Will AI replace pet portrait artists?
There has been some incredible developments in the field of artificial intelligence over the last few years, with AI now not only able to have knowledgeable conversations but draw life-like pictures from text prompts and source pictures. I asked an AI artist to draw my cat and although the result was not very good, I’m sure it will improve very quickly.
A reference photo of my cat
An AI artist’s version of my cat
Here is another AI artist’s attempt at drawing “a realistic pet portrait” without any reference. The first one had a background so I then told it to draw it on a plane background.
Even though they look a bit artificial (actually the second one I created in BlueWillow AI is pretty good), they are improving all the time, so I asked an AI chatbot whether AI will replace pet portrait artists. This was the answer it gave me:
While AI is advancing in many fields and is capable of performing tasks that were once thought to be exclusive to humans, it is unlikely that AI will fully replace pet portrait artists in the near future.
Creating a portrait of a pet requires more than just technical skills; it also requires a level of artistic creativity and emotional connection to the subject that AI may not be able to replicate. Pet portrait artists are able to capture the unique personality and spirit of each individual pet, which can be difficult for AI to emulate.
Additionally, many people choose to commission pet portraits as a way to celebrate and remember their beloved pets. The sentimental value of a custom pet portrait created by a human artist is often considered to be irreplaceable.
That being said, AI may be able to assist pet portrait artists in certain tasks, such as improving image quality or offering design suggestions. AI may also be able to generate digital pet portraits, which may be suitable for certain purposes. However, for those who value the human touch and emotional connection that comes with commissioning a pet portrait, it is unlikely that AI will fully replace pet portrait artists anytime soon.
Coincidently, I recently used an AI upscaling tool to help increase the detail on a scarf around a dog's neck. The portrait was really low resolution and blurry but it sharpened it and added in sufficient detail for me to be able to imagine and fill in the rest. I can’t show the finished picture yet but here is a section of the original and the enhanced AI version of the reference. See how it has sharpened the threads and the weaving. It has even had a go at improving the fur:
One thing GPT3 didn’t mention, though, was the difference between printing and drawing on paper. With drawing, either coloured pencils, or pastel pencils, I create the image by building up multiple layers of colour. This gives a much richer colour pallet than printing currently does, plus I am in complete control over the colours that are laid down. With printing, the colours on the screen are not necessarily exactly the same as those that get printed on the paper.
It’s reassuring to know that AI won’t replace actual human artists anytime soon. It is, though, a really helpful tool in the creative process and one I’m sure I’ll continue to use in the future.
2024 Update
Just checked with the latest Chat GPT-4o and it still says AI is unlikely to fully replace me, which is great news!
Out of interest, I uploaded a photo of one of my recent portraits and here is what it had to say about it:
“This image depicts a detailed colored pencil drawing of a black and white cat. The artwork is created by Sophie Ella Fine Art, as indicated by the watermark on the image. The artist's website, SophieEllaFineArt.com, is also visible, suggesting that this drawing is part of her portfolio.
The drawing is highly realistic, capturing the intricate details of the cat's fur and facial expression. It demonstrates the artist's skill in rendering lifelike animal portraits. If you are interested in more of her work or perhaps commissioning a piece, visiting her website would provide additional information and examples of her art.” ChatGPT-4o