I’ve finally finished my David Bowie painting, and can say that it’s been the most enjoyable art-making process that I’ve ever embarked on.
What I learnt about before making this artwork:
- It is possible to make entire compositions using online AI image generators, and that there’s a surprising amount of manipulation and control that the artist can have regarding the outcome of AI’s finished product.
- AI still has a long way to go before it can replace artists – the machine is fairly ham-fisted in its discernment.
- I studied a fair amount of written and video content about the grisaille technique of the old Dutch masters.
What I learnt during the making:
- I feel that I know my oil paints and brush techniques better.
- I learnt how to mix skin tones (who knew Ultramarine Blue and Alizarin Crimson for skin tones?)
- I am currently drawn to bright colours and joyful compositions.
- I thoroughly enjoy portraiture, both with drawing and with painting.
- Slowly but surely I’m getting more comfortable with the medium of oil.
- With oil painting, whilst waiting for layers to dry, it’s best to have 2-3 paintings on the go so that I can flip between them when the others are wet.
What I learnt after completing the painting:
- I will not pursue AI as my main topic: there’s just enough enough there… and at the same time, there’s an overwhelming amount out there and so many artists are doing so many different things with AI, but I feel I’ve exhausted it as a main topic of enquiry.
- However, I do like the idea of generating AI based artworks for myriad reasons, one being copyright infringement – the David Bowie that I painted, whilst it is unquestioningly him, cannot be attributed to any one photo of him, because the photo has been created by a machine (AI). This is an extremely useful tool for me – I battle to picture compositions in my head and like to have a certain degree of planning in my paintings, so AI helps me to explore potential compositions without having to paint them first.
Wall Art in Dubai by Debbie New
Artwork Title: Hexadactyl Bowie:
David Bowie’s Sixth Finger by Debbie New
Medium: Oil Painting on wooden board
Size: 60cm x 90cm Artwork
Description: Progress and Concept of exploring AI-generated images for MA in Fine Art Degree:
Debbie New’s oil painting, referencing a captivating AI-generated homage to David Bowie, transcends its canvas with a spirited rebellion against the notion that AI could replace artists. This vibrant masterpiece stands not just as a tribute to Bowie’s artistic genius but as a resounding declaration of the unyielding human spirit in the face of AI’s limitations. Bowie, a paragon of reinvention, emerges with striking presence, yet the canvas becomes a stage for a deliberate play on AI’s imperfections: The seemingly errant details – the misshapen Union Jack Flag, the sixth finger on David Bowie’s right hand, the chaotic repetition of flag elements on Bowie’s visage and clothing, the dual neckties, and Bowie holding the burning end of his cigarette – are all unintentional “mistakes” that the machine has made when being prompted by the artist to conjure this image. New ingeniously captures these mistakes into the composition as poignant markers, highlighting the nuanced understanding, intricacies and subtlety that only the human eye comprehends and appreciates – something that eludes current AI capabilities. The painting therefore boldly challenges the narrative of AI’s creative prowess. It echoes that creativity is more than algorithmic perfection; it’s the delicate dance between understanding, subtlety, intention and inference that defines true creative expression. “Hexadactyl Bowie” celebrates the unquantifiable essence that only the human eye, with its capacity for nuance, can fully grasp in the realm of artistic creation.
Debbie New 