Goals of this post: to help boost illustrators who are creating art without the help of generative AI, and to try out a new feature enabled on my blog (thanks, Leaflet) which lets people reply with their own blog posts.

Two side-by-side drawings: on the left, a girl with a ponytail and a heart on her shirt draws a small blue flower with a pencil. On the right, a boxy robot labeled “A.I.” with a flexible neck and mechanical arms draws a similar blue flower. Light gray background with the artist’s signature and copyright text underneath.

If you use (apps like etc) for a post about how you created a piece of art without using generative AI, I invite you to reply with that post so others can see.

To those who want to skip right to sharing their link, scroll to the bottom of this post.

To illustrators who don't yet have a blog in the Atmosphere: this is a great chance to try it out! I currently use for most of my blogs, and for my "One Thing I've Learned" blog.

If you're not sure what to post as a reply, here's a suggestion:

  1. 1.

    Post a piece of art you created without the help of generative AI. I strongly recommend making sure your copyright info or at least some kind of identifying info is embedded in your image somewhere.

  2. 2.

    Post at least one image showing your process OR talk about how you created the piece. Image could be a layout sketch, or a screenshot showing the different layers, thumbnail sketches, or a photo of your messy art desk with a half-finished piece.

An illustration depicting a library scene with a large tree overhead and a building labeled "LIBRARY" with a smaller sign below it reading "Palmerston". An adult is leading a child up the stairs toward the entrance while a person with a bicycle reads a book on a bench outside. Copyright text at the bottom reads: "©2024 Debbie Ridpath Ohi, from I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS (Simon & Schuster BFYR)".

I decided to combine mine into a collage that I could include on my website page about how I illustrated my newest picture book with Simon & Schuster, I Want To Read ALL The Books.

A four-panel collage showing the cover and behind-the-scenes process for the picture book I Want To Read ALL The Books. Top-left: The book cover featuring a young girl sitting atop a large stack of books reading with a white terrier, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Top-right: Sketches, layout notes, and a archival photograph labeled "Library Club." Bottom-left: An exterior photograph of the Toronto Public Library - Palmerston Branch. Bottom-right: An illustration of the library matching the exterior photo, featuring the main character walking up the steps. Text across the top right reads "Behind-The-Scenes PROCESS". Bottom banner reads: "© Debbie Ridpath Ohi - DebbieOhi.com. From Debbie’s book with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers".

Here are some more photos and sketches showing how I created an illustration from my picture books. I used to work at the real-life Palmerston branch of the Toronto Public Library. My friend was kind enough to take some reference shots of his bicycle for me that I could use as reference. I also put him in the illustration! For those curious, he's reading a copy of Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me Margaret with my illustrated cover, and wearing a "I Read Banned Books" t-shirt.

If you'd like to find out more about how I created this book, feel free to check out my Behind-The-Scenes: How I Created I Want To Read ALL The Books.

You don't have to share a post about published work, of course.

I welcome reply posts from artists of all levels (and ages)! I just ask that it be a piece of art that you created without the help of generative AI tools. Link your reply below so others can see:

Reply with a post of your own.

folktale week 2025
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Katbird Art

folktale week 2025

Kate Anderson
Sailor Moon's author & my comics final is kicking my ass please pray for me I need encouragement: What Belle is learning this week in comics school.
Belle's AuDHD art chaos learning blog along icon
Belle's AuDHD art chaos learning blog along

Sailor Moon's author & my comics final is kicking my ass please pray for me I need encouragement: What Belle is learning this week in comics school.

Belle - FINAL COMIC CRUNCH

Find out more about Debbie at DebbieOhi.com, or browse her social blogs.