A growing movement among traditional artists is pushing back against the rise of generative AI in creative fields. In a recent video, self-portrait painter TstArts makes a bold statement: forgo generative AI and pick up a pencil instead.
The video, shared on YouTube under the hashtags #selfportrait, #art, #oilpainting, and #noai, shows the artist working on an oil painting — a deliberate choice to highlight the value of handmade art in an age of machine-generated images.
"Forego generative AI and pick up a pencil, instead!" the title reads, challenging viewers to rediscover traditional techniques.
The post has sparked conversation among viewers, with comments praising the artist's skill and the message behind the work. One user wrote, "This is so underrated," while another simply said, "Wow… amazing."
With 339 views in just four hours, the video is part of a broader #noai trend where creators emphasize human skill and reject AI-generated content.
While the video itself contains no spoken description, the visual demonstration of oil painting serves as a quiet but powerful counterpoint to the growing prevalence of AI art tools.