How to AI-proof your art career. Sort of.

[Aqua Letifer]

I like Jake Parker’s stuff. In addition to his own graphic novels, he and two other guys run not only one of the most respected popular online illustration schools, but also illustrator podcasts on the internet.

He’s also crazy serious about artists making money, which doesn’t really get taught in universities these days.

Anyway, his points:

Why are people hiring you?
Is it because they need something done? Then you’re fucked. You need to pivot, now.

Is it because they want you to do it? Then you’re fine. You need to keep broadening the community of people who will do that.

Which industries are you working in?
Corporate clients would jump at the chance to fire your ass and gin up good-enough AI “illustrations.” But fans at a comic convention? They’re there to see you. Think long and hard about whom you should be serving.

How much of your humanity are you putting into your work? How smart are you about monetizing?
Lee White makes digital illustrations for his day job, but then prints out the sketch layers from Photoshop so he can make a traditional painting of the same thing that he can sell for much more at art shows. His philosophy is that art takes too long to make to have the end product be a one-off sale.

So, always repurpose, but inject your humanity into your work. Sell limited editions that have your signature on them. Livestreaem your drawings on Twitch. Sell not only your graphic novels but the sketchbooks you used to make them. Express yourself personally and use everything.

I think those are all solid plans, but I do think creative workers are in for a serious industry deflation anyway. It’s going to take a hell of a lot of people out.

Link to video