A while back, I stumbled upon the world of AI-generated art. At first, I wasn’t thinking about business, sales, or even t-shirts. I was just curious.
How could a machine turn my words into images?
What would it see when I asked it to draw “a dream made of stars,” or “a city floating above clouds”?
I spent hours experimenting — typing in prompts, tweaking words, and watching the images unfold. It felt like a kind of magic. I’d never studied design, and I didn’t even think of myself as an artist, but now... I was creating things I never thought possible.
And I loved it.
✨ The Spark of an Idea
One evening, after generating a set of dreamy, otherworldly images, a thought popped into my mind:
“What if I could put these on t-shirts?”
Not just to wear myself, but to share — with people who might feel the same wonder I felt while creating them.
That’s how the idea of starting a print-on-demand (POD) store was born. I didn’t have fancy software or money for professional tools, but I had something even better: curiosity and free AI resources.
🛠️ My Simple Creative Process
Everything I’ve made so far has been built using free tools. Here’s what that looks like:
- I brainstorm visual themes and concepts — often based on emotions, dreams, or nature.
- I use AI art generators like Leonardo AI and Canva to bring the ideas to life.
- I clean and format the images for printing.
- I upload them to TeePublic, my first POD platform.
Here’s my shop if you'd like to browse:
👉 https://www.teepublic.com/user/lanady
🌌 A Few Designs With Meaning
Each piece in my store has a story — not just visual, but emotional. Some of my favorites:
- 🌺 Celestial Bloom: A floral dream with starry tones — born from the prompt “a garden on the moon.”
- ☀️ Cosmic Sunset: Inspired by retro sunsets and 80s vaporwave colors.
- 🔮 Mystic Eyes: An exploration of the subconscious, layered with symbolism.
These aren’t just designs. They’re experiments. They’re snapshots of a moment when inspiration met technology.
💭 What This Journey Has Taught Me So Far
- You don’t need to be a “real” artist to create. Tools exist to help you bring your vision to life.
- Creativity is a muscle. The more you use it, the more ideas come.
- AI isn’t replacing creativity — it’s unlocking it. I don’t feel less human creating with AI. I feel more free.
I haven’t made any sales yet. But that’s okay. This project isn’t only about income — it’s about expression, learning, and growing confidence in my ideas.
💬 Why I’m Sharing This
I know I’m not alone. Many of us want to create, but feel like we’re not “good enough” or don’t have the right tools. I want to say: you can start small. You can start curious.
Whether you're into art, print-on-demand, or just exploring what’s possible with AI, I hope this post gives you a little nudge of inspiration.
Feel free to explore the designs, and if anything catches your eye — or if you’ve had a similar journey — I’d truly love to hear from you.
👉 https://www.teepublic.com/user/lanady
Thanks for reading.
– Lana