Moritz Adam Schmitt on combatting AI art with authenticity

We are kicking off the summer season with vibrant colours and bold motifs. And who better to have on our June merch drop than Moritz Adam Schmitt? Moritz is a German artist based in Cologne. He accidentally fell into freelance illustration during his studies and never looked back. During his freelance career he worked with companies like Adobe, Porsche, and Xbox Germany. For this merch drop, he teamed up with Herlina (12) from Gili Asahan. Together, they created a wonderful depiction of the island in summer.

Growing up with a pencil in hand

Artist Moritz Adam Schmitt has been creating for as long as he can remember. His oldest piece of art dates back to 1992, when he was just 2 years old. He explains: 

“My mum did a lot of crafting with me on various holidays and occasions. My dad was a filmmaker who focused on culture and documentaries, he was deeply interested in art and well-connected in the national art scene. So, from a young age, I was dragged to art exhibitions and galleries. As a kid, I didn't fully appreciate it, I actually found it pretty boring most of the time. But looking back, I realise those early impressions shaped me.”

As he grew up, his interests varied from Japanese comics to skateboarding and street art. But one thing that always stayed the same was his love for creativity. That’s why he went to university to study design, with a focus on advertising. 

“My focus on advertising wasn’t really a choice, more like a practical step due to a lack of alternatives. I knew early on that I wanted to do something creative. I wasn’t interested in photography or video at the time, and I never had the confidence to call myself an artist. So, studying design to eventually work at a graphic or advertising agency just felt like the logical path.”

Moritz even admits that he didn’t know that being an illustrator was a viable career option before he started his studies. Thankfully, his freelance work took off and he never had to work in advertising.

On the topic of Moritz becoming a freelance illustrator, he tells us: “During my studies, we had to use vector software to create logos and other designs, and I really struggled with it. So, in 2015, I set myself a challenge – to create an icon or small illustration every day for 365 days using the programme. To stay motivated, I set up my first Instagram account for the challenge. 

“By the end of those 365 days, I had gotten pretty good at the software, gained over 20.000 followers, and caught the attention of a major agency in Hamburg, which gave me my first illustration jobs. This allowed me to go freelance while still in university. I worked for clients like Adobe, Porsche, and Xbox. I’ve always loved drawing, so I stuck with it after graduation, and I’m still working as an illustrator today.”

After graduating, Moritz never looked back on his original plan to go into advertising. And this decision paid off. Through his freelance work, he has done social media illustrations for Adobe, trade show artworks for Porsche, and Christmas cards for Xbox Germany’s goodie bags. It doesn’t get more diverse and exciting than that!

AI art and the pressures of developing a personal style

As we discuss Moritz’ art, the topic of his art style naturally comes up. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years now, and for a long time, I didn’t have a defined style. I was more of a generalist, adapting my style to fit the client’s needs. I often felt insecure about this because you’re constantly told that you need to have a "signature style." Trying to force it never worked for me. I just got bored too quickly and always needed to experiment. 

“The style I have today only really emerged in the last 2.5 years, ever since I started analog painting. In the end, I think this whole "find your style" thing is overhyped, and young creatives put way too much pressure on themselves about it. You can’t force it. It’s important to experiment and try lots of different things. Your style will find you eventually.” 

Having said that, it’s undeniable that Moritz’ current pieces have lots of features in common. One major element is the influence from pop art. The reason why he gravitates towards it is because: “pop art isn’t elitist. It’s not just for academics or the upper class. The themes might differ from artist to artist, but at its core, pop art is about the everyday lives of ordinary people.”

Another signature feature of Moritz’ current style is preference towards painting over digital art. As you might expect, the pandemic and the rise of AI have been pretty central to this shift.

“I had been struggling with some mental health issues since 2018, which only got worse during the pandemic. By 2023, I was feeling a bit better personally, but my illustration business was struggling, which sparked a whole new wave of anxiety. I can’t even say exactly why, but one day I just pulled out some paints and brushes and started my first "artcycling" project: a portrait of Basquiat on an old pizza box. 

