A New Canvas: AI & Art
As an artist, I'm always seeking new creative avenues to explore. In recent years, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology has opened up unprecedented possibilities in the realm of art. In early 2023 I began experimenting with generating images using various artificial intelligence platforms.
Having worked as a photographer for many years, I was amazed at the new scenes, vistas, and worlds that I created from my computer; from tropical beaches to snowcapped mountain tops – the possibilities seemed endless. I created an Instagram account to share my creations, through which Sally Lockey, from Right Up Our Street, contacted me about using image generation in a community setting.
Organised in conjunction with Right Up Our Street, and from suggestions from their community advisory group, we created The Album, with the aim of creating personalised art works with participants from DCC, aiming to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve in the artistic domain.
For this project, we turned to the innovative software Midjourney, which generates images from natural language prompts. The system takes your suggestions for scenes, sculptures and photographs, rendering photorealistic outputs. Through a series of in-person sessions, our participants delved into their lives and loves, to create portfolios of imagery that were unique to them.
We crafted image after image, experimenting with various themes, emulating artistic styles, and weaving in personal narratives.The results were nothing short of breathtaking. Over a series of weeks, based out of the DCC office, we created a series of AI-generated visuals from our collaborative prompts. From awesome architectural design to flamboyant fashions sheets, serene sculptures to underwater adventure; combining human creativity with machine intelligence.
But The Album was about more than just the final pieces. It was a living, evolving process – a journey of discovery that both inspired and humbled me. Working alongside Sammy, Mo, Mina, Ahmed and the dedicated members of the Doncaster Conversation Club, I was privileged to bear witness to their life stories, experiences, and cultural perspectives.
Each prompt, each brushstroke of artificially intelligent brilliance, carried deeper meaning and insight into the human condition. We didn't just create art; we forged connections, built bridges between cultures, and celebrated the potential of technology and humanity in unison. We reconvened in March at RUOS HQ, to share the portfolios of work with our wonderful group of artists. Over a delicious afternoon tea, we admired the incredible artworks, were serenaded by Mo, and shared our experiences of working together on this wonderful project. I'm tremendously grateful to have been part of this groundbreaking project.
The Album has opened my eyes to an entirely new artistic canvas, where the boundaries between human and machine grow increasingly blurred. It is an exciting frontier, but one that must be explored thoughtfully and collaboratively.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Beth, Sally, the Right Up Our Street team, Paul and Denise from DCC, and most importantly, to the wonderful participants who entrusted me with their stories and their friendship. The Album will forever be a milestone in my artistic journey – an expedition into the great unknown that has yielded profound discoveries about art, AI, and our shared human experience.