Painting with AI: Enhancing Creativity and Understanding in the Arts Classroom

Authors

Erica BlumFollow

Abstract

In the context of contemporary art and design education, the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence has introduced profound shifts in both creative practice and pedagogical responsibility. Art and design professors now encounter students who approach AIdriven tools with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, often perceiving such technologies as antithetical to authentic artistic development or as expedient alternatives to disciplined practice. This article articulates an instructional approach that leverages Adobe Photoshop’s generative capabilities—specifically neural filters, generative fill, and the manipulation of alpha channels— to position artificial intelligence as a collaborative, rather than substitutive, element within digital art-making. The 2025 statements issued by the United States Copyright Office serve as a critical backdrop, clarifying that only works demonstrating substantial human authorship are eligible for copyright protection and underscoring the necessity for students to develop both technical mastery and ethical discernment in the era of algorithmic co-creation. Through detailed demonstrations and iterative, non-destructive workflows, this pedagogical model cultivates students’ ability to move fluently between automated processes and manual refinement, fostering both creative confidence and critical awareness. The research asserts that, when integrated intentionally, generative AI enhances rather than diminishes conceptual rigor, enabling students to assume the roles of editors, curators, and responsible co-authors of digital imagery. By foregrounding the interplay of human agency and computational assistance, art and design education not only responds to the legal and ethical imperatives of the present moment but also prepares practitioners to navigate the evolving landscape of contemporary creative industries.

A link to a video of Erica Blum's presentation can be found below in the Additional Files section.

Recommended Citation

Blum, Erica (2025) "Painting with AI: Enhancing Creativity and Understanding in the Arts Classroom," International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62608/2831-3550.1034
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/ijedie/vol3/iss1/5