We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Willoughby. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

As I reflect back on my creative career, I am amazed at how many changes I’ve witnessed. The commercial graphic industry experienced great change with the rapid evolution of digital technology. I remember working on a Deck Digital word processor in the 80’s and all you could see on the black screen was green text that required an opening and closing <tag> for any type of type formatting. All text correspondence was typewritten and taped to the back of a slow moving snail.

It was 1987 and I was working for an international club for writers. They helped aspiring authors to get published. No internet, no social media, no texts. We had old fashioned White Papers with instructions on How to prepare a manuscript, How to get an agent, How to get submit your work and The rules of engagement with publishers.

During my seven years at the writers club, I experienced a digital revolution that was pivotal for my future as an professional artist. Working with a young programmer, I assisted in the creation of a custom data base to automate and organize our 5000 plus members internationally. After we transitioned to personal computers, I wrote away for a review copy of PageMaker in exchange for an article in the Clubs newsletter “Authorship”.

Up until then, I produced the newsletter “old school” sending copy to typesetters, cutting and pasting hand illustrations and cutting blockout film to indicate placement of photos. What a process that was! Once i went digital i never looked back. Of course, I had to relearn my craft and adaptation was essential as I witnessed a number of industries that did not survive. I feel fortunate to have experienced this paradigm shift if for no other reason but to gain a valuable perspective regarding change and growth.

Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Jennifer Willoughby’s art and creative voice reflects a playful light and dark exploration of the whimsical, with the intention to create Surreal Dreamscapes and Visual Poetry.

Her unique and varied style of art often evokes a journey into whimsical and often disturbing Eldridge juxtapositions, which encourages the viewer to suspend literal judgements and embrace the absurd “What If.”

Jennifer exhibits at The Denver Art Society, Boulder R Gallery, and most recently at the Influx Gallery in Notting Hill London.

MagpiFinds is a brand that Jennifer has created which encompasses her jewelry and visual arts. MagpiFinds participates in a number of local art festivals and amongst a vast array of creative talent in the Santa Fe Arts District and Boulder Art Community. In July of 2022, Jennifer was invited to join an international group of extremely talented artists under the representation of Influx Gallery located in Notting Hill London. https://www.influx-gallery.com/

Colorado native, Jennifer Willoughby has been a professional artist for 40 plus years working in the Graphic Communications industry with print and web design and as an instructor for Electronic Prepress, Web Design and Hand Coding HTML5/CSS at The Art Institute of Colorado, Platt Collage and Colorado Technical Institute. She contracted with the DOD to develop interactive animations for Government online training.

To contribute to her community, Jennifer has been instrumental in assisting developmentally delayed adults in the pursuit of their artistic dreams through programs at the VSA Access Gallery, XcelBeyond and Nostalgia Group Inc. Over time, Jennifer has served on several boards and committees: Printing and Imaging Foundation, Pickens Tech, Access Gallery, and the Denver Art Society, and has been instrumental in facilitating support, initiating change and implementing standards for quality, continuity and sustainability.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I reflect back on my creative career, I am amazed at how many changes I’ve witnessed. The commercial graphic industry experienced great change with the rapid evolution of digital technology. I remember working on a Deck Digital word processor in the 80’s and all you could see on the black screen was green text that required an opening and closing <tag> for any type of type formatting. All text correspondence was typewritten and taped to the back of a slow moving snail.

It was 1987 and I was working for an international club for writers. They helped aspiring authors to get published. No internet, no social media, no texts. We had old fashioned White Papers with instructions on How to prepare a manuscript, How to get an agent, How to get submit your work and The rules of engagement with publishers.

During my seven years at the writers club, I experienced a digital revolution that was pivotal for my future as an professional artist. Working with a young programmer, I assisted in the creation of a custom data base to automate and organize our 5000 plus members internationally. After we transitioned to personal computers, I wrote away for a review copy of PageMaker in exchange for an article in the Clubs newsletter “Authorship”.

Up until then, I produced the newsletter “old school” sending copy to typesetters, cutting and pasting hand illustrations and cutting blockout film to indicate placement of photos. What a process that was! Once i went digital i never looked back. Of course, I had to relearn my craft and adaptation was essential as I witnessed a number of industries that did not survive. I feel fortunate to have experienced this paradigm shift if for no other reason but to gain a valuable perspective regarding change and growth.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I believe there are many similarities with the digital revolution of the late 80’s and the recent introduction of AI (Artificial Intelligence). The speed at witch it has taken ahold of the literary and art community is liken to a tsunami. With programs like MidJourney, Dali, and Stable Diffusion, artists in collaboration with AI have been empowered to produce astounding content at breakneck speed.

After more than three decades of creating digital content for commercial purposes, I have shifted my focus to “fine art”. I exhibit my art in galleries located in Denver and Boulder Colorado. In regards to the emergence of AI, I’ve witness a vast array of reactions within the arts community, ranging from curiosity, excitement, amazement, to fear, anger and outright hostility.

So far my experience working with and learning about AI has been positive as I discover the possibilities and limitations of the technology. Once I realized the level of control the artist has to direct AI to produce predictable and repeatable results , I could then appreciate the power of this new tool and imagine all the advantages for resilient multi-disciplined artists who are forward thinking and adaptive to change.

The ethical issues surrounding copyright in references to “scrapping” online content has raised valid concerns regarding replicating specific styles of artists work without permission or compensation. It appears that the general consensus is that Fair Use allows for content usage in the training of AI for transformational reconstruction of art based on the prompts and parameters given by a human.

There will be valid litigations of copyright infringement that will require case by case review. The growing pains of this arduous process will take time resolve. The need for new technology that offers protections for artists online is growing and there will be an opportunity for enterprising software developers to meet this demand.

My personal opinion regarding the use of AI and the potential for the advancement of humanity as a whole is hopeful. As we look at new ways to assign value and define art and the creative process, I focus on my own processes and how I am influenced and inspired to create. It has been said that there is nothing new under the sun, and to a point I feel there is truth in this statement. As individuals, we strive to express our unique experiences and to find satisfaction in feeling understood. There is also power and potential that lies in the collective flow of inspiration that surpasses the individual ego. I personally have experienced this with my own work.

Will the advent of a torrential flow of “new” visual stimulus result in an explosion of inspiration for the advancement of human expression? I think so. I hope so.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/JenniferWilloughby