Original Human Art VS AI (Artificial Intelliegence) Slop

After 3 years AI widely used in everyday nowadays life by many people, I just need to share some thoughts of how it affected me greatly especially for my field of work.

Art created by original human hand which used to be so highly respected and appreciated has been savagely degenerated by technology which made the recognition no longer exist for those who did not care about the process and hard work of real talented artists. Some people who thought they can put themselves in the same level by merely typing prompts had been annoyingly being shameless for asking real applause from others for the so called AI slop not art. In reality, those are just people fooling themselves thinking they are successfully absorbing art skill by writing prompts which the prompts itself only from a mere sentence without any brain cells ever used in their mind and the result they get is voila! magic from violating a lot of original creations to come up with shitty soulless result. 

Well, I'm one of those real human who try to create real art with my own hand which now truly affected by massive use of AI everywhere. Now, more and more people without enough knowledge of art can not differentiate between the real and the slop anymore. Basically the boundaries between real and fake is harder and harder to be distinguished. Unless, they truly use their heart and mind to feel the soul from the real creator. Not to mention, the environmental destruction caused by AI from water to electricity. To be honest, this is really threatening to my work and any other artist in general and in the same time, heart breaking to face it in reality lately.  I just wish there would be something good to prevent this technology to really rob the life out of everyone.

*the picture is my concept for one promotional social media post back then by redrawing the famous Monalisa.     

  

 

 

Art and Clients Series: 4. The One Who Turn Their Lives around with Extreme Decision

They were one of my clients with amazing back story about how they started their own business. 

At first, they gave me an inquiry for custom illustration to be used for their coffee product label. Then, they gave me another projects for cocoa label and also t-shirt designs related to their business. After a few orders, I checked on their social media profile in which they explained themselves as a new business owner in pottery starting just a few years back and left their office jobs for the sake of better care to their family and they made it. Their business grow bigger and they even open and a special course for their skill in pottery. I wish them the best and the experience of working together with them was one of the good one for me.

The picture that I post along with this was the initial concept for the coffee label. the final design was different but nonetheless with the same vibes.   

 

 

Internet world: The Toxic 'Now' and The Will be Missed 'Then'

One day I came across a meme picture that described the differences between the internet now and then. So, I decided to draw the picture in my own version.

As someone who live in the era before and after the internet become a common thing in life, I truly know and experience the differences in real time. I spent my early childhood in the 80s, teen life in 90s, young adult in 2000s and adult in current 2020s. To put it simply, I'm included in the era between generation x and millennial or known as gen xennial. I've been through the era where the technology shifted faster than ever and things did not last as it used to be for a long time.

Before the 2000s era, everything has been manually done for life and computer still in its early development and so did the internet. Every day was filled with Daily mail, postcards, magazine, newspaper, television, home phone, fax, radio, limited and slower information about everything etc. However, things were changed after that era when the internet slowly easier to be reached and used as tool.  I remember back then, I was so fascinated with internet and felt that I found a whole new world as an introvert to communicate with people from other side of the world, let alone they were strangers to begin with. Back then, there were no such thing of faking IDs and scam or spam as a bunch of it now, or at least it was not something so common as today. I even befriended with some people from different countries and chat so often as if we live nextdoor. That time I thought I finally found a place for me to runaway from the hectic daily life, social pressure and boredom and it worked. However, as time goes by, everything has escalated quickly, the changes is unstoppable and internet is now no longer a place I know as it used to be.

Nowadays, in the span of not only 15years but more than 2 decades, internet has turned into a scary and toxic place to be if we don't use it wisely. Yes, the technology is much more advance and all the things that seemed to be impossible, now is truly possible and information is faster by the minutes or even seconds.  We can share everything but the scary part is, we can lose everything and affect or damage our lives seriously. The doxing, scam, phishing, fraud, crime and all other bad things that could possibly happen is in our very own hand through mobile phone to see. So much so, to avoid it, many people suggested to go back to real life, nature and limit the access to it. Life is shifted into online, socialize online, work online, even everything has to be online. It would be extremely exhausting and troublesome if we don't follow it for the sake to stay relevant but it can't be helped anyway. Well, do we even have other choice to make? none. And now AI finally made it worst. I wonder if there will be new founded thing to counter this to be better next time, again who knows.    

