CINCINNATI — An Ohio college instructor caught the attention of funk music legend Bootsy Collins with the help of artificial intelligence and social media.

What You Need To Know

  • College design instructor and artist Ryan Newman started using artificial intelligence to create artwork 

  • Newman made several pictures of his favorite funk music legend Bootsy Collins and his wife "Peppermint" Patti Collins 

  • Newman reached out to Collins' on social media and his artwork ended up on the cover of Bootsy Collins' next album 

To Ryan Newman, the picture he created is priceless. 

“You just gotta give it a chance,” said Newman. 

The University of Cincinnati design instructor said he made the image with the help of artificial intelligence that he taught himself to use.

“We're working on motion, working on static imagery. We're actually turning this image into a real outfit,” said Newman. 

What he created isn’t just any picture. He said he wanted to capture his favorite funk music icon, Bootsy Collins, and his wife "Peppermint" Patti Collins and what happened next landed his artwork on the cover of the music legend’s next album.

“Oh my goodness, Bootsy met Ryan on LinkedIn… Bootsy fell in love with it, he shared it with me. I contacted Ryan and we've been working together ever since,” said Collins after she'd just stepped out of a meeting with Newman. 

Known for their unique style since the 70s, Collins said they wanted to showcase that and it was important they use someone from Ohio and in their hometown in Cincinnati to do it.

“We are wanting to bring our city back to love, hope and peace again," said Collins. 

In fact, it’s a part of their statewide effort to curve violence. They’re using local artists to help them create the next album in an effort they’re calling "Funk Not Fight," the same name as Bootsy's latest single. 

Now Newman is a part of it.

“I think you put it out there in a really positive way and that you're trying to send that message about funk and about warmth and about empathy that people want to join in,” said Newman. 

For more information about the "Funk Not Fight" initiative, click here.