Are AI Portraits Replacing Artists? Here’s How to Sell Your Handcrafted Work Instead

Why Handcrafted Portraits Still Matter and How Artists Can Thrive in an AI-Dominated Art World.

An artist in his home studio, creating hand-crafted art.

Offering and positioning custom portraits or custom art in general as an artist in the age of AI tools can actually be an exciting opportunity to highlight your unique value and artistic vision. Here’s how you can differentiate your work, frame your pricing, and structure the process:

1. Emphasize the Human Touch and Authenticity

While AI tools can generate portraits quickly, they can't replicate the human experience, emotional connection, and artistry that come with a hand-crafted portrait. You can position your art as one-of-a-kind, bespoke pieces that are made with care, creativity, and attention to detail.

Messaging Ideas:

• “More than an image: A unique, emotional connection captured on canvas.”

• “Handcrafted with love, personalized with meaning.”

• “AI can’t capture the soul behind the smile.”

2. Leverage the “Artist’s Process” as a Selling Point

People value the journey of creating art, not just the end result. Share your process and let potential clients see the craftsmanship, technique, and time that goes into each piece. You can document your creative process on social media or your website, which will help clients appreciate the skill involved in a custom, hand-painted portrait. 

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Example Process Breakdown:

1. Consultation: A discussion to understand their vision, preferences, and style (e.g., realistic, abstract, or a specific medium like oil painting or charcoal).

2. Sketching: Show preliminary sketches to get feedback and ensure the direction aligns with the client’s vision.

3. Refinement & Painting: Highlight the details and nuances of working with different mediums.

4. Final Reveal: Offer a moment of excitement when the client sees their custom artwork for the first time.

3. Pricing Strategy

Pricing custom portraits can be tricky, but it’s important to communicate that you’re offering something with inherent value, beyond what AI can provide.

Factors to Consider:

• Time & Skill: Highlight the fact that your time, expertise, and the amount of effort you put into the portrait is a major factor in the price. A custom portrait may take several hours or days, depending on the complexity.

• Materials: If you work with premium materials like canvas, high-quality paints, or specialized mediums, this adds to the value.

• Uniqueness: Emphasize that each piece is one-of-a-kind. AI-generated portraits might be fast, but they can’t replicate the personal touch of a handcrafted artwork.

Pricing Models:

• Tiered Pricing: Offer different price levels based on the level of detail, the medium (e.g., charcoal, watercolor, oil), and size of the portrait.

  • Small, simple sketches or digital art: $100 – $300+

  • Mid-sized, detailed portraits: $500 – $1,500+

  • Large, high-detail oil paintings: $2,000 – $5,000+

• Hourly Rate: If you’re unsure about how to price, an hourly rate can work well for commissioned artwork. You could charge anywhere from $50 – $150+ per hour, depending on your experience, style, and market.

• Add-Ons: Offer premium options such as framing, custom backgrounds, or multi-figure portraits at an additional cost.

4. Highlight the Personal Experience

One area where AI falls short is the personal connection. As an artist, you can offer a personalized, interactive experience for the client. Encourage communication and collaboration throughout the process, allowing them to be part of the artistic journey. This kind of relationship can’t be replicated by AI tools.

Example:

• “Each portrait comes with a personalized consultation to understand the story you want to tell and how best to capture it in art.”

• “Feel involved at every stage: From initial sketches to final touches.”

5. Niche Down to Stand Out

To make your portraits even more unique, think about niching down. Offering something specific, like pet portraits, family heirloom-style portraits, or fantasy-themed portraits, can set you apart from generic offerings or AI-generated art.

Niche Ideas:

• Pet portraits: Many people love commemorating their pets with artwork, a space where AI still struggles to deliver emotional nuance.

• Personalized family portraits: Create portraits that show a family in a more intimate or unique setting (e.g., vintage style or fantasy themes).

• Collaborative portraits: Allow clients to suggest and collaborate on various elements in the artwork, like the setting, colors, or artistic style.

6. Showcase Your Portfolio and Testimonials

When people can see the quality of your work and hear how much clients have appreciated the process and end result, it builds trust and credibility. Create a portfolio that demonstrates both different styles and happy clients. Testimonials or before/after shots will further convince potential clients of your expertise.

Examples:

• Include “client stories” about why they chose you and how the portrait has personal meaning.

• Share before/after sketches or progress images to show how you shape the artwork over time.

7. Market Your Portraits Creatively

Get creative with how you market your work:

• Limited Edition or Exclusive Offers: Market special offers like “Portrait of the Month” or “Custom Portraits for Special Occasions” (weddings, anniversaries, holidays).

• Collaborations: Collaborate with influencers, content creators, or local businesses to expand your reach.

• Social Media Engagement: Show live process videos or time-lapse footage of your portraits being created. People love watching art come to life, and it highlights your skill in a way that AI can’t replicate.

Example Website Structure:

1. Home Page: Highlight your unique selling points; why hand-crafted art is special, what makes your style unique.

2. Portfolio Page: A gallery of your work with different styles and mediums.

3. Pricing Page: Clearly outline your pricing tiers and what’s included. Offer a free consultation or an option to discuss the best fit for their needs.

4. Contact Page: Make it easy for clients to reach out for commissions, and make sure they understand the process (consultation → sketch → final piece).

By focusing on quality, personal touch, and craftsmanship, you’ll make it clear that your portraits offer something more than a quick AI-generated image. People are still looking for unique, meaningful artwork that captures the essence of themselves, loved ones, or cherished moments, and that’s where you come in. Reserve your free art business audit call here so you can get to know what you need to focus on at the moment to help your art career or art business skyrocket. 

Link to Helpful Tool or Resource for Artists

• Portfolio builder and full-on business platform: to showcase and directly sell your art online and offline, get booked, build a list of collectors and art enthusiasts, stay in touch via different socials, and more; all in one place.

DM "ArtBiz" to @clovis_ap on Instagram for more art and business insights.

Stay creative!