SAME
Summer of Sonic 2013 is the only one I went to and I lost all the photos from them :(

And there in is the arguement I hear most from AI users; "I don't have time"
Then make it. Set aside some time. 30 minutes, an hour. Once a week, whatever.
I work 9-5, I stream, I have stuff to do, I still find time to do some art even if only for 20-30 mins.
Put. In. The. Work.

And SPARE ME the ablelist accessibility narrative. Cause I know a lot of artists who are disabled or neurodivergent. We aren't your props to push a narrative.
Pick up a pencil, watch videos, read books, THERE IS THOUSANDS of free lessons. You just need to be willing to put the time in.

I'm not the best artist in the world, I struggle with anatomy, with ideas but BY GOD I can look at my work and go "I did that"
When you buy a commission, you support the time, labour and skills of that artist. When you support your friends, you're supporting the time they poured into their work.

A skill only improves through time and effort, be it art, writing, photography, singing, whatever. You don't get good at something instantly.
AI removes the hard work for instant gratification, but when that dopamine rush dies off, then what? You've learnt nothing, achieved nothing. There's nothing.

Not just artists either. When I was at my peak ability to sing, I was told I was "naturally talented" as a singer when in reality, I spent hours in choir, on stage, in lessons getting my voice to where it was. And guess what, since I stopped doing that, my voice has gradually weakened.

Knuckles! :)

Here’s my art of Tangle and Whisper on a winter walk! It’s been so snowy lately