The backlash against AI art is real and visceral, but human artists can be caught in the crossfire for having art that ‘looks like AI’ – glossy, hyper-detailed, suspiciously perfect images do have the whiff of AI, but they can also be made by a human because, for many years, that was a standard some digital artists wanted to meet.
The AI art backlash is actually creating a moment for reflection and opportunity to try new things, because the techniques that are starting to feel interesting again are the things digital art spent years trying to get rid of, such as visible brush marks, rough edges, paper grain, wobbly lines, colour that’s a little messy and abstract. I know it's a bit sad that some artists are needing to rethink how they work to dodge accusations of AI use, but it does offer an opportunity to try new things.
The timing is interesting, too. Digital painting software is getting increasingly obsessed with making brushes feel physical. Rebelle 8.3, for example, has just pushed its bristle brushes further, simulating individual brush hairs and adding more variation in colour and texture, while Procreate's brush libraries are packed with grunge, street art, creative, and other textured options. And I love the rawness, and specifically the geometric results, you can get from Heavy Paint.
