People often ask me what tools I use to create AI art for journals, wall art, and digital products.
They expect a complicated setup.
Dozens of apps.
Constant switching.
The truth is simpler.
My workflow is built around a small set of tools that each do one job well. I don’t chase every new platform.
I choose tools that help me design calmly, iterate quickly, and turn ideas into finished pieces that can actually be used or sold.
I separate my tools into three roles: image creation, layout and refinement, and publishing or experimentation.
For image creation, I focus on tools that give me control over composition and style.
Leonardo AI is my main generator. I use it because it handles watercolor textures, soft lighting, and printable-friendly layouts extremely well. It responds clearly to layout-aware prompts, especially when I need large blank areas for journaling or minimal designs for wall art.
Leonardo.Ai App – Generate AI Images, Videos & Designs
I treat Leonardo as my studio, not a toy. I reuse prompt structures, generate multiple variations, and select the calmest result rather than the most dramatic one.
NightCafe is where I experiment. I use it to explore painterly styles, abstract ideas, and sketch-to-image workflows. When I’m not sure what something should look like yet, NightCafe helps me discover directions without pressure. Many ideas that later become journal pages or covers start here as loose experiments.
https://nightcafe.art/ru/dira?refsrc=share
For layout, editing, and print preparation, Canva plays a huge role. I use it to adjust brightness, soften busy edges, crop to print sizes, and test how a page actually feels once text is placed.
Canva is where AI art turns into design. It’s also where I prepare mockups for journals, wall art previews, and product listings.
For more detailed control, especially when preparing files for print or creating layered assets, I move into Photoshop.
I don’t over-edit. Most of the time I’m just refining what AI already gave me.
For wall art, resolution matters. I always check size early. If an image needs upscaling, I use dedicated upscalers or built-in tools inside my AI platform rather than stretching manually. Clean edges and soft gradients survive printing much better this way.
For writing, planning, and prompt organization, I keep things intentionally simple. I write articles, prompts, and outlines in plain text first. This keeps my thinking clear. Promp
ts live in organized documents so I can reuse and refine them over time. A good prompt is a reusable design asset, not a one-time trick.
For publishing and testing ideas, my website is the center. godesygn.com is where I turn experiments into explanations. Articles let me reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and why.
From there, I selectively share work to platforms like DeviantArt or social media, not to sell directly, but to connect and observe response.
DeviantArt – The Largest Online Art Gallery and Community
I also treat experimentation as a tool in itself. I intentionally set aside time to create things that are not meant to be sold.
No niche. No product. Just exploration.
This keeps my creative instincts sharp and prevents my work from becoming repetitive or purely commercial.
What matters most is not the tools themselves, but how they’re used. I don’t expect any tool to think for me. I use AI to speed up exploration, not replace decision-making. Design still happens in the pauses, the choices, and the restraint.
If you’re building your own workflow, start smaller than you think you need.
One generator.
One layout tool.
One place to publish.
Master those before adding more.
The right tools don’t overwhelm you.
They quietly support your thinking.
That’s how I choose mine.
