104. work backwards from perfection

this is a thought I’m still chewing on.. what if instead of creating art and seeing where it goes, I find perfection first and just make that?

Using AI has influenced this way of thinking. the end product seems more important than the journey of making it. 

why spend countless hours on a portfolio piece when Midjourney can generate beautiful art in seconds?

of course, this is a toxic mindset. creating art is deeply personal and emotionally fulfilling journey into myself and the world, something AI prompts can’t replicate. but honestly, my portfolio would look a lot more professional if I started by referencing other artists and AI art, then “worked backwards” to achieve similar styles.

this is the artist’s struggle for balance, especially when trying to make a living. I feel pressure to meet industry standards while holding onto artistic purity. it’s impossible because neither side truly feels like artistic integrity.

I want to make things that are beautiful and beyond my ability and I wanna make things that are deeply personal and me.

so just do both. don’t worry about impressing an imaginary audience of artists or corporate execs. right now, it’s all about growth, both technically and personally. don’t judge each piece individually, enjoy the process.

cheat when you want, obsess over details for hours when you want. just keep creating and putting your work out there.