ChatGPT to make your childhood doodles into slick grownup style of illustrations.

JP Holecka
3 min readNov 18, 2023

Ever since ChatGPT expanded its capabilities to include both image recognition and generation, I’ve been intrigued by the possibility of revamping my childhood sketches into more mature and refined illustrations. This journey, which blends nostalgia with the marvels of AI, has led to some fascinating results.

The Whale-Driven Submarine

One of my earliest sketches featured a whimsical concept: a submarine powered by a whale. It was a crazy, quirky idea straight from a child’s imagination. By uploading this to ChatGPT and requesting a more sophisticated take on it, the results were astounding. The AI managed to capture the essence of my initial vision and transformed it into a piece of art that resonated with my original concept.

A Political Statement from 1980

1980 Invasion of Afghanistan

In 1980, amidst the political turmoil of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan and its repercussions on the Moscow Olympics, I created a political cartoon. The sketch depicted a tank with Olympic rings as wheels — a powerful metaphor for the time. With minimal guidance, ChatGPT reinterpreted this into a modern political cartoon. Though it made a slight error with the tank’s tracks, it impressively got the Olympic rings right and added an impactful element of the tank rolling over an athlete, intensifying the political message.

Rodeo Bucking Bronco

Bucking Bronco

Another creation from my sketchbook was a rodeo bucking bronco. Requesting ChatGPT to turn this into a dynamic, action-packed black and white ink illustration brought my childhood vision to life in a way I could never have imagined. The AI’s interpretation was not only accurate but also filled with the energy and movement I had always envisioned.

These experiments with ChatGPT have opened a new world of possibilities, where simple sketches or elementary drawings can be transformed into sophisticated, gallery-worthy pieces. It’s a testament to how AI can enhance creativity, bridging the gap between our rudimentary expressions and the complex visions in our minds.

In conclusion, ChatGPT’s multimodal functions are not just about technical prowess; they’re a gateway to reimagining creativity, connecting our past artistic endeavours with future potentials. From a child’s doodles to refined art, the journey with AI is just beginning.

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CEO, Founder of POWER SHiFTER Digital, Serial Entrepreneur, Noobie Knife Maker, & Leather Crafter with one foot in the future & the other in the analog past.