 
 

Art and Clients Series: 3. The One who Think of Family & Friend the Most

The first time I received a project offer from her, to be honest, I was a bit skeptical. Why? because I was a bit trauma with some people who gave me projects for certain price but they expected more results and files which in the end did not match with the early agreement. However, I was truly wrong. She turned out to be one of the best clients I've ever work with and truly understanding and not to mention, appreciated my ideas and efforts for her projects.

 

The  first project was that she wanted me to create illustrations for her custom song book for her grandson. She gave me full freedom in doing the illustrations based on the songs she chose to be on the list. It was a great pleasure for me and she was satisfied with the result as well. Then, another projects a few months after that which were similar but for different purposes such as a friend's birthday cards, motivational book for family, etc. I couldn't be grateful enough to her for the work plus the appreciation she'd given me and I was really happy whenever she contacted me for any project she wanted me to do because she would rewarded me handsomely for it. I truly wish her the best in her life.  

 

*the picture above is the example of my work for her. For portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/repost is not allowed. 

Art and Clients Series: 2. The One who like it Customize for Holiday Season

The story went back to 2012 when I won in his contest for custom Xmas family postcard illustration which featured his family and related to the current trend that year - Gangnam style music video.

Since then, he regularly contacted me every year near holiday season to order custom illustration related to any trend happened that year for his family postcard to be printed and sent to all their family, friends and colleagues with a very specific details in his brief of what I should do to come up with the illustration as he would expected. Until one day, it stopped because of a reason.  

 The reason was Covid19, and so he stopped ordering in those years until he finally reached out again for another annual custom card illustration after the pandemic era was over. we still continue working together until last year because I wouldn't know whether he will do so for this year. Nonetheless, I wish him the best. I almost forgot to mention that he also let some of his friends and neighbor to give me their personal projects and I really was grateful for him for it. 

*the picture attached in the post is a part of early concept for one of the illustration I made for him. For portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/repost is not allowed. 

 

 

Art and Clients Series: 1. The One with Unique Imaginations

In more than two decades of my life working in art designing, both in fashion or clothing and graphic or illustration, I've come across so many different challenges and type of clients.

As for now, I would like to share one of my experiences with one certain client who wanted to build his own business in clothing industry with his his own brand back then a few years ago. He was a young man with a lot of unique imaginations which I need to put into illustration or graphic design form for his clothing products. The picture which attached in this post was one of it. He had one original character as the main brand mascot in all of the illustrations I did. There were many other illustrations in which I, as a designer wouldn't think that far for the ideas and inspirations. 

We worked together for 2-3 years producing some designs and he even sent me the sample of his products and a nice appreciation letter. However, we suddenly stopped working when I asked him to give me some times to finish other project with tight deadline before working on his latest idea. Maybe he was also in a rush and couldn't wait for me to do it.

In the end, overall it was a nice experience and I always appreciate what he had done for me in the past and for his trust in using my design service. I wish him the best.   

  

 

From A-Z Manual Clothing and fashion Design and Product Catalogue

This photo that I included in this post was what I did for work throughout the first decade of my career in this design field both fashion and graphic. I used to work by designing the model for clothing manually and then also changed it into digital form by computer and after the products are ready I also needed to create the full catalogue for customers of the company I worked for it. Not to mention, I had to find the proper fabric and colors, everything almost from a-z of this company's product process.

 

 Other than that, after I resigned and decided to work as a freelancer, I took several order for baby clothing catalogue, printing design for fabric and also some clothing product for different companies and some custom illustration order up until now.

 

Feel free to contact me through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com for any design service.
 

Another Design Idea Was Copied Just Like That

This was another lesson learned for me back then a few years ago. Someone offered me a design project but it turned out to be an empty project offer in the end after they ghosted me. They without at least feeling guilty then invited me to their design contest. I was a very positive thinker back then to even join it thinking that they perhaps wouldn't do something bad again. 

