Graphic Novel AI Illustration Contest

  • Status: Closed
  • Prize: $1000
  • Entries Received: 320
  • Winner: DorianLudewig

Contest Brief

I am Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and the author of the New York Times Bestselling non-fiction graphic novel *Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration*. For confirmation of my identity, see

https://twitter.com/bryan_caplan/status/1681026328290824193.

As a side venture, I've written *Amore Infernale*, an entirely fictional graphic novel. You can download the full script and storyboards here: http://bcaplan.com/ai.pdf. For a previous artist’s attempt at chapter 1, see: http://bcaplan.com/aidave.pdf.

Your mission:

Combine your artistic ability with any Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to beautifully illustrate my book.

Compensation:

With the help of generous benefactor Steve Kuhn, I have $10,000 to fund this entire project. I plan to run this contest in THREE stages, each of which releases some of this prize money, as I explain below.

Conditions:

Any combination of human and AI output is welcome. Entrants can be professional artists who know a little AI, AI professionals who know a little art, or anyone in between.

Crucially, when you submit your final drawings, you also need to explain *precisely* how you produced the final product. What AI program(s) did you use? What were your main prompts? How did you get from AI pages to the finished product?

My Artistic Vision:

I like stunning representational art. In the attached files, you can see some of my previous favorite attempts to illustrate *Amore Infernale*. I also favor traditional color schemes, the kind you'll see in Tintin or P. Craig Russell's *Ring of the Nibelung* adaptation. Even more importantly, though, I love art with a passionate vision. If you're ever in artistic doubt, remember that my favorite composer is Richard Wagner!

The Contest:

The first stage of the contest will be open to all. I will award ONE first prize of $1000, plus four runner-up prizes of $250 each. During the first stage, draw any 10 pages of my book to show off your craft, vision, determination, and attention to detail. Be sure to explain how you are blending human skill and AI to produce the final pages. The first stage will run for 30 days.

The second stage of the contest will be open only to the five semi-finalists, plus no more than two others that I personally approve. During the second stage, the goal is to BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATE AS MUCH OF THE BOOK AS POSSIBLE. I will award ONE final prize of $2,000 to whoever does the best overall job. The second stage will also run for 30 days.

The third stage: The winner of the second-stage gets $6,000 when they finish the book to my satisfaction. If the winner does not want to finish the book, or makes little progress over a long period, I retain the right to reassign this opportunity to one of the other contestants in the second stage.

If you look at my previous contests, I am diligent at providing artists with careful and honest feedback. Whether you are in striking distance of winning - or don't stand a chance - I will let you know. I know contests are stressful, but I don't want anyone to feel mistreated.

While I own the final copyright and all royalties, the final contest winner will receive full artistic credit on the cover and in any promotions I conduct. Whoever you are, I would sincerely love to make you famous!

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Employer Feedback

“Erickson is a talented and responsive artist. Hoping to get to know him and his work better.”

Profile image bryandcaplan, United States.

Top entries from this contest

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Public Clarification Board

  • PabloTheRisso
    PabloTheRisso
    • 1 month ago

    I am very happy to see that the hand and human talent have won! Congratulations to @DorianLudewig Abrazo grande desde Uruguay amigo!

    • 1 month ago
  • bryandcaplan
    Contest Holder
    • 1 month ago

    Many thanks to all participants! The winner is @DorianLudewig. Amazing work, Dorian! The four runner-ups are: @SaniyaSuria, @dakyanddena, @kujtamak, and @Trisna31. Congratulations to all.

    • 1 month ago
    1. antartdesign
      antartdesign
      • 1 month ago

      Please Check my entries, am sorry am late but I was focusing on a lot of details

      • 1 month ago
    2. antartdesign
      antartdesign
      • 1 month ago

      #850 - #857

      • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #857

    • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #856

    • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #854

    • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #853

    • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #852

    • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #851

    • 1 month ago
  • antartdesign
    antartdesign
    • 1 month ago

    Please Check #850

    • 1 month ago
  • alaaelol204
    alaaelol204
    • 1 month ago

    From the second place winner

    • 1 month ago
  • Ayman100
    Ayman100
    • 1 month ago

    please check #846

    I hope to be one of the fives designer for your next phase

    • 1 month ago
  • bryandcaplan
    Contest Holder
    • 1 month ago

    Just five more days for this contest! When choosing the winner, I'm putting a lot of weight on creative interpretations of multiple original storyboards. Convince me you have the talent and follow-through to draw the whole book! Remember: What matters is the quality of the work, not the mix of AI and human skill you use.

