When you use an artificially generated image to promote your stuff, I can’t help but think you’re artificially generating everything else.

If you can’t be authentic with your promotional materials, I can’t trust that your actually authentic.

Those tools are hollow. *YOU* come across as hollow for using them. It doesn’t matter what your justifications are, your budgets, or how desperate you are. Because we all know how the sausage is made at this point, and we all know it’s a *choice* to use it or not. No one is twisting your arm.

No one is forcing you to boost posts that use it. No one is threatening your re-posting auto-bot with ultimatums. Only people with their heads under rocks at this point think your crazy amalgamation with too much contrast and big eyes is actually worth the cost of its “cute factor”.

Just stop. It’s not that hard.

#art #IndieArtist #GAI #GenAI

When you use an artificially generated image to promote your stuff, I can’t help but think you’re artificially generating everything else.

If you can’t be authentic with your promotional materials, I can’t trust that your actually authentic.

Those tools are hollow. *YOU* come across as hollow for using them. It doesn’t matter what your justifications are, your budgets, or how desperate you are. Because we all know how the sausage is made at this point, and we all know it’s a *choice* to use it or not. No one is twisting your arm.

No one is forcing you to boost posts that use it. No one is threatening your re-posting auto-bot with ultimatums. Only people with their heads under rocks at this point think your crazy amalgamation with too much contrast and big eyes is actually worth the cost of its “cute factor”.

Just stop. It’s not that hard.

#art #IndieArtist #GAI #GenAI

Welcome to the submission thread for the November edition of #FairtradeMusicFriday.

As always, submit your own release or someone else's, it can be by #FediMusicians or not, hosted on #Bandcamp, #Faircamp, #JamCoop, #Mirlo or #SelfHosted, as long as it is by an #IndieArtist - it doesn't even need to be new.

Just make a direct public comment (with a link & description) to this post and it will appear at https://isitfairtrademusicfri.day automagically!

Why not make a muso's day and buy/boost their stuff 💙

Welcome to the submission thread for the November edition of #FairtradeMusicFriday.

As always, submit your own release or someone else's, it can be by #FediMusicians or not, hosted on #Bandcamp, #Faircamp, #JamCoop, #Mirlo or #SelfHosted, as long as it is by an #IndieArtist - it doesn't even need to be new.

Just make a direct public comment (with a link & description) to this post and it will appear at https://isitfairtrademusicfri.day automagically!

Why not make a muso's day and buy/boost their stuff 💙

Happy #PortfolioDay ! My name is Corey Johnston, and I’m an artist living in Eureka, CA. I do digital pieces I make by hand in Procreate on my iPad, which I put on greeting cards, stationery, and prints.

I thought I might share some of my recent work. Lately, I’ve been focusing on the local flora and fauna here in Humboldt County in northern California.

I upload all my livestream recordings and speedpaints to MakerTube: https://makertube.net/a/coreyartus/video-channels

Artist links: https://coreyartusimageryinfo.carrd.co/

#art #artist #IndieArtist #MastoArt #Birds #Birdart #ArtNouveau #PortfolioDay2025

Happy #PortfolioDay ! My name is Corey Johnston, and I’m an artist living in Eureka, CA. I do digital pieces I make by hand in Procreate on my iPad, which I put on greeting cards, stationery, and prints.

I thought I might share some of my recent work. Lately, I’ve been focusing on the local flora and fauna here in Humboldt County in northern California.

I upload all my livestream recordings and speedpaints to MakerTube: https://makertube.net/a/coreyartus/video-channels

Artist links: https://coreyartusimageryinfo.carrd.co/

#art #artist #IndieArtist #MastoArt #Birds #Birdart #ArtNouveau #PortfolioDay2025

It's #FairtradeMusicFriday! Here's a new submission thread for October.

As always, submit your own release or someone else's, it can be by #FediMusicians or not, hosted on #Bandcamp, #Faircamp, #JamCoop, #Mirlo or #SelfHosted, as long as it is by an #IndieArtist - it doesn't even need to be new.

Just make a direct public comment (with a link & description) to this post and it will appear at https://isitfairtrademusicfri.day automagically!

Buying or boosting will make an artist's day 💙

It's #FairtradeMusicFriday! Here's a new submission thread for October.

As always, submit your own release or someone else's, it can be by #FediMusicians or not, hosted on #Bandcamp, #Faircamp, #JamCoop, #Mirlo or #SelfHosted, as long as it is by an #IndieArtist - it doesn't even need to be new.

