If you’ve been on social media recently, chances are you’ve come across a piece of AI art – even if you didn’t know it.
AI art programmes like DALL-E 2 and Midjourney have seen a surge in popularity as of late, but how do they work?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about AI art, the programmes people are using and why some artists are voicing their concerns…
What is AI art?
The term “AI art” essentially refers to any piece of art that has been created using artificial intelligence, or AI.
There are many different ways to make AI art, but one common method is to use a programme that leverages generative adversarial networks (GANs) to produce an image.
GANs consist of two models that have been simultaneously trained using large datasets, often including work by famous historical and contemporary artists. The first model (the generative model) works to generate an image, while the second (the discriminative model) estimates the likelihood that the generated image came from the training dataset.
The generated image moves back and forth between the two models until the discriminative model can no longer differentiate it from the training dataset.
Other popular image generators, such as DALL-E 2, are trained to understand the relationship between images and text descriptions. They then use a process called diffusion to generate an image based on a written prompt.
It begins as a pattern of random dots and gradually alters, morphing into an image as the network recognises specific aspects of the prompt.
This has resulted in some strange, uncanny and downright scary results, as you can see in these posts from the Twitter account @weirddalle.
What are people using to make AI art?
DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion and Midjourney are some of the most popular programmes for generating art.
Android and iOS app Lensa had its viral moment recently, with many users sharing their own “magic avatars” on social media, while Google’s Deep Dream began as a way to help scientists and engineers see images through a deep neural network’s eyes and later saw a new application as an abstract AI art generator.
Will AI art replace artists?
AI art has caused a stir in recent years, with many artists voicing concerns that they could lose jobs to AI image generators as these programmes become more and more advanced.
In August 2022, Jason Allen took home a ribbon in a competition for emerging digital artists at the Colorado State Fair with Théâtre D’opéra Spatial, a work he created in Midjourney. The news received backlash, as artists accused Allen of cheating by using the programme to generate the image.
There are also concerns over intellectual property being stolen, with countless different artists’ work being used to train AI art models. Many of these programmes actually let users enter an artist’s name within their prompt, allowing for direct replication of a specific artist’s style without their permission or knowledge.
Copyright laws haven’t kept up with these developments in the industry, so there are no laws in place to protect artists.
Supporters of AI art have argued that these programmes will allow artists to work faster and spark new inspiration, specifically when it comes to outlining ideas in the early stages of a work.
However, many fear that the rise of AI art will result in companies skipping out on hiring artists altogether to save money – especially as these programmes become more refined and accessible.
LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.
More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.
The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.
They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.
“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”
It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.
Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”
Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.
“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
