Comparison of AI-Based and Traditional Pencil Drawing Techniques in Terms of Creativity and Artistic Expression

This study examines the effect of Midjourney and DALLE-3, artificial intelligence-based visual production programs, on the creative thinking and artistic expression levels of art teacher candidates. The research was conducted with experimental and control groups consisting of ten students enrolled in the Art Education program at Sivas Cumhuriyet University. The experimental group produced traditional charcoal drawings, while the control group produced AI-assisted charcoal drawings. Data were collected through qualitative comparative analysis and quantitative surveys, analyzed using SPSS, and the similarities and differences between the two approaches were evaluated. The findings obtained within the scope of the research show that manual charcoal applications have a stronger impact on students' artistic expression depth, aesthetic decision-making processes, and experience-based learning gains than artificial intelligence programs. It has been determined that traditional techniques provide a holistic contribution, especially in terms of tactile feedback, error, tolerance process, and individual application process. In contrast, AI-supported production programs were found to offer distinct advantages in terms of technical accuracy, time management, alternative composition generation, and visual variation development. In this context, AI applications were observed to accelerate the creative process and provide technical support. The results, based on the findings, indicate that AI-based visual production programs are complementary tools rather than replacements for traditional art education.