Human Art Trending!

It’s been so encouraging to see the flood of human-drawn “starter packs” in response to the initial AI-based trend! Artists of every background have been participating, and it’s so awesome to see how they each see themselves, their jobs, the unique “accessories” that make them who they are. At a time when things are moving so much towards anonymity, isolation, and machine thinking, (among many other negatives), we are not lost in the chaos. We are a community, and integral to every community. 🧑‍🎨🎨🖌️🖼️🤝

Without further ado, here’s mine! My 100%* human-dreamed, human-drawn starter pack (*okay, I’m possibly part dragon, but for sure 0% robot!)

I’d love to zoom in on some of the details and tell you about them!

First, I wouldn’t be complete without my daydreams, and while any window and even no window will do just fine, I designed this one based on my childhood window panes in Wisconsin. The dragon is here for all the imaginary magical companions that have romped and explored around me in my mind’s eye since childhood. (I especially loved watching unicorns and dragons fly along beside the car on our long drives to Colorado every summer!)

Do you see that little rainbow infinity symbol? That’s a symbol for neurodivergence — for my autistic and ADHD mind. There’s another symbol, too, because I’m queer (bi) and also a fierce ally to all LGBTQ+ people:

Then of course, since this is author-illustrator me (I have many others — mother, spouse, sister, daughter, friend, teacher, more!), I need my art supplies! And while there’s generally chaos in my workspace, the rainbow stays true inside each box.

Next comes my apparel. Besides my dragon dresses and dragon dungarees, I adore the hand knit sleeves and other treasures from my mom — and I’m also proud to wear the safe space and advocacy clothing from Stevie’s Safe Spaces! (The sweatshirt is my design — an honor!)

In the “regulation station,” you can find the things that help me find peace through the noise as a neurodivergent artist. Origami paper for constant cranes, my Loop ear defenders, a weighted blanket, and yes — that’s string cheese — my safe food!!

STUFFIES. These represent many more. I adore stuffed dragons, and everything Miyazaki/Ghibli!!

Last but not least — my library. Of course I couldn’t choose just a few! So it’s boundless, overflowing. In there are all my childhood favorites, since we never outgrow books, we just add more leaves to our inner trees. And I love to revisit them always, especially my leafiest realms from Ursula K. Le Guin, Diana Wynne Jones, Madeleine L’Engle, Susan Cooper, C.S. Lewis, and more.

And yes, the imagination tree rooted in books cannot be constrained either. Because when do we ever fit in a box?