Ideas and Mishaps

From the madness of my brain to the blank canvas in front of me, there is just one step—but, oh boy, what a step it is. As a self-taught illustrator, my journey has been full of trial and error, countless doubts, and endless iterations before finally getting a happy ending. What should I draw? Is the composition working? What elements should I add? How can I make the background less empty? Or maybe it’s too much? I need to step back...

When I hit a creative block, I usually turn to my best pals, Pinterest and Behance, to spark some ideas. Otherwise, I get out of my comfy chair and take a stroll to clear my mind while stay healthy. But recently, I decided to see what AI could offer, and it struck me: how can human artists compete with generative AI? Unless you’re a well-versed enchanter·esse who can tame the Beast, then you're in for a treat. I'm in awe of what technology can do today. I don't know what kind of witchcraft is behind all of this, but it's both fascinating and terrifying. And here's why.

Fear the Beast

The illustrator in me feels deeply shaken by AI. Why spend hours brainstorming ideas, refining sketches, and perfecting details when, with just a few sentences, AI can generate something visually striking in mere seconds? It feels unfair. Some people tell me to embrace AI, use it to generate designs, and even make a living from it. But deep down, that doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like cheating. Maybe I’m being stubborn, but if I call myself an illustrator, then I want to make it count—I want to put in the effort, struggle through the process, and create something that is truly mine.

You got a friend in me

That said, the graphic designer in me is overjoyed with AI. Suddenly, I can generate the perfect image I need for a mockup without hours of searching or staging. Sure, I could take my own photos—smartphones today have incredible cameras—but I don’t have the right equipment to stage every mockup, nor am I a professional photographer. AI fills in the gaps, providing quick, customizable visuals that make my work easier.

So where does that leave me? Somewhere between admiration and unease. It’s like having an angel and a demon on my shoulders—the designer in me is tempted to give in, eager to get the perfect mockup with minimal effort, while the illustrator remains skeptical, refusing to trust the program. AI is in fact an incredible tool, but it certainly raises questions about copyrights and authorship, and the future of illustration. Maybe it’s a beast to be tamed, or maybe it’s just another brush in the artist’s toolkit. You tell me.

Just FYI, but the image I used as the cover of this post has been made with Midjourney, using this prompt:

crumpled papers in the shape of balls scattered everywhere. Pencils and a PCB can be seen hidden under the mess of crumpled papers. Photographic picture, low-angle view, ground level view, close-up of paper and PCB, natural light.

As you can see, I'm no enchanteresse.