The tattoo artist community is the latest industry to be unexpectedly influenced by AI. With the capabilities of ChatGPT and generative AI, the possibilities for personal tasks are seemingly limitless – from managing calendars to crafting essays and resumes. However, now people are turning to AI for inspiration for their next tattoo. According to Google, searches for “AI tattoo generator” have reached an all-time high both in the US and globally. Paid platforms like BlackInk AI and InkTune allow users to input their desired parameters for their dream tattoo – the objects, colors, and style they want – and AI generates a design that fits their specifications. To get a sense of how these bots work, BuzzFeed, the parent company of HuffPost, offers a basic version of an AI-assisted tattoo generator (note: this trend should not be confused with the industrial robots capable of tattooing that gained attention in 2016).
Tattoo artists have started receiving AI-generated requests, albeit slowly. Daniel Meyer, a tattoo artist on Hawaii Island, has received email inquiries from clients who attached AI-generated images to visually convey the tattoo idea they had in mind. Meyer has found it helpful, as it gives him a rough idea of the general elements the clients are looking for without them having to create rudimentary drawings. It serves as a starting point to initiate a conversation about their specific tattoo design rather than being an exact representation.
However, from Meyer’s experience, the designs generated by AI tend to be rather generic. They may be suitable for pre-designed tattoos but lack the essential component of a design that tells a story and has artistic depth. Furthermore, the rise of AI-generated art raises ethical concerns, as tech companies have used copyrighted works without compensating the creators. Although some may argue that AI-generated art is a product of information fed by countless human works, Meyer believes that the concept of copyright should not apply to art. He personally enjoys incorporating elements or styles from other artists working in different media to create novel ideas and expand his creative repertoire.
While AI-assisted tattoo designs can offer unique options, tattoo artists emphasize the importance of the human touch in the client-artist relationship. Tattoo artists fear that relying solely on AI-generated designs might devalue their role, replacing true innovation with imitation. Authenticity is a vital aspect that cannot be replicated by algorithms. However, AI could provide outside-the-box artistic options. Still, it’s crucial not to have unreasonable expectations of human artists based on AI-generated designs, as computers may not fully understand what is feasible in tattooing.
Despite the potential impact of AI, tattoo artists note that clients often bring in reference images from sources like Google or Pinterest. While these images are starting points, clients seek the artist’s expertise and creativity to make the design more personal and authentic. Tattoo artists are skilled at refining these prompts through tools like Photoshop, Procreate, or traditional pencils to achieve a final design that meets the client’s expectations.
Martin Devlin Kelly, a tattoo artist in London, shares a similar sentiment. He finds pleasure in identifying exact copies of tattoos and seeing the distortion become exaggerated with each trace. Devlin Kelly is eager for the day when someone brings in an AI-generated design with unrealistic elements, such as a seven-fingered abomination. As tattoo artists are commonly critiqued for their ability to draw hands, they can now blame the AI reference if they struggle with accuracy.
In conclusion, while AI can serve as a starting point for tattoo designs, tattoo artists believe that the human touch, creativity, and intuition they bring to the process are irreplaceable. AI-generated designs lack the depth, storytelling, and unique artistic expression that come with a handmade design. Authenticity and the client-artist connection should be valued over imitation and reliance on AI.
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