Art, AI, Memory & the Tools That Shape Us
As an artist and educator, I find myself circling a familiar question again and again:
How do the tools we use shape who we are?
This year, that question feels more relevant than ever. I’m a painter who works with serene underwater scenes—human figures suspended in light and water. But behind the brush, there’s also a screen. I use MidJourney, an AI image and video generator, to help develop visual references that I later translate into acrylic paintings. It’s a process that allows me to explore poses, lighting, and underwater effects that would be nearly impossible to stage or photograph myself.
AI reference image on the left, my sketch with pens on the right.
In the past, I paid licensing fees to use reference photography taken by other artists. Now, AI has changed that part of my process—while also raising deeper questions. I know there’s controversy surrounding AI-generated images, especially when it comes to copyright, originality, and the labor behind the datasets. As someone who teaches high school art and computer courses, I feel a double responsibility—not just to stay informed, but to engage critically with what these tools mean.
I believe artists, educators, and collectors all benefit from understanding the tools we use. That includes asking hard questions, acknowledging blind spots, and looking at both the risks and opportunities.
That’s what this blog series is about.
🧵 What I’m Exploring This Year
Here are some of the themes and blog posts I’m writing or releasing soon—ideas that are shaping both my art and my teaching:
🎨 Can You Own an Idea?
This reflection explores how copyright, modern tools like AI, and shifting creative norms are reshaping what it means for art to be original—and why that matters to artists and collectors alike.
Steamboat Willie
🤖 The Mirror of the Machine
AI-generated art often feels unsettling—too perfect, too hollow. But what if that unease reveals something deeper? In this piece, artist Vanessa Corrigall explores the uncanny valley, digital culture, and her own journey with dissociation, painting, and AI. For collectors, this is more than a trend—it’s a turning point in how we define real art.
🌿 Real vs. Artificial
Coming soon! -
Why we decorate with fake plants or install imitation wood floors. What does it mean to choose something artificial? Does authenticity always matter?
💊 Inspiration, Intuition & Altered States
Coming soon! -
Artists have long turned to external sources—drugs, dreams, rituals—for inspiration. Is AI any different?
🛠️ From Camera to Collage to Code
Coming soon! -
Mirrors, grids, projectors, Photoshop, MidJourney—each tool stirred fear in its time. What’s really behind that fear?
🌀 Why New Tech Feels Like Cheating
Coming soon! -
How society reacts when new tools challenge our skillsets—like calculators, spell check, and AI. Includes my reflections on growing up around traditional Mennonite values that shaped how I view technology today.
🌍 Can AI Be Sustainable?
Coming soon! -
Looks at the environmental footprint of AI—and how this same technology might be used to solve global challenges.
💦 Swimming Through Culture
Coming soon! -
Water as metaphor, memory, and ritual. I explore the culture of swimming in Alberta and Canada, the history of exclusion in pools, and what water reveals about identity.
💬 Why This Matters
These aren’t abstract ideas for me. They’re showing up in my studio, in my classroom, and in conversations with collectors and fellow artists. AI isn’t just a technical tool—it’s a cultural mirror. And like any mirror, it sometimes distorts what we see. But it also reflects truths about what we value, fear, and hope to become.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I do believe in asking good questions—and inviting others to ask them, too.
If you’re curious about art, culture, and how technology shapes both, I’d love for you to follow along.
