119: AI vs. Artist - Where Do We Stand?

Okay, my friends, let's address the robot being elephant in the room. I mean, this topic is coming up all over the place and if you've missed it, you've missed a lot. The question is, are we as professional creatives and artists being replaced by artificial intelligence? Well, today I'm tackling this topic that's been on the hearts and minds of so many of us creatives, and that is the role of AI. Not Adobe Illustrator this time, but artificial intelligence in the world of art and design. I'm Bonnie Christine, and this is where all things creativity, design, business and marketing unite. I'm a mama living in a tiny town tucked right inside the Smoky Mountains, running a multi seven figure business, doing the most creative and impactful work of my life. But when I first set out to become an entrepreneur, I was struggling to make ends meet and wrestling with how to accomplish my biggest dream of becoming a fabric designer. Fast forward to today. I'm not only licensing my artwork all over the world, but also teaching others how to design their creative life and experience the same success. I'm here to help you spend your life doing something that lights you up. I'll help you build a creative business that also creates an impact, changes people's lives, gives you all of the freedom you want, and is wildly profitable. Welcome to the Professional Creative Podcast. Now, you know AI is making an astonishing breakthrough. Most professionals are likening it to the actual Internet itself. And so what we do know is that it's not going anywhere. You know, I've been using it more and more in my own business as well. And I've shared a podcast episode about how exactly I'm doing that that we'll link in today's show notes as well, because it is incredibly powerful in terms of taking the ideas that you already have and running with them. Right. So I like to use it for creating lists, for organizing things, for creating grocery lists and all sorts of things like that. It aids in my work, it quickens my work, but it does not replace my work. Now, I know that a lot of creatives have really been intimidated to see what AI tools can achieve. They can create art in seconds, and that kind of feels terrifying. I mean, I actually know very few people who haven't considered what they do being replaced by AI. For many, many people, I think the question is there. So if you're struggling with this fear when it comes to AI in your career, if it helps you at all, I want you to know that my livelihood is in the same bucket and I have not felt threatened for even a moment by the advancement of AI, I feel secure and solid in my role as surface pattern and also open to allowing AI to assist me. And I'm going to share more about that in a moment. But before we go on, here's what I want you to know right now. You are not replaceable. Just as you are unique and set apart from other human artists, the same is true for artificial art. No one can create like you. No one else can tell your story, share your emotions, or express the journey that you're on the way that you can. And that means so much more than you may ever know. In fact, I think it means more now than ever. It's like when that begins to get questioned, the value of it goes up. So I think it'll help if we break it down a little further. Sometimes it helps to really put yourself in the place of the art admirer rather than the art creator. So ask yourself this. Why do you appreciate the art that you enjoy most? I think if you dig deep, you'll know the answer has far more to do with the intention and the heart and the story of the artist behind the work than it does with just the final image. You know, I recently read something very interesting. It was a study from a cognitive research journal, and they found that people overwhelmingly prefer human created art over AI generated art. The people in the study shared their belief that art created through AI was not capable of communicating deep meaning like emotions or narratives are worth. And that's what we must remember. I actually think that this means that our work, our human generated art, could actually be more valuable than ever. I think that we'll see more and more companies take a commitment to using human generated art. And I could even see how some products may be labeled, know how products are labeled whether they're GMO or not, or gluten free or not. I can actually see how products may be labeled with human created art. Isn't that wild that we're talking about that right now? And just for the record, as of the time that I'm recording this podcast, AI generated art isn't copyrightable. And so that opens up an entirely different issue. So people right now who are creating AI generated artwork can't copyright it. And that's a big bonus for us humans creating art when we can copyright it and license it. You know, I am just such a big believer that art isn't just about the final piece. It is about the human behind it. It's the emotions, the stories, the experiences that we as living, feeling human, humans pour into our creations. You know, when you think about art and why people enjoy it, it goes so much deeper than just the way it looks. People are looking for connection now more than ever. Human to human. Connection is what we crave more so than anything. We want to feel