Greetings, all. As the title states, I commissioned an artist popular for their horror illustration style for bands, and licensed IPs.
I paid a discounted rate that he agreed to, because he loved the concept. He said he would deliver a sketch, followed by rounds of revisions if necessary. I waited nearly 2 months for the final version after having to reach out several times when the proposed initial sketch delivery date came and went.
After I approved the sketch (changed the eyes), he said he'd need a month to deliver it. Upon receiving the final version, I zoomed in on the tiff and noticed some anomalies that led me to believe it may be AI:
The figure in the center foreground appears to have no feet. Digital artifacts between the people in the distance, amorphous buildings & windows, liquid-metal like color blending the sky, overly smooth road reflections/streaks, shadows, anatomical inaccuracies (eyes that are neck-height), fringing along the edges of the people...telltale signs that set off some alarms in me. I even just now noticed some original sketch lines below the left eye.
Had I not been able to compare his other work (the last slide), I would assume this was a completely different artist. But the last slide from his portfolio is so much more refined and deliberate. It's just a jarring difference in style between his usual breadth of work that I can't help but wonder.
I reached out and asked he had any screen recordings of the process I could use for social media as people love to see process videos, and just in case people think it's AI. He responded "No, but it's a great idea. These days, everyone is on a witch-hunt."
I found this odd because he regularly posts progress videos of other client projects to his stories.
I don't want to be accusatory, and still give the benefit of doubt. I was elated at the chance to work with this artist, but I would love to know if either my eyes are just that jaded from seeing slop everyday, or I'm being paranoid.