I Tried Selling AI Art For 30 Days

Introduction

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, I decided to embark on a unique venture: selling AI-generated art for 30 days. The art wasn't created by a traditional artist but generated using AI tools, which opened a new world of possibilities. This journey was not just about creating art but also about understanding the intricacies of selling and marketing in a competitive online space.

Getting Started with AI Art

To kick off my initiative, I needed access to an AI art generator. There are several options available, including DALL-E 2, MidJourney, and NightCafe. However, I opted for Stable Diffusion, an open-source AI generator that offers unlimited image generation without inherent costs, aside from the initial setup on a compatible computer. Unfortunately, I lacked the necessary Nvidia GPU, so I enlisted the help of my friend Daniel, who had an impressive gaming setup.

Once set up, we began generating quirky images—such as a gangster baby in oil painting style and weird banana spaceships featuring Elon Musk. These creations were not only amusing but also a testament to the capabilities of AI in art generation.

Setting Up the Business

With a portfolio filling up, I turned my attention to sales. I decided to leverage Fiverr, a marketplace for freelance services, to sell custom AI art. To gain traction, it was essential to niche down our offerings, and we settled on five appealing gigs:

City and Landscape Concept Art
Dog Portraits
Dungeons and Dragons Character and Landscape Art
Heavy Metal and Rock Album Covers
Anime and Furry Character Art

I crafted compelling gig descriptions with attractive images, pricing them competitively—from a basic package at $ 5 to a premium package at $ 15. Despite the efforts, a week passed with no orders and minimal interaction.

Overcoming Initial Hurdles

Feeling stagnant, I explored different avenues for engagement. Recognizing that our Dungeons and Dragons art was popular, I began engaging in Facebook groups relevant to the niche. Unfortunately, my self-promotion post was met with a significant backlash, showcasing the tension between traditional artists and AI-generated art. Some people expressed anger and frustration, perceiving AI art as a threat to their livelihood.

Despite this setback, I received encouraging messages from others in the community. They likened the situation to historical transitions in the artistic field where technology was first met with resistance.

Reacting to the low engagement, I decided to repackage our offerings, removing less popular gigs, and introducing new ones: anime landscapes, anime album covers, and emo punk album covers. This pivot proved serendipitous, as one day I finally received a message from a customer interested in album cover art.

The Breakthrough

One of the significant moments came when I received a commission for a dark and moody album cover. After some trial and error in generating the art, Daniel and I produced a piece titled "Diamond in the Rough," aptly capturing the essence of the customer’s music. This success energized us, and soon more orders started pouring in.

By the conclusion of the 30-day challenge, we had received a total of eight orders from seven different customers, accumulating approximately $ 80 (minus fees) in sales. It was a rocky journey, but ultimately, we divined an opportunity to blend creativity with technology.

Reflections and Next Steps

This project taught me that while AI art is a new frontier, selling it involves genuine effort in understanding customer needs and delivering quality results. As I reflect on the experience, there is potential for future ventures—perhaps investing profits into an AI art print-on-demand business.

Keyword

AI art, Stable Diffusion, Fiverr, Dungeons and Dragons, album cover, prompt, gaming PC, customer engagement, Facebook groups, artwork, creativity, digital landscape

FAQ

Q1: What kind of AI tools did you use for generating art?
A1: I primarily used Stable Diffusion, an open-source AI generator, which allowed unlimited image creation without fees.

Q2: How did you sell the AI art?
A2: I sold the AI-generated art on Fiverr, creating several gigs tailored to different audiences.

Q3: What were the challenges faced while selling AI art?
A3: Initial challenges included zero orders for the first week, backlash from traditional artists in online groups, and the need for strategic marketing.

Q4: How much did you earn after 30 days?
A4: After 30 days, I earned approximately $ 80 from eight different customers.

Q5: What’s the next step after this experiment?
A5: I'm considering investing the earnings into a print-on-demand AI art business for future growth.