Bridging Worlds: Embracing AI as My Artistic Medium

Art has always held a place of reverence and amazement in my heart, and I have immense respect for the countless artists who came before me. These pioneers, who spent endless hours perfecting their craft, inspire me daily. The idea that you aren't truly a painter until you've created a hundred paintings resonates deeply with me. It's a testament to the dedication, persistence, and passion that art demands.

As a tech enthusiast, I've often felt that traditional artistic mediums were out of reach for me. However, the advent of AI has opened up a new world of creative possibilities. For someone like me, this technology has become a bridge to the artistic realm I've always dreamed of exploring. Yet, this journey is far from easy or effortless.

The work I put into creating art with AI is no less intensive than the efforts of traditional artists. Each piece involves countless hours of refining, iterating, and perfecting. I have spent days generating hundreds of images, often discarding the majority of them—those initial, imperfect attempts that will never see the light of day, much like the first hundred paintings of a budding artist.

Crafting a comic strip, for instance, can take me 20 to 30 hours a week. This includes 2-3 hours per cell and additional time to develop the storyline. Some weeks stretch even longer, especially when I'm struggling to find the right narrative flow. It's a meticulous process, filled with trial and error, akin to the painstaking efforts of artists working with canvas and brush.

Using AI to create art requires a deep understanding of how to articulate my vision. It's not a matter of typing a simple prompt and receiving a masterpiece. It demands a detailed, nuanced description and a keen eye for what works and what doesn't. The process is iterative, requiring me to go back and forth, fine-tuning until I achieve the desired outcome.

In many ways, AI has become my medium, my palette, and my brush. It allows me to express my creativity and fulfill my artistic aspirations in a way I never thought possible. The respect I hold for traditional artists extends to my own practice, acknowledging the shared dedication, whether our tools are physical or digital.

Creating art, regardless of the medium, is about persistence, passion, and a willingness to embrace the journey. My thousands of discarded AI-generated images are a testament to the process, just as much as any painter's early works. And through this journey, I find myself connected to the timeless tradition of art, continually striving to create something meaningful and beautiful.

--K