From Analog to AI ft. Drew Nikonowicz // Civitai AiR Session

Civitai
12 Aug 202460:31

TLDRIn this special Civitai AiR Session, Drew Nikonowicz, a talented photographer and master of Fine Arts, joins the live stream to discuss his experience with AI in the art community. Drew, who has a background in conceptual photography and runs Standard Cameras, shares his journey of exploring AI as a diagnostic tool and his creative process with generative AI. The conversation delves into his projects, including 'This World and Others Like It,' and his unique approach to using AI to generate uncanny and thought-provoking imagery, reflecting on the relationship between humans and technology.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Drew Nikonowicz, a talented photographer and participant in the Civitai Artist and Residence program, was invited to explore AI as a creative tool, despite having no prior experience with generative AI tools.
  • 🔍 Drew's work primarily lies in conceptual photography, and he is also the founder of a large format camera company, Standard Cameras, producing 8x10 sheet film photography equipment.
  • 🏆 Drew has received numerous awards, including the Aperture Portfolio Prize and Lens Scratch Student Prize, and published a book titled 'This World and Others Like It' in 2019.
  • 🤖 The conversation highlighted Drew's approach to using AI as a 'diagnostic tool' for brainstorming and creative exploration, rather than a direct creative output generator.
  • 👓 Drew's interest in AI stems from its potential to offer new perspectives and tools in his creative practice, viewing it as an opportunity to enhance his existing skillset.
  • 📚 Drew's project 'This World and Others Like It' caught the attention of the Civitai Art Director, Chris, who saw a connection between the project's themes and the capabilities of AI to generate unique visual content.
  • 🔭 Drew experimented with training AI on specific images to see how it would interpret and recreate visual elements, leading to a series of trials and failures that informed his understanding of AI's creative potential.
  • 🖼️ The AI-generated images often produced a sense of the 'uncanny', with familiar elements arranged in unfamiliar ways, sparking discussions on the psychological impact of such imagery.
  • 💡 Drew's experience with AI in the Civitai program has reinforced his belief in the importance of artists maintaining a relationship with emerging technologies to stay relevant and explore new creative possibilities.
  • 🔗 The discussion underscored the value of failure in creative processes, with Drew viewing it as a necessary step towards innovation and a way to quickly iterate ideas through the use of generative AI tools.
  • 🌐 For those interested in following Drew's work or applying for the Civitai Artist and Residence program, links to his website, video essays, and Civitai can be found on their platform.

Q & A

  • What is the title of the video and what does it suggest about the content?

    -The title of the video is 'From Analog to AI ft. Drew Nikonowicz // Civitai AiR Session'. It suggests that the video is about the transition from traditional, analog art forms to the use of artificial intelligence in art creation, featuring Drew Nikonowicz in a discussion or session hosted by Civitai AiR.

  • Who is Drew Nikonowicz and what is his background according to the video?

    -Drew Nikonowicz is a talented artist who is part of the most recent cohort of the Civitai artist and residence program. He is pursuing his master of Fine Arts at the University of Arkansas and works in the conceptual photography space. He has published a book titled 'this world and others like it' and has won several awards including the aperture portfolio prize and lens scratch student prize.

  • What is the role of Chris in the Civitai AiR program?

    -Chris is the Civitai art director who oversees the entire Civitai AiR program. He is responsible for introducing and giving insights about the artists involved in the program, such as Drew Nikonowicz.

  • What is the significance of Drew's project 'this world and others like it'?

    -The project 'this world and others like it' is significant because it showcases Drew's work in conceptual photography and was the reason he was invited to join the Civitai AiR program. The project explores themes of technology, landscape, and human civilization.

  • What is Drew's perspective on the use of AI as a diagnostic tool in his creative process?

    -Drew views AI, particularly text-based AI like chat GPT, as a diagnostic tool that can provide feedback and serve as a space for brainstorming. He believes in the importance of having a personal relationship with such tools to explore their potential in enhancing productivity and creativity.

  • What is the Standard Cameras company that Drew runs, and what does it produce?

    -Standard Cameras is a company run by Drew that produces large format cameras. They specialize in creating cameras for 4X5 and 8 by 10 sheet film photography.

