Seizing the Means of Production: Exploring the Landscape of Crafting, Adapting and Navigating Generative AI Models in the Visual Arts

TL;DR

This paper explores how visual artists can craft, adapt, and navigate generative AI models for creating personal artworks, emphasizing model crafting as a distinct creative activity.

Contribution

It maps the landscape of generative AI tools for artists and advocates for viewing model crafting as a unique form of creative practice.

Findings

Mapping of available generative AI options for artists

Proposal to treat model crafting as a creative activity

Discussion on the importance of designing for creative goals

Abstract

In this paper, we map out the landscape of options available to visual artists for creating personal artworks, including crafting, adapting and navigating deep generative models. Following that, we argue for revisiting model crafting, defined as the design and manipulation of generative models for creative goals, and motivate studying and designing for model crafting as a creative activity in its own right.