New Beginnings, Artistic Resolutions

Here we are, at the beginning of the new year -- I hope things have been off to a great start for you! Aside from your classic resolutions of crushing it at the gym or getting 52 books set aside for the year, I hope some art-related goals have made their way into your goals for 2026.

As for myself, I’d like to bring a new comic story to life over the course of the next 12 months. Like many of us creatives, I've had so many ideas in my head with no place to go -- so this will be the year one of them comes to see the light of day! It's a short story that succinctly chronicles the woes of modern dating, and I hope you'll find it funny (yet not TOO relatable).

Of course, growing Art By Humans is my biggest prerogative of all! Making art itself ties in quite nicely with this project, and some might say is even a requirement. You can’t be talking about Art By Humans without being a Human making art, so that’s that -- draw I must!

If you have a new year’s resolution you’d like to share with us, get in touch -- leave a comment, send us an e-mail, drop a note on our main website’s contact form – and let us know a) what your artistic new year’s resolution will be, and b) the first three big steps you’re going to take to get started. Starting with an action plan is the best way to get the wheels turning! Fill us in at the end of the year with your progress for a chance to win a special prize from the Art by Humans team. We look forward to seeing what you’ve got, and wish you well on the journey.

Speaking of AI and art and what’s been going on with the podcast lately, it looks like I’ve had my very first first run-in with what might just be a faulty AI algorithm with my own podcast here with this project. I picked a cute little jingle from a royalty-free website, posted my first 10 podcast episodes, and uploaded them without a hitch – only to find about half of them taken down for a supposed violation a few days later, strangely. (Especially given that every episode used the same exact song!)

Rather than risk tripping any wires again, this time I went to Bandcamp, bought a paid version for a jingle with no attribution requirements for sure, and re-uploaded – only to run into the same situation again. It was definitely high time to file an appeal, and shortly thereafter, I was graciously informed that my episodes would be unblocked so long as I provided proof of purchase.

Simple enough, but as I got everything ready to send over, I couldn’t help but hesitate. If this was what I could expect after going through all the proper avenues, did I really feel secure with building my platform there? While I was still contemplating that descision, I got yet another e-mail unprompted, saying that all my episodes were approved and no longer blocked! This went for BOTH songs -- the free and the paid one I shelled up some currency for following the first block. Still no proof of purchase by this point... so, that pretty much brings our suspicions home, here.

I’ve since then fully bought a lifetime license for a song, so in no way, shape, or form do we run into something like this again – and I’m in the process of switching hosting for that matter as well, although there’s a few moving parts to work out before all of that can fall into place. Well, there you have it -- my little personal AI kerfuffle, right here with this podcast. I'm earning my stripes, here! And now, onto to our scheduled programming.

In our last news episode, we discussed some pretty encouraging trends regarding big publishers taking sides with human creators over artificial intelligence. Disney stood strong with artists when it came to AI's use surfacing in the card game Lorcana, studios were seen banding together to defend human artists in upcoming lawsuits, and a growing number of makers’ markets and artist alleys’ have begun enforcing strict guidelines against the use of AI with all merchandise. Between now and then, some of these strongholds have unfortunately begun to falter, particularly that of corporations (which doesn’t come as a surprise, sadly). Disappointing all the same, given how promising and genuine their efforts seemed to be at the outset.

Moreso than any other corporation, we've all had our eyes on Disney over any other creative powerhouse out there. Since the launch of the generators, we've all waited with bated breath to see how they'd respond to the encroachment of AI, especially given their track record when it comes to defending their intellectual properties. We've witness decades of legal vigilance – from going after daycares with hand-painted Disney murals inside of them, to putting the brakes on fan works. Could they possibly be the deus ex we've been waiting for? With the institutional power and an abundance of resources at hand, perhaps they'd put into place the legal precedents that could protect the rest of us in turn. Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario for us came about instead – Disney announced their partnership with OpenAI to hand over a multitude of assets for use with their AI video generator, Sora.

Perhaps the most striking fact of this deal were the numbers at play, with the book closed at around a billion dollars. This undoubtedly communicates significant intention to embed AI at a foundational level within the creative process. In their words, they plan to build new “tools, products, and experiences” using this technology, which to me sounds as though no stone will go unturned in the implementation of this technology.

Perhaps even more surprising (and yes, there's room for more surprises!) is that this deal allows for the public sector to generate content of their own, free of charge. With Sora being given access to nearly 200 licensed characters, this likely isn’t limited to rodents and the royalty -- those who sit under the broader Disney umbrella would be fair game as well, such as heroes Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and the sort.

The first thing that comes to mind with this change of direction surrounds the impact to Disney’s branding, which has already stood on shaky ground over the years due to a number of different controversies. Despite any prior public misgivings, what provides Disney its level of prestige is simply the world-class talent that they've been known to consistently attract. We watch every movie with an understanding that we are being served the product of the world's greatest minds, offering us the very best within the realm of visual arts, storytelling, and creative direction as a whole. Since the introduction of generative AI, we’ve naturally begun to question its use behind the scenes, fingers crossed that genuine artistry was still being honored. As we saw in the coming months and years, any suggestion to its involvement was quickly identified and resisted by the public. Its use in the opening credits of Secret Invasion in 2023 would be the first such example, followed by its use and swift retraction in the card game Lorcana. Now that we've come to a point where all doubt has been removed, and its application implied to be foundational and nearly undetectable, how will the public’s confidence in future works stand to be changed?

Many believe that we’ll acclimate to its use, continuing to trust in the Disney brand for as long as we like what we see. Others take a look at the level of disengagement the use of AI already invokes and question how the long game could play out, especially as fan-generated content gets featured right alongside flagship titles. It's an exciting prospect to pitch your work directly to a large network, but there remains the question – if the average person sitting next to you can put out high-resolution work with little effort, will this affect its value in the eye of the public? I suppose we’ll know in due time.

