The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com

Concept Artist/Illustrator & Graphic Novelist
Traditional & Digital Artist #noai
Web Store, 2026 Convention Tour, Etsy, Patreon, Redbubble, Inprnt:

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

✈️🇦🇺 This weekend June 6th-7th I'm exhibiting at AA44 of @OzComicCon Melbourne 2026! At the @MCEC all weekend 9AM - 5PM. Check out the full 2026 Australian Convention Tour on my Events Page & thank you for the support! https://t.co/3SzaSKVJXJ #ozcomiccon #austenmengler #noai

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

A beloved independent concept artist and illustrator, you may know @AustenMengler from his published art books; My Shadows, and Scary Sketches, and his original graphic novel, Execution. Austen also recently provided art for the re-release of Black Sheep! https://t.co/xM56U0e7w2

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

I'll next be exhibiting at @tokyoalleyperth May 9-10 at Stand L13-14 in the PCEC, see you there! #perthevents #perthartists #tokyoalleyperth #pcec #austenmengler

[🫧TOKYO ALLEY (26.09.2026)✏️ @tokyoalleyperth]

🎂TOKYO ALLEY: CELEBRATION (10th Anniversary)🎀
🔗 EVENT PAGE:
🗓️ 9-10 May 2026
📍 Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
🕑 10am to 5pm

✨ ANIME & GAMING ✨ARTIST ALLEY ✨ COSPLAY ✨ IDOLS & ENTERTAINMENT ✨ PANELS & WORKSHOPS ✨ ARTS & CRAFTS ✨ +MORE!

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

@New_fnf_mod @SupanovaExpo No discord yet but good idea - I will let you know if I set one up for art updates. You can also join as a free member on my Patreon or support monthly for early access updates. Cheers & good luck with your project! :)

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

🔥 I'm looking forward to returning to both @SupanovaExpo Gold Coast 2026 & Melbourne 2026 next year. Thank you everyone for the support in 2025! More updates coming soon to: https://t.co/IiUQFnuwhn #noai #artistalley #autralianartist #comicartist #supanova #austenmengler #artist

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

Christmas has come early, Supa-Fans, as we unwrap our first wave of Supa-Stars en route to #Goldnova and #Melbnova in 2026!🎄

And if that's not enough, tickets to Gold Coast and Melbourne are ON SALE NOW via the link below 👇

🎟️ https://t.co/2cDycVZgr9

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

New artworks on my @redbubble Store (Up to 40% Off Sale): Oblina (2017), Ickis (2016), Krumm (2016), Oogie's Boogie (2016), Zombie Crab (2016), Merry Zombie Christmas (2015), RUIN (2016), Simon the Slug (2016), Po (2016), The Hatter (2015) & more - Cheers! https://t.co/aHz0OkdQZ6

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

Thanks again everyone for a great time at both #goldnova & #melbnova @SupanovaExpo 2026! And to the show for having me as a guest. Looking forward to returning to #sydnova & the home show #perthnova later in June! For all upcoming 2026 Events: https://t.co/2XKEezi3V2 #supanova

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

A beloved independent concept artist and illustrator, you may know @austenmengler from his published art books; My Shadows, and Scary Sketches, and his original graphic novel, Execution. Austen also recently provided art for the re-release of Black Sheep! https://t.co/xM56U0e7w2

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

Supa-Star @Jamiebower is bringing the Upside Down, Down Under in April 2026!

Stepping through the gate to #Goldnova and #Melbnova, Jamie can be seen as Vecna in Netflix’s award-winning #StrangerThings, now in its fifth and final season. https://t.co/KJArXw5rFy

[The Eternity Gate @40KEternityGate]

Necrons by Austen Mengler (AustenMengler) @AustenMengler
https://t.co/XH2bSlNurb

#Necrons #Warhammer40K #40K #NecronWarriors

[Reid Southen @Rahll]

Having used AI platforms quite a bit to red team and look for stolen materials and vulnerabilities, I think I have a pretty good understanding of the dopamine cycle that gets people hooked on it.

