GRIT Ed. 11 | 5G, Web3, NFTs... - Magazine - Page 27
“If you think about it, almost all other types of artists—
musicians, film directors, writers—have long had ways
to reach mass audiences, but visual artists are still
making pieces that can be purchased by only one
buyer,” says Ryan. “We have technology to record and
distribute other art forms at scale. So I thought, why not
do this for visual art as well?”
Teaching Robots to Master the Artist’s
Touch
But teaching a robot to paint has been no easy feat, says
Benjamin Dowden, head of engineering at Acrylic. “Even
a tiny shift in pressure or pose can cause the resulting
piece to look nothing like the original.” In addition to
this technical challenge, the process requires a deep
understanding of an artist’s style and techniques. “Our
technology analyzes the artist’s brushstrokes, colour
palettes and artistic preferences, capturing millions of
data points per piece,” Ryan explains. “And our robots
are programmed using proprietary, high-precision
control systems and machine learning algorithms. This
means they can replicate the artist’s brushstrokes on
canvas while rendering their overall style accurately
and bringing their vision to life.” This approach—
painting each stroke exactly as the artist did, using real
paint on canvas—allows Acrylic to produce collections
of high-quality artworks that accurately mix pigments
to get colour and shading just right while also
capturing elusive elements like depth, translucence
and intentionality. This represents an immense leap in
quality from a flat, pixel-based photo print.
But What Do Artists Think?
As you might expect, some artists are embracing the
technology while others feel more cautious about its
potential impact on a traditional art form. However,
based on the views she has gathered from speaking
with hundreds of artists, Ryan believes that ultimately,
her technology will invigorate the industry by making
art more accessible, engaging and immersive for all.
“We’re providing artists with a new way to generate
orders of magnitude more income,” she says. “At the
same time, we’re giving the public what they want:
high-quality works of art made with real paint and
materials at a more affordable price point.” She has
noticed growing enthusiasm for Acrylic’s mission as
improvements to its technology have made it easier
for artists to adopt. The company is also getting artists
onside because generative art platforms have recently
entered the public domain without giving artists
royalties or asking for consent to use their work. Acrylic
now has a robust waitlist, has partnered with major
artists, and will be launching its initial collections this
year.
Key Values: Ethics & Authenticity
“The artists we collaborate with have complete creative
control over their work,” says Ryan. “We use robotic
technology to assist in the creative process rather than
replace the artist.” The idea is to ensure that artists can
retain their unique visions and styles while embracing
the advantages of robotics.
Democratizing The Art Industry With
Robotics & Machine Learning
Ultimately, Ryan’s vision for Acrylic is to be a leading
force in the art industry and push the boundaries of
what’s possible. Kyle Suri, the company’s chief operating
officer, is exploring the opportunities and says there are
several on the horizon.
Initially, says Suri, this will look like expanding to
incorporate new media (such as new materials and
brush tools) in order to increase the complexity of the
pieces that artists can create. After that, the focus will
be on expanding the company’s target markets—think
hotel chains that need to furnish hundreds of rooms
with similar pieces—and seeking partnerships with
major online sales platforms and galleries.
Last but not least, Acrylic will look to develop software
that enables non-artists to create their own pieces
using generative AI.
What You Need To Know About Robotics
While robots can accomplish astounding feats, and
their capabilities continue to grow, they can still struggle
with tasks that would be elementary for a human.
“Something as simple as picking up a paintbrush can
represent a huge challenge for a robot”, Chloë reveals.
“Robots are hard to teach, and their strengths are often
counterintuitive: they’re bad at what people are good
at, and vice versa.”
Building A Better World
Ryan has been developing Acrylic’s technology since
early 2020, and has never wavered from her mission to
create a world with more art everywhere. One collection
at a time, she aims to expand the “middle class” of art—
and with it, its potential to benefit society at large.
“We live in increasingly polarized times where people
seem to find it more and more difficult to co-exist
peacefully, “ says Ryan. “Art can be a powerful antidote to
these dynamics. It can help people express themselves,
process emotions and see different perspectives. It can
make a statement, change an opinion and translate
experiences across eras and places. It serves as a
repository of memory and culture. Why shouldn’t we all
have access to creating it and enjoying it?”
In an era of rapidly changing technology, ventures
like Acrylic Robotics are a testament to the power of
innovation and human ingenuity. Ryan and her team
are paving the way for a new generation of artists and
art enthusiasts, blending creativity and technology
to craft a harmonious future where art and robotics
coexist.
SPRING 2023
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