I’m saving this so I can circle back to dive into those links on art and AI. I don’t like the direction that AI is taking, either, and appreciate hearing different perspectives from different people.
On a slightly tangential note, I’m currently reading an ARC of We Are All Ghosts In The Forest by Lorraine Wilson that imagines a world after the internet collapses. I’m just 4 chapters in, and it’s pretty interesting so far. I don’t think it’s related to AI really, but that link you shared about the Internet turning into a wasteland made me think about this book that imagines the world after the Internet this way: “When the internet collapsed, it took the world with it, leaving its digital ghosts behind”
I love your blue skyscraper with Posca pen highlights! Posca pens are very versatile; they perform well with many mediums. And in a just society, all people have the right to speak their mind. We are all glad that you do. Happy Spring!
Excellent point-there are many things humans can do that machines can’t- responding empathically in the moment without preprogrammed responses being one of the main things!
Certain obligations to a sunny day: My quotable mother used to say, "Don't waste a beach day!" She would stick her nose out the door and sniff for fog. "Kids, I'm driving your father to work, so we can have the car. Get your bathing suits, we're leaving when we I get back. Make some sandwiches."
I'm not that worried about AI. Could it duplicate the Soul of the artist? The Soul of my mother?
Such a wonderful memory, Linda! And I agree with you about AI. Algorithms can imitate my lines, but can they sit outside with a sketchbook, and feel the anxiety and nervousness that leads me to make 'sneaky' art? Can its fingers tremble because the wind is strong, or the train is shaking? Can it predict how I will evolve as an artist? There is too much hype in this business, and not enough introspection. I contend that this is a great time to be an artist!
I did not realize that you were from India "Indja" until I googled your name recently. When I heard your voice on the tiny video clip, I thought that perhaps you were not born in Vancouver
Yes, I'm from Kolkata in India. I hopped from India to the Netherlands before living in Chicago and Wisconsin. And it's been Vancouver for only about 3 years!
Fascinating! My uncle retired to Nova Scotia after teaching Indian princes in the British school tradition from the twenties 'til 1948. He lived in Kashmir and other parts of India. He had a mongoose, Lady Jane Grey, who saved his life several times. Cobra in the garden, mamba in his desk drawer! He was an oil painter and built a studio behind his log cabin on my grandparents' property in Nova Scotia. We loved the graduating sized elephants on his windowsill and the smell of oil paints. From his sketches in India, he painted many oil paintings in his "retirement". I can see the sunlight streaming into the temples through the dust mites. Am sure that is why I became an art gallerist.
I have a friend across the street in Sausalito who is from the Netherlands. 88 and lives up 88 steps. Carries her trash down and the groceries up. She's charming and tough as nails. Gave a bouquet of flowers to Winston Churchill upon the liberation when she was a little girl. The Canadian army was critical to the cause in April 1945.
I have always thought of my life as magical. The life Baby Rohan is beginning!
I don't use pens in my paintings very much because my other mediums (gouaches, and watercolors) seem more attractive in my eyes (Plus the fact that i don't go out much). And if a day comes when artists are forced to use AI to be called artists, i either hope i'll be dead by then or i hope that i'm OK to be called an old-school artist (tbh, i prefer the second one. Why? Because in some ways I REALLY AM old-school).
Great. Yes, i'm on the same page with you on this, Nishant.
Oh, i left sth out: whenever i look at any piece of AI Art on Substack or anywhere else, i don't wanna look at it very enthusiastically because i feel its artificiality very deeply.
I love your addition of color, and just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful look into sketchbook workshop the other day - I’m sitting at my coffee shop now about to warm up with some sneaky sketches 💗
Bookmarking this to come back and read all the AI links later. My Luddite parts come out when the conversation turns to AI 😆 I need some nuance.
Great video and sketch Nishant! Loved the addition of color. Curious if you have a gadget to hold your phone as you draw or do you just hold it with one hand? Thanks for the links on AI---such a hot topic atm.
Thank you Debbie! I just hold the phone in my left hand. Anything else would make me too conspicuous and I could never do that! If I'm at a table, I can rest my palm against the side of the table which makes it a lot steadier! Hope that helps.
Thank you Maria! I like being selective with details and colors in order to bring my subjects into prominence and also save time. In fact this is the subject of my next workshop!
So here is a different perspective on ai art. Apparently a potential positive impact of ai art is that it may increase the diversity of the gaming market because it will allow small creators to show proof of concept without massive overheads of designers. Which does make me wonder, is AI art maybe not art? But something else all together?
It is certainly not correct to call it art. And I may be overly skeptical, but is it proof of concept if you generated it instead of making it yourself? I would think of that as not-proof.