Another interesting story emerging from the gaming world surrounds some interesting challenges currently taking place in the hiring process. This particular story was submitted by an anonymous graphic designer and recruiter going by the name Mr. B, written in the Japanese publication The Daily Shinicho. As we know, it’s becoming more difficult for artists to get hired due to generative AI -- but what about the opposite side of the coin? One might assume this situation is a smorgasbord for employers, but -- as Mr. B reveals -- the hiring process has seen its fair share of struggles due to generative AI, too. It’s getting harder to secure genuinely competent talent, since many applicants have begun building their portfolios from AI prompts rather than the product of their own personal skillsets.

According to Mr. B, this experience has not been unique to himself. Others in his same shoes have been finding that once the demands of the job ask more of these artists – which I understands to mean more detail, more continuity, faster turnover, and customization beyond the melee of the conceptual stage – they don’t possess the quality or consistency required to meet deadlines. This creates a colossal bottleneck in the production timeline, to say nothing of the compounding effects on release schedules.

Consider the months it takes to find a suitable artist -- the weeks of looking, sifting through applications, going through multiple rounds of applications -- only to terminate them shortly thereafter and be forced to enter the cycle anew, time and again. In the recruiter’s words, “They were unable to make significant contributions to the team with their current skills.”

Here we have it -- another reason that the development of fundamental skillsets continue to matter in the age of AI. I have some experience as an artist on a small game development team during my graduate school years, and the common thread that linked all of our responsibilities would be the word “refinement”. In the beginning, AI art sadly first came for the concept artist’s world – the stage where anything goes and you’re simply looking to see what sticks. Once you get past this stage and have a theme and direction that excites you, you're presented with a clear vision for the entire game thereafter -- and this is achieved through continual refinement. This in turn drives a cohesive world, a cohesive cast, cohesive assets, the basis for nearly everything.

Mr. B mentions a solution that's helped separate the wheat from the chaff quite effectively. Mandatory, in-person demonstrations of foundational skills are now required of all candidates applying to their company. They arrive in the flesh, draw in front of the recruiters, and are likely given tasks to provide an understanding of their creative process and turnaround time, similar to the way engineers solve problems in real-time to demonstrate their critical thinking skills during the hiring process. Only then can they have peace of mind with what they’re getting out of this potential hire.

While it's a surefire solution, it also demonstrates the collateral damage that AI causes beyond the effects of image generation alone. Mr. B goes on to mention that for all its effectiveness, it adds to the problem of an extended timeline for hiring. It used to be that a quick perusal of the artist's website, followed by a quick and convenient Zoom call, would be all that was needed to secure the best talent. This convenience also provided recruiters with a broader pool of candidates, with current methods limiting potentials to either those who are local or already of substantial means. Applicants from all over the country, even the world, could be contenders without a dime spent in travel or lodging to pursue these opportunities. Given the nature of contract work that many artists operate under, barriers to cost mean that some of the greatest talent that would otherwise be available to them would have to seek other projects to make ends meet.

Despite this, Mr. B states that there remains mounting pressure to further incorporate this technology from the suits and corner offices within the company. Having a clear picture from the inside, as well as a strong belief in the importance of genuine human ability over artificial intelligence, he continues to advocate for talented individuals that will ultimately benefit these gaming projects in the long run.

For any of our listeners with a similar responsibility of finding and keeping talent, I’d love to hear what you’ve experienced these days as a result of generative AI as well. How has this technology affected your line of work, and how has that in turn affected the outcome of your projects? Shoot us a message -- we’d love to learn more from those right in the middle of it all in this point in time.

In conclusion, this story leads us to the matter of authenticity as a whole – something we talk about quite frequently here at Art By Humans. The need to display genuine human competency is becoming more and more valuable, whether in the application process for a job or the construction of a solid clientele base. Just as we witnessed here, nothing beats classic visibility. Allowing others to see your skills in action is going to remain your best strategy. How can we go about applying this more effectively in our everyday artistic pursuits?

If you’re a budding digital artist who prefers more privacy and anonymity, investing in a small adjustable rig to record your workflow is a simple and effective start. Some are concerned that AI is beginning to emulate those as well – but at the end of the day, the consistency in your output over time will be what ultimately speaks for you. If you’d like to take the next step up, no one can deny a Twitch stream as far as authenticity goes. You still don’t have to show your face – again, the camera can be focused your hands, your workflow, or ideally both in this situation. Keep the recording on Twitch, make your edits, and there you have it – two in one! 

Then comes the gold standard – drawing in person for others to see. With art festivals, maker’s markets, and artist’s alleys providing plenty of opportunities throughout the year, set up shop and allow humanity to see your work in all its natural glory. Display originals framed alongside your prints to ensure the buyer that your products are in fact a product of genuine human artistry. Offer to take commissions at the table – portraits of your customers, their friends, loved ones, even their pets -- with examples on display of previous work. Offering to draw your customers’ favorite characters in your own style is another effective option. What I love seeing most is observing the artist behind the booth actively drawing while I browse or pass by. You can ensure authenticity without necessarily having to be goal-oriented, focused entirely on running your display and socializing with your visitors. 

And with that, I hope you enjoyed this update from Art By Humans! Keep at it with your goals for the new year, and best wishes as your project develops over the course of 2026. Don’t forget to send us your resolutions, along with three practical steps you’re taking to make them happen. Present your completed project this year in December, and you’ll be eligible to receive a special prize from the Art By Humans team. Glad you dropped by today, and hope to see you in the next episode!