155. Art, Beauty & Imagination: Is It In The AI Of The Beholder? / Carl De Jager

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with a dear friend and one of the most extraordinary Realist Painters of our generation, Carl de Jager.

Born and raised in South Africa, Carl is a fine artist and co-founder of The Realist Painter, a project that delivers painting and drawing workshops across multiple European locations including Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and Austria, distilling years of classical training into highly focused learning experiences.

Having originally obtained a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art History, Carl went on to have a successful career as a software engineer in Melbourne, and he later pivoted to pursue classical drawing and painting at the prestigious Barcelona Academy of Art.

A well loved and respected teacher and program coordinator, delivering instruction from fundamental drawing techniques to advanced painting methods, Carl also oversees specialised courses including Light and Form and Portrait programs.

I actually had the pleasure of being taught by Carl in person while studying at BAA, an experience which (as some of you may know), fundamentally changed the course of my life – prompting a change in country, an expanding of community, and a shifting of priorities that gave rise not only to this podcast and the Salons, but to my painting and music-making that are now at the heart of my daily life.

I’ve been wanting to bring Carl onto the show for a long while, especially since he brings such a unique, multifaceted approach to creativity, art and AI. It’s not often one gets the opportunity to speak to someone with such deep expertise in both art and technology, which is why this conversation was such a gift.

And another gift – if you’ve ever felt a call to paint or draw, The Realist Painter are hosting a really exciting collaborative workshop this September with one of the most celebrated painters of the contemporary art world, Scott Waddell, formerly from the Grand Central Academy in New York. This rare workshop will focus on the great 19th century master , Bouguereau, and it’s selling out fast – so if you’ve been holding back on your creative impulse and you want to experience the best teaching the art world has to offer, from some of the most sought-after artists, this is for you. I’ll put the links in the shownotes, or you can visit The Realist Painter.com.

SUMMARY

In this conversation, Carl and Nathalie explore the intersection of creativity and AI, discussing the nature and process of creativity and the implications of AI on artistic expression. They discuss the complexities of cultural gatekeeping, the future of art in an AI-driven world, and the challenges surrounding intellectual property. The dialogue highlights the importance of personal experience in creativity and the evolving role of technology in artistic practices.

LINKS

https://www.instagram.com/carldejager.art/

https://www.carldejager.com/

https://www.therealistpainter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/therealistpainter/

CHAPTERS

02:58 The Essence of Creativity

05:59 AI's Role in Artistic Expression

08:55 The Intersection of Human and AI Creativity

12:03 The Complexity of Artistic Creation

15:11 Cultural Gatekeeping in Art

17:52 The Future of Art and AI

21:06 Responsibility and Understanding AI's Impact

34:22 The Trust Crisis in Governance

36:18 Reconsidering Copyright and Intellectual Property

42:49 The Evolution of AI Tools in Art

48:25 Navigating the AI Landscape in Creativity

55:50 Art as a Community Experience

57:24 The Realist Painter: A New Venture