Dahlia Digital Detox

In a world filled with AI generations, I choose human content. Pen and paper, fabric and thread, stylus and tablet, wet clay on dry hands. I want people to know my thought processes and intent behind my artwork. For people to look at a piece and see its imperfections; where I accidentally pressed too hard with my pen, where the ink came out of the nib too quickly, where my pen started to run out and made a really beautiful texture.

These dahlias were sketched on our recent trip to Lisbon, purely for pleasure. Purely for the act of creation, the scratch of fine liner on water colour paper, purely for me. This mini series of drawings were part of a digital detox which was long over due. I'd become a little jaded from seeing the same AI created content over and over again, and I knew that the only way I could feel better about this world that we now live in was to quietly step away from it for a while and go back to my roots.

There's something quite magical about any hobby which you can create something from nothing. AI takes the human emotion from a piece and renders it emotionless. Without the human narrative and intent behind something, can it truly be called art?

Picking up a pen or pencil and making a mark on a piece of paper feels ever so cathartic. For thousands of years humans have made marks and drawings to communicate, record, decorate and tell stories. Are our voices now being lost among the noise?

I think the best way we can acknowledge these fears is to keep making art. Make bad art. Make good art. Create on the days you don't feel like creating. On the days that you do want to draw/ paint/ sew/ sculpt, immerse yourself in the act of creation. This is a gentle reminder for anyone who needs to hear it that we need human content in the world now more than ever. Make your voice heard, even if you do feel that it is a gentle murmer in the noise.

Next time I need reminding, I will quietly come back to this blog post, sit for a while and most importantly, make more art.