The world of digital art today is at an interesting time in its history. The tools at our disposal are more powerful than ever, but with the ability to create extremely smooth and sophisticated visuals for movies and games, or create complex images from text prompts, I no longer feel human. It’s sliding down.
People are looking for connection when consuming art, and there is a sense that technology is emerging between artists and viewers. The result is a series of trends in which people strengthen the human connections they derive from art and reject works that threaten it.
One example is the film industry’s move to 2.5D stylized animation. As viewers lose the desire for perfect lighting and fluidity, we’re starting to see a different look that combines 3D animation and 2D illustration.
In some cases, the effect is painterly, dreamlike, and cinematic, with hints of jumpy movement reminiscent of fairy tale illustrations or analog animation techniques. You may also see a cartoon aesthetic. However, this technique is used in some way to create a look that evokes the feeling of being hand-painted or man-made.
01. In search of substance
Another movement poised to gain traction is the backlash against the world-shaking impact of generative AI. With increased exposure, people have become more discerning and able to see through the superficially pleasing aesthetics of AI art. They want something more substantial and an industry that supports the human artists who create it.
On top of all this, social media platforms are ironically influencing the art world by making it harder for artists to attract and maintain followers. In an effort to find their tribe, we’re starting to see artists delve into more specific, individual art styles as a way to build stronger connections with fans.
02. Revival of the niche
Fantasy character artist and illustrator Tamara Osborne speaks to this last point in terms of the “increasing need to be a brand, not just an artist.” She notes that social media drives artists to be “easily palatable, marketable, and profitable in overcrowded spaces that do little to foster creativity or passion.” Masu. The reaction to this has been a resurgence of niches, as artists and art consumers “burrow themselves into neat little pockets based on certain four-walled internet bedrooms that they have hand-picked for themselves.” She predicts it will be.
Tamara expects the creation of fan art to increase as a way to build niche communities. “With the growing popularity of animated series like Legend of Vox Machina, Blue Eyed Samurai, and Arcane, as well as RPG video games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Hades, and The Legend of Zelda: Trails of the Legend of Zelda, it’s difficult for artists to find an audience. It’s getting easier, people are identifying and exploring the kind of artwork they’re making,” she says. “Creating media-related artwork feels like an essential tool for online growth.”
Artists posting workflow demonstrations is another trend that Tamara has noticed. “I believe there will be more behind-the-scenes content coming to the screen,” she says. “As artists battle generative AI, they will begin to showcase more sketches, concepts, and process work as a way to say, ‘Look, I made this!’ I’m a human.”
03. A dream joins the scene
While generative AI and social media algorithms are making artists’ lives more difficult, there are still some new technologies that aim to enrich them. Procreate Dreams is a great example. It’s an affordable, accessible, and powerful animation app that’s much appreciated by the digital art community.
Thanks to Dreams, Tamara believes we are seeing a surge of creativity that meets the general demand for less sophisticated, more personal work. And his 2D animation made by humans, it will bring a wave of nostalgia to digital art. ”
Artists will begin exhibiting more sketches, concepts, and process works as they battle generative AI.
Tamara Osborne
It’s good that art resources are accessible, but their availability makes the industry more competitive. Illustrator Nia Kovalewski says, “Learning to paint digitally has been made easier by the abundance of courses and information available, as well as the high-quality graphics and affordability of his tablets.” I am. “As a result, there are many more accomplished artists in the industry than there were even a few years ago. So it’s time to differentiate yourself to value your work and attract the audience you’re looking for.” It’s becoming increasingly important.”
When artists want to stand out, they need to make sure their methods align with their passion. “I strongly believe that if you don’t have passion, you won’t be able to devote significant time to it,” adds Nia.
She also notes that the 2.5D stylized animation trend opens up opportunities for artists to explore a wider range of creative expression. Nia says: “Experimenting with different art styles, as seen in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” We hope to see this trend continue. These successes will encourage studios to explore a wider range of styles, especially now that there are more affordable ways to apply different art styles to 3D animation. , we hope that projects with unique visuals will be funded.”
04.AI overexposure
When it comes to AI art, Nia has noticed that viewers are starting to experience visual fatigue. “AI images tend to have a distinctly impersonal style, and after looking at hundreds of them, it becomes easy to spot the AI-generated parts,” she says. “Our brains seek variety and freshness, which can lead to audience saturation, which current AI artwork has a hard time providing. That’s why we focus on individuality. , a wise approach may be to infuse art with better storytelling and emotion that is difficult for AI to replicate.”
But material boredom is just one aspect of the backlash against AI-generated artwork. Jeffrey Ernaux, an artist working in the video game and film industries, points out that the recent use of his AI art by creative companies has been far from positive among fans.
It is now more important than ever to differentiate yourself and attract an appreciative audience.
Jeffrey Ernault
Marvel’s decision to use AI to create the intro sequence for its show Secret Invasion received backlash on social media last summer, leading Wacom and Wizards of the Coast to include AI-generated images in marketing materials. was criticized for its inclusion.
Both Wacom and Wizards of the Coast claimed they had no knowledge that AI was used to create some of the images because the images were purchased from third parties. But the message from the fans was loud and clear. They want these companies to support artists by rejecting AI art.
These incidents highlight the need for better information about the origins of images. Jeffrey said: “I would like to see more AI legislation, so that models are trained on controlled and traceable data and that there is a way to know if something was generated by AI. You will be able to do it.”
He continues: “I think in the future we’re going to see a world where digital artwork and artificial intelligence can be used together to improve what everyone does. But basically, Google vs. a Discord bot that costs $10 a month. We don’t believe that stealing people’s jobs by doing the equivalent of search is the way to do it.”
Nevertheless, Jeffrey is not afraid of the future, as he believes that the human artist’s creativity, understanding of the core fundamentals of art, and problem-solving ability will always be needed. He said, “All of this is strange, because he believes people are going to go back to square one and focus more on style, story, user experience, etc.” is exciting.”
This content was originally published in ImagineFX magazine, the world’s leading digital and fantasy art magazine. ImagineFX is sold in the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australia and more. A limited number of his ImagineFX print editions are available for delivery from us. online store (Shipping is included in all prices).