I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with web designer and business strategist Diane Whiddon to discuss my journey with AI and how it's transformed both my art practice and business approach. For those of you who prefer reading to watching, here are some highlights from our conversation.
From AI Skeptic to Advocate
My journey with AI began with skepticism. Despite my mom's early enthusiasm for AI art, I initially resisted diving in. It wasn't until I saw the potential for creating AI portraits that I decided to give it a try. Like many artists, I approached AI with caution, testing its boundaries "like a velociraptor in Jurassic Park."
One of my first experiments was attempting to recreate my own artwork using AI. The results were revealing - AI couldn't replicate the nuanced details and unique characteristics of my hand-drawn illustrations. This discovery was actually empowering. Instead of feeling threatened by AI, I began to see it as a powerful tool for expanding my creative possibilities.
The Creative Ripple Effect
What started as curiosity about AI portraits has evolved into something much more significant. I've found that working with AI has enhanced my creativity across all aspects of my work. It's become an invaluable tool for creating marketing materials, website elements, and even sparking new ideas for my traditional artwork.
I shared a story during the interview about helping a friend, a glass fusion artist, experiment with AI. When we generated some AI hummingbird images, she was inspired by how the AI arranged glass pieces in ways she hadn't considered. This perfectly illustrates how AI can serve as a springboard for new creative directions rather than a replacement for artistic skill.
Looking Forward
Currently, I'm channeling all these experiences and insights into developing a comprehensive course for artists who want to learn how to leverage print-on-demand services and AI tools to grow their businesses. After years of running my own successful online boutique and working with various print-on-demand platforms, I'm excited to help other artists expand their reach and create multiple income streams.
An Exciting Announcement
During the interview, Diane and I revealed an exciting new project we're launching together. We're offering a 30-day behind-the-scenes look at our marketing strategies and business growth. We'll be sharing real numbers, actual time investments, and unfiltered results of our marketing efforts. This is the kind of transparency we wished we had when we were starting out - no sugar coating, just real marketing in real-time.
If you're interested in joining us on this journey and seeing exactly how we grow our businesses (including all the ups and downs), you can learn more by clicking here.
The full interview dives deeper into topics like AI tools for business, creative processes, and the future of digital art. I invite you to watch the complete conversation above to hear more about my experiences and insights.
See you all there!
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