Abstract

This studio thesis investigates the process and result of merging traditional art-making media with emerging technologies in creating portraits. Through the creation of 10 oil portrait paintings with AI and AR components, the following questions are considered: What happens when artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) are paired with traditional art-making tools, and what benefits can students gain from using AI and AR in the art room? How can emerging technologies such as AI and AR be used in conjunction with traditional methods of creation such as painting and drawing? Through interviews, journaling, and the creation of the portraits, I explored the subject and found a marked distinction between the use of traditional media and emerging technologies, both physically and mentally. I described how it affected my creative process and the result of the final works. I also look at using emerging technologies with traditional media in the art class and its possible uses and effects on students and teachers. This thesis calls for the responsible use of emerging technologies in art-making and considers how elementary teachers can use and teach these emerging technologies as a tool in the creation of artworks.