​With all the new AI text-to-image technology popping up, I'm seeing a lot of artists claiming this is the demise of art or creativity itself. If this is what you believe, I think your creative shadow may be showing. 

First of all, art doesn't define creativity. Creativity can be applied in all areas of life, not just art. Creativity is a way of thinking and doing. It's a process that no one (and certainly not a technology trend) can take away from you. Secondly, art isn't going anywhere. Humans have been admiring art, creating art, and collecting art for many millennia.  

Here are some journaling questions to explore these aspects of creative shadow around AI-generated art:

• Do you see your identity as an artist threatened by AI?
• Are you afraid that YOU (not your art) will be replaced by AI?
• Do you believe that AI is more imaginative than you are?
• How is your appreciation for the long, slow process of making art at odds with the quick ease of making AI-generated art? 

If you find yourself wanting to tell everyone else what's wrong and how things should be done, this might be a sign that you need to do YOUR shadow work. When we focus on what's wrong with the world, we're often bumping up against our own uncomfortable edges and dealing with hidden fears. Getting into the "it should be done like this" mindset can be a sign that you're ready to explore your own SHOULDs, HAVE TOs, and other self-imposed obligations. ​

​If you're not concerned about AI-generated art, but feel you need to check in on your creative shadow, here are a few journaling prompts from my Mystic*Maker*Muse Questions for Creatives deck. You can find it HERE in my Ko-fi Shop.  
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Question #1: What will validate your creativity for you?
Question #2: What are your hidden beliefs about creativity?
Question #3: WHY do you create?
Question #4: Can you let go of the wheel?

Creativity and technology have always had a complex relationship. On one hand, technology has made it easier for creatives to bring their ideas to life, while on the other hand, it has been seen as a threat to the creative process. However, with the advent of more and more AI (artificial intelligence) tools, creatives can now leverage technology to enhance their creativity, and here’s how.

(1) AI tools remove the barriers between ideas and reality. With the help of AI tools, creatives can now easily bring their imaginative ideas to life, without being limited by their lack of technical skills. These tools can generate realistic images, sounds, and even entire virtual worlds based on the specific input.

(2) AI tools can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up more time for creative work. For example, tasks such as photo editing, resizing, and formatting images can be automated with AI tools, allowing creatives to focus on more important and less time-consuming tasks.

(3) AI tools can help creatives boost their social media presence. AI tools can analyze the language, tone, and structure of a creative's blog post or social media update and suggest changes that would make it more engaging and effective. An AI tool could also analyze social media trends and suggest a new approach to a marketing campaign.

(4) AI tools allow creatives to collaborate freely. Through the use of AI, creatives can work together on projects, regardless of their location. AI tools can facilitate communication, file sharing, and project management, making collaboration more efficient and effective.
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AI tools can be a valuable asset to creatives. With AI, it is now possible to quickly and accurately analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns and trends, and make predictions about future outcomes with a high degree of accuracy. While it may not replace human creativity, it can certainly enhance it. As technology continues to advance, it will be interesting to see how AI tools evolve and how creatives will leverage them.

I'm leading a discussion/demo on using AI for deck creators in the Deck Creator's Mastermind with Kiala Givehand, which begins August 11, 2023. Click HERE for details.