    • 1 month ago
    1. tamerrahman99
      tamerrahman99
      • 1 month ago

      I added 2pages together in one entry. #847

      • 1 month ago
  • ALDave76
    ALDave76
    • 1 month ago

    Feel free to check out my entry! #842

    • 1 month ago
  • Ayman100
    Ayman100
    • 1 month ago

    Hi Mr Brian ...any chance for extending time?..... I still training AI to generate consistency for the super hero characters ..which is a bit challenging

    • 1 month ago
  • moeedahmad253
    moeedahmad253
    • 1 month ago

    #761 thanks

    • 1 month ago
  • DorianLudewig
    DorianLudewig
    • 1 month ago

    work in progress, I'm sending my entry in a few days.

    • 1 month ago
  • Ayman100
    Ayman100
    • 1 month ago

    please check page 01 and page 02 in entry #744
    waiting your valuable feedback

    • 1 month ago
  • PabloTheRisso
    PabloTheRisso
    • 2 months ago

    "and proof for some poor people how AI with good graphic skills can produce consistent and great results that most of who are against AI cant even do"

    This is proof that without a doubt, there are people WITHOUT talent and ideas. But above all, they are IGNORANT.

    To say that with AI you can create things that those who are against it cannot create, shows such a great level of ignorance that it's funny. Saying that is not knowing that the AI ​​feeds on images created by humans, humans sir, without these images, the AIs could not create anything... images that are used without the consent of the artists.

    And some call themselves "artists", but they handle AI...because they obviously have no TALENT to create.

    But hey, ignorant FAKE freelancers try to take advantage of this.

    • 2 months ago
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    1. KalliopeArts
      KalliopeArts
      • 1 month ago

      well, at least i learned that stealing is now called "take inspiration", i give up lol

      • 1 month ago
    2. PabloTheRisso
      PabloTheRisso
      • 1 month ago

      Did they really tell you that? Those people have no shame...

      • 1 month ago
  • redharemmache
    redharemmache
    • 1 month ago

    Can I draw the same scenes from the attachment in my own style?

    • 1 month ago
    1. bryandcaplan
      Contest Holder
      • 1 month ago

      Of course, please do!

      • 1 month ago
  • bryandcaplan
    Contest Holder
    • 1 month ago

    Just two more weeks for this contest! Lots of entries, but only a small share actually try to draw my storyboards.

    To repeat: Winning entries MUST offer full-page interpretations of my storyboards, not just individual drawings.

    Remember: This is only the first round of this contest. There is $8000 more to win if you have the right stuff to finish this book for me.

    • 1 month ago
    1. kidsdesign77
      kidsdesign77
      • 1 month ago

      Thank you very much, Sir.
      Good to say that I am a regular follower of your Twitter.
      You can trust me, I am trying to draw your storyboard, actually, I want you to know that if you want to see your storyboard complete, you need to see it in a PDF file. But I am not able to upload the pdf in Freelancer, please inbox me it would be helpful.
      Thanks again.

      • 1 month ago
    2. bryandcaplan
      Contest Holder
      • 1 month ago

      Sure, you can email me.

      • 1 month ago
  • Ayman100
    Ayman100
    • 2 months ago

    I will participate... and proof for some poor people how AI with good graphic skills can produce consistent and great results that most of who are against AI cant even do..it is not an easy task..it is very hard....but I accept the challenge....
    for the contest holder.... i will submit first one page....if you like it i will continue the next 9 pages :)

    • 2 months ago
    1. Shakibshad
      Shakibshad
      • 1 month ago

      Go ahead Brother, I am team AI as well. Al generated artwork already won some competition. Why not use both for better result...

      • 1 month ago
  • arteo77
    arteo77
    • 1 month ago

    How sad to see how A.I. is stealing the work of real illustrators, this cannot be the future! Seeing dozens of works in a short time sent in by one freelancer is depressing, before you could participate with two or three works at most, but "REAL" ones. The "work" done by A.I. is comparable to counterfeit, fake products. Everyone is free to spend their money as they wish, even I have "fake" products but I pay 1/4 the price of the original, WHEN I DON'T CARE ABOUT QUALITY. The same thing A.I. should do: be paid 1/4 of the price set by the contest holder. I could never pay 200 for fake shoes that cost 200 originals--that would be crazy! Those who produce images made by A.I. do so only to maximize their time: to participate in so many contests by "spitting" dozens of images around meaninglessly and WITHOUT SOUL, hoping to win a few. I hope that everyone will realize the enormous damage we are going to...including this portal that now has no value or sense of existence.

    • 1 month ago
  • DepartmentS
    DepartmentS
    • 1 month ago

    You do realise - all this exercise as it stands can possibly accomplish is the re-imagination of your already existing comic-book characters: it's impossible to control AI over multiple frames rendering the same object or scene from multiple angles as both an illustrator would and a graphic novel dictates the content has to be depicted...

    How about a PROPER challenge?

    Instead of *exclusively* the artist modified AI generated images you're brief requires - how about allowing both AI and traditional illustrative techniques to compete separately head-to-head.

    Only each respective artist knows how they created whatever images they produce and they don't tell you: only upon you buying the work do they reveal weather they used AI or weather they used straight illustration techniques....

