imagery, including a large heart and cartoon characters. The scene, lit with dramatic lighting that casts moody shadows, captures the raw and expressive nature of street art, and reflects the transformative impact of AI, which enables artists to bring their unique visions to life in new and innovative ways — Street Art installation East London- AI Generative art created by shootlab

AI-Generated Art in Popular Culture

Mainstream culture is also beginning to embrace AI-generated art. Initiatives like Christie's selling AI-produced portraits and magazines featuring computer-generated cover designs illustrate growing acceptance. If everyday people associate AI creativity with popularised works, it helps dispel intimidation surrounding art. Art is being re-imagined as inclusive and participatory thanks to new technologies.

woman with blonde hair submerged in water dressed in white gown with arms out — Ethereal Emptiness - AI Generated Art by shootlab

Future of AI in Art

Looking ahead, generative AI seems poised to continue opening creative avenues. As systems improve, they will empower novices and experts alike to engage in art.

Democratised art may lead to entirely new movements and perspectives. More research will likely uncover ways to responsibly harness AI's creative capacity. The potential to unlock human imagination is astounding.

Conclusion

So is this the great Art Revolution where we can all be artists? As we wrap up our journey through the AI art revolution at Shootlab, it's evident that AI is not just a tool, but a partner in creativity, reshaping what it means to be an artist. This technology invites everyone to explore their creative potential, breaking down barriers that once limited artistic expression. We encourage you to embrace this exciting era where art and technology harmoniously blend, opening a world of endless possibilities. Join us in this artistic renaissance, where AI empowers each of us to become an artist. While some growing pains exist, here at Shootlab we believe AI will inspire creativity across all levels of society. In the future, 'I'm not an artist' won't be a valid excuse; AI will pave the way to a more creative world. Indeed, welcome to the great AI Art Revolution!