Hmm, that is interesting!!! I do believe that A. I. can be taken too far. I ABSOLUTELY think that everything about it isn't wonderful and I honestly can't get into some forms of painting online. It simply does not give the feeling of a brush being in my hand. I also get VERY annoyed when thinking of the fact that A. I. can write a book for someone. In my mind, A. I. can't and will never replace a writer. At the same time, I do not think that some of the things A. I. offers are bad. Mainly due to the fact that I would not have the ability to work for myself if it were not for A. I. I can not drive so I also can't get to many jobs that may be offered. That limits me and that limits many others as well. When I was younger the thought of a job wasn't even there. Today however, with A. I. the thought that I can gain clients based on my years of working is available. The idea that I can set myself free and have the ability to pay for the freedom of choice that alot of people already have is only available to me due to A. I. At the same time, those who know how to create technical issues in order to stop my gaining that freedom are also sadly out there. That would be the reason for my not charging here. The only site that hasn't caused me as many technical issues is my main site. I still have the hope that one day those technical issues will end and I will be able to have the same choices as everyone. The same freedom as everyone...in my eyes...the chance to have that freedom is due to A. I. In my eyes there are bad things about it but there are good too and it helping those like myself is a very good thing.
That is a fair observation, Angela. I think AI can make for a wonderful assistant. I don't know if you have read the His Dark Materials trilogy (Golden Compass was Book #1) but I think AI could work like daemons in that world. It should know us, understand us, and protect us. As an assistant, AI should protect the human from the over-reaching of corporations (data privacy and security), and the criminality of other people stealing our work. It should be AI helping us with emails and tedious tasks, not writing books or imitating art to put creatives out of work. It should be AI protecting our creative assets and helping us with new creations, not working as a mercenary for anyone trying to exploit the creativity of others. I urge you to listen to the Ezra Klein podcast for broader violations and the impending perils that threaten all of us, and especially already marginalized people.
Meanwhile, I am curious about how you are using AI in your work and life. Please share!
I'll give it a listen. Thanks for the suggestion. As far as how I use A. I., I used to use Meta to schedule posts that went out daily on both facebook and Instagram. My facebook and Instagram accounts had to be taken down due to technical issues though. When that technology was bothered and I could nolonger do that, I could and do still schedule Monday posts to go out each week on https://www.angelasartarea.com/blog . This way, if I am unable to post due to illness, my posts will go out anyway! There is also adding a signature in my emails, etc. things of that nature. I also have made videos in the past with the help of A. I. Although honestly I like to have more of a say so in certain areas. In my point of view you if certain rights are given away, your videos will nolonger be made by you but by a computer. I get the rights part but really the main issue for me is what's the fun in that!?! There were also scheduling or calendar apps on my b. phone but sadly those too started acting up. You can write in meetings, reminders to check your mail, etc. Anything attached to my wifi really went crazy. All of that though or those apps are made by A. I. They're extremely helpful but only if they actually work. At the moment, I have to do alot of things offline due to technical issues. It's extremely sad because technical bugs like that can also give the wrong dates, etc. to confuse people. You have to know to look past that and to believe in yourself, to stay strong and know that you can do it. In the past I had a store on etsy, ebay, zazzle and redbubble. They each use A. I. to a point and are rather fun. I used to also use mailchimp and tried Mailerlite, I've tried many business apps, etc. ALL of them had to be taken down due to technical issues though. I learned ALOT when in Marie Forleos B-School. Again though, many things just all had to be taken down and I have to watch as everyone else having the freedoms that I don't. Which I've grown used to because I had to watch people gain the ability to drive when I couldn't. Everyone has not grown used to that though and it's a huge security issue in my eyes that can truly harm! I don't know why but I'm not one to give up and that's a very good thing. Thanks again for Ezra Klein as a suggestion. Hope I answered everything.
I never thought of using Posca paint pens for that. Very cool. Was the blue paint that you were spreading with a brush in the video also from a Posca marker?
It’s easy to see how folks can believe the “dead internet theory.” Google is nearly unusable as a search engine and our social platforms are cluttered with ads. Maybe in its slow death, we can relearn the things screens take from us. For example, I can’t wait to focus on something longer for than 3 minutes!
I love your results of using Poscas with a water brush!
I’m saving this so I can circle back to dive into those links on art and AI. I don’t like the direction that AI is taking, either, and appreciate hearing different perspectives from different people.
On a slightly tangential note, I’m currently reading an ARC of We Are All Ghosts In The Forest by Lorraine Wilson that imagines a world after the internet collapses. I’m just 4 chapters in, and it’s pretty interesting so far. I don’t think it’s related to AI really, but that link you shared about the Internet turning into a wasteland made me think about this book that imagines the world after the Internet this way: “When the internet collapsed, it took the world with it, leaving its digital ghosts behind”
Wow that is a fascinating premise. I am definitely interested in this book too. Please share your thoughts on it once finished. 🙏
I have just been dipping my toes in the fine Posca pens, mostly for highlights.
