Above is my art. I’m not skilled at drawing realistic animals. I’d like to be, and maybe I can figure out how to work some classes into my life, or at least some YouTube videos. Then I could draw better foxes, rabbits, and dragons.

Please accept my poor rendering of a fox. The sort of sky was hand drawn in blue ink, and our moony little fox was first drawn in pencil, then in ink, and the orange-ish fur in pencil. Finally, after taking a photo of the drawing, I used photo editing to try and make the moon glow, which also darkened the blue and softened the focus.

So, just to say, there’s no AI. I don’t use it in my writing either. I still debate with myself about using simple photo editing, so AI is out of the question.

The other day, I read a post from an artist lamenting not only having her work stolen by AI, but by AI being used to fake images of her making the art. People would believe they were looking at the real thing because they were witnessing the art-making process. Except that they weren’t.

I’ve also read about writers being accused of using AI even though they insist they haven’t. Although I read of one writer saying they would stop writing if they couldn’t use AI. What? I mean, he became that attached to AI that quickly? What? Then quit writing? I have often laughed at that quote about hating writing but loving to have written, but I actually like writing. I like the images in my head and the struggle to put them into words.

Honestly, why write if you don’t want to? There are other things you can do that would actually pay you something. (I don’t dismiss the value of being paid. We do, after all, live in capitalism.) I write because I must explore the images in my head. AI isn’t going to help me do that.

I have no interest in pitchforks and I have a lot thoughts about AI and creativity. But for now, I just wanted to say, my work comes from my own brain and skillset, such as it is. Thanks for reading.

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