However, my expectation was too high on them. I submitted my design as below just to be copied by other designer in that contest as per their request after I withdrawn from it due to thinking this contest wasn't worth my time and no respond at all from them. I found out later on when they decided the winner after a while that my design has been used by other after they 'tweaked' it a little. 

No apology, no remorse, nothing. The funny thing was, they tried to invite me to another project and contest again after that and I completely ignored them. Luckily, this type of people were only the minority compared to other good clients who used my design and illustration service. 

#noodlemie #art #graphicdesign #designer #illustration #typography #ballet #graphic #design #digitalart #dance #concept

When Your Idea was Stolen In front Of your Eyes But You Can't Do Anything

There was a contest with Xmas reindeer theme a couple of months ago and some people participated in it including myself. However, it felt like I gave away my idea for free without proper recognition when the contest holder told other contestants to copy it or rather, "steal" it by making it similar and they got away with the award. I can't do pretty much anything but just wish somehow people like them will not be living in peace as long as doing what they are doing towards other.

Hopefully, I get a good karma afterwards because of this. After AI has made a massive destructive impact in threatening our job, these so called copycats have been there like forever doing much worst. 

 

#illustration #noodlemie #art #design #fyp #digitalart #life #drawing #rant #tshirt #graphicdesign #designer

 

Artist VS AI: A Rant of Trying to Survive

 

With emerging AI technology spreads faster than wildfire, the struggles become tougher and more challenging for artists to keep on their feet or simply stay afloat. 

All artworks are savagely and without mercy being copied, used, refurbished, manipulated, recreated and reformed as needed by some people with simply writing a mere prompt. 

There is less and less appreciation for real talents, creativity, originality, authenticity and real human-made creations. It has not been easy lately even for me to deal with it for these past few years. 

Nonetheless, I still believe there are some people who would still seek and appreciate the real art. No matter how advanced it is, AI will not defeat the human brain. 

*3.5 hours drawing

#noodlemie #illustration #art #design #graphicdesign

#designer #illustrator #artist #artwork #selfrant #random #fyp #noaiart #artistvsai #digitalart #samsunggalaxytabs6lite #ibispaintx #selfthought

One of those days in a Designer's life

 

With more than enough experiences working in graphic design, there are always some days during those times when I often dealt with some challenges and struggled in fulfilling the requests related to a custom design/illustration which in the end, no matter what, should be able to meet with customer's expectation and satisfaction for the final result. It was not always easy and sometimes it felt like forever but the efforts must be made all the time with positivity in mind. 

 

These cases were perhaps 20 to 30% out of total order I've received throughout the years. In some cases, I might as well gave up when the customer didn't exactly like the result after several attempts for options. After all, we, as designers are not super magician who could always guess correctly what they truly want. However, I have in mind that patience is a virtue to work things out as long as they would explained exactly what they're looking for.

     

 *Human's true handmade art will forever be the real from the heart genuine art compared to those copycat-generated AI images which the source came from millions of human handmade arts itself. 

PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOM: The trouble with communication in design

I've been in this field for more than a decade and dealt with many different types of clients. Graphic design and illustration, especially in custom order is always a challenge when it comes to providing the best result and fulfilling the client's expectation. The good part would be when I can achieve the goal smoothly after providing and presenting my idea to them. However, that's not always the case with the happy ending. I sometimes bump into a tricky part in doing the work and the end would be less than expected.

This was one of the rare case. The psychedelic mushroom theme for a product. The communication played a crucial part in learning and moving in steps to finish the work but it was not as easy as it seemed. Whether it was out of hesitation to comment or rather gave a silent treatment or they just chose to do whatever they want without considering the time and the effort on the design itself. Sometimes I wonder what was so hard to just honestly tell what they had in mind and I will accept it fairly. In the end I preferred to stop rather than torturing myself with providing several options and overthinking everything about it after some times and considered it as a lesson that life is not always going my way. 

