Improving a Drawing with ChatGPT: My Creative Collaborator
"Newton and the Apple Tree - v.1" by Mark Ewbie
This article explores how ChatGPT can help you improve drawings created to accompany text, for writing articles, posters or flyers.
My Experience and Background
I am a writer and artist, both in a limited sense of the word, of many years experience. I like to write my own writing and draw my own drawings.
This keeps my work personal and real.
I have been aware for some time that AI could write articles and create pictures but have resisted going that route. Writing and drawing provide a small income for me, but perhaps as importantly, they help me relax. The process keeps my brain occupied and the results provide pleasure.
Why would I want to lose these pleasurable parts of my life and turn myself into a Bot assistant?
My Experience and Background
I am a writer and artist, both in a limited sense of the word, of many years experience. I like to write my own writing and draw my own drawings.
This keeps my work personal and real.
I have been aware for some time that AI could write articles and create pictures but have resisted going that route. Writing and drawing provide a small income for me, but perhaps as importantly, they help me relax. The process keeps my brain occupied and the results provide pleasure.
Why would I want to lose these pleasurable parts of my life and turn myself into a Bot assistant?
Creating Illustrations
I wrote a small humorous piece that included the classic story about Newton and the apple tree. I am sure there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of pictures out there depicting the scene. It might take a while to find one I liked and ensure there were no copyright issues.
In any case I prefer to draw my own illustrations. It’s a rewarding challenge that helps me sharpen my skills.
An additional and important benefit is occasionally producing something I can place on products for sale through Print on Demand manufacturing. A dual benefit if you like. I do.
I created a new drawing to accompany the article. It was simple, with little time spent to create something that was perfectly adequate for the purpose.
I wrote a small humorous piece that included the classic story about Newton and the apple tree. I am sure there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of pictures out there depicting the scene. It might take a while to find one I liked and ensure there were no copyright issues.
In any case I prefer to draw my own illustrations. It’s a rewarding challenge that helps me sharpen my skills.
An additional and important benefit is occasionally producing something I can place on products for sale through Print on Demand manufacturing. A dual benefit if you like. I do.
I created a new drawing to accompany the article. It was simple, with little time spent to create something that was perfectly adequate for the purpose.
Using the AI
I know AI could create an image for me but as explained, that is not where I want to start. The beauty of this exciting tool is asking it to review your creation and suggest improvements.
Now I have my new best friend — ChatGPT — I can ask it to review a drawing. After just a few days of using ChatGPT, it is starting to feel indispensable.
The article had already been run through the proofreading and review process. My request to ChatGPT was “can you critique a picture for accompanying the article”. It responded positively, as it always does — unless my free units have been used up. When that happens, I do something else for a while. It waits for me to return.
I uploaded the picture using the paperclip icon, and selected ‘upload from computer’. It only took moments to load — we are not talking Sistine Chapel complexity here. ChatGPT took a few more seconds to respond with a comprehensive and useful analysis. The first set of responses were the usual positive stuff that I expected. That is nice and made me feel good towards my friend. There was rather more.
In its gentle way it listed how the picture could be improved! The capability of the software blows my mind. Logically, if AI can draw pictures from scratch then making suggestions for improvement should not be too much of a surprise.
It was still a surprise!
I know AI could create an image for me but as explained, that is not where I want to start. The beauty of this exciting tool is asking it to review your creation and suggest improvements.
Now I have my new best friend — ChatGPT — I can ask it to review a drawing. After just a few days of using ChatGPT, it is starting to feel indispensable.
The article had already been run through the proofreading and review process. My request to ChatGPT was “can you critique a picture for accompanying the article”. It responded positively, as it always does — unless my free units have been used up. When that happens, I do something else for a while. It waits for me to return.
I uploaded the picture using the paperclip icon, and selected ‘upload from computer’. It only took moments to load — we are not talking Sistine Chapel complexity here. ChatGPT took a few more seconds to respond with a comprehensive and useful analysis. The first set of responses were the usual positive stuff that I expected. That is nice and made me feel good towards my friend. There was rather more.
In its gentle way it listed how the picture could be improved! The capability of the software blows my mind. Logically, if AI can draw pictures from scratch then making suggestions for improvement should not be too much of a surprise.
It was still a surprise!
ChatGPT Suggestions for Improvement
ChatGPT suggested the following improvements to my drawing.
1. Make the colors pop more.
2. Add a “Vote for Gravity” sign.
3. Include a floating cloud with Newton’s equation in it.
4. Add a caption or speech bubble with a humorous comment from Newton.
These were realistic and sensible ideas for developing my quick drawing into a much better piece of work.
At the time, I did not take ChatGPT’s advice. I wanted to get the article published and did not want to revisit my drawing. It was good enough.
ChatGPT suggested the following improvements to my drawing.
1. Make the colors pop more.
2. Add a “Vote for Gravity” sign.
3. Include a floating cloud with Newton’s equation in it.
4. Add a caption or speech bubble with a humorous comment from Newton.
These were realistic and sensible ideas for developing my quick drawing into a much better piece of work.
At the time, I did not take ChatGPT’s advice. I wanted to get the article published and did not want to revisit my drawing. It was good enough.
The Revised Drawing
When I decided to write this article about the benefits of using ChatGPT to critique your artwork, it made sense to apply the suggestions to my drawing. I was immediately content with the suggestions — they were clear, made sense, and were acceptable to me.
Adding extra details to the existing drawing was a compromise. I had to squeeze them in to the picture as it wasn’t originally designed to allow room for some of the new ideas. If this drawing had been intended for wider consumption — t-shirts, mugs and cards perhaps — or for an important customer, I would have redesigned it from scratch, ensuring the elements balanced correctly.
Here is the revised picture.
When I decided to write this article about the benefits of using ChatGPT to critique your artwork, it made sense to apply the suggestions to my drawing. I was immediately content with the suggestions — they were clear, made sense, and were acceptable to me.
Adding extra details to the existing drawing was a compromise. I had to squeeze them in to the picture as it wasn’t originally designed to allow room for some of the new ideas. If this drawing had been intended for wider consumption — t-shirts, mugs and cards perhaps — or for an important customer, I would have redesigned it from scratch, ensuring the elements balanced correctly.
Here is the revised picture.
"Newton and the Apple Tree - v.2" by Mark Ewbie
The picture now includes the initial AI suggestions. It could be further improved for balance and clarity, and as expected, the subsequent AI review offered yet more areas to improve. For reasons of time and energy — it’s been a long day of learning — I have decided to leave it there.
One pleasing and essential element of the end result is that the drawing is still mine. My style, my effort, my limited skill. ChatGPT didn’t create it for me — it helped me make it better.
I hope this demonstrates the benefits of collaborating with ChatGPT.
One pleasing and essential element of the end result is that the drawing is still mine. My style, my effort, my limited skill. ChatGPT didn’t create it for me — it helped me make it better.
I hope this demonstrates the benefits of collaborating with ChatGPT.
Summary
I have much enjoyed these first few days of using ChatGPT to improve my writing practices and now, my drawing too.
It feels like working with a partner — one who is never too tired or busy to offer helpful suggestions without criticism.
I will continue to get pleasure from my own creative processes of writing and drawing. It looks like ChatGPT will help me become better at both.
I am becoming a fan!
Will you be joining me on this journey?
I have much enjoyed these first few days of using ChatGPT to improve my writing practices and now, my drawing too.
It feels like working with a partner — one who is never too tired or busy to offer helpful suggestions without criticism.
I will continue to get pleasure from my own creative processes of writing and drawing. It looks like ChatGPT will help me become better at both.
I am becoming a fan!
Will you be joining me on this journey?