The Evolution of AI Art: From Selling Artworks to Selling Prompts

The advent of generative AI has revolutionized the art world, presenting artists with innovative avenues to monetize their creativity. While the initial wave of AI art focused on selling the artworks themselves, a notable shift is occurring: artists are increasingly turning to the sale of prompts—the textual instructions that guide AI in generating art. This article explores this emerging trend, highlighting key players, platforms, and the implications for artists in the digital age.

The Rise of Prompt Selling

In February 2023, Italian digital artist David Sandonato made headlines by selling Midjourney prompt catalogues on PromptBase, a marketplace dedicated to AI art prompts. Today, Sandonato stands as the top-ranked artist on the platform, boasting a library of 4,000 to 5,000 prompts, with new uploads added daily. In a recent interview, he expressed his belief that the market for prompts has significant growth potential, especially as more people realize that a substantial portion of images in top microstock agencies can be generated using effective prompts.

This shift from selling finished artworks to selling the prompts that create them reflects a broader trend in the art community. Artists are recognizing the value of their creative input in crafting the right prompts, which can lead to high-quality AI-generated images.

Success Stories in AI Art

The success of AI-generated art is not limited to prompt selling. For instance, 19-year-old artist Ashok Reddy recently sold nearly 100 AI-generated pieces in just two days at Bengaluru’s Church Street. Reddy boldly stated, “AI art is real art, and there’s no shying away from this statement,” emphasizing the legitimacy of AI-generated creations.

Another landmark moment in AI art history was the auction of “The Portrait of Edmond de Belamy” by the French art collective Obvious. This AI-generated artwork fetched an astonishing $432,500 at Christie’s in 2018, far surpassing its initial estimate of $7,000 to $10,000. Such instances illustrate the potential for AI art to command significant financial value.

The Marketplace for Prompts

As the trend of selling prompts gains traction, various online marketplaces have emerged to facilitate this new business model. Platforms like PromptBase, Ai4 Prompt, and Etsy are now hosting prompt catalogues for popular AI systems such as Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion. For example, Justin Reckling, a prominent figure in “prompt engineering,” created the popular “Block Cities” prompt, which generates isometric tiles of city skylines and has become a top seller on PromptBase.

Etsy has also adapted to this trend, recently announcing that sellers can offer artwork created from their own prompts or AI tools, provided they disclose the use of these methods in their listings. However, Etsy has prohibited the sale of AI prompt bundles, asserting that prompts are an integral part of the creative process and should not be sold separately from the final artwork.

Financial Opportunities for Artists

The emergence of marketplaces for prompts has opened new revenue streams for artists. On PromptBase, for instance, users can sell their prompts and retain 80% of the revenue from each approved sale. Sandonato noted that the PromptBase marketplace initially contributed 30-40% to his monthly income, although this figure has since declined due to increased competition from other prompt engineers.

The Artist-AI Relationship

The relationship between traditional artists and AI-generated art has been complex and often contentious. Initially, many artists reacted negatively to AI art generation tools like Midjourney and DALL-E, even considering boycotts. The backlash intensified when an AI-generated artwork won a digital art competition, raising concerns about the implications for human artists.

However, the sentiment is shifting. Artists are beginning to embrace AI as a tool rather than a competitor. As muralist Sneha Chakraborty stated at Cypher 2023, “It is foolish to resist AI while creating art.” This perspective reflects a growing recognition that AI can enhance creativity and democratize art creation, enabling anyone to produce exceptional images from simple prompts.

Conclusion

The transition from selling AI-generated artworks to selling the prompts that create them marks a significant evolution in the art world. As artists like David Sandonato and Ashok Reddy demonstrate, there is a burgeoning market for prompts that can yield substantial financial rewards. While the relationship between traditional artists and AI remains complex, the increasing acceptance of AI as a creative partner suggests a promising future for both human and machine-generated art. As the landscape continues to evolve, artists must adapt to these changes, leveraging new technologies to enhance their creative expression and financial viability.