AI is helping me cope.

This ChatGPT AI image captures how I have felt since the reign of Mad King Trump and pseudo-President Musk began. I am unable to sleep or create anything worthwhile.  I wonder if my Republican family members and friends are starting to feel the same way.

This is the first image ChatGPT AI created for me and it reflects how I actually often feel—a shabby worried person in a dark environment. However, I chose the one above of the older woman instead. Of course, she is much younger and more attractive than I am.

I have not always been a fan of AI until Lyn Belisle, an artist I took a class from, introduced me to it. I used it this time because I wanted an easy way to illustrate my mental condition with little pressure on the injured occipital nerve in my neck. AI turned out to be the best way to do that and escape the news that constantly bombards me.

Handmade Art Journals

Art Journals made like the one in the above picture are relatively new to me. I started taking some online classes and I am really enjoying the process. I had planned to use up all the paints and collage materials I have cluttering up my studio, but true to form I bought more! Not only that I now have the little art journals that I’ve made added to the hoard. Gone are the days of art shows when I sold most of the things I made. It’s so hard for me to make things just for the sake of making them. I will admit I do enjoy revisiting them again and again after I finish making them. Maybe that should be enough of a reason to keep creating them.

This little journal is approximately 5x5”. I use some handmade wrapping paper I bought years ago at The Dollar Tree store

I cut the paper into the size I wanted and then applied a coat of gesso. When dry I then rubbed on earth tone paints with my fingers. The rest was collaging bits and pieces of papers, lace, etc. I did some stenciling and also some hand stitching. Actually it took me as long to make this little journal as to paint a large painting!