🤖 WINGED CANVAS AI POLICY
Our stance as an art school, community guidelines, and 7 creative mindsets for navigating AI
We Teach ART, not Algorithms
At Winged Canvas, our mission has always been to prepare artists for a life in the creative industry; never to police which tools they’re “allowed” to use. We believe in artistic freedom and responsibility: every artist should have the autonomy to choose tools that align with their values and creative goals.
That said, we are first and foremost a School of Illustration and Visual Storytelling, and our priority is nurturing human creativity and critical thinking through visual narrative.
We don’t shy away from complex or emerging topics like AI. In fact, we lean into the conversation. We encourage open dialogue because when artists are left out of the conversation, the future of creativity gets shaped without us. Silence leads to exclusion. Your voice matters.
Our Position in a Nutshell
We don't believe that shaming is the right approach towards those who are experimenting with generative AI tools. We encourage curiosity, but we believe that full transparency is key to artistic integrity. Artists come first!
We’re here to help artists:
Sharpen their fundamentals
Expand their creativity and visual library
Build confidence to create without fear
Fear leads to misinformation. Rather than ban every AI-adjacent discussion, we believe in equipping artists with knowledge, tools, and critical thinking skills to make informed choices in their creative practice.
Ethical Guidelines a.k.a. Our House Rules
We uphold high standards of integrity and community respect.
These are our non-negotiables:
❌ No NFTs or fully AI-generated artwork allowed in our student galleries, especially if claimed as original.
✅ If known AI tools were used in your process (for reference, inspiration, prompts, etc.), please disclose them when posting.
🚫 No unsolicited use of AI on others’ artwork is permitted.
Why This Matters
We believe real human artists (who come with all their flaws and quirks) have unique voices that are essential to the future of creativity.
Our instructors have been teaching art since before every device became a canvas, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that tools come and go, but the artist's soul behind the brush stays timeless.
Want more context? Here’s a short video where we discuss the value of art and artists in society.
How Art Students Should Think About AI
We don’t want students to feel replaced when new tech drops, we want them to navigate the uncertainty with curiosity and confidence; to face it with critical thinking, creativity, and resilience.
We’re preparing artists for the real world, and the reality is that AI is now part of it.
7 Creative Mindsets for Navigating AI
🤝 Embrace Open & Respectful Dialogue
Everyone’s on a different part of the spectrum: from skeptical to curious to all-in. Let’s talk about it honestly, without judgment and with a critical thinking mindset, not in fear or negativity.
🧠 Think Like a Visionary
AI can replicate, but it can’t originate. Your power lies in connecting ideas, feeling emotions, and creating meaning.
🌱 Adopt a Growth Mindset
Yes, AI might replace and change jobs. But you have something it doesn’t: your story, your perspective, and your unique creative voice.
🎨 Embrace an Era of Abundance
When anyone can create anything, imagination becomes the new currency. The tools are in your hands. What will you build?
📢 Speak Out and Advocate for Better AI
AI isn’t perfect, far from it, and it wasn’t built in a vacuum. As creatives, we have a role to play in shaping how it evolves. Let’s push for tools that are ethical, transparent, and built with human values in mind. Being critical isn’t resistance; it’s leadership!
🤖 Understand and Leverage AI
Like it or not, AI is here. Artists who understand it will have an edge. Learn how to use AI to enhance your creativity, but never let it replace you, and recognize where it falls short. By engaging with it critically, we help shape a future where AI supports artists instead of exploiting them.
💭 Redefine Purpose and Fulfillment
If your job doesn't define you in the future, what will? This is your invitation to live a life centred around creativity, curiosity, and connection.
Our Approach on Teaching AI
We are all navigating this together. Our role is to teach art fundamentals for visual storytelling, not algorithms. We encourage curiosity, experimentation, and innovation, but never at the expense of artistic integrity. Our N.E.R.D. Teaching Method emphasizes understanding creative tools and techniques step-by-step.
We focus on teaching:
Creative thinking
Critical awareness
Personal integrity
Each instructor at Winged Canvas has their own perspective on AI. Some are cautious, some are curious. However, all of us are committed to honest education and full transparency.
AI in Our Communities
AI's existence doesn’t change what art is really about: meaning, emotion, and personal expression. Whether or not you choose to use AI is up to you. What matters is that your choice is informed, intentional, and aligned with your values as an artist.
In our communities, you are welcome to talk about:
💬 The risks, rewards, and realities of AI in creative work
💬 How to use AI (if you choose to) in ethical, thoughtful, and original ways
💬 How to stay curious, critical, and future-ready in a rapidly changing landscape
💬 How to speak up for artistic integrity: honouring authorship, labour, and the soul of creative work, even as the tools evolve
Final Thoughts
We believe artists are here to stay. AI may shift the landscape, but it won’t replace the soul behind the sketchbook.
We're always open to meaningful conversations with fellow creatives. Agree or disagree? If you’ve got questions, concerns, or insights, we’d love to hear them. Join our Discord to get in on the conversation.
With creativity and curiosity,
— Shield & The Winged Canvas Team ❤️