“In the early months, analog work was more like self-therapy for me. I needed a creative outlet that was as far away from screens and digital technology as possible. Then, in October, I created the first piece in the style I’m known for today – "Mother Earth." At that point, my Instagram account was pretty stagnant, so I figured I had nothing to lose by documenting and sharing my analog process. And it took off. 

“As I started to find real joy in analog work, AI kept spreading throughout the industry, and the number of illustration projects began to dry up. By early 2024, I reached a crossroads – do I learn AI prompting and make that my main source of income, or do I go in the opposite direction and fully commit to traditional art? I chose the latter. 

“I still use my iPad for planning client projects and sketching out ideas for my canvases, but the bulk of my work is analog now. I think my appreciation for the analog process is a reaction to the world we live in. Everything is digital, faster, more efficient, and more perfect. I love holding something in my hands, feeling the texture of the paint, and embracing the small, human imperfections that come with it. It makes my work feel more real and valuable, compared to something that an AI spits out.”

Unleashing Indonesian children’s creativity

Just like us at Face This, Moritz has a deep admiration for children’s creativity. 

“The way kids approach art is fascinating. It’s pure, honest, and fearless. It’s completely free of compromise. It might be a bold statement, but in my eyes, children create the purest form of art. They just do it. They don’t worry about proportions or whether the things they draw even exist. There’s no right or wrong.”

This statement reminds us of a famous Picasso quote: “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” 

“I love that quote,” Moritz agrees. “As we become adults, we lose that childlike perspective on the world. Especially when you turn creativity into a career, it’s hard to avoid constantly evaluating, questioning, and worrying about how others perceive your work.” 

With Moritz’ fun take on art and his passion for unleashing your childlike creativity, it was a no-brainer for us to reach out to him for a collab. Though he had never worked with children before, he was excited to give it a shot. 

“I was really happy and felt honored,” he elaborates. “On the one hand, because you’ve already worked with so many great colleagues of mine, and on the other hand, because I found the concept really exciting. It also means a lot to me if my art can help others, even in a small way. I didn’t have huge expectations, I was just curious to see how collaborating with a child would turn out.”

For this merch drop, Mortiz collabed with 12-year-old Herlina from Gili Asahan. For the illustration, it was very important to him to honour Herlina’s original drawing as much as possible. 

“The special thing about this collaboration is the kids themselves, so their perspective on their home should be front and centre. I also thought it would be cool for Herlina to see that a lot of her original drawing made it into the final piece.”

And how did Moritz go about creating the illustration? “My approach was pretty straightforward. I took her entire composition, including all the elements, and only made a few small adjustments to the proportions and added a frame for the text. I brought in my own style, mainly through the colour choices and the way I designed the mountains with patterns and a smiley.”

Connecting through their love of the ocean

For the theme of ‘Makes you feel like home’, Herlina drew the island she lives on. She depicted Gili Asahan’s rolling hills, ocean waves, fishes, and palm trees. “Without knowing the island personally, I’d guess she drew exactly what she sees every day, the things that make her home special to her, ” Moritz speculates. “There’s no right or wrong with something like this, but I think she did a great job, and it’s instantly understandable without needing any words.”

While we’re on the topic of home, we can’t help but take a quick trip from Indonesia to Germany. “My life is in a strange in-between phase right now,” Moritz admits. “I was born and raised in a big city. I love Cologne, but I’ve reached a point where it sometimes feels too cramped, loud, and stifling. 

“I find myself craving more space, nature, and distance from the hustle and bustle. At the same time, I’d miss a lot about city life. In short, I have mixed feelings.”

Despite those contradicting feelings, he immediately has an answer to what home means to him. “Definitely my girlfriend and our cat. Wherever the two of them are, that’s home for me, completely independent of location. Besides that, the sea. I don’t live by the water, but whenever I’m near the ocean, I feel instantly at home and completely at ease. It’s been that way since I was a kid.”

It sounds like this collab has not only united two creatives but also two ocean lovers. And we cannot wait for you to get your hands on their island-loving T-shirt this summer!