There are as always a few caveats for this, first one being that I am not an expert, these are simply thoughts that I have fudged together through listening to various podcasts, and my own personal limited experience.

When referring to AI, I am also in this case just going to refer to it in the context of Instagram. Instagram is the app that I spend most of my time on to share my work. I feel I have a slightly better understanding of it than other social media platforms. I use X, formally twitter, formally never have known how to really use this so have given up, and only use in a blind panic for some kind of exposure when things seem to be slipping. Pinterest I attempt to use and somehow I have a pin that continues to go viral, has over 1 million impressions, and is of a random sketch of a hand that I did years ago and bears no resemblance to my usual work, so that is really helpful.

Anyway back to AI with Instagram… As I understand it AI is artificial intelligence, so my interpretation of this is something non human, having something of a human response, but at greater speed than we currently can, and in this case, in an attempt to read our minds to show us what it thinks we should be seeing.

If you get chance then I really recommend you watching or listening to the Steven “ Diary of a CEO” podcast with Mo Gawdat, to understand in a broader sense the detrimental impact AI is having on our lives… (there are positives, but there is definitely a dark side)

I guess mainstream media is similar to this, a way to control what it wants us to see, what is likely to be “most read”, not a decision derived from any positive individual information. In relation to this, another great read- “Thinking fast and slow”, by Daniel Kahneman, I haven’t finished the book yet but that shares the impact of simple word or what is reported in the news and how this actually skews and influences our whole perception on life and risk, fear, judgement etc, which is why I view mainstream media very differently these days.

Standard that I have deviated. Anyway, back to AI and its impact on the art world, but in the context of Instagram. There are definitely a few angles in which the AI behind Instagram is affecting the art we see and the art we create.

Censorship relating to Art

First of all censorship relating to Art, and in my opinion unjustified censorship. According to Instagram rules, nudity in paintings and sculpture does not go against their community guidelines, and therefore we should be at liberty to share such content. I am not talking about sexually explicit nudity, I am talking about such things as a nipple, or more accurately a nipple on a breast rather than a flat chest. I agree in terms of sexually explicit content and that whether it’s a painting or a photo, this shouldn’t be allowed on such accessible social media as it could easily be seen by young innocent eyes, even if that happens to be over someone’s shoulder. There are more regulated places for that I am sure.

So you are an artist who paints, sculpts, or draws nude bodies, you post this completely wonderful non offensive creation to Instagram… we all have bodies remember… and they are removed from your account, you are issued with a violation which means ultimately you could lose your account, unlikely get an appeal listened to as its a robot dealing wit the response, likely in the meantime your content won’t be shared to “non followers”.

This is the piece i was concerned about sharing on Instagram - of life model Diana

AI is clearly unable to distinguish nudity that is explicit from nudity that is art/painting/drawing etc, which is ludicrous. I have painted a topless model, the piece is available to purchase, (Right here) but I almost didn’t share it to Instagram through fear of it being removed, I did in fact cover the nipples, just in hope that at least it would be available for people to see and they would understand my predicament.

AI will allow, even bombard us with edited, filtered, unrealistic body images. Is it considered more harmful for us to see a nipple than it is for us to have unrealistic body images forced upon us day after day, when art is more likely to celebrate all forms and versions of people?…and in turn be a far healthier and realistic view of the world.? There seems to be no censorship of promoting false lifestyles, and filtered body images, which absolutely has a detrimental effect on people, and distorts our perception of what reality is… but of course art doesn’t create a sense of worthlessness that consumerism needs, again a whole other topic. Nonetheless, art is being censored unfairly.

What does this mean for the Artist?

Do they have to then find other means of promoting their work, rather than using one of the most accessible (works both ways) tools available, that reaches basically the World, how is this fair? They should have the same access and freedom as an artist choosing to paint a landscape. (Providing as I said, in my opinion that it is not sexually explicit) What do they do, censor their own work, remove the nudity? Stop celebrating the human form through their Art? How can this be an answer and what are the potential consequences to the art that is being created now and in the Future?

(Artists i know have had their work censored. These accounts I either follow them on Instagram or they have told me their work was removed, Michelle Lucking @michelleluckingart, Oliver Hooper @olioopa_art , Camillio Carreno- Gonzalez @camilo_carreno and Nirma @nirmasart … there will be hundreds of others)

Let us also not forget the many incredible life models, who generously pose for photos, and classes and share their bodies with Artists to work from. They too are being targeted by the Instagram robots, and even more frequently having their accounts removed, and not even for nudity, sometimes just because a pose may seem inappropriate.

