Art, age, and the alchemy of AI
We are so busy with our lives as we grow that we never stop to think about what will happen to our bodies as we age.
My friend Jennifer has been an artist since her first box of crayons when she was a wee one. And she worked hard as a social worker to raise her family. But every chance she got, she played with her paints, experimented with acrylics, created fabulous watercolors, and sketched her kids and all the pets they accumulated through the years.
She loved her art, and even though there was never enough time, she knew one day the kids would be grown, she would retire, and then she would be able to create the great body of work she had inside her.
As is often the case with aging, for the last few years, severe arthritis in her hands made it impossible for her to continue her artwork. It has been really tough on her, and she has become increasingly depressed. She was losing interest in her strolls through nature as it was frustrating to see and feel so much with no way to express it. As any creative person knows, we need to create, or we slowly wither away inside.
Jennifer loves the AI created images I use in my stories, but she has always felt intimidated by her computer. Plus, social workers don’t have large pensions, so it took some convincing before she agreed to try a free version of Dall-E. And guess what? She’s been creating all sorts of wonderful images for weeks now!
She took me seriously when I said you are only limited by your imagination.
Jen’s an artist. She thinks in pictures. It was a small step for her to translate those pictures into words. And then have an AI image generator turn them into the visions that were in her head. As any artist will tell you, it takes time to reach inside, pull those images out, and get them onto the canvas the way you want them. AI gives you all the time in the world.
It’s incredible to see the change in her. Her depression lifted, and I could literally hear the happiness in her voice once more. She admits she’s slow at typing because of the arthritis, but she’s so thrilled with being able to create art again that it doesn’t bother her.
This experience taught me a lesson. Technology can break down barriers and bring joy and purpose back into someone’s life. Jennifer feels like she’s gotten an important part of her life back, and seeing that gives me hope for all the other artists drummed out of their world by aging.
Jen found a new passion for her walks. Every day, she’s out exploring parks and trails, soaking up the beauty of the natural world. She tells me how the colors of the flowers, the patterns of the leaves, and even the way light plays through the trees fill her with awe once again. And the best part? She comes home, brimming with ideas, and translates these natural wonders into her digital art.
It gets even better. Jennifer has started making illustrated images for her grandchildren. She combines her artistic skills with the stories and characters her grandkids love, creating personalized, whimsical art they absolutely adore. And adore her even more for creating it. It’s become a magical way for her to connect with them. They often sit with her, watching as she transforms their ideas into their dreams.
It’s not just an art session — it’s a deep bonding experience. Art with love. And love with art.
AI image generators have opened a new chapter in Jennifer’s life. She’s more active, both creatively and physically. The walks are doing wonders for her mood, and the time spent with her grandchildren is priceless. I’m amazed to see how this new form of art has opened up so many avenues for her. Avenues Jennifer thought were lost to her forever.
I love that there’s always a new path waiting for us, no matter the obstacles. Jennifer’s story is a reminder to never stop exploring, creating, and connecting with the world and the people around us.
And to share the gift of these wonderous tools with those whose lives may benefit.
Gael,
In another comment I asked if you were creating the imagery for your posts using AI and here I got the answer. This was a fantastic post. It is thrilling to read about Jen transformation through technology and art. Also, I am leery of AI and now I am also curious about it in a way I was not before reading this post.