It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.
-JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
When opening the door to Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is hard not to be swept off one's feet by all the possible roads one can travel down. Many of these roads lead to exciting discoveries and opportunities, but others are fraught with peril. Taking a page from Tolkien, some roads lead to Rivendell; others lead to Mordor. This is true of AI in general and of AI-assisted Art (AI Art) in particular. The road to Rivendell is paved with creative exploration, where AI serves as a tool for collaboration, unlocking new artistic possibilities, democratizing access to artistic expression, and expanding the boundaries of visual storytelling. It allows artists to experiment in ways never before possible, blending styles, generating new forms, and pushing the limits of human imagination. The road to Mordor, however, is shadowed by ethical dilemmas and existential threats to traditional artistry. The devaluation of human craftsmanship, the exploitation of artists' work without consent, and the potential oversaturation of algorithmically generated art risk eroding the integrity of artistic expression. Without careful guidance, AI Art could lead to a desolate creative landscape, where originality is drowned out by an endless stream of derivative content.
Fortunately, as explorers of the AI landscape, we are not merely passengers—we choose the roads we travel. By advocating for the fair and ethical use of AI, we can help shape its role in the creative world, ensuring that our own engagement upholds both legal and ethical standards. This requires ongoing education, thoughtful reflection, and a willingness to consider multiple perspectives. Yet, this effort is a small price to pay for the immense creative possibilities AI Art offers, allowing us to harness its potential while preserving the integrity of artistic expression.
One of the most fascinating aspects of AI Art, for me, is its intersection with human artists. I have spent countless hours exploring how AI "interprets" artistic styles, using the powerful yet controversial technique of prompting—specifically, the phrases "by (artist name)" or "in the style of (artist name)." This method is almost magical in its ability to distill an artist’s entire genre into a few words, allowing AI to generate works that echo their distinctive approach. However, it is also a deeply contentious tool, as it can be misused to exploit an artist’s hard-earned style without consent or to dilute their creative identity for profit. Out of respect for these ethical concerns, I have limited my exploration to non-contemporary artists, ensuring that my engagement with AI Art remains both responsible and thoughtful.
Yet, the magic in all of this deserves attention. At the very least, this technological leap represents one of the most significant advances in technology to date. But beyond that, I can’t help but wonder—are we witnessing the emergence of a new kind of creativity? It is not human creativity, certainly, but neither is it merely lines of code, just as we are not merely our DNA. This form of creativity, though artificial, is undeniably built upon human ingenuity, drawing from the vast foundations of our collective artistic heritage. We are witnessing something unprecedented. Whether it will elevate us to new creative heights or lead us somewhere altogether different remains to be seen.
Which brings me to the purpose of this post—to share my journey in using AI to pay homage to the artists of the past. My exploration of AI Art has not only deepened my appreciation for both historical and contemporary artists but has also led to countless inspiring "discoveries," with many more on the horizon. The Synthetic Emulation and Reinvention Images (SERI) projects are my way of sharing this adventure—a tribute to the immense joy and creative inspiration these artists have given me.
All of the images in the SERI series were created using ChatGPT-4o and a structured two-step process. First, I identify the artist and ask ChatGPT to analyze their style, techniques, notable works, and recurring themes. Then, I instruct it to generate three distinct prompts and corresponding images, each exploring different subjects and themes associated with the artist. If the artist had multiple stylistic phases, I ask it to reflect those variations. Crucially, I emphasize that the prompts should not include the artist’s name and that the goal is to create an homage—an artistic interpretation inspired by their work, rather than a direct imitation. Finally, I ask ChatGPT to critique each image, assessing how well it pays homage to the artist’s vision and stylistic approach. All of this is accomplished within the first step.
In the second step, I select one image from the first round and ask ChatGPT to refine the prompt, adjusting it to better align with the artist’s vision and style before generating a new image. If the image is already quite close to the artist’s style, I remind ChatGPT to focus on creating an homage rather than a replication. After each new image is generated, ChatGPT critiques it, assessing how well it captures the essence of the artist’s work. Based on this critique, it revises the prompt and generates another image, repeating this process once more for a total of three refined images. Finally, ChatGPT evaluates all three and selects what it considers the best homage. However, the final choice is mine—I review the images and select the one I believe best honors the artist’s legacy, which I then share as part of the project.
I hope you enjoy the SERI projects and that they inspire you to explore the artists behind them. In some cases, the influence of the artist is immediately recognizable, while in others, the connection is more subtle or abstract. This variation in how AI interprets artistic styles led me to the name Synthetic Emulation and Reinvention Images, which I find more fitting than simply calling these works an "homage" or "interpretation."
“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.”
-JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit
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