I’ve been to Art School, twice.
First for video game design, then for digital media and design.
My life has revolved around artists, illustrators, designers, and creators! Between work, collaborations, and just fun, I have been a part of the creative world since my high school days.
All of this is to say, I feel strongly for the artistic community as the popularity of Ai keeps growing.
Let’s be honest, Ai isn’t going away. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still rely on or pay the incredible artists and talent whose work, quite literally, is the backbone of Ai generation.
So here’s the question I get asked. Do I use Ai?
Yes, but only for my inspiration boards.
I do not use AI or any prompts in my writing, and I never will.
Before I was injured, I would spend hours perusing DeviantArt, magazines, or Pinterest, trying to find the perfect pictures that I could use as a visual aid when writing. I’d cut them out and draw over them to create digital art of scenes, characters, and worlds.
For this one purpose, I use AI. To be able to put in a prompt for a specific character and having multiple versions of your vision is remarkable and exciting. I collect these to use as aids while I write, to help me remember specific plot points and details, just like I used to do when I cut and paste photos.
But Ai also helps others bring their visions to life! I have disabled friends who can’t draw but they can show me their newest character on screen. It brings a smile to my face to see the joy of creation radiating through someone who claims to have no creative bones in their body.
But that’s where my love of AI ends. Because I also know the other side.
Where original art is stolen, repackaged, and sold to an unknowing market. Where instead of commissions, artists are losing money to a machine that stole their own style.
It’s a horrible situation!
Watching dear friends suffer financially because AI is stealing their job, is frustrating. Worse, the AI created isn’t perfect but the clients don’t seem to care. After years of meticulously refining their skills, suddenly companies don’t care about it. – Well, as long as it’s free.
I’m not sure I like where the world is headed when art, music, creativity, is no longer from the heart and mind, but instead manifested by an algorithm of “What sells”.
For me, I’ll use AI for inspiration but that’s it. No computer will ever create my words or my ideas. I’ll continue creating art when able and I’ll always uphold the values of the artistic community and the amazing creative people within it.