John Howe, AI and a Tea Ceremony

A few weeks ago, I attended Fantasy Art Basel, where I had the chance to meet several friends and colleagues from the comic and fantasy art industry. In recent years, Mafer, my parter of business and life and I have often traveled for Corner4art along with the family of Ciruelo Cabral, a close friend and an artist we greatly admire.

At this event, Ciruelo introduced me to John Howe, an artist I have deeply admired for his work documenting and illustrating Tolkien’s material for “The Lord of the Rings” alongside Alan Lee. John kindly visited our corporate booth, where we discussed great fantasy art masters like Frazetta and Sanjulian. After our conversation, as he left to sign books for his fans, I felt an irrational sense of comfort, similar to drinking a warm, soothing cup of tea.

The next day, Ciruelo told me that John was giving a talk in front of about 500 people, “Copyright,AI and Making Art” and we needed to hurry to get seats. For some reason, I arrived five minutes late, but found Ciruelo and his son Angelo in the front row. I joined them to listen to John’s perspective on the impact of AI on art and artists.

The talk was incredibly interesting, giving me much to discuss with Ciruelo and ponder over in the following days.

Once again, I felt that comforting sensation, akin to having another restorative cup of tea.

KEY ELEMENTS INCLUDE SPIRITUAL CONNECTION, CULTURAL AND ETHICAL VALUES SUCH AS HARMONY, RESPECT, TRANQUILITY, AND PURITY. THE CEREMONY EMBODIES STRONG SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY VALUES, WITH IMMENSE RESPECT FOR THE MATERIALS AND TOOLS, ALL SUPPORTED BY A MEDITATIVE STATE.

John Howe’s influence extends beyond illustrations; his work has shaped the fantasy genre’s aesthetics and inspired countless artists and fans worldwide.

Howe continues to be an active and influential figure in the world of fantasy art.

After returning to Sitges from Basel, I was watching videos on YouTube when a recommended video about the tea ceremony caught my attention. As I watched for a few minutes, everything made sense. I understood the connection between the tea ceremony and John Howe.

The tea ceremony is not just about preparing tea; it's a ritual grounded in life philosophy and spirituality.

Key elements include spiritual connection, cultural and ethical values such as harmony, respect, tranquility, and purity. The ceremony embodies strong social and community values, with immense respect for the materials and tools, all supported by a meditative state.

This detailed description of the tea ceremony’s principles led me to connect it directly with the foundational pillars of an artist’s creative process. Understanding this explanation brought me back to the tranquility I felt during John Howe’s talks, making sense of the connection with tea.

Now, consider this reflection:

Imagine being presented with three cups of tea, all appearing identical at first glance.

Without additional information, choosing one randomly seems logical. But then, a calm voice offers an explanation: The first tea is made with tap water and a store-bought tea bag. The second is brewed with natural water and roasted tea leaves.

Both may look the same, but they are not.

The third tea, explained by a serene voice, is prepared by a Buddhist monk who has dedicated his life to perfecting the tea ceremony. This meticulous, spiritual preparation transforms the tea into an incomparable elixir.

This artisanal approach mirrors how artists create their unique works from a spiritual and ceremonious perspective. Art should be explained and showcased to the world, certifying this process. Without it, many might see the creation as just another regular infusion.

The second option represents a good alternative, but lacks the complete spiritual and ceremonial creative ritual, distancing the creativity from the artist’s pure essence.

The first option is what AI offers: combining elements at random to produce a result without any connection to their origins. It’s not to be criticized, but where is the soul?

The spirituality?

The connection between the final result and the creative origin?

Everyone can choose what they prefer. AI is here to stay, and it’s not questionable or criticizable. But which option would you choose?

Personally, I’ve always been drawn to the uniqueness of things. Understanding the creative processes I’ve admired has often started from a sense of strangeness, and once explained and emotionally connected, they become irreplaceable.

I want to emphasize the importance of artists explaining and documenting their creations. This allows people to understand and compare them fairly with “mute” competitors such as AI who can only show the final result.

Thank you, John HOWE , for giving me these magical insights to understand the essence of an artist.

I hope to spend some ttime with you again very soon.