AI Artists — Responsible for Changing the Canvas

Let’s get one thing straight: AI isn’t replacing artists. But it is redefining what it means to create.

We’re witnessing the birth of a new species in the creative ecosystem—the AI artist. These aren’t machines acting alone. They’re humans + algorithms. Curators + code. Thinkers + tools.

This isn’t about fearing the future. It’s about learning to shape it. If you’re a designer, creative director, or business owner, understanding AI artistry today might just give you the edge tomorrow.

At We Will Handle, we’re not afraid of the shift—we’re part of it. And in this piece, we’re going to unpack what AI artistry really means, where it’s going, and how brands can embrace it to tell stories that feel anything but artificial.

What Is an AI Artist?

An AI artist is someone who uses artificial intelligence tools to create, curate, or augment visual art. From generative art made with tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, and Runway, to algorithm-driven installations and deep learning models that “paint” like Van Gogh—this isn’t traditional artistry. But it is creativity.

AI artists don’t ask the machine to make art. They collaborate with it. They craft prompts like a sculptor shapes clay. They experiment, refine, and direct. Their tools have changed, but the intent hasn’t: to create meaning through visuals.

And guess what? The best ones still think like designers.

Why AI Artists Are on the Rise

AI art used to be a novelty. Now, it’s an industry.

Here’s why:

• Speed & Scale: AI can generate hundreds of iterations in seconds.

• Creative Expansion: AI lets artists explore styles, perspectives, and compositions they wouldn’t normally consider.

• Accessibility: You don’t need formal training to start experimenting with AI tools.

• Business Demand: Brands want more content, faster—and AI helps deliver.

At We Will Handle, we’ve embraced AI in our design process not to cut corners, but to widen our creative bandwidth. It lets us explore ideas quickly, prototype faster, and collaborate more fluidly with clients.

The Hook: AI Art Isn’t Fake—It’s Just Different

One of the biggest misconceptions? That AI art is “soulless.”

But let’s be honest—how much commercial art made by humans is truly personal? Stock photos, mass-produced illustrations, logo templates. These are all “human-made,” but not necessarily “human-felt.”

AI art can be mechanical. But in the hands of a thoughtful creator, it becomes expressive. It can shock. Delight. Provoke. It all depends on who’s driving.

So let’s kill the myth: AI doesn’t remove the artist—it reveals a new one.

The Toolkit: AI Art Tools Every Designer Should Know

If you’re serious about exploring this space, here are some AI platforms worth knowing:

• Midjourney – Stunning generative imagery via Discord interface

• DALL·E 3 (OpenAI) – Text-to-image generation with style-specific controls

• Runway ML – Video, image, and motion tools for creatives

• Adobe Firefly – AI built into the Adobe ecosystem (great for photo/text effects)

• Playground AI – Simple UI for experimenting with image styles

• Leonardo AI – Popular with game and concept artists for high-detail renderings

Pro Tip: Pair these tools with prompt engineering strategies to get consistent, usable results.

At We Will Handle, we use AI tools not as shortcuts, but as co-creators—blending their output into our brand illustration, UI design, and marketing visuals.

How AI Artists Are Changing the Creative Workflow

Here’s where things get interesting.

Traditionally, creative workflows looked like this:

1. Brief

2. Sketches

3. Review

4. Design

5. Feedback

6. Delivery

Now? With AI integrated:

1. Brief

2. Prompt generation & exploration

3. Styleboards using AI

4. Human refinement & custom design

5. Review & iteration

6. Delivery

The benefit? Speed and depth. AI-generated concepts help explore a wide range of visual directions early—saving time, inspiring new angles, and involving clients earlier in the process.

This is how we work at We Will Handle, blending the predictability of structure with the chaos of creativity.

Are AI Artists “Real” Artists?

This debate will probably never end. But let’s zoom out.

Was photography considered real art when it emerged? Not at first. Neither was digital painting, or 3D design. But time—and the quality of work—changed that.

Art has never been defined by tools. It’s defined by intention.

An AI artist who thinks deeply, crafts carefully, and uses tools responsibly is just as “real” as any other. In fact, they might be even more disciplined—because their work requires blending creativity with technical fluency.

For Brands: How to Use AI Art Without Looking Artificial

AI art can go wrong when it feels generic. That’s why brands must approach it with strategy, not just curiosity.

Here’s how to do it right:

1. Use AI for Concepting, Not Final Output

Use tools like Midjourney to explore directions—then let human designers bring the final result to life.

2. Blend AI with Your Brand Voice

Don’t let AI output replace your style. Instead, use it to inform layout, emotion, or direction—then apply brand guidelines on top.

3. Work with Hybrid Creators

Find creatives (like our team at We Will Handle) who know how to balance AI’s speed with human storytelling. It’s the best of both worlds.

SEO Tip: AI Art as a Visual SEO Strategy

Here’s an unexpected bonus: AI art can boost SEO.

• Custom visuals reduce bounce rate (users stay longer)

• Engaging images lead to better social shares

• Alt-tagged illustrations improve image SEO rankings

• Unique visuals prevent duplicate content penalties

Using AI to generate unique blog visuals, page headers, or infographics can improve your Rank Math SEO score, especially when combined with schema, compression, and keyword relevance.

Need help integrating visuals with SEO in mind? That’s what we do.

Real Use Case: AI Art in a Brand Repositioning Project

We recently helped a tech startup reposition their brand from “clinical” to “human-focused.” Instead of cold vector icons, we created AI-generated concept visuals based on the idea of “connected intelligence.”

The AI gave us hundreds of visual metaphors—organic networks, glowing threads, neural pathways. We used those as the foundation, then hand-crafted illustrations that kept the emotional tone but aligned with their style guide.

Result: A fresh, modern look that felt intuitive and high-end—created 40% faster than traditional workflows.

The Future of AI Art: What’s Next?

We’re just scratching the surface.

Here’s what we see coming:

• AI video artists: Prompt-to-video generation will revolutionize storytelling

• Live, generative design: Real-time visuals that adapt to data or behavior

• Voice-to-art tools: Say it out loud, and your visual appears

• Ethical models & provenance tools: More clarity on what’s AI-generated and how it was made

But no matter how powerful AI becomes, it won’t replace creativity. It will just raise the bar for what creative professionals can deliver.

Final Thoughts: AI Artists Are Here—What Will You Create?

The rise of AI artists is not the end of creativity. It’s a remix. A revolution. A reinvention of what it means to be visual, expressive, and human in a digital world.

At We Will Handle, we’re not just watching this shift—we’re shaping it. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or ready to dive in, we can help you explore the new creative frontier with confidence.

Because when you blend artistry with AI, something powerful happens:

You create faster.
You explore deeper.
You tell stories that feel new—but still human.