Navigating the Commissioned Art Market in the Age of AI

While the digital age has given opportunities for artists (digital or traditional) to showcase their work on the internet, a less discussed but equally significant consequence emerges – the economic challenges faced by artists relying on commissioned work. The proliferation of AI-driven tools and user-friendly platforms threatens to reshape the traditional market for personalized art, impacting the livelihoods of artists who thrive on commissions.

1. Erosion of Commissioned Art Market:

Many artists (hobbyists or professional) could earn a living through commissioned work, or add some revenue to their main income, by producing commissioned artworks (such as caricatures, portraits, or comic pages), but that was before  2022 as this market is being eroded by the accessibility of AI-powered tools.

2. Economic Realities for Artists:

Competing with AI tools is unfair, they are fast, produce relatively good quality artwork in matter of minutes, this is leaving artists potentially undervalued for their time and expertise. The customer could get dozen of possible artworks version in less than an hour, and if he has the assistance of a prompt engineer or a person skilled in Stable Diffusion (or midjourney), it is just a matter of retouching the best result they have selected in the end. Most AI artwork are public domain.

3. Quality vs. Quantity Debate:

There are tensions between artists and AI companies, because of the ease of producing AI-generated art quickly and the fact that the database (the checkpoint model) used to generate art is a mix of 'plundered' artwork produced by humans, some from past public domain source, or taken without permission.

Sure the unique, personalized touch that human artists bring to their creations is something that AI is not able to bring to the table, but many customers previously taking commissions are not art literate and will not perceive the difference.

4. Platform Dynamics:

Because some many AI generated images have flooded tumblr, facebook, pinterest, etc ... these new images being mixed with the real work of artists and hobbyist (trying to make a living) has impacted their visibility, client acquisition, and overall market presence.

5. Adaptation and Innovation:

The artists who manage to learn AI skills have successfully navigated this changing landscape by adapting their skills or finding innovative ways to collaborate with AI tools. And are now a lot more efficient, and produce more and with a keen professional eye.

While many others are struggling. Except for the renowned, recognized one.

The hope is that the future will empower artists to remain competitive while preserving the value of their craft in the face of technological disruption. The hope is that art communities are coming together to support one another, sharing insights, and fostering a sense of solidarity amid industry changes.

As the commissioned art market undergoes a transformation fueled by AI and automation, the economic realities for many artists become increasingly complex. Navigating this landscape requires a delicate balance between adapting to technological shifts and preserving the intrinsic value of personalized, handcrafted art. Artists and the broader creative community must engage in conversations, advocacy, and innovative solutions to ensure the sustainability of artistic livelihoods in the face of evolving digital landscapes.