the heart and soul of a piece. And that's something inherently human, something that a machine can never replicate. It's the humanness and art that truly resonates with people. Have you ever wondered how some artists turn their passion into a profitable career? Well, the secret's out. In fact, my incredibly in depth and entirely free workshop is coming up. It's called the Art of Business 7 Secrets to Success in Surface Pattern Design. And I would love to have you join us. Here's what you need to know. You can start at any experience level, so beginner, intermediate or advanced. You can start at any life stage if you're a teen, a young professional, a mom, or an empty nester. And you can also start with any goal in mind. So if you want to reconnect with your creativity, start with a hobby, build out a side hustle, or transition into an entire career, this workshop is for you. You're going to learn the opportunities available to you in the world of surface design. The first steps you need to take in order to get started. The five different types of surface designers so you can choose which one is right for you. How to create a personalized roadmap to reach all of your goals in surface design and ways to create multiple streams of revenue and start making income from your artwork. Now, throughout the workshop, I'll be sharing my top seven secrets for you to find success in surface pattern design. This workshop is truly transformational. We hear every year that through the free workshop, people have completely transitioned and transformed their lives. So come join us. All of the sessions are self paced so you can go through it on your own time. But I am also including live Q and A sessions with me and I would love to see you there and get to know you. You can head on over to BonnieCristine.comworkshop to sign up again. That's BonnieCristine.comworkshop and I'll meet you there. I'm going to head back to fifth grade history class for a minute and reflect on the fact that every time there's some type of technological breakthrough, people get really uncomfortable and start wondering how it will negatively impact their their lives. But most of the time it transforms opportunities and improves our lives if we're open to letting it. So where do we go from here? Like anything else, the way we respond to artificial intelligence in our world is a mindset. And it's also really important. There are so many things that come against us as professional creatives and as humans. And I know I've had to work on this in my own life, resisting the temptation to question myself and give in to fear or listen to outsiders. It is a constant everyday effort. So trust me, I get it. This really goes back to what I talk about quite a lot, which is developing an abundance based mindset. If you think about it, we could let so many different things come between us and success. We almost are looking for an excuse to not become successful. Or is that just me? But when I started running my business and my life from a place of positivity and abundance rather than fear, everything began to change. So anytime I have a mindset that starts moving into fear, I immediately course correct and I shift to an abundance based mindset. It really opens up my mind and allows for more creativity, more community over competition, and every other good thing. The other thing that I know to be true is that humans have this innate craving for creativity. We will never get to a place where we don't long to create. And now I believe that's because we were made by a creator who made us creative, right? And so we have that innately built into our soul that we must create. And so regardless of whatever else comes, right, we must use our hands to create beauty, to create beauty in the world and to develop and flex our creative muscle. It is something that can never be replaced and is so vital to humanity and happiness and joy. So whether it's other people who seem like competition or feeling like there isn't room for you in a certain space, or criticism from others, or even talk of AI in the art space, it's all the same and we have to take the approach of abundance. You know, I'm getting ready to open my surface design immersion course. And one of the things we talk about is finding your own unique signature style and how what you bring to the table is unique from what anyone else can bring. And it's so incredibly true. Okay, so I want to give you something as a gift to help you remind yourself of your unique creativity. And that is my one year of art prompts to help spark your creativity every day and really just ignite that habit of being creative. You can print it out and keep it at your workspace or in your sketchbook. You can find the link to this incredible and fun free resource in today's show notes over at professional. So, my friends, let's not fear AI. Let's lean into it and be curious and see how it can improve our work, not replace our work. Remember that the art world thrives on human connection. It's kind of unique to us. It's irreplaceable, and that's very special. I encourage you to keep creating, keep sharing your stories, and show who you are, the person behind the art. Because that is something that AI can never replace. Create the beauty that you want to see. Come alive in the world. And remember, there's room for you. Bye for now.