Art Official Intelligence.
Happy Holi-blp-zrrk!
As a freelance artist I’ve grown used to competing for your time (and money) but now I gotta compete with robots, too? It’s human nature to steal but when a machine rips you off and parades it in your face, that’s just cold and dirty. Have we gone full “Westworld?” I don’t know much about AI art except that it creates fun, albeit grotesque mash-ups, and it seems to be trending for folks who want 50+ versions of themselves looking 50+ kinds of sexy — which I get — and hopefully that trend will die a hot, steamy death once y’all get it out of your system. But let’s not front on the fact that AI art IS stealing from most artists sans permission. The internet continues to fool us into thinking that image, text and content is “free.” It’s not free. Bottom line, AI art is stealing sales and paid work away from artists. And that ain’t right. It’s tough enough making ends meet as an independent contractor. Please give it a minute before you upload your next selfie into the imagination App and let HAL 9000 fix you up. I’ll buy my portrait from a human, thank you very much. And with that in mind, I’m considering my next comix project, a crowdfunder, to be print-only. Something you can’t read online (except for promotional purposes). Test the waters and see if I can go analog for a little while before the oar I’m paddling with bursts into a million little pixels.
I spoke to Jed Keith at FreakSugar about the recent Superman story I drew and other cool stuff, including what kind of Superman I would write if ever afforded the opportunity.
Here's an excerpt:
"Years ago I conceived an idea that charts the early, soul-searching days of an alternative DC universe, Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent, two troubled young men, both of whom are running away from their respective homes by traveling the off-roads of America during a “summer of love” where they explore the relationship between wealth and happiness, as well as, myth and symbolism, and cross paths with other people like them; orphans, bastards, and illegal aliens [including members from the original JLA, Captain Marvel (Shazam), Plastic Man, and other key cameos], and come to a better understanding of who they are and where they’re supposed to go. I hope to be afforded the chance to write and draw that story someday."
You can see/read the entire article HERE.
The ninth issue of the 12-issue IMAGE! 30th Anniversary anthology drops Dec. 28th, 2022, featuring the next installment of my Billy Dogma comic, “I Will Break You But I Won’t Kill You Because I Need You.”
When I was at Yaddo this summer, I chatted with B.J. Mendelson for his WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? podcast aka WAYWO.TV, episode 57. We discussed the current projects I was working on, creativity and why it's important to surround yourself with fellow creatives. You can listen HERE.
On the first season finale (episode 12) of THE RUNS podcast, cartoonist Ryan Alexander-Tanner and I went through all 8-issues of Jack Kirby's bombastic 1970's comix improv, OMAC (One Man Army Corps) published by DC Comics.
If you can't make the free event on January 12th, 2023 at the Parkside Lounge in NYC, DENNY BARRACUDA is online for a buck ninety-nine.
It was written by Whitney Matheson and directed by Shannon Goldman, starring Madeleine Morrell and Lawrence Trailer, and co-produced by me.
A holiday gift for you: my DINO WINTER 2023 music mix on Spotify.
I don’t know what I was thinking either when I drew the above holiday card. It’s like some kind of pitch meeting vision board from an aborted David Lynch inspired Santa Claus movie. Actually, that sounds kinda cool.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR and I look forward to a super independent 2023.
love, Dean
SCENE BY SCENE WITH JOSH & DEAN is a podcast I did with Josh Neufeld that breaks down the film American Splendor, Harvey Pekar's legacy and growing up making comix in NYC.
I remember when I was in a better financial situation, I wanted my online profile picture done by David Aja (or by a wannabe since he refused commissions). It would be tempting if I could manipulate AI to “copy” his style, but I’m not that smart, but smart enough to side with the artists. Snuff the bots.
amen Dean. Fuck the robots. and shame on the people making AI art the hot topic. How about posting about art made by humans that are capable of.....sincerity? I am furious every time I see someone post " I am fairly satisfied with this poem a chat-bot wrote." I think people have truly lost their minds and AI art conversations are proof of how little actual artists matter to the average person.