(Fantastic life models I have worked with Diana Jean @Dianajeano and Andrea @artmodelandrea3.0 also i pay a monthly Patreon for Draw Brighton @draw_brighton

The impact this has on creatives

This leads to another point of mine, does the artist then alter their way of working to make sure they can still create and share their work without fear of a main source of promotion being taken away from them, without trial or jury? I know of artists that will create work they know has more commercial appeal and that provides them with their income and then will create aside from this to satisfy their other hunger- but not everyone can do that, and should be a choice to do this and not a forced situation. It also then changes the art we see, we will see a diluted more “palatable” version, meant not to challenge or be real, but one to conform and appeal to the masses…. That is not what creativity is about. Just to refer back, this is all because an AI system will be filtering out images, as far as I am aware there aren’t humans sat there trawling through images deciding whether they are appropriate or not.

There is another side to this, art is being censored but wearing a different disguise, by where the artist can be lead by AI and I have first hand experience of this.

I am assuming that AI is also what we like to call the algorithm, I know it is complex and ever changing but essentially there is some non human thing trying to give us the best experience when we are on these apps etc, based on posts we spend time watching and what seems to be grabbing many peoples attention.

With the exception of 1 piece of artwork (my socks drawing, shared by a few huge accounts so I will not really count it as a part of this evaluation) if I paint a funny face, or quite obvious face, using bright colours (all trademarks of mine) it will achieve the most “likes” on Instagram, and I do not believe that is because it’s my best work. If I share a drawing, a more figurative piece, or shoes etc, slightly away from my norm, then they never do as “well”.

2 things can happen from this;

First of all , we are getting a false impression maybe of what I create? I don’t just paint faces, but Instagram pushes that side because it sees its popularity and so the algorithm or AI goes to work.

The second part to this, is that I recognise what appears popular, so what do I do with this information?… I could possibly be more likely to create work like this based on the feedback and then likelihood of a sale, which I need to keep me painting, I think my other work isn’t as successful, so then I don’t produce as much of this. I think when art creates our income it would be natural to lean into what is popular because the odds are you are more likely to sell it, and then more likely to be able to keep doing something you love. Your best work might come from what you want to explore, but by being guided by the AI popularity robot, you are more likely to dilute your intuition that has guided you to draw the random hand or pair of socks in the first place and instead become a slave to the machine, creating things that have mass appeal…. And without being trivial, it will always be the “beautiful and obvious” art that will do “well” or appeal more, but surely we want to create something that has come from our soul and not influenced by a machine that is telling us what our soul should say.

This is a huge topic and I could go off on numerous tangents. I am worried about the impact Instagram is having on Artists, like myself, who mostly share their work in this format. I am concerned that they could ultimately give up on their passion due to the set backs/censorship and those that will change what they produce to appease the algorithms.

I am concerned that we will see less and less of what is real in this world. I appreciate that seeing things digitally isn’t as real anyway as standing in front of a painting in a gallery and staring with your on eyes, but not all artists want to exhibit in a gallery or show.

What can Artists and creatives do? and Art lovers?

I don’t have any advice really going forward with this, as I’m trying to navigate my way through it as well, on what feels like the moving stairs up to the Hogwarts common rooms (I’m a Hufflepuff in case you wondered) All I’d say is Creators, check in with yourself. If you love a piece, love it regardless, love it even if no one else does (but remember this is a skewed opinion if shared on Instagram), I promise that following what you love will bring you more joy, inspiration, excitement and longevity than creating something to please the unpleasable.

Creators and Art lovers, sign up to mailing lists and back up accounts if creatives have them. Yes, I have a mailing list, (you can signup here) and I won’t bombard you, most artists won’t because they don’t have the time! However, if we lose our Social media accounts then at least we can stay in touch with you.

Finally I guess, recognise that Instagram isn’t reality for the most part. It’s a curated, controlled, consumer of time. Despite these negatives I will continue to use because it allows me to reach an audience bigger that I could ever imagine, I just hope and try to remain as authentic as possible with my posts and creations, even if the AI machines try and guide me differently.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my scrambled thoughts once again.

with love and thanks

Flo x

How I think AI is affecting Art and Artists

Censorship relating to Art

What does this mean for the Artist?

The impact this has on creatives

What can Artists and creatives do? and Art lovers?