Every blog of mine typically starts the same way for me
- with an idea,
- a concept of where I want to go with the thoughts,
- my PC,
- and the drive to turn a thought into something worth sharing.
The concept of this process works fine and is not unique to me. The stories I write, opinions I mention, lessons I have learned, and perspectives of thought come from real world experiences and some from imagination. Words begin with my fingers hitting the keyboard in a modified hung-and-peak style, I call my own.
The above is one part of my blogging, where I accept a little help. Hey that said, there is another part of my blogging where I accept a lot of help…
The images you will see accompanying my blogs are and will be, created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). While I certainly enjoy developing my own ideas, visual art has never been one of my strongest talents. I can select a color pallet or picture an result clearly in my mind, but turning those visions into an actual graphic is not a skill I naturally possess.
- I cannot paint well
- I cannot draw at all
- I cannot sketch for a darn
Rather than everyone settling for no images, or draw for the post, I have chosen to use AI as a creative tool to help bring those visual concepts to ‘paper.’ I provide the notions, descriptions, topics, and moods I want represented, and then ask the AI to generate some type of artwork based on that direction. In many ways, it is similar to working with an illustrator at Disney, except the illustrator happens to be a piece of technology.
Transparency
I wanted to be transparent about this change with each and every one that happens across one of my posts. The thoughts, opinions, and insights in these blogs are mine from the start. The images are now the result of collaboration between my imagination and AI image-generation tools. I see this as a partnership where each side contributes something different to simply save time and save you from consuming something even worse.
We live in a fascinating time where creativity takes many forms. Some people paint masterpieces by hand while others write stories, compose music, design websites, or build businesses. For me, writing down my thoughts is where my creativity feels most at home and AI simply helps fill a gap in my creative toolbox with images I am not capable of making.
So, when someone visits this blog and sees a unique image atop a post, they’ll know the story behind it. The ideas came from me, and the typing came from my own hands. The image however, was created with the help of AI because artistry with a paintbrush is not my gift, but storytelling with a keyboard has become it.
All Wrapped Up
To me, the images I will be including are simply the wrapping paper, the gift bag, or the packaging. All of which may catch your eye and invite you to take a closer look, but it is not the reason I created the blog or the message I hope to convey. The real ‘gift’ is what’s inside and beyond that wrapper: the ideas, thoughts, experiences, and conversations shared through the words I have put on the page. Long after the packaging is tossed in the trash, my hope is that the message itself is what remains with you.
Thank you for reading, supporting my work, and being part of this journey as creativity continues to evolve in new and exciting ways.