Illustration and artificial intelligence

This study aims to examine the transformative impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the art of illustration. The works of eight designers who produce using platforms such as Midjourney, DALL·E, Stable Diffusion, and Leonardo AI were evaluated based on seven key criteria, including composition, narrative strength, technical proficiency, and guidance capability. Adopting a qualitative, descriptive, and comparative analysis method, the study observes that the role of AI tools in artistic production varies depending on the designer's aesthetic preferences and ability to guide the AI. Rather than functioning merely as a production tool, AI also serves as a supportive system by facilitating idea generation, enabling compositional variations, and accelerating the creative process. The findings indicate that AI-assisted productions enriched by the artist's creative control yield more original and compelling narratives. Accordingly, the study suggests that a new hybrid model of creation, based on human-AI collaboration, is emerging within the field of illustration. Keywords: AI-assisted illustration, generative artificial intelligence, digital art, artist guidance, creative process.