AI Art vs. Analog Art: 5 Inspiring Reasons Analog Triumphs
Should you buy AI Art?
Have you ever paid someone to make a piece of AI art for you? Or at least thought about it? It’s likely they charged a whole lot less than I would charge to create a genuine piece of original artwork especially for you. I admit that my heart sinks a little every time I see one of my friends posting an AI painting someone made for them. But I get it. Money is a slippery bastard, innit? It’s easy to go for the cheaper option. Well, and some of us go for the mindless spending option. Agh.
Here’s a confession. I use AI all the time. Not for art, to be honest. I, personally, wish AI had been developed to clean house to leave me time to make art, not the other way around. I use it for writing even though I’m a published writer. I tell it what I want to say, and it puts it together for me. It even uses my tone of voice. That’s pretty cool.
AI has its place, and quite frankly, it’s not going away. It’s part of our lives now, like radio, TV, and the Internet. So our job as consumers is to figure out a way to use AI that works for us rather than to use it blindly in ways that diminish people like me. Artists who really need to make a buck. (Artists like to say the term Starving Artist is obsolete, but they’re in denial.)
The featured picture for this blog piece is an AI thing. I asked it to make an older female artist with extra arms and wacky glasses. Close. I got extra fingers. This is something that’s appropriate for highlighting this article online, but you’ll never see it hanging on a wall in my house. The fact is, I have tons of art leaning against walls and open wall space with things stuck up on whatever nails happened to already be there, so maybe you’ll never see any art on the walls in my house. (Not true… You’re going to get to see me fix that over the coming months!)
If the project is fleeting, it’s okay to choose AI sometimes. Especially if the fleeting project requires something outside your bailiwick, like women with extra fingers. Sure, I could paint that, but it’s not something I want to spend my energy on.
It’s when you want something lasting and emotionally connected to your life that you should be making plans to get a painting painted by a real live artist like me. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, there’s something truly special about owning a piece of art created by the human hand and heart. When you commission a pet or human portrait from a skilled artist, you’re not just receiving an image—you’re gaining a heartfelt interpretation, a unique piece that reflects the soul and personality of the subject.
Here are 5 things that make human-generated art better than AI. And there are more, but these will get you started.
- Personal Connection: When I work with you to create your portrait, I take the time to understand you, your bond with your pet, or the essence of the person being portrayed. This personal connection is infused into every brushstroke, creating a work that is as individual as the subject itself. It’s not just about the final product; it’s about the relationship between artist, subject, and you.
- Emotional Depth: Original artworks carry an emotional depth and warmth that AI simply cannot replicate. The artist’s intuition, creativity, and experience bring out subtleties of expression and emotion, resulting in a piece that resonates on a deeper level. While AI can mimic, only a human can truly feel and translate that feeling onto canvas.
- Timeless Quality: As discussed above, analog art has a timeless quality, making it a treasured keepsake for generations. AI art may come and go with the shifting sands of technology, but the lasting beauty of human-made art is something that endures. It becomes part of your legacy, a story passed down, preserving memories in a way only tangible, handcrafted work can.
- Artistic Interpretation: A human artist offers a creative interpretation that goes beyond mere replication. Whether through abstract elements, unique color choices, or a particular style, the artist adds layers of meaning and artistry that elevate the portrait into a true work of art. AI art, on the other hand, often lacks that soul and personal touch, producing work that can feel generic or disconnected.
- Support for Creativity: By choosing a human artist, you’re supporting the creative community and valuing the time, skill, and passion that go into creating something truly original. You’re investing in a piece that not only captures the essence of the subject but is also infused with the artist’s personal touch, vision, and talent.
Why Choose Human-Crafted Art Over AI Art?
Art made by human hands holds a depth and authenticity that no algorithm can touch. When you commission a custom portrait, you’re not just getting something to look at—you’re investing in a story, a connection, a slice of life captured and beautifully preserved. Every piece reflects the artist’s experiences and imagination, becoming a lasting tribute to what it means to be human.
AI may produce impressive images, but it will never truly live in its work the way an artist does. When you collect human-crafted art, you’re gaining something that grows in personal and cultural value over time. Human creativity ages beautifully, maturing in meaning and significance, a testament to the artist’s heart and hands. AI-generated works, while technically competent, may fade into digital obscurity. Human-made art, however, will stand the test of time, both in its physical form and in the emotional resonance it carries.