I love them for the brightness!
I love your blue skyscraper with Posca pen highlights! Posca pens are very versatile; they perform well with many mediums. And in a just society, all people have the right to speak their mind. We are all glad that you do. Happy Spring!
Thank you Katherine!
Excellent point-there are many things humans can do that machines can’t- responding empathically in the moment without preprogrammed responses being one of the main things!
True, just read about how Meta AI pretended to have a special needs child in a parenting group on FB.
I love your voice! The video is magical...
Certain obligations to a sunny day: My quotable mother used to say, "Don't waste a beach day!" She would stick her nose out the door and sniff for fog. "Kids, I'm driving your father to work, so we can have the car. Get your bathing suits, we're leaving when we I get back. Make some sandwiches."
I'm not that worried about AI. Could it duplicate the Soul of the artist? The Soul of my mother?
Such a wonderful memory, Linda! And I agree with you about AI. Algorithms can imitate my lines, but can they sit outside with a sketchbook, and feel the anxiety and nervousness that leads me to make 'sneaky' art? Can its fingers tremble because the wind is strong, or the train is shaking? Can it predict how I will evolve as an artist? There is too much hype in this business, and not enough introspection. I contend that this is a great time to be an artist!
I did not realize that you were from India "Indja" until I googled your name recently. When I heard your voice on the tiny video clip, I thought that perhaps you were not born in Vancouver
Yes, I'm from Kolkata in India. I hopped from India to the Netherlands before living in Chicago and Wisconsin. And it's been Vancouver for only about 3 years!
Fascinating! My uncle retired to Nova Scotia after teaching Indian princes in the British school tradition from the twenties 'til 1948. He lived in Kashmir and other parts of India. He had a mongoose, Lady Jane Grey, who saved his life several times. Cobra in the garden, mamba in his desk drawer! He was an oil painter and built a studio behind his log cabin on my grandparents' property in Nova Scotia. We loved the graduating sized elephants on his windowsill and the smell of oil paints. From his sketches in India, he painted many oil paintings in his "retirement". I can see the sunlight streaming into the temples through the dust mites. Am sure that is why I became an art gallerist.
I have a friend across the street in Sausalito who is from the Netherlands. 88 and lives up 88 steps. Carries her trash down and the groceries up. She's charming and tough as nails. Gave a bouquet of flowers to Winston Churchill upon the liberation when she was a little girl. The Canadian army was critical to the cause in April 1945.
I have always thought of my life as magical. The life Baby Rohan is beginning!
I don't use pens in my paintings very much because my other mediums (gouaches, and watercolors) seem more attractive in my eyes (Plus the fact that i don't go out much). And if a day comes when artists are forced to use AI to be called artists, i either hope i'll be dead by then or i hope that i'm OK to be called an old-school artist (tbh, i prefer the second one. Why? Because in some ways I REALLY AM old-school).
I am happy to believe that real art will stick around a while even after us, Negar. :)
Great. Yes, i'm on the same page with you on this, Nishant.
Oh, i left sth out: whenever i look at any piece of AI Art on Substack or anywhere else, i don't wanna look at it very enthusiastically because i feel its artificiality very deeply.
Humans connect to other humans! We look for other humanity! I completely relate with that feeling. 🙏
Yes, indeed.
About what you said, i even have this feeling about humans who act like robots. Good luck with your works.
I too have been trying to figure out how to use my colors. Love the way you have used your Poscas!
Also yes so true, we need more mystery and wonder in our world.
Best of luck with your colors!
I love your addition of color, and just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful look into sketchbook workshop the other day - I’m sitting at my coffee shop now about to warm up with some sneaky sketches 💗
Bookmarking this to come back and read all the AI links later. My Luddite parts come out when the conversation turns to AI 😆 I need some nuance.
Glad to hear that, Lindsey! Hope you had a fun time drawing at the cafe.
Great video and sketch Nishant! Loved the addition of color. Curious if you have a gadget to hold your phone as you draw or do you just hold it with one hand? Thanks for the links on AI---such a hot topic atm.
Thank you Debbie! I just hold the phone in my left hand. Anything else would make me too conspicuous and I could never do that! If I'm at a table, I can rest my palm against the side of the table which makes it a lot steadier! Hope that helps.
Thanks Nishant! You are pro at holding your phone steady--way to go! I will have to practice a bit more. lol
I really was surprised when I saw color on the page-whoa! And I like it! I like the balance you achieved with what you left as black as well.
Thank you Maria! I like being selective with details and colors in order to bring my subjects into prominence and also save time. In fact this is the subject of my next workshop!
So here is a different perspective on ai art. Apparently a potential positive impact of ai art is that it may increase the diversity of the gaming market because it will allow small creators to show proof of concept without massive overheads of designers. Which does make me wonder, is AI art maybe not art? But something else all together?