Who knows one day I would find a suitable person who can accept my idea the way it is, since it luckily happened a few times before. The AI also has become the bigger threat lately with how easy and accessible it is for anyone to 'make' something. 

Once a Fashion Designer turned into Graphic Designer (part4)

 To be honest, I had to struggle more for my fashion lesson and meanwhile learning English was not an easy task either. I'm the type of person who would do things willingly if I could find joy in doing it. Although drawing is my hobby but fashion is another thing rather than just drawing. I had to also know why I drew it the way it did. The clothes needed to be rational and made-able and not just a mere design. I had my share of confusion and stressful moments because I knew nothing about pattern and sewing to understand this kind of thing, especially when I didn't have any interest in the subject.   

Early months of learning these 2 subjects at the same time really dried my energy and I had a lot of things going on in my mind of why should I get through this for my life. On the other hand, I had to admit that my drawing skill and English were getting better in time. My introvert character also had influence a lot in getting in the way to achieve everything better since sometimes it was a torture to communicate better with people. The lessons were not getting any easier at that moment and I had to race with time to finish each target on schedule within a few months. I will continue more when I am in mood for it.

Once a Fashion Designer turned into Graphic Designer (part3)

   Yes, I remembered once one of my brother's friends named Anita, told me to pursue fashion for a career after she saw some of my random drawings. I did not set my heart into fashion actually, but my mom who noticed me with no slightest intention to do anything or chose any college to continue my education after failing the state university exam, had taken this matter into her own hand. She, without me knowing, enrolled/enlisted me into one famous fashion course and also English diploma at the same time that year. She then encouraged me to do the best on both without any chances of failing. At first, I was a little bit frustrated studying fashion especially when I had to learn the fashion sense and not only draw clothes randomly. 

   To be honest, I have no idea anything about fashion or clothes since what I really like was more into illustration and  graphic design. In the end, I just drew and drew based on the book from them and read some history of fashion, since that time internet did not really exist yet. On the other hand, for my English diploma, I kind of got a hang of it and follow the lesson better since I love learning English and since my teacher in high school was too busy with herself to teach us, her students, a bit of her wisdom in English. Thanks to her I barely had enough knowledge in English after graduated from it. 

  I had to run up and down doing the two studies at the same time and barely had enough time to do something else. My mom specifically always reminded me to do the best and not to waste even the slightest time on it and tried to graduate on time. There were many bittersweet memories from both places and I got to meet friends and challenges to overcome over a year later.

I'll continue next time.

 

Once a Fashion Designer turned into Graphic Designer (part2)

 Well, when I lost the will to study at college or university after I failed the state university exam, my mom decided to force me to fill in one year's time with fashion design course and an English diploma before I can try another exam for state university next year. I was simply obeying my mom without the will to really do it passionately. However, parents somehow know what their children are good at. I was frustrated at first but then I managed to adjust myself in doing both fashion and English at the same time.

I then learned to see things on the bright side and realized these were good for me after all. Then I suddenly remembered her, the one person whom I ignored when she gave me a suggestion to pursue fashion field after seeing my drawing in my high school days. I didn't think of it seriously since I wasn't into fashion at all. 

I'll continue next time..

Once a Fashion Designer turned into Graphic Designer

I once worked as a fashion designer. A choice of career that was not in my mind from the start but then, I was left with no choice in my confusion to set up what I wanted to do with my life. I graduated from high school at the age of 17 and I was thinking my life would be as simple and smooth once I got into college which has nothing to do with my drawing hobby and then got a job, live simple and so on. However, that wasn't the case. It was not as I've expected at all. Life always stores surprises for me in the next few years ahead and sometimes, more than I expect it would be. 

I will continue this when I have more time later.

 

Complexity of a mind

I sketched this picture roughly a couple of months ago on a used paper when I was extremely bored in a place full of people, and yet I felt somehow alone and uncomfortable. Today when my mood has gone bad because of a personal matter, I put colors on it just to escape from that terrible feeling. Drawing somehow always helped me in such situation, although it means only a temporary but perfect gateway.

