AI (Artificial Intelligence) isn’t the enemy of creativity — not by itself.
But somewhere along the way, AI stopped being a tool to refine our ideas and started becoming the source of them. And when that happens, something important is lost: our voice, our originality, and the very thing that makes creative work worth monetizing.
I don’t believe AI is killing creativity. I believe we’re asking it to do a job it was never meant to do.
AI tools are everywhere. In seconds, we can have novels, videos, film, and art projects — basically any digital media at our fingertips. What once took designers hours, days, or even months can now appear almost instantly. At this pace, how are creatives supposed to keep up? It feels like trying to race a freight train in a sedan.
When speed is valued more than originality, we risk losing the very thing that makes our creative process special: the process itself.
USING AI AS A TOOL, NOT AS A REPLACEMENT
Artificial Intelligence is a tool — a powerful one. It gives digital software the ability to perform tasks that mimic human learning and reasoning. For example, search engines and AI platforms can now give answers and suggestions in ways that feel like a human wrote them.
AI can help us problem-solve, design, edit, create art, write, and even brainstorm ideas. But here’s the thing: AI works best when it’s refining your ideas, not replacing them. The creativity, personality, and originality that make your work unique can’t be copied by a machine.
Think of AI like a paintbrush: it can help you make your strokes smoother, mix your colors in new ways, and bring out details you might miss. But it can’t feel your inspiration or make the choices only you can make. That’s why AI is best used as a partner, not the creator.
LET’S GET PERSONAL
As a self-taught designer, coming up with ideas and translating them into exactly what I envision can be challenging. Before refining my graphic design skills, my only way to convey creative thoughts was by hand-drawing them on my iPad. Cheerful Canvas became my first—and largest—dream realized from that process.
I knew I wanted to help other creatives, especially self-taught ones, find their own way in this world. And the first step in establishing myself was creating a logo that truly reflected my style.
This is where AI, like ChatGPT, became a huge help. I plugged in everything I loved and even uploaded my best designs to identify patterns in my work. When you don’t always have another person to help spot details, a data-driven AI tool can feel like your best friend. It helped me refine my ideas without replacing them, letting my creativity stay at the center of the work.
And so The Cheerful Canvas logo was born!
HOW OVER-RELIANCE CAN HURT YOUR MONETIZATION
Creativity isn’t just about making something look nice — it’s about sharing ideas that resonate with people. When originality is replaced with speed or convenience, your work can begin to feel lifeless. And audiences can sense that.
Over-relying on AI can make this happen. It’s easy to fall into the trap of letting AI generate designs, captions, or concepts without injecting your own voice. The result? Your content might look polished, but it lacks the personal touch that builds trust, engagement, and, yes, revenue.
Audiences don’t pay for tools—they pay for people, perspective, and personality. A brand or project that feels copy-pasted, even if it’s technically perfect, struggles to stand out in a crowded market. That’s why monetization is closely tied to originality: the more unique your ideas, the more people are willing to invest in them, follow your work, and recommend you to others.
Here’s the takeaway: AI can make your creative process faster and help you refine your ideas, but it can’t replace the value of your voice. Your perspective, your experience, and your human touch are what give your work meaning — and what makes it monetizable.
A HEALTHIER WAY TO USE AI IN YOUR WORK
AI can be a powerful partner — but only if you use it the right way. The key is to start with your own ideas first, then let AI help refine them. Here’s how I approach it:
- Brainstorm first, then refine.
Write down your ideas, sketch your designs, or outline your concepts before bringing AI into the mix. Use AI to polish, organize, or improve clarity, not to replace your original thought. - Ask better questions.
Instead of telling AI, “Write this for me,” try asking, “How can I make this idea clearer?” or “What’s another way to phrase this?” This keeps the focus on your creativity while using AI as a tool to enhance it. - Look for patterns in your work.
I love using AI to identify recurring styles or ideas in my own projects. It’s a great way to see your strengths and refine your personal brand without letting a machine define it for you. - Keep your voice at the center.
No matter how helpful AI is, your perspective is what makes your work unique. Your audience follows you, not a tool. Use AI to make your voice shine, not to replace it.
Remember: AI is like a magnifying glass for your creativity. It can highlight the details, smooth out rough edges, and suggest improvements — but the vision, the story, and the choices always belong to you.
WHY I STARTED CHEERFUL CANVAS
As a self-taught designer, I know how overwhelming it can be to find your voice in a world full of trends, tools, and shortcuts. When I first started, my only outlet was hand-drawing my ideas on my iPad — a slow, imperfect, but deeply personal process. Cheerful Canvas was born from that journey: a place where creativity is celebrated, mistakes are part of learning, and originality is the most valuable tool you can have.
I wanted to help other creatives, especially those teaching themselves, find their way into this world without losing their unique perspective. ChatGPT and other AI tools helped me refine ideas and spot patterns in my work, but they never replaced the choices I made or the vision I pursued. That’s the kind of guidance I hope to share with you here: how to leverage tools without losing your creative voice.
CREATING INTENTIONALLY IN THE AGE OF AI
AI will continue to grow, evolve, and become even more integrated into the creative world. That’s not something to fear — it’s an opportunity. But the most important thing to remember is this: your creativity is yours, and it’s worth protecting.
Use AI to refine your ideas, to organize your thoughts, or to explore new perspectives. But never let it replace the originality, intuition, and heart that make your work truly valuable.
Stay intentional. Keep experimenting. And always let your voice guide the tools you use, rather than the other way around.
If you’re ready to create thoughtfully, share boldly, and build a creative life that’s uniquely yours, then you’re in the right place. Welcome to Cheerful Canvas — let’s create together.