It is certainly not correct to call it art. And I may be overly skeptical, but is it proof of concept if you generated it instead of making it yourself? I would think of that as not-proof.
Hmm, that is interesting!!! I do believe that A. I. can be taken too far. I ABSOLUTELY think that everything about it isn't wonderful and I honestly can't get into some forms of painting online. It simply does not give the feeling of a brush being in my hand. I also get VERY annoyed when thinking of the fact that A. I. can write a book for someone. In my mind, A. I. can't and will never replace a writer. At the same time, I do not think that some of the things A. I. offers are bad. Mainly due to the fact that I would not have the ability to work for myself if it were not for A. I. I can not drive so I also can't get to many jobs that may be offered. That limits me and that limits many others as well. When I was younger the thought of a job wasn't even there. Today however, with A. I. the thought that I can gain clients based on my years of working is available. The idea that I can set myself free and have the ability to pay for the freedom of choice that alot of people already have is only available to me due to A. I. At the same time, those who know how to create technical issues in order to stop my gaining that freedom are also sadly out there. That would be the reason for my not charging here. The only site that hasn't caused me as many technical issues is my main site. I still have the hope that one day those technical issues will end and I will be able to have the same choices as everyone. The same freedom as everyone...in my eyes...the chance to have that freedom is due to A. I. In my eyes there are bad things about it but there are good too and it helping those like myself is a very good thing.
That is a fair observation, Angela. I think AI can make for a wonderful assistant. I don't know if you have read the His Dark Materials trilogy (Golden Compass was Book #1) but I think AI could work like daemons in that world. It should know us, understand us, and protect us. As an assistant, AI should protect the human from the over-reaching of corporations (data privacy and security), and the criminality of other people stealing our work. It should be AI helping us with emails and tedious tasks, not writing books or imitating art to put creatives out of work. It should be AI protecting our creative assets and helping us with new creations, not working as a mercenary for anyone trying to exploit the creativity of others. I urge you to listen to the Ezra Klein podcast for broader violations and the impending perils that threaten all of us, and especially already marginalized people.
Meanwhile, I am curious about how you are using AI in your work and life. Please share!
I'll give it a listen. Thanks for the suggestion. As far as how I use A. I., I used to use Meta to schedule posts that went out daily on both facebook and Instagram. My facebook and Instagram accounts had to be taken down due to technical issues though. When that technology was bothered and I could nolonger do that, I could and do still schedule Monday posts to go out each week on https://www.angelasartarea.com/blog . This way, if I am unable to post due to illness, my posts will go out anyway! There is also adding a signature in my emails, etc. things of that nature. I also have made videos in the past with the help of A. I. Although honestly I like to have more of a say so in certain areas. In my point of view you if certain rights are given away, your videos will nolonger be made by you but by a computer. I get the rights part but really the main issue for me is what's the fun in that!?! There were also scheduling or calendar apps on my b. phone but sadly those too started acting up. You can write in meetings, reminders to check your mail, etc. Anything attached to my wifi really went crazy. All of that though or those apps are made by A. I. They're extremely helpful but only if they actually work. At the moment, I have to do alot of things offline due to technical issues. It's extremely sad because technical bugs like that can also give the wrong dates, etc. to confuse people. You have to know to look past that and to believe in yourself, to stay strong and know that you can do it. In the past I had a store on etsy, ebay, zazzle and redbubble. They each use A. I. to a point and are rather fun. I used to also use mailchimp and tried Mailerlite, I've tried many business apps, etc. ALL of them had to be taken down due to technical issues though. I learned ALOT when in Marie Forleos B-School. Again though, many things just all had to be taken down and I have to watch as everyone else having the freedoms that I don't. Which I've grown used to because I had to watch people gain the ability to drive when I couldn't. Everyone has not grown used to that though and it's a huge security issue in my eyes that can truly harm! I don't know why but I'm not one to give up and that's a very good thing. Thanks again for Ezra Klein as a suggestion. Hope I answered everything.
Wow, truly love what you’ve done with colors! Brilliant!
I never thought of using Posca paint pens for that. Very cool. Was the blue paint that you were spreading with a brush in the video also from a Posca marker?
Yes it was! I recently learned that they are water soluble. And I think using them this way works better for me than watercolours!
Excellent artwork and excellent observations about AI, Nishant!
Thank you, Renato!
It’s easy to see how folks can believe the “dead internet theory.” Google is nearly unusable as a search engine and our social platforms are cluttered with ads. Maybe in its slow death, we can relearn the things screens take from us. For example, I can’t wait to focus on something longer for than 3 minutes!
I love your results of using Poscas with a water brush!
The degradation of Google is incredible! I think you would enjoy the podcast conversation I linked, which touches upon why and how.