An avid fan of our online art gallery wondered last week about AI- generated artwork, which has been included in our collections.
I asked the creator, Ken Runkel, for his thoughts. He says:
“I do use AI as one of the ‘tools’ in my art creation process. I am also a digital photographer, and create many pieces of art that are strictly photography. Some may employ techniques such as ICM (Intentional Camera Movement), or have been edited in one or more Adobe applications before resulting in a final product.
“A large portion of work in my portfolio is a combination of processes, starting with a photograph that I shot that is then fed into an AI engine for interpretation. AI will then output multiple written descriptions of the photograph based on what it ‘sees,’ each slightly different from the next, and give me the option of having the computer generate multiple images for each interpretation I select.
“I do not hide the fact that I use AI. In fact, it is a prominent part of my ‘about me’ description on my portfolio website. as well as in my bios on all social media platforms that I use.
“I make no apologies for exploring and using this technology in my work. I recognize that it is considered the ‘black sheep’ of the art world for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it is largely misunderstood by the general public. Because of this, it is feared. Some believe that it strips away creativity and authenticity.
“But these very same concerns and fears have been faced countless times throughout the history of art. Photography is probably one of the more recent examples.
“Many people believed that photography could not be art because it was made by a machine rather than by human creativity. Many also saw it as a threat to ‘real art.’ Sound familiar?
“A second view was that photography could be useful to artists for reference but should not be considered as equal to drawing and painting. There are likely people who still believe this to be true.
“A third point of view felt that photography might eventually be as significant an art form as painting. This group, including hobbyists and tinkerers, avidly explored its potential.
“It seems likely, in fact, that photography was one of the major catalysts of the Modern Art movement: Its influence led to decades of vitality in the world of painting, as artists were both inspired by photographic images and pushed beyond realism, and rethought the very nature of art.
“Without photography, perhaps modern art would never have existed. Personally, I think AI will have a similar impact on the world of art.”
Now, on to this week’s gallery. Remember: No matter what your theme or medium — and whether you’re a first-timer or oldtimer: We welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
Including digital works!
Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.
Email it to 06880blog@gmail.com. Please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“Behind the Wall” — digital composite (Ken Runkel)
“Dining on Effervescent Light” (Mike Hibbard)
“The Conductor” (F. Faucher) — at Westport River Gallery
“Bryant Park, New York City” (E. Bruce Borner)
Untitled collage (Cohl Katz)
“Violet Explosion” (Amy Schneider)
Untitled — at Burying Hill Beach (Wendy Levy)
“Pruning Love” (Maj Kalfus)
“Ornate Police Station is part of UConn’s Avery Point Campus at the southeast shore of Connecticut.” Photographer Peter Barlow says: “This view introduced me to the the estate of Morton Plant, who owned many yachts over 100 feet. He is mostly unknown now, but he was quite decent as these people go and funded lots of good things. His huge mansion still exists there, but UConn put in their own new buildings. This was the original gatehouse for the Morton F. Plant estate.”
“The Painted Desert” (Steve Stein)
“What Was I Thinking?” (Lawrence Weisman)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
Loved Ken Runkel’s thoughts on the use of AI!!
It is just another form/category of ART!!
And like other forms of ART it requires a statement of what it is or how it was created! Same as for- watercolor, oil, photography, ceramics, oragami etc. We can now add what role AI played.
Thank you Steve! As you probably know, digital and AI are also used extensively in today’s music industry. But few people think twice about that, and fewer (if any) demand that the artist disclaim the use of these ‘tools’ in their creation or production process.
You might recall there was some controversy last fall regarding the Beatles use of AI in their new song “Now and Then”. Almost of the reaction was based on the misunderstanding of what was done, what wasn’t done and how multitrack recordings are made.
A little disinformation combined with a dollop of hysteria is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands.
I love Ken’s works. They are indeed works of art.
It’s always l a thrill to see one’s work posted in 06880.
I am firmly behind art for art’s sake no matter what the medium, including AI, is used.
The fact that Dan welcomes art for art’s sake will influence the future of art appreciation, removing the smugness of pretension.
I thought Ken’s submission was wonderful knowing that AI took part in its creation.
I very much enjoy Ken’s work as well as all the other artists’ entries… And I appreciate his and others’ attempts to cross new boundaries.
Just as AI has disrupted many other professions, art, illustration, design and the like will all be affected. And one of the protections human artists who make their living from art is copyright.
When I commented last week it was because I knew of Matthew Allen’s so far unsuccessful attempt to copyright his award winning work…
It sounds from Ken’s description of his process and my layman’s understanding of the legal issues involved that he may be able to copyright some aspects of his work… however like works photographed by animals or created by AI the US Copyright office needs to see the human as creator in order to issue copyright… https://www.wired.com/story/ai-art-copyright-matthew-allen/
I know very little about AI so far. The descriptions here are helpful. One question bothers me – the photographers of the various images appearing in an AI composition get no credit – is this OK? I would not like seeing my work used this way.
Peter, the only photographs I’m using are the ones I take. Any other images are either created by AI from text prompts or are in the public domain or available as stock photography.
Dear Dan,
As I opened today’s “On-Line Gallery”, I heaved a sigh, recalling a comment from last week’s edition that left me deeply troubled.
I look forward to the “Gallery” as a weekly feast for my eyes, with works by familiar or now familiar names from our community of artists. I never fail to marvel a the courage it takes to show one’s work and become vulnerable, by tacit agreement, to the judgement of an unpredictable public.
Immediately drawn to the work of Ken Runkel, I was delighted to meet him and his charming wife at an exhibition of his work, and to discover that we were neighbors. He was as candid about his “process” as he was about his status as a new artist. I may even have suggested that he submit an entry to the “06880” gallery.
Consequently, last week, the joy at seeing the inaugural display of Ken Runkel’s work, was quickly eclipsed by the inauguration of negative public comment on an “06880” gallery of offerings.
Thank you, Dan, new artist Ken Runkel, and to Werner Liepolt, who’s devoted his life to art, for engaging in a timely, and apparently necessary conversation about the evolution of art in our brave, new world world of electronics.
Is it so easy to forget that the works of Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Basquiat and Banksy were first the objects of critical scorn?
Westport’s welcoming of artists to our community, made us a creative mecca and earned us global recognition as a revered artists’ colony. If we are to continue to foster this legendary attribute, for generations of artists to come, we’ll need to keep our eyes, hearts, minds and arms wide open.
Gloria, albeit late in my response, I wanted to thank you for your comments on March 23. I am truly grateful for your support. I hope to see you soon at one of my showings (next one will be Early May at the Westport Women’s Club Art Sale)!
AI generated art can be referenced and shown… Here is a link to one of the guidelines. https://rmit.libguides.com/referencing_AI_tools/images#:~:text=However%2C%20it%20is%20essential%20that,and%20what%20prompt%20was%20used.
I enjoy looking at all the work here including yours and encourage both your exploration and its publication.
Just to clarify, I have devoted some time and effort to creating work for the stage, film, paper and canvas. However I have spent far more time helping young people express themselves through writing and art work. Developing a rigorous approach to authorship and accreditation is key to integrity.