Embracing the Future: Ghost Sketching
This simple technique using AI has the potential to shape the creative workflow for future digital and fine artists, before the machines take over ;)
"Ghost Sketching" – a term coined by Housa Creative, is a simple but powerful method that harnesses the power of AI to streamline concept sketching and unlock boundless creative potential.
Much like the literary giants and musical maestros who have utilized ghostwriters, aspiring artists can now leverage AI to generate digital concept sketches effortlessly. This innovative approach empowers creators to expedite project timelines, cater to clients with limited budgets, and overcome creative blocks with unparalleled ease. The premise is simple yet revolutionary: using prompts to produce AI-generated sketches as a foundation, artists can seamlessly refine and reimagine their compositions in programs like Procreate or Adobe Photoshop. Imagine crafting unique reference images to get the project started. The initial AI images serves as a springboard for boundless creativity, enabling artists to infuse their distinctive style and vision into the final artwork.
What makes this process different than an ordinary prompt is commanding it to produce a black and white sketch style image. Removing the color and styling the image like a pencil sketch is key to prevent the AI image generator from fully rendering the final image. Allowing space for the human imagination to build out those details and make the final decisions. If the image is fully rendered it’s more likely to be intimidating for an artist to reproduce or even demotivating because you’ve already read the last page of the book leaving no room left for the imagination to work. Once you are familiar with the process of generating prompts you may start to experiment with various image styles.
1. Enter your image prompt into an AI image generator. It helps to end it with “black and white sketch”
prompt used: straight on view, full body visible, middle age portly, salty pirate hold a beer stein, eye patch, wooden peg leg, giant standing on an island, styled like a pencial sketch, black and white
Some AI apps you can even include the style of a specific well known artist ex. “Style like Leonardo DaVinci “
2. Download you image and drop into a digital art program like Procreate or Photoshop.
3. Using the AI generated image as a base layer, and sketch over it with a pencil brush. Add your personal touches or use multiple AI images to stitch together a composite. In this phase add in your style and have fun.
4. Remove the AI image leaving your final sketch. Fully render lifework, shapes and color to produce your final image.
Evolution of an image using the Ghost Sketch Method:
If you would like to see this method put into action watch the “Ghost Sketching” tutorial below.
However, embracing this technique isn't without its challenges. Skeptical clients may perceive ghost sketching as taking shortcuts or delegating creativity to machines. Similarly, some within the artistic community may view it as a form of cheating, questioning the authenticity and integrity of the final artwork.
Yet, amidst these apprehensions lies the undeniable allure of AI image applications like Firefly and MidJourney. By integrating AI into their creative workflow, artists can amplify their productivity, tackle a higher volume of projects, and transcend creative block. Moreover, ghost sketching offers a pathway to innovation without compromising the essence of one's artistic identity. Ultimately, ghost sketching represents a symbiotic fusion of human ingenuity and technological advancement. It's not about relinquishing control or sacrificing artistic integrity. Instead, it's about embracing the limitless possibilities that AI affords while retaining the essence of what makes each artist unique.
As we journey into the digital frontier, let us embrace ghost sketching as a tool for creative liberation – a testament to the enduring synergy between artistry and innovation. In doing so, we pave the way for a new era of artistic expression, where the boundaries of imagination are blurred, and the creative spirit knows no limits.
