This appears to be the year in which AI (artificial intelligence) goes mainstream; with its new “Paint & Power” series of prints, SentiMETAL (a Cars.co.za sub-brand that’s aimed at motoring enthusiasts) vividly showcases the power of combining new technologies with a human touch.
“Diving headfirst into the world of AI art creation is a journey of perplexity and wonder, and something that I had been hugely keen to explore for our store,” Andrew Crawford, the Head of Creative at South Africa’s leading automotive platform, explains. “For the ‘Paint & Power’ series, I embarked on the journey with a combination of MidJourney and Photoshop as my trusty tools.
“During the creative process, I visualised famous car color schemes coming to life in a veritable explosion of paint. With MidJourney’s assistance, I was able to generate unique designs that I then meticulously refined and tweaked using Photoshop,” Crawford adds.
The “Paint & Power” series features four artworks that measure 420 mm by 420 mm and retails for R150 apiece (which excludes shipping). The line-up consists of the following vehicles/colour schemes: Subaru WRX/555 Blue&Gold, BMW M3/BMW Motorsport Blue/White/Red, Porsche 911/Gulf Orange&Blue and Toyota GR Supra/Castrol Red/White/Green.
“I’m very proud of the outcome. We’re ready to embrace the world of AI and all that it can offer, but, let’s not forget that the human element is also crucial in this entire process. The artist’s creative input and decision-making remain vital in crafting pieces such as these,” he concludes.