  • How does Drew approach the use of new tools and technologies in his creative practice?

    -Drew approaches the use of new tools and technologies with an open mind and a willingness to experiment. He often tries new things just for the sake of trying them, believing that this practice can bring creative benefits to his work.

  • What was Drew's experience with AI before joining the Civitai AiR program?

    -Before joining the Civitai AiR program, Drew had no experience with generative AI tools. However, he was conversationally aware of AI technologies and had used text-based AI for diagnostic purposes in his creative process.

  • What insights did Drew gain from his time in the Civitai AiR program?

    -Drew gained insights into the capabilities and potential of AI as a creative tool. He experimented with training AI on specific images and prompts, and discovered how AI can generate images based on learned patterns and details. He also learned about the importance of understanding and incorporating emerging technologies in his artistic practice.

  • What is the significance of failure in Drew's creative process and how does he view it?

    -Failure holds significant value in Drew's creative process. He sees failure as a destination and a necessary part of the journey to success. It allows him to iterate on ideas quickly and explore different possibilities, which can ultimately lead to innovative outcomes.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Citi.com and AI Art Community

The script opens with a welcome to Citi.com, a platform for the generative AI art community. The speaker encourages viewers to like and subscribe to support high-quality community content. The video features a live stream with artist Drew Nickovic, who has recently joined the Civetta AI Artisan residency program. Drew is a photographer specializing in conceptual photography and has received numerous awards. The conversation is expected to yield valuable insights into Drew's work and his experience with AI tools within the residency program.

05:01

🤖 Exploring AI in Art: Drew's Journey with Generative AI

This paragraph delves into Drew's background and his initial foray into AI, specifically discussing his experience with text-based AI and his approach to using AI as a diagnostic tool. Drew shares his philosophy on embracing new technologies and experimenting with them to enhance his creative practice. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding and incorporating emerging technologies like AI in one's artistic process.

10:03

📸 Drew's Artistic Endeavors and the Integration of AI

The discussion shifts to Drew's creative journey, including his work with large format cameras and his company, Standard Cameras. Drew talks about his transition from a photography-focused practice to exploring AI and its potential in his work. The conversation highlights the importance of being aware of and adapting to new tools and technologies in the art world, as well as the potential challenges faced by those who do not engage with these advancements.

15:04

🔬 Experimenting with AI: Training and Results

The script describes Drew's experiments with AI, starting with training the AI on a single image to observe the AI's ability to replicate and generate variations of that image. The results were mixed, with some outputs showing a distorted version of the original, while others captured graphic details effectively. Drew's process involved testing different training approaches to explore the AI's capabilities and limitations.

20:06

🎭 The Evolution of AI Art: From Birds to Uncanny Landscapes

Drew shares his progression in AI art creation, moving from training the AI on images of birds to generating uncanny landscapes. The AI's output was influenced by the training images, often incorporating elements like window frames and grids. The discussion explores the AI's tendency to focus on certain visual elements and the resulting eerie and captivating images that evoke a sense of the uncanny.

25:07

🏗️ Building and Breaking AI's Creative Constraints

The conversation continues with Drew's exploration of AI's creative boundaries. He experimented with introducing various shapes to the AI, aiming to see if the AI could replicate and generate new images based on these shapes. However, the AI often ignored the shapes or produced abstract results, leading to a series of trials and, ultimately, a deeper understanding of the AI's generative processes.

30:08

🔮 Reflecting on AI's Potential and the Future of Art

In the concluding part of the script, Drew reflects on his experience with AI, considering it a diagnostic tool that has helped him understand the capabilities and potential of generative AI in art. He acknowledges the fun and value of the process, despite not achieving the desired outcomes, and expresses openness to further exploration of AI in his future work.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Generative AI

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can create new content, such as images, music, or text. In the video, this technology is central to the discussion, as the guest, Drew Nikonowicz, explores its potential in the context of art and photography. The script mentions generative AI art community and the use of AI tools to create visual art, indicating the technology's role in expanding creative possibilities.

