The Evolution of AI Drawing Since 2020

Since 2020, AI drawing tools have completely transformed the way we create and experience art.
But here’s the problem: how did we go from basic sketches to mind-blowing, hyper-realistic AI-generated masterpieces in just a few years?
In this article, we’re going to break down the evolution of AI drawing tools since 2020, showing you how these tools have advanced, and why they’re becoming a must-have for artists, designers, and creators alike.

The Early Days of AI Drawing (Pre-2020)

Before 2020, AI tools for drawing were pretty limited in scope.
While machine learning and AI algorithms existed, they weren’t used widely in the art world.

What AI Drawing Tools Looked Like in 2019:

Basic Image Generation: AI could generate basic images, often with heavy pixelation or blurriness.
Limited Creativity: AI’s output was more mechanical than artistic, lacking the depth and detail artists craved.
Low Adoption: Most digital artists weren’t using AI tools regularly. It was seen as a novelty rather than a useful tool.

While AI had potential, it wasn’t yet capable of producing the high-quality artwork we see today. That changed in 2020.

2020: The Year AI Drawing Took Off

In 2020, something significant happened.
AI drawing tools became more mainstream, and artists began to experiment with them to create digital art.

What Changed in 2020?

Improved Algorithms: Thanks to breakthroughs in deep learning and neural networks, ai sketch creator tools like DeepArt and RunwayML started producing more sophisticated outputs.
Increased Accuracy: The AI algorithms could now generate cleaner, more defined images, incorporating better details and stylistic features.
More Accessible: Tools became user-friendly, allowing anyone (even those without a background in design) to start creating AI art with minimal effort.

By 2020, artists could start to generate impressive visuals and even mimic the styles of famous artists using AI.

2021: The Rise of Customizable AI Art Tools

By 2021, the AI art scene exploded with a new wave of platforms that allowed users to customize and refine AI-generated art.

Key Developments in 2021:

Text-to-Image AI: Tools like DALL·E and Artbreeder brought text-to-image generation to the forefront, allowing artists to type a simple prompt and watch the AI create an image based on the description.
Interactive Interfaces: Artists had more control over the final output, with sliders and filters that adjusted styles, colors, and other elements.
AI-Generated Art as NFTs: NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) gained traction, and artists started selling AI-generated art on platforms like OpenSea, making it clear that AI had a real role to play in digital art markets.

AI tools were now not just a curiosity but a serious tool for artists and creators. This era marked the beginning of AI art becoming commercially viable.

2022: AI as a Creative Assistant for Artists

As AI drawing tools became more advanced, they evolved from being art generators to becoming creative assistants for artists.
AI wasn’t just creating art; it was helping artists unlock new levels of creativity.

Key Developments in 2022:

Hybrid Art Creation: AI became a tool for collaboration, allowing artists to create hybrid pieces, combining their own art with AI-generated elements.
More Realistic Outputs: AI tools started producing more realistic images, incorporating intricate details and styles that mimicked traditional art techniques like painting and sketching.
AI-Powered Animation: AI-driven animation tools emerged, allowing creators to easily bring static images to life and create motion graphics.

By 2022, artists were able to use AI tools to enhance their own creative process, not just create art from scratch. AI was now a co-creator rather than just a tool.

2023: The Era of Hyper-Realistic AI Art

By 2023, AI tools had reached a level of sophistication that allowed for hyper-realistic AI art.
These tools weren’t just making digital art; they were creating pieces that could easily pass as photographs or traditional paintings.

What Happened in 2023?

AI Art with Style Precision: AI became capable of mimicking specific artistic styles with remarkable accuracy, whether it was Baroque painting or Cubist art.
Enhanced Creativity with Prompt Engineering: Artists became skilled at using complex prompts to get very specific results, creating artwork that pushed the limits of what was possible.
AI Art in Commercial and Pop Culture: Brands, filmmakers, and video game developers started using AI art to create concept designs, illustrations, and even movie storyboards, showcasing AI’s growing relevance in the creative industry.

The line between AI-generated art and human-created art started to blur, with many now unable to tell if the art was made by a machine or a person.

2024 and Beyond: The Future of AI Art

In 2024 and beyond, AI drawing tools are expected to continue evolving at a rapid pace.
Here’s where things are headed:

Key Predictions for the Future:

Fully Autonomous AI Artists: AI will be able to create entire galleries of art autonomously, with no human input.
AI for Personalized Art: Expect AI to create hyper-personalized art based on individual preferences, where users can get custom artworks designed just for them.
Integration with Augmented and Virtual Reality: AI-generated art will likely integrate into AR/VR experiences, allowing users to experience digital art in immersive, interactive environments.

AI art tools are poised to become integral to the creative process, not just a novelty.

Conclusion: AI Drawing Tools Are Changing the Game

Since 2020, AI drawing tools have evolved from basic sketches to creating mind-blowing, hyper-realistic art.
Artists are now using AI not only to generate original pieces but to enhance their own creative workflows.

The rise of AI tools has democratized art creation, enabling anyone to make high-quality visuals without needing advanced artistic skills.
And the future is even more exciting—with AI set to continue shaping the way we create, experience, and interact with art.

Whether you’re an artist, designer, or just someone curious about AI, now is the time to explore these tools and discover just how far they’ve come.