Why
Many artists fear that generative AI will exploit their visual identity without consent, but what if the artist controls the data, training, and output? This project reframes AI as a creative partner: empowering rather than threatening and guided by the artist.

What
A private diffusion model (DDPM), trained solely on the artist’s work, generates images that reflect their unique style such as color, form and subject. Here, AI is a co-creation partner; the artist remains the curator and final decision-maker over every output.

How
The artist curates a dataset from their own work and trains a personalized AI model to translate their visual language into new outputs, presented as prints. An additional cookbook documents the image-generation methods, while an interactive installation lets the audience experiment with the model.

For Whom
Drawing with the machine empowers artists and illustrators to explore AI without giving up authorship or control. It also speaks to designers seeking ethical, consent-based tools and to audiences curious about AI trained exclusively on private, artist-curated datasets.

Impact
The project demonstrates an ethical alternative to large-scale generative AI: creation from consent, not extraction. It offers a replicable framework for artists to train personalized models on their own terms, reclaiming agency in the age of AI imagery.