I’ve some craft fairs booked in the run-up to Christmas. Two are going to be held at churches and I’ve determined that I could use those opportunities to promote some of my groups as well as sell. It seems only sensible for one of those to be my Bible journaling sessions. Combining the two aims results in the inspiration to create and sell some framed off-the-page illustrations, of which this is the first:

Making notes

I have an admission to make. Despite the controversy about artificial intelligence and stealing art, I used AI to help design this piece. Though I understand and support the principles of intellectual property, artists have always gained inspiration from other artists’ work and it seems to me that AI does that with knobs on. The fact that it is surreptitious, uncredited and uncreditable isn’t so good.

That said, it came in handy when I came to my colour choices. I experimented with what ChatGPT could come up with when I gave the following prompt:

Which colours from the promarker range will complement a walnut frame? There is text, flowers, leaves and a ribbon banner in the image I plan to colour in.

It came back with an itemised list, suggesting colours for each element – and a justification for each. I trialled the colour combinations, selecting the most harmonious for my piece. And when I needed a lighter colour scheme for the ribbon banner, I just made a follow-up request and got another recommendation.

I think the final result combining artist and AI assistance has turned out marvellously. So much so, that I asked another follow-up question of ChatGPT to follow the same process for the 60-pencil tin of Polychromos colouring pencils. I’ll keep you updated as to how that turns out.

Used for this piece

• Ryman A4 bright white coated card
• Winsor & Newton Pro Markers:
  • Text: Amethyst / Slate (augmented with a fine white pencil for highlights)
  • Flowers: Dusky Rose / Coral
  • Leaves: Olive Green / Moss
  • Ribbon banner: Buttercup / Mustard / Gold
  • Shading: Cool Grey 3
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens: black set (various nib types/sizes)
• IKEA Sannahed 25x25cm frame

Craft fairs

Here are the fairs I will be attending this year:

• Active Arts Craft Market, Countesthorpe Academy (LE8 5PR) – Saturday, 26th October 2024, 10am-4pm
• Church of the Martyrs Gift Shopping Evening (LE3 0QT) – Wednesday, 6th November 2024, 7:30-9pm
• Whetstone Baptist Church Christmas Fair (LE8 6LJ) – Saturday, 7th December 2024, 10am-4pm