You could prompt a generative AI service to make you an image, or you can prompt yourself.
I think that most people who don’t draw assume that a drawing begins with a clear vision or image of what’s in one’s mind. The drawer simply takes that well-formed image out of their mind and commits it to paper. But, in reality, a drawing is a series of prompts. I make one mark, I analyse it for shape, colour and quality, then I make another mark in response to the first one. Then I make a third one based on the relationship between the two marks that now exist. And so on.
Instead of helping to build a more robust neural network and pattern recognition system for a large tech company, the simple act of drawing builds my neural networks and pattern recognition skills. In fact, making anything at all will do it.
A cook adjusts the flavour of a dish as they go – season, taste, assess, respond. The more often you do it, the better you get at recognising the how much salt is too much and in what context. We build a ‘model’ of how to cook.
A jazz musician is constantly being prompted at rapid speed by the sounds they make, and the sounds made by their band, to help them generate an idea of what notes to play next. A gardener learns how to care for their plants through repetition, trial and error. Too much water this year, not enough fertiliser, I planted it too close to the pond etc. We take action, we receive a reaction, then we in turn react to that.
By prompting ourselves with stuff that’s based in the physical world like music, art, and the nature, we build our own neural pathways: our sense of touch, taste, smell, feel, and sight. And, just like when we prompt a large language model, chances are our response will often be imperfect (too much salt, too much potash, a pencil line or music note in the wrong place). But, what any failed prompt does is help clarify our thinking and get us even more in touch with our senses. What we end up with is a life and that is glorious.