Figures and Portraits by Jessie Babin- September 2023

New Possibilities in Drawing through A.I. and Robotics

As you contemplate this series of works alongside its title, you might find yourself wondering about the role of A.I. and robotics within these drawings, especially considering they were created using traditional mediums.

The initial way A.I. was employed was to aid in generating visual references. For most of the figures and portraits in my previous works, I had photographed a live model myself. In this instance, digital images culled from Google or social media, along with written descriptions, were provided as input to an artificial intelligence. Take my drawing "Veil," for instance, which was featured in a group show in June. I provided the A.I. with a photo of myself and instructed it to alter my expression and turn my head to the right. The result is the A.I.'s interpretation of me. Even though the figures in these drawings may appear realistic, none of them truly exist as actual people. To put it simply, they represent the visual output of an artificial brain.

The second approach involving A.I. revolved around getting it to write a computer code. Suppose I desired a column of evenly spaced lines with identical widths. In that case, I could simply request a text-based A.I. to generate the code for me. This code, once executed, would produce vector graphics that could then be accessed through computer software and interpreted with the assistance of a robot. The essence of this lies in spotlighting the capabilities of a machine as a drawing tool, capable of crafting marks with an astounding precision unattainable by human hands. I juxtaposed these machine-generated marks with subjects that I rendered by hand. A key advantage machines hold over humans is their ability to work tirelessly for extended durations without growing fatigued or requiring rest. They can craft repetitive shapes and patterns that would be virtually impossible to replicate manually. Moreover, they can undertake mundane tasks such as creating thousands of dots – a process that, if done by a person, would be considerably more time-consuming and tedious.

In the present juncture, a division appears to exist regarding the integration of these technologies within visual arts. Some artists choose to boycott them, arguing that they could potentially supplant numerous creative and artistic jobs. Conversely, others embrace these technologies, incorporating them extensively into their processes.

Personally, I am intrigued by the diverse ways in which these technologies can serve as tools. Whether to facilitate the creative journey or to execute and articulate ideas, I believe we will witness a multitude of artists harnessing these technologies in the decades to come.

- Jessie Babin, 2023