Why we Use AI (And Why That’s Okay)

Let’s address it head-on: we use generative AI in the creative process, and we are not apologizing for it.

Here’s why:

Art has always evolved with technology. When photography was invented, painters said it would kill “real art.” When digital art emerged, traditionalists scoffed. Every new tool faces resistance, yet art survives and thrives. AI is just the latest chapter.

Tools don’t make art—artists do. A camera doesn’t make someone Ansel Adams. Photoshop doesn’t make someone a designer. AI doesn’t replace artistic vision, composition skills, or the ability to know when something works. We spend hours directing, editing, and refining. The weird ideas? The dark humor? The steampunk aesthetic? That’s us. That’s all human.

We are not replacing human artists. Oddfellow Art is a small business. we’re  not taking jobs from illustrators or undercutting commissions. We are creating niche art that wouldn’t exist otherwise, for people who want affordable prints of oddball gothic steampunk humor.

Accessibility matters. Not everyone can afford a $2,000 commissioned painting. POD art democratizes weird, quality art for regular people who want something unique to wear or to put on their walls.

We are transparent. We don’t pretend AI isn’t part of the process. Honesty matters. You know what you’re buying, and if it’s not for you, that’s totally fine—there are plenty of amazing traditional artists to support instead.

The final piece is what counts. When you look at art on your wall, what matters is: Does it make you feel something? Does it fit your space? Do you love it? The process that created it is secondary to the impact it has.

We respect everyone’s perspective on this. If AI-assisted art isn’t your thing, we genuinely encourage you to support the many incredible traditional and digital artists out there. But for those who care more about the end result than the tools used to get there—welcome. Let’s make your everyday life weird together.