    • 1 month ago
    View 4 more messages Processing...
    1. bryandcaplan
      Contest Holder
      • 1 month ago

      Mark, if AI is useless for you, feel free to submit traditional art without AI assistance.

      • 1 month ago
    2. PabloTheRisso
      PabloTheRisso
      • 1 month ago

      Mark, good to see you here. You ever with your´s good arguments. Thanks to defend human art.

      • 1 month ago
  • Ayman100
    Ayman100
    • 1 month ago

    please check #600 ... I am waiting your feedback

    • 1 month ago
  • DorianLudewig
    DorianLudewig
    • 1 month ago

    I'm working on page 3...soon I'll be sending progress

    • 1 month ago
    1. bryandcaplan
      Contest Holder
      • 1 month ago

      Good.

      • 1 month ago
  • apumohajan12
    apumohajan12
    • 1 month ago

    Please view my entry #412

    • 1 month ago
  • PabloTheRisso
    PabloTheRisso
    • 2 months ago

    Hi Brian! how are you?

    With all the respect you deserve, I am very sorry that you ask for people to manage AI...true freelance artists are in a continuous fight against AI, since they use the work done with the human hand as a database. True soul and TALENTED artists don't use AI programs, so it's a shame that this contest with such a good prize is filled with people who have no idea about art...you see what they are presenting here...just incoherent stuff and many mistakes. Also... would you really pay for something that you could do yourself? I mean, those who use AI have no idea what an illustration is. It can be done by anyone without the slightest knowledge of illustration or drawing.

    I know it's your contest, and you have the right to set your rules. I just wanted to express my opinion in favor of true freelance artists.

    Thank you for your attention, I hope I have not disturbed you.

    • 2 months ago
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    1. rli5903e7bdaf196
      rli5903e7bdaf196
      • 1 month ago

      I agree, Ai is not an artwork it is just like a filter which transform any photograph (edied or not) unlike what the real artist/illustrator's artwork whcih created from scratch (not photograph).

      • 1 month ago
    2. rli5903e7bdaf196
      rli5903e7bdaf196
      • 1 month ago

      I agree, Ai is not an artwork it is just like a filter which transform any photograph (edied or not) unlike what the real artist/illustrator's artwork whcih created from scratch (not photograph).

      • 1 month ago
  • znipi
    znipi
    • 2 months ago

    Some people hate AI, keep in mind. Photoshop using AI in it's engine. Content aware fill, select subject, etc, especially 'neural filter'. That's why they called 'neural' means some of those filters are using AI neural network connected to Adobe AI server.

    • 2 months ago
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    1. cmax2
      cmax2
      • 1 month ago

      @Sopiansyah S. you have to understand and differentiate a Real talented Illustrator from a graphic designer. A real illustrator can create anything using his talent without any computer more so with the software's available now. If i may ask you can you create and finish this story with pure AI while keeping the CH's requirements?

      • 1 month ago
    2. rli5903e7bdaf196
      rli5903e7bdaf196
      • 1 month ago

      Ai is "Generated" which means when you click the buttons the computer works automatically for you and it means that working on Ai is not originally created with the artistic mind of an artist.

      • 1 month ago
  • enriqueMatos
    enriqueMatos
    • 2 months ago

    Dear CONTEST HOLDER, your rules are quite fair and honest, however, the purpose is to illustrate your Graphic Novel with high quality, original, custom made drawings or ... a kind of study of AI "possibilities" in the field of visual communication ? thing is .... AI apps do not create anything, they simply use the countless (and free ) libraries of already overused graphics available in the web, and make distortion merging all that content ... so, get ready, you will receive countless useless entries, best wishes ;)

    • 2 months ago
    1. bryandcaplan
      Contest Holder
      • 2 months ago

      You may be right. One goal of this contest is to find out!

      • 2 months ago
    2. cmax2
      cmax2
      • 1 month ago

      Exactly!

      • 1 month ago
  • cmax2
    cmax2
    • 1 month ago

    This contest is very challenging and my personal opinion only Full pledged digital artist illustrator can do the job like: Howard Porte,r Bruno Redondo, Ivan Reis to name a few, the artist should capture details and facial expressions aside from good in perspective and attention to details these are not easy if you are fully relying on AI, The way I see it has to be skilled digital illustrator a penciller, colorist and inker altogether. I want to join but it requires a full time job. Some samples Iam seeing here are just wanna be illustrators, just relying on full AI not even close to the sample required by the CH. Sorry but its my personal opinion

    • 1 month ago
  • josemillan9
    josemillan9
    • 1 month ago

    hello do you want to continue with the drawing style of the first chapter? or do you prefer something new with more detail?

    • 1 month ago
  • Ashwings
    Ashwings
    • 2 months ago

    Hi! Can I enter this without using ai? or is it absolutely required?

    • 2 months ago

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