As an introvert, my mind constantly stores these various thoughts about things that I will do about my life which I think all human being would have it in their minds in a similar way. It has always been busy with many things to think about. I've been doing it merely and mostly for self contemplation and try to come up with a way to fix whatever it is that needed to be fixed. Let alone those people who mind themselves by unnecessary interfering my personal matter.Those words in the drawing above are the things that appear regularly in my thinking time and also what people mostly think as measurement for someone's life level. 

To be more exact of the way I'd like to see it is; (1)Ideas and skills are beneficial for earning something for a decent living and survive in the society I live in. (2)Logic is needed when I deal with any troubles that come along the way. (3)Patience is when I missed what I've expected in the result of everything or waiting long enough before getting the things I want. (4)Expectation is my final hope of hopefully it will be as I wish it to be.(5)Challenge is puzzle to be solved. (6)Mood is my loyal shape-shifted companion that can change anytime but become my biggest influence and annoyance. (7)Dreams are untold wishes and goals of life to pursue. And the last but not least, (8) Achievement, is how far I've walked on this shaky earth among other living beings.

It can be the opposite for other who love to stay in the 'comfort zone' though, as I've witnessed some of them who do. As (1)Ideas and skills are for something that rather difficult to attain or a hassle to do in search for improvement and better off steal from others when possible. (2) Logic works for profit or benefit only without a common sense. (3) Patience is something only a fool would do. (4)Expectation is always as high as possible . (5) challenge is a time waster. (6)Mood is unavoidable and only natural and nothing to worry about. (7)Dreams, achieve it as quick as possible with every mean necessary or only treat it as hoax in life. (8)Achievement is not important without acknowledgement from people. Hey life is not always easy.

Writing something unnecessary again. It feels like I'm writing my research report proposal all over again. 

 

Back in Business

It's been a while.

I actually can never leave this lovely job anyway. Instead, I will combine all the new knowledge I have right now with my other field I've worked on. I hope I can come up with something new and acceptable for many people without forgetting my root and signature works.

I love to live in the world of art and imagination more than everything. I would love to tell it through my work, although there might be a lot of things that I have to fix and improved along the way. I will try to do better for the next one, the best I can.

My humble appreciation for those clients and customers who have used my service all this time. Not to mention, all artists who have become my inspiration and motivation in doing my work.

Respect Yourself !

Great reminder from one of Disney's artist. Click to enlarge and view to read.

How A Design in General Goes Straight To Hell

Yesterday, I was reading the article in one interesting site named The Oatmeal.com, which is I have to say that I agree with it 100 even 1000%. There, you can click and find out yourself for what I'm talking about. I know very well that globally, the situation of this world is much more worse than few years ago, especially in terms of economical and political situation. Not to mention everywhere is financially troubled including the rich countries such as European Union and U.S. Perhaps, the only country who is not suffer from all this crisis is only China.

I rewind my memories back to 10-13years ago when everything were pretty much under controlled and stabilize. My kind of job is something very promising, let's say it was a dream job, until some people tried to grab the same joy by plunging themselves into the same field. Although it won't be the same since it relies on the ability and most of all talent. 

As Kyoma (designer) said in his comment :

'It's really sad for contestants who put great amount of time, with everything they got, if a Contest Holder enters a designer which he/she knows. I've read a lot of known designer blogs reacting, getting their clients by sites like this, but still even if they think low of us, I believe we can do much like they can, or even better. I believe it's just a matter of respect, not only from ourselves but the community, and the clients.'

This is so true and the more I see I have to say the more sick I feel. Some fellow designers copied others' ideas,spams the entire page with the same or look alike designs or the clients just make fun of us I don't know but it's real life act. Have they lost they sense of integrity for the sake of money? or they're just too greedy and don't want to lose their money until they use some ways to 'cheat' the naive designers just to share their ideas (unknowingly) freely. I don't know what to think anymore. Maybe I just need to live the real life, get paid for what I did in cash.