I made $_____ selling AI Generated Art on Fiverr (100 Day Challenge)

Introduction

This was my first time being a Fiverr seller. I did no outside promotion, and I am by no means an artist. Everything I sold was generated from text by artificial intelligence. If you clicked on this article because you wanted to see how much money I made, it was $ 334.48. You can close this article and go watch someone who reminisces about their experiences, but if you're curious about what it's like to sell digital paintings for five bucks, my thoughts on the ethics of taking work from real artists, and if selling a few AI-generated creations might be a good way to fund your AI art hobby, I hope you read this article to the end because you are in for a treat.

I am painfully aware that this is likely the most controversial piece I will ever write. According to the art world and probably most reasonable people, AI-generated art isn’t considered "art," is not worth money, and everything it generates is just a mix of images taken from the internet that once belonged to real artists. Essentially, selling AI-generated art could make one appear as an evil, plagiarizing scammer. If someone was bold enough to sell AI-generated art and boast about it in a public setting, their comment section would likely be filled with hate.

Hi, I’m Globetry, and 100 days ago, I set up a Fiverr account to sell AI-generated art. Since then, I’ve completed 25 orders and have received only five-star reviews. Posting this article feels like a big risk, as I imagine some readers are already formulating their nasty comments, but if that’s not you, feel free to check if you’re subscribed—I’d love to have you in my community. And don’t worry; if after reading this whole thing you still feel mad at me, you can absolutely write something mean later—it's totally allowed!

Understanding AI-Generated Art

First, let’s address what AI-generated art is, how it works, and why it garners so much criticism. The majority of these AI models combine natural language processing with image synthesis. You describe an image to a computer using plain text, the computer processes it, and eventually, you receive a generated image.

Initially, many of these models weren't great and produced mostly unremarkable results. However, as the technology advanced, they became tools for creating memes, and now the leading models can generate photorealistic images of virtually anything. The issue arises from the fact that these models are trained on millions of images scraped from the internet, which includes the hard work of thousands of artists and photographers. This means they can mimic existing art styles and create variations of real people, which understandably alarms many artists.

Artists invest years honing their craft to develop their unique styles. If computers can replicate that in under a minute, it raises questions about the need for traditional artists.

To summarize, when an AI-generated piece of artwork is attributed to the AI, the credit should actually go to the original creators whose work was included in the training data.

My Fiverr Journey

I ventured into selling AI-generated art on Fiverr primarily because I don’t possess traditional art skills. I identified a gap in the market and decided to fill it. When I priced my gig, I checked other Fiverr offers and noticed many start at five dollars. This price is appealing, as it helps in search rankings.

I noted how real artists typically charge a minimum of $ 40 for sketches and upwards of $ 100 for fully colored pieces, so I aimed to differentiate myself by offering affordable alternatives. I limited my offerings to landscapes and cityscapes—the areas where AI art performance was stronger.

After setting my gig live, it took time to gain traction. I didn’t receive my first order until weeks later. However, once I received my first five-star review, things changed, and I began consistently getting orders.

My workflow involved Midjourney, an AI tool that aids in generating more refined images, which I then curated and enhanced using Photoshop. Each piece was a combination of several AI-generated images refined to meet the client's vision. Although my final products were not ornate, the experience was gratifying. Many clients were appreciative and understood the limitations associated with purchasing budget art.

Ultimately, I believe I am not taking jobs away from true artists, but rather providing an accessible option for those on a budget who seek aesthetic appeal. Watching these AI tools at work deepened my appreciation for the artistry and skill that contribute to beautiful creations.

Conclusion

After 100 days of using AI to fulfill commissions, I’ve come to appreciate the significance of artistry in our world. While the images I sold may not have been groundbreaking, the endeavor was enriching and reaffirmed my belief in the power of creativity—both human and artificial.

Keywords

AI-generated art, Fiverr, digital paintings, ethics, commissions, natural language processing, photorealistic images, training data, Midjourney, Photoshop, creativity.

FAQ

1. What is AI-generated art?
AI-generated art refers to images created by algorithms that process text descriptions and generate visual representations based on training data derived from existing artworks.

2. How much money did you make selling AI art on Fiverr?
I made a total of $ 334.48 from selling AI-generated art on Fiverr over the course of 100 days.

3. Is selling AI art ethical?
This is a controversial topic. While some argue it undermines traditional artists, others find that it offers affordable options for those on a budget. I aimed to be transparent about my process and the limitations of AI-generated art.

4. How did you create AI art for clients?
I primarily used Midjourney to generate images based on client requests, then refined these images using Photoshop to meet specific design needs and ensure quality.

5. Did you face any challenges selling AI art?
Initially, it took time to gain visibility and credibility on Fiverr, but positive reviews helped establish trust with potential customers. The challenges mainly revolved around the limitations of AI and delivering client expectations.