Yeah, true. I've been using art as a catch-all for illustration as well.
I think that it helping indies is still positive. I just dont think all of this is worth it. I think that something really important is being lost if we can generate PNGs this close to human level with so little effort, without letting the humans (who made this AI possible in the first place) be involved at all.
I learned how to pixelate by using generators and vectors as part of my education. I generated a 7 spoke gear for my game. Doing that by hand is a daunting task to me. The tiles I'm making now are from my head, but they feel procedural. I think it was Adam C Younis who told me I would do well by following a set of rules. I create tiles in a way that feels logical to me. My levels may make statements via the resulting environments, but my tile creation is guided by the limitations of the medium. I can imitate any art style IRL, but I've just done it because I can and not because I enjoy it. I like the challenge of a mindless platformer, so I'm doing the required work to get to the reward.
I've composed over a hundred songs throughout my life in a similarly procedural way. I've been having more fun on a classical guitar than in a DAW for a couple of years. I wasn't really aware of the joy of music until recently.
About 30 years ago, I threw away boxes of my art/illustrations and music. I took the works and tapes to the city dump and threw them in, because I found it all derivative. My production became tighter over the following years, but my music remained contrived. Interestingly to me, I now find most music unenjoyable. However, I do have a good time playing the guitar and feeling like I'm at a Sumerian celebration. As you may have surmised, I now find creativity to be utilitarian with the purpose of unity.
