TGnIF 4-7-23 – "Wise"

Rae Terwilliger

Apr 7

Thank Gnome it's Friday!!

Tock and Queen Arella, of my comic "Tock the Gnome." Called "Wise" in terms of this definition - "responding sensibly or shrewdly to a particular situation."

I am pushing through recent art block stuff (as mentioned on my Instagram last week) but everything is still..... a lot. It seems that part of the blockage came from how much I am still struggling with my complete rage and hopelessness over the AI Art situation (which I spoke about in better detail here). Another reminder: if you are using AI art apps, even if its just "for fun" or just for avatars or personal use, you are participating in art theft. You are saying it is okay that this is happening to artists, including artists that you know.

I am doing what I can to move forward and still believe in my work, despite the violation of such theft and how much mainstream people don't seem to care, which just.... hurts.

So, then.

As an artist, faced with all this - still - what makes it worth it?

I feel like I don't have an easy answer to that right now. Except to say that this piece, right here? This demanded to be drawn, even though I was hurtling head-first into an art block wall without even realizing it. There is still something in my spirit that screams to be let out, no matter what is going on around me. No matter who notices, or doesn't notice. No matter who might take harmful advantage of me sharing my work online.

And there ARE people who care. People who are fighting SO hard to protect artists (shoutout to the Glaze team again! Link is below. And so much love and gratitude to people involved in lawsuits against AI companies). There are people spreading the word about the issue, or just refusing to support/participate in AI art because it is wrong.

And there are people, still, who do actively benefit - spirit-wise - from my work. From just seeing it, and reach out in support (whether via my Patreon, or by likes and comments and legitimate shares where they see it posted).

THAT is why I do it. The goal remains true, and remains important, no matter who is trying to steal it, in what ways, or for what reason. That's THEIR crud, not mine, and I still need to show up for my service to the fae. Hands down. Always always always.

So, I'm glad to have finished this. And I'm glad to be pushing through the art block. And I'm grateful that all hope is not lost, even in the hurt.

This piece protected from AI art theft by Glaze, btw. Thank you everyone involved in the project