Just make a direct public comment (with a link & description) to this post and it will appear at https://isitfairtrademusicfri.day automagically!

Buying or boosting will make an artist's day 💙

So, can I just say I think I’m experiencing an art-making groove that I really love yet never expected.

I’m in this gloriously lucky position where I get suggestions for subjects from visitors who visit my art booth at the weekly street fair/festival that I’ve been doing for the last couple months.

And because I do livestreaming for six hours a week, I have a carved out time to make art. Lately, I’ve been doing these suggestions.

But they’re not commissions. They’re not requests. They’re subject matter suggestions from patrons who may or may not come back to buy them but are genuinely interested in seeing me succeed so they think I’d do well with a specific bird or animal or other idea.

I’ve take a handful of them. And done them. And sold a LOT of items featuring those suggestions. Sometimes they circle back to buy them, sometimes not.

But I’m realizing these aren’t “fans”. These are connections. I’ve had several folks come back to see me just to visit. Just to say hello. And sometimes they buy the stuff they prompted. Sometimes they don’t.

But it’s because I respond, because I believe in their ideas, and they see me doing the work for others, it’s real. The relationships are authentic. They live here. With me. They’re neighbors. They’re not anonymous.

And THAT is why I’m doing this. Relationships. Art that connects people. Art that makes human links.

So. A request this last week: A Northern Spotted Owl.

#IndieArtist#BirdArt#Birds#Owl # ArtistLife

So, can I just say I think I’m experiencing an art-making groove that I really love yet never expected.

I’m in this gloriously lucky position where I get suggestions for subjects from visitors who visit my art booth at the weekly street fair/festival that I’ve been doing for the last couple months.

And because I do livestreaming for six hours a week, I have a carved out time to make art. Lately, I’ve been doing these suggestions.

But they’re not commissions. They’re not requests. They’re subject matter suggestions from patrons who may or may not come back to buy them but are genuinely interested in seeing me succeed so they think I’d do well with a specific bird or animal or other idea.

I’ve take a handful of them. And done them. And sold a LOT of items featuring those suggestions. Sometimes they circle back to buy them, sometimes not.

But I’m realizing these aren’t “fans”. These are connections. I’ve had several folks come back to see me just to visit. Just to say hello. And sometimes they buy the stuff they prompted. Sometimes they don’t.

But it’s because I respond, because I believe in their ideas, and they see me doing the work for others, it’s real. The relationships are authentic. They live here. With me. They’re neighbors. They’re not anonymous.

And THAT is why I’m doing this. Relationships. Art that connects people. Art that makes human links.

So. A request this last week: A Northern Spotted Owl.

#IndieArtist#BirdArt#Birds#Owl # ArtistLife

I don’t want to use AI art for my new casual Saturday stream (we hang out, jam, listen to music, watch videos, etc.).

I’m looking for real artists... especially with cyberpunk, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, or dystopian vibes. WIP game art is also perfect!

I'll show the work, give credit and links, and keep it going.

Want to share something? Know where I should look?

🤖 #IndieDev#GameDev #IndieGame #PixelArt#ConceptArt#SciFiArt#CyberpunkArt#PostApocalyptic#IndieArtist#SupportArtists

I don’t want to use AI art for my new casual Saturday stream (we hang out, jam, listen to music, watch videos, etc.).

I’m looking for real artists... especially with cyberpunk, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, or dystopian vibes. WIP game art is also perfect!

I'll show the work, give credit and links, and keep it going.

Want to share something? Know where I should look?

🤖 #IndieDev#GameDev #IndieGame #PixelArt#ConceptArt#SciFiArt#CyberpunkArt#PostApocalyptic#IndieArtist#SupportArtists

I released an ebook of my 1st book recently (unfortunately can’t print it just yet) and it’s 20% off all of June for Pride Month!

https://ko-fi.com/lukeorion/link/1STBOOK

It’s a storybook, illustrated and handwritten by yours truly. The story is based on my experience with childhood trauma and homelessness, from the perspective of a cat.

I’d really appreciate any support towards this 🫶 thank you!

#artist #transgender #PrideMonth #DisabledArtist #CPTSDSurvivor #independentArtist #IndieArtist #SelfPublished #lgbtqia #illustration #ArtistsOnMastodon