AI — artificial intelligence — is all around us, like it or not. I know a lot of people who have very strong feelings against AI. For myself, I’m willing to accept that it’s part of our future, yet I recognize that there are problems with it.
The topic of “AI-generated art” is one I’ll address on the blog at some point. I’ve had fun playing around with it a bit, and I feel there’s a place in our world for it. But that is a topic for another time. Today the topic is a bit different, although still art-related.
Have you heard of Theobot? I came across ads for this AI “bot” through Facebook. It is a bot designed specifically to help artists describe — and improve — their artwork. If you’re not familiar with it, you can get more information here.
While I have no intention of subscribing and/or purchasing any license to use this bot — I haven’t even checked out the costs involved or how it’s set up — I was curious enough to try it out, using my recently completed graphite drawing of Flower Child. Oh, what a glowing review I got!
“This pencil drawing captures the essence of a cat, poised with a gentle and attentive demeanor. The use of shading effectively brings out the texture and softness of the cat’s fur, showcasing a strong understanding of pencil techniques. The eyes are particularly striking, with a keen depth that invites the viewer to connect with the cat’s inner world. This detail brings life to the piece and demonstrates your ability to focus on key features that define the subject’s character.
The composition, with its close-up perspective, creates an intimate encounter between the viewer and the cat. This choice strengthens the emotional impact of the artwork, allowing one to engage with the subject on a personal level. The subtle use of lines to define the contours of the cat further enhances the realism while maintaining a touch of abstraction that complements the sketch style.
For future works, consider experimenting with varying the pressure applied to the pencil to add even more contrast between the darker and lighter areas. This could enhance depth and bring out more dimensionality in the piece. Additionally, exploring different backgrounds or incorporating slight hints of the cat’s environment might add another layer of storytelling to the artwork.
Overall, this piece displays a wonderful grasp of form and depth, evoking both a sense of curiosity and affection. Keep exploring different techniques and perspectives to enrich your artistic journey. Remember, art is subjective, and each viewer may find a unique connection to your work.“
Of course I was delighted with such lavish praise! I was also quite willing to accept Theobot’s suggestions about adding greater contrast (definitely one of my weak areas), and of course, a comment about the missing background. These suggestions I’ll definitely take to heart.
The work doesn’t deserve such accolades. I don’t believe it truly shows a “wonderful grasp of form and depth”, but maybe in some way it does evoke both curiosity and affection. Still, reading such encouraging words — even from a bot — made me smile.
I know, of course, that I could upload even the worst of my drawings and Theobot would still find something to compliment me on, some kind words to convince me that I’m a great artist, as well as one who needs the services of a bot. Well, Theo — named perhaps after Van Gogh’s brother — you’re too nice, and while it’s fun to read your assessment of my drawing, I’m not in the market for a personal art bot right now.
Artistcoveries 
I love your common sense about the wild world of Art. EVERYONE likes to hear praise for their work, whether they’re just beginning or a seasoned veteran. But I, too, have a reservation about AI. It’s enhancement from an outside source — especially artwork. AI allows us to create what’s in our mind, even if we have less-than-perfect form. It makes thing look real and possible. I know I can’t draw people or animals, but AI could help me. But I DO believe in encouragement. Keep it going!
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I’ll admit it’s a fun little “bot” — like you say, everyone likes to hear praise — but we need to remind ourselves not to take it too seriously. I do think it could be helpful for pointing out areas of improvement. But, of course, I’m not going to pay for a program to “critique” my art 🙂
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Lovely! I think this is a great use of AI. I’ve used it to give me feedback on my poetry–and it definitely helps with inspiration and motivation! I also like to see how the meanings get across!
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I’ve heard some very harsh criticism against AI, but I see it as another useful tool in many areas. Yes, there are concerns about “stealing” work from others, and maybe there are legitimate problems there. I’m really not sure how AI works, especially in art or literature. I know it’s usually fairly obvious when someone uses artificial intelligence to write an article, and maybe the problem is that it should be a TOOL to “assist” and not a means of producing finished work. Another problem here, IMO, is that AI bots are programmed to be highly supportive – which sounds good — but … well, in a way, that doesn’t sit right with me. If I produce a crappy piece of work, I don’t want anyone (real or AI) gushing over it and telling me how great it is. As long as there IS useful feedback and suggestions for improvement when needed, the idea is a bit more useful, I think. For me, it’s something fun to play with.
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Very creative use of applying AI to your art. However, as much as we enjoy praise as humans, I’m wary of how much AI will end up validating us. The more we use it, the more it gives us exactly what we want to hear, which makes us dependent on it as a product or service. It’s like a cycle of constant validation that might make us rely on it too much instead of trusting ourselves or other people. In the end, we could lose the real growth and satisfaction that comes from doing things on our own.
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I definitely agree. To me, AI can be helpful when usedin the right way. If I approached an “art bot” like this and said “Point out my biggest weakness” — that would be helpful. As far as I’m concerned, praise from an AI bot is meaningless. It’s just following its programming and being kind and supportive. I don’t need that from an AI bot, although, yes, sure, it feels good to read praise. But all in all, I’d rather have a bot tell me where and how to improve!
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Very creative use of applying AI to your art. However, as much as we enjoy praise as humans, I’m a little worried about how much AI will end up validating us. The more we use it, the more it gives us exactly what we want to hear, keeping us dependent. It’s like a cycle of constant validation that might make us rely on it too much instead of trusting ourselves and other people. In the end, we could lose the real growth and satisfaction that comes from doing things on our own. how many words is this
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Not sure what happened with the duplicate comment post… ???
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