AI Ethics + Sustainability Statement

At Black Magic Social Club, I believe in creating with care.

✨ Art with Intention

My artwork is a blend of human creativity, storytelling, and responsible use of AI-assisted tools. They are synthographs (modern digital artworks). I was a freelance graphic and web designer for over 10 years.  I've done vector, pixel, and photo composite art. I still draw and color a lot of my own work. In addition to AI, I use Procreate, Photoshop (not the AI tool), and Canva to create pieces. 

I don’t mass-produce or rely on automation. Every piece is curated, guided by research and made with intention.

I directly call out that bios (written by me) and synthographs (AI assisted art) in my product listings, on the Bio and About pages. People already buy plenty of AI assisted art, the creators just normally don't mention it. I want to be upfront about it because I want to empower customers to make the decisions about what they take home. 

Mindful Production

I use print-on-demand to eliminate excess waste and reduce our environmental footprint. That means:

  • No large stockpiles
  • No overprinting
  • No landfill overflow
  • Many products are made using sustainable or recycled  materials.

Black Magic Social Club products are made only when ordered, keeping my process lean and efficient.

Responsible Use of AI

Yes, I use AI sometimes in my creative process, but responsibly:

  • Low-impact energy usage: Creating one image is comparable to searching online or editing a photo, not training a giant model.
  • Minimal generation: I create only what we need and prioritize quality over quantity.
  • People-centered design: AI is a tool, not the artist. I plan to post more of my untouched work.
  • Process: 
    • I use a lot of different techniques but the most common one for drawings will be starting in Procreate or Illustrator, feeding my art into AI as a source image, then generating using tools. After generating, I think use Photoshop and Canva to finish up.
    • For historic "synthographs", I use research, historic public domain images, source photography (that might originate from royalty free stock or manipulating the image in Photoshop), generative AI tools, and Photoshop and Canva.  

Rooted in Culture

As a Black-owned business, I'm committed to representation with respect. That means:

  • Honoring the visual legacy of early Black media, explaining references, and pointing folks to my inspiration and references
  • Creating products that center, uplift, and reflect our communities
  • Avoiding stereotypes or generic imagery in favor of soulful, specific storytelling