AI Slop: Why Using AI in Art Isn’t the End of Creativity

I know I’m probably going to get some hate for what I’m about to write, but here goes. Let’s talk about AI slop—the kind of content generated without much thought, intention, or care—and why, despite the criticism, AI can actually be a powerful tool for artists, multimedia creators, graphic designers, and video producers.

AI slop is what happens when technology is used carelessly, when people rely solely on algorithms to “create” without adding their own creativity. Unfortunately some AI artist are falling into this bucket, and wrongly so… for using AI within their work, because of the way early LLM were created, but this is changing fast, with new LLMs. It’s easy to criticize, but if we step back and look at history, the truth is, this is not new. Artists have always borrowed, adapted, and built upon the work of others.

Take the world of CGI-heavy pipelines in movies and video games, for instance. Teams of artists work collaboratively, using pre-made assets, reference material, and software tools to achieve a final vision. Concept artists, texture painters, animators—they all manipulate and transform existing images, designs, and ideas to fit their narrative. The public doesn’t see the layers of reuse and inspiration that went into these productions, but the artists behind them know: it’s part of the creative process.

Even in traditional art, this has always been true. Pop artists like Andy Warhol famously appropriated photographs, manipulated them, and turned them into iconic canvases. Comic artists study other masters’ styles, experiment with inking techniques, and integrate learned visual language into their own work. Who in the comic book world has not copied or wanted to draw like Jim Lee!. Photo retouching, digital manipulation, collage, and compositing are all just methods of borrowing and reimagining content.

Another technique worth mentioning is photobashing. This is when artists take multiple photographs, textures, or scanned materials and combine them digitally into a new composition. Concept artists for films and games often use photobashing to quickly create detailed environments, characters, or props, saving time while still maintaining creative control. Essentially, it’s about using pre-existing elements as building blocks, not as finished products—very similar to how AI-generated content can be used as a starting point rather than the final piece.

Here’s the point: all of these techniques—photobashing, collage, referencing other artists, CGI pipelines—are conceptually similar to using AI-generated content. Artists can experiment with AI to explore new concepts, generate ideas, test color palettes, and even learn how to draw or ink by studying AI outputs. [wrote an article on this here]. Loras, style models, and AI prompts function much like referencing another artist’s technique—they are tools for inspiration and skill-building, not replacements for creativity. And the artist who chooses too, it’s his own lost, as creativity and artistic talent is an ongoing journey and process. This is why challenges like Inktober exist.

In my view, AI is an incredible tool for any artist’s toolbox. For small studios, particularly those building multimedia IPs from scratch, AI can save time, inspire ideas, and accelerate workflows. But—and this is important—the artist’s fingerprint should dominate the final work. I’d argue 75% or more of the creative input should come from the human behind the AI. Sloppy or lazy outputs are “slop,” yes, but intentional use of AI to enhance, not replace, human creativity is entirely different.

So in conclusion, let’s evolve. Let’s use these tools to improve our work, optimize pipelines, and create amazing projects. The objective isn’t just to use AI—it’s to innovate, to be more efficient, and to produce work that’s uniquely ours. Creativity is still the goal. The difference now is, we have AI to help us dream bigger, work smarter, and push the limits of what’s possible. Let’s make ideas into reality!

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Sidebar: Creative Techniques Before AI

1. Photobashing

• Combine multiple photographs, textures, or scanned materials into one composition.
• Used by concept artists for film and games to create environments or props.

2. CGI Layering & Asset Reuse

• Pre-made 3D assets, textures, and animations manipulated to fit a vision.
• Behind-the-scenes reuse is standard in large productions.

3. Pop Art Appropriation

• Andy Warhol transformed photographs into iconic canvases (e.g., Marilyn Monroe portraits).
• Concept: Reimagine pre-existing imagery in a new context.

4. Comic Artist Study & Style Adaptation

• Learning from masters through imitation, practicing inking, experimenting with layouts.
• Adapted techniques become part of an artist’s unique voice.

5. Photo Retouching & Digital Collage

• Combine and manipulate images for editorial, multimedia, or advertising purposes.
• Objective: Enhance storytelling while keeping the artist’s vision central.

Bottom Line:
All of these methods mirror how AI-generated content can be used. AI is not a shortcut for lazy creation—it’s a tool for inspiration, skill-building, and accelerating workflows while keeping the artist in control. BTW have you ever used Comfy UI, that shit isn’t easy!. At least when you get started…