I’ve been feeling pretty down since yesterday. I can’t fathom how AI has infiltrated the mainstream masses so easily that people aren’t willing to take a few minutes to explain a design idea to me and would instead rather spend their time speaking with a chat bot to create a wholly unusable tattoo design. I’m doing everything I possibly can to remain calm and unaffected, while not shaming my clients for their usage, and explain how it’s not possible to work with “their design.”
It’s getting to the point where every other request I receive is something that I have to spend so much time explaining how it won’t work and what is possible that by the time we get to actual creating a nice custom piece I’m feeling thoroughly checked out of any passion for my job. I worked so hard to get into this career and suffered so much abuse and hardships because I genuinely care about it but now it’s becoming such a burden. I’m having to battle people on what is doable according to a computer and they are perfectly comfortable disregarding my years of experience and fighting me with no knowledge, but as if they’ve already consulted some higher being full of unquestionable knowing. It’s extra tough when it’s coming from clients who have been coming to me for years.
I know creatives across the board are feeling this and I will continue the fight and try to do so with compassion and not lose my love of my career and the wonderful people who want to decorate their bodies as they see fit but it is not easy. It’s disheartening and sad.
I know so many artists who have strict no AI policies for their clients. At this point I’m heavily considering it but trying to think of a way to express that without hurting people’s feelings and making them feel shame even though I think they should. I definitely understand why people are gravitating towards these tools but I cannot morally, ethically, or creatively participate for my own sake as a free thinker and artist.
I guess I just needed to get this off my chest and go from here. Hopefully I’ll be able to put together a policy that will bring attention to this issue with people that otherwise may not realize what a strain it is on their artists. I want to approach it with compassion and hopefully receive compassion in return.
Thanks for reading and stay curious!
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