AI and Art: Where Do We Draw the Line?

Local artist Jamie Strickland  

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By Glenda Brown, President of Creative Connections Whitsunday  

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AI (Artificial Intelligence) seems to have found its way into almost every part of our lives, and the art world is no exception.  

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For artists, AI presents some interesting possibilities – it can help develop an idea, experiment with composition, change lighting, test colours or take a rough concept in a completely different direction. But it also raises some uncomfortable questions.  

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If an artist uses AI to help create an image and then paints that image, is it still entirely their work? How is that different from painting from a photograph? And at what point does AI stop being a tool and start doing too much of the creative process?  

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There doesn't appear to be a simple answer, and even among our own Creative Connections Whitsunday (CCW) artists, opinions and approaches vary considerably.  

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A tool for ideas, but not necessarily for making art  

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CCW Vice President and artist Linda Forrester uses AI for writing and as a tool to explore and develop creative ideas. She sees value in its ability to quickly test possibilities, suggest different approaches and help visualise ideas, while recognising that it can also make it easy to rely too heavily on generated imagery.  

Artist Jamie Stickland takes a slightly different view. He believes AI is inevitably going to become a large part of what we do, but there is something fundamental about creating art that he doesn't believe technology can replace.  

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For Jamie, some of the best parts of creating happen when things don't go according to plan.  

"I create better when I'm scared or uncertain of the final outcome," he says, describing the process of learning from mistakes and discovering new directions while working.  

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Perhaps that's an important distinction – making art isn't simply about producing the best possible image. Often it's the mistakes, changes of direction and decisions made along the way that make the finished work interesting.  

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So where should artists draw the line?  

Perhaps there isn't one line.  

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AI isn't going away, and artists will make their own decisions about whether to embrace it, avoid it, or find somewhere comfortable in between.  

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For now, perhaps the most important thing is that we keep talking about it, remain transparent about how it's being used, and make sure the artist doesn't disappear from the art.  

Get in touch

Creative Connections Whitsunday  
Glenda Brown  
President  
info@creativeconnectionwhitsunday.com  

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Creative Connections Whitsundays supports local artists through opportunities to connect, exhibit, learn, and thrive.  

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School Holiday Creative Fun Day

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Looking for something creative to do with the kids these school holidays?  

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Creative Connections Whitsunday is hosting a School Holiday Creative Fun Day, 10am-2pm Wednesday 30 September, at the CCW Community Gallery in Proserpine.  

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Children and families can enjoy a colourful, hands-on day of art, games, and creative activities in a relaxed and welcoming environment.  

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Activities will include kids’ canvas painting, face painting, colouring and activity tables, craft, giant Jenga and giant Yahtzee, along with creative sessions led by local artists.  

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When: 10am-2pm Wednesday 30 September  

Where: CCW Community Gallery, 192 Main Street, Proserpine

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