💡Civitai

Civitai appears to be a platform or community that focuses on AI-generated art. The script discusses the 'civettai air Artisan residence live stream,' suggesting that it is a program supporting artists in residence who work with AI technologies. This keyword is integral to understanding the collaborative environment where the video's discussion takes place.

💡Conceptual Photography

Conceptual photography is a genre of photography that emphasizes ideas and concepts over traditional aesthetic or technical aspects. Drew Nikonowicz, the guest in the video, is described as working in this space, indicating his focus on the intellectual and philosophical dimensions of his work. The script mentions his project 'this world and others like it,' which likely embodies conceptual photography's essence.

💡Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is an advanced academic degree conferred to students studying visual or applied arts. In the script, Drew is mentioned as pursuing his MFA at the University of Arkansas, highlighting his formal education in the arts and suggesting a rigorous, academic approach to his creative practice.

💡Aperture Portfolio Prize

The Aperture Portfolio Prize is a prestigious award that recognizes and supports emerging photographers. Drew won this award, as noted in the script, which underscores his recognition in the photography community and the significance of his work within the field.

💡Standard Cameras

Standard Cameras is a company that Drew runs, which produces large format cameras. The script mentions this venture, indicating his involvement not only in creating art but also in the technical and manufacturing aspects of photography. This keyword reflects the intersection of art, business, and technology in his practice.

💡Diagnostic Tool

In the context of the video, a diagnostic tool refers to a resource or method used to analyze and gain insights into a particular subject or concept. Drew describes his approach to generative AI as using it as a 'diagnostic tool,' suggesting that he employs it to explore, evaluate, and brainstorm ideas within his creative process.

💡ROM Hacking

ROM hacking is the modification of video game software to change or enhance aspects of the game. The script mentions a 'ROM hack' that Drew created, indicating his diverse interests and creative endeavors beyond traditional art forms. This keyword exemplifies the multidisciplinary nature of his work.

💡Uncanny Valley

The uncanny valley is a concept in which humanoid objects that appear almost, but not exactly, like real humans elicit a response of unease or discomfort. The script references 'uncanny valley' in relation to the images generated by AI, suggesting that these images provoke a similar sense of eeriness or strangeness.

💡Figma

Figma is a cloud-based interface design and collaboration tool used by designers and developers. The script mentions Figma in the context of viewing Drew's work, indicating that it serves as a platform for showcasing and sharing the creative process and outcomes of the AI-generated art.

💡Failure

Failure, within the narrative of the video, is presented as an essential part of the creative process. Drew discusses his embrace of failure as a way to explore new ideas and learn from the generative AI process. The script's repeated references to failure highlight its value as a tool for discovery and innovation in art.

Highlights

Welcome to a special live stream featuring Drew Nikonowicz, a talented artist and photographer, discussing his experience with AI in art.

Drew is part of the Civitai Artist and Residence program, exploring the intersection of traditional art and AI.

Chris, the Civitai Art Director, introduces Drew and his accomplishments, including winning the Aperture Portfolio Prize.

Drew's interest in generative AI as a diagnostic tool for creative brainstorming is highlighted.

The conversation delves into Drew's background, including his large format camera company, Standard Cameras.

Drew shares his approach to art and technology, emphasizing the importance of trying new things for creative growth.

The discussion explores the potential of AI in art, and whether traditional artists should be concerned about keeping up with technology.

Drew's project 'This World and Others Like It' is showcased, blending photography with mapping software to create surreal landscapes.

Chris and Drew discuss the process and results of training AI on a single image versus multiple images to see how AI interprets and generates new content.

The conversation covers the uncanny and sometimes unsettling results of AI-generated images and the psychological impact they may have.

Drew experiments with AI, seeking to create a consistent visual element while maintaining a sense of change and movement.

The artists discuss the idea of failure in creative processes and how it can lead to new insights and directions.

Drew's experience with AI in the Civitai program is summarized, reflecting on the learning and creative potential of generative AI.

The conversation concludes with thoughts on the future of AI in art and how artists can integrate these tools into their practice.

Drew shares where to find his work and how his Patreon supports his art practice, inviting viewers to engage with his creative journey.

The live stream wraps up with an invitation to explore Civitai's website for more AI art projects and opportunities to get involved.