u/Proud_Adagio_5898

Let me preface: I am not an artist. Nor am I good at art. I have taken 2 high school art classes (3 if you count photography), both of which I have failed. In grade school my art was bad at best. In woodworking class I was scared to use power tools and barely finished any of my projects. In every ELA and writing class I’ve taken I’ve never gotten higher than a C grade.

**BUT**

The recent swell of LLMs and AI generated art sparked something within me. I began to start appreciating humanity for humanity. I started appreciating effort more and more. I started to see art in things outside of clay, pencils, paint, and illustration. I started to see art in houses, in furniture, in cooking, in computers and electronics, in fashion, in photography, in welding, in engineering, in architecture, in music, even in cleaning and repair. Art is a job. Art is a hobby, Art is a skill, but most importantly Art is human. A deeply human understanding of beauty, enjoyment, and a fulfillment of a job well done. A human realization that something created, ANYTHING created captures the maker’s passion, emotion, creativity, and intent for everyone to see.

-

Knowing this, I want to create. Not because of AI. Not WITH AI. But in spite of AI. I want to prove both that humans are always more creative and capable than AI grifters say they are. And that humans don’t need to rely on AI to create cool and interesting things.

Now I won’t make art in the conventional, limited idea of illustrations and paint on canvas, and neither does anyone else have to. Art is much more than that. I want to just create. Make things that make people say “Wow! How creative! I never would’ve thought of doing that!”. Im bad at drawing. I can’t paint or sketch for shit. I can’t decorate well. But I CAN create. I CAN learn. I CAN take trash and junk that nobody wants and make cool things with it. I know what I like. I know what is beautiful. I just need to apply myself to make something. Because that is the essence of art.

So:
- I created a bracelet using pony beads and barbed wire spikes (blunted for safety).
- I tore apart old wooden pallets so I can build a big tall bookshelf/display shelf with them. Using used engine oil for wood stain.
- I used leather from an old junk couch on the side of the road to create a fancy leather cover for a cheap dollar store notebook.
- I took pictures. Just pictures. Animals, trees, benches. Whatever. So I could add filters and put them through image processing to make striking, distinct images I thought look cool.
- I collect cardboard, random rocks, bits of plastic, and empty containers to make miniature scale terrain for Warhammer or D&D.
- I paint miniatures. Really just a complex 3d coloring books with paint. Not too complex.
- I blend up paper pulp to recycle it into handmade paper for notebooks using scrap leather from junk couches and thrift store leather jackets and pants for covers.
- I want to learn to crochet so I can cut apart plastic shopping bags and turn them into yarn to make rugs, bags, floor mats, whatever.
- Im going to build an arm mount for an old, genuine Super 8 camera movie light I found in my parent’s garage.
- I’ll decorate my house to look good. Not just to be functional. I’ll create an aesthetic that screams “This is SALTY’s house. It is distinct. You will remember it.”

Create something human. Create something imperfect. Create something unique. Create something that shows you cared about creating something. Search for online DIY tutorials and try something out. You might just like what you create. Because as amazing as AI can be, it is not a replacement for art.

I am also aware of the rules and culture of this subreddit. Since I can only pick one flair I choose AIphobia. I am content with whatever fate this post brings me if it means de-toxing this subreddit of art hate even slightly. Unless this entire sub is all satire… which I would believe.

Let me preface: I am not an artist. Nor am I good at art. I have taken 2 high school art classes (3 if you count photography), both of which I have failed. In grade school my art was bad at best. In woodworking class I was scared to use power tools and barely finished any of my projects. In every ELA and writing class I’ve taken I’ve never gotten higher than a C grade.

BUT

The recent swell of LLMs and AI generated art sparked something within me. I began to start appreciating humanity for humanity. I started appreciating effort more and more. I started to see art in things outside of clay, pencils, paint, and illustration. I started to see art in houses, in furniture, in cooking, in computers and electronics, in fashion, in photography, in welding, in engineering, in architecture, in music, even in cleaning and repair. Art is not a job or hobby, it is a skill. A deeply human understanding of beauty, enjoyment, and a fulfillment of a job well done. A human realization that something created, ANYTHING created captures the maker’s passion, emotion, creativity, and intent for everyone to see.

-

Knowing this, I want to create. Not because of AI. Not WITH AI. But in spite of AI. In a world full of artificial art pumped out by the hundreds, I want to prove both that humans are always more creative and capable than AI grifters say they are. And that humans don’t need to rely on AI to create cool and interesting things.

Now I won’t make art in the conventional, limited idea of illustrations and paint on canvas, and neither does anyone else have to. Art is much more than that. I want to just create. Make things that make people say “Wow! How creative! I never would’ve thought of doing that!”. Im bad at drawing. I can’t paint or sketch for shit. I can’t decorate well. But I CAN create. I CAN learn. I CAN take trash and junk that nobody wants and make cool things with it. I know what I like. I know what is beautiful. I just need to apply myself to make something. Because that is the essence of art.

So:
- I created a bracelet using pony beads and barbed wire spikes (blunted for safety).
- I tore apart old wooden pallets so I can build a big tall bookshelf/display shelf with them. Using used engine oil for wood stain.
- I used leather from an old junk couch on the side of the road to create a fancy leather cover for a cheap dollar store notebook.
- I took pictures. Just pictures. Animals, trees, benches. Whatever. So I could add filters and put them through image processing to make striking, distinct images I thought look cool.
- I collect cardboard, random rocks, bits of plastic, and empty containers to make miniature scale terrain for Warhammer or D&D.
- I paint miniatures. Really just a complex 3d coloring books with paint. Not too complex.
- I blend up paper pulp to recycle it into handmade paper for notebooks using scrap leather from junk couches and thrift store leather jackets and pants for covers.
- I want to learn to crochet so I can cut apart plastic shopping bags and turn them into yarn to make rugs, bags, floor mats, whatever.
- Im going to build an arm mount for an old, genuine Super 8 camera movie light I found in my parent’s garage.
- I’ll decorate my house to look good. Not just to be functional. I’ll create an aesthetic that screams “This is SALTY’s house. It is distinct. You will remember it.”

Create something human. Create something imperfect. Create something unique. Create something that shows you cared about creating something. Search for online DIY tutorials and try something out. You might just like what you create. Because AI could never even dream of being as creative and interesting as humans can.