Let’s get something straight: I’m a painter. Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor and Digital.
Sometimes, I paint in Procreate. Sometimes, I composite layers and elements and edit heavily in Photoshop. Sometimes, I use Midjourney AI to generate elements or inspiration, which I then reshape, rework, paint over, and transform into something that feels wholly mine. I’m not ashamed of it—in fact, I’m proud of the art I create and the process behind it.
AI is one of many tools I use to bring an idea to life. Just like a paintbrush. Just like a stylus. Just like a camera or a stock photo site.
Because here’s the truth: when I create an image using Midjourney, I’m not “stealing”—I’m generating a specific visual starting point. No different than if I searched Shutterstock or Unsplash for an image of “a woman in a rose garden” to use as a base for a piece. But instead of relying on what already exists, I create something new to match the vision in my head. Then I get to work—digitally painting, editing, adjusting, refining. The hands. The eyes. The expression. The lighting. Every detail becomes part of the story I’m telling.
I don’t use the style of living artists. I don’t mimic or trace or swipe anyone’s signature look. If I’m referencing historical work, it’s often artists like John William Waterhouse or Alphonse Mucha—who, respectfully, are not taking commissions anymore. Their work is public domain, and I could use it directly if I wanted. But I don’t. I prefer to build something new, inspired but original, crafted with care.
And let’s not pretend this debate is only about ethics. Because the same people who clutch their pearls about AI art often don’t want to pay for hand-painted work either. A single oil painting can take me 3–6 months to complete—and to value that kind of time and talent, I’d need to charge $5,000 minimum per piece and several hundred for professional prints on artist quality paper. That’s not sustainable for most people, and it’s not sustainable for me as a working artist. Ergo... I use tools that let me work smarter without sacrificing soul and my time.
Digital painting is real art. AI-assisted creation is real art. What makes it art isn’t the tool—it’s the hand behind it. The vision. The care. The years of practice and discernment that go into knowing what’s finished, what needs more, what feels alive.
I’m not interested in defending my work to strangers who’ve never tried to make a living as an artist. I’m here to make beauty accessible, meaningful, and true to my voice. If that means blending modern tools with traditional skill, so be it. I won’t apologize for evolving with technology.
So yes—I use AI. I also use Procreate. I also use Photoshop. I hold two fine art degrees. I have 25+ years as an artist and designer. I have a keenly discerning eye. I put my whole damn heart into my perfumes. I'm selling perfume afterall.
That’s not cheating. That’s art. Art is now and always has been, subjective. Someone taped a banana to a wall and sold it for over $1 million dollars.
And darlin’, if my art is not your thing—you don’t have to buy it. You do you. I’ll keep making beauty for the ones who get it.