For me, the hit of dopamine isn't one of accomplishment or feeling creative, it's "Oh dang, there's another piece of stolen work," and I get excited to continue digging for more. It's a different perspective, but the same mechanism. You get trapped by a drip feed of dopamine, and for some people, it just consumes them.

Search Twitter for any AI platform and the word "addicted" and you'll find thousands of people proclaiming their addiction to AI. It's in jest for some, but it's also kind of serious.

The slot machine nature of AI image and video generators lends itself to this feedback loop, because you're never sure what you're going to get, you're always on the verge of that perfect thing. That's how they like it, it keeps you paying and prompting.

Midjourney is especially egregious with this because their prompt adherence is pretty abysmal compared to other platforms, so there's a mystique and excitement to sending your prompt off because you might get something really weird or interesting that you didn't expect.

I messed with some of the video generators recently and was taken aback for quite a few reasons and for a brief moment, I kind of spiraled because of their capabilities, "Is it really over like the AI influencers say?"

But the more I played with them, the more I could see behind the curtain, the more I could see the limitations and the stolen data and regurgitation and the grift. But more importantly, I could see the dopamine feedback loop that traps people and convinces them this is the future. It got me too a little bit, ever so briefly. Why else would they allow so many free generations? Why do they offer subscriptions for so cheap. They're losing money on every single one.

It's to trap you.

I won't deny there is absolutely some utility to generative AI, it's shiny and new and it can do amazing things, yes... but it's also a scam. It's built on stolen materials and is designed to trick you into becoming addicted and/or dependent on it so you become a lifelong subscriber.

Once they jack the prices up like Amazon or Uber or AirBnB or Adobe, have fun, you're already stuck. Plus, your employer will use it to replace you at your job at the first opportunity, regardless of whether you 'adapt' instead of 'die'.

AI is designed in the very same way social media is. Keep you engaged, keep you hooked, even if it's detrimental to your health, that's how they bleed you for data and money. Ask yourself, do you really need more of this in your life? Does the world need more of this toxicity, this slop? We're all becoming angrier, stupider, and more easily manipulated, do we need to keep spiraling?

Log off, do things for real, invest in yourself and real skills instead of skills on subscription that can change with the wind or evaporate if your internet goes out.

And stay loud, don't give them an inch because they'll take a mile... and then everything else.

[Inkwell @Anime Expo K5 @Inkwell_ILLust]

With the recent news I am deeply disappointed and disgusted.

I am proud of the work I have done with the Lorcana team. Everyone at Ravensburger has been amazing and supportive. Currently they do not allow the use of AI in the productions of artwork. I will continue to support my colleagues on the game but for now I need to separate myself from the Disney IP

Disney would be nothing without human artists and with AI or not they will continue to be nothing without human artists. For that reason I don’t think this will last. However for now I will no longer be taking on any further assignments or work based on any Disney property.

[Reid Southen @Rahll]

I don't think I ever shared this one, but it's one of many instances of Midjourney's blatant IP theft.

They've intentionally and extensively trained their AI on copyrighted Hollywood IP, to say nothing of artists and photographers.

More here: https://t.co/UlmFZfA0Oe

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

🦂 I'm touring to all four Oddities & Curiosities Aus 2025 Tour shows! Thank you Adelaide, next is Melbourne Booth 19 this weekend, Brisbane Booth 7 next & Sydney Booth 38 the one after. Signed art prints, art books, comics & originals. Cheers! https://t.co/8L2p535EOH #oddities

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

💥Thanks everyone for a great November tour of being a guest artist/illustrator/comic creator at @SupanovaExpo ! For anyone who is still deciding on their print, comic or art book order feel free to check my Store: https://t.co/MmIDGzd0Or

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

Supa-Star @AustenMengler's art is spooky enough for us to think it's Friday the 13th, as he joins us for #Novalaide & #Brisnova!

Austen is known for his signature brand of 'pop horror' artwork; and recently provided art for the re-release of Black Sheep! https://t.co/xM56U0dzGu

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

Happy Halloween! I'm honored to be returning as a fearured guest at @SupanovaExpo Adelaide Booth 5035 this weekend & Brisbane Booth 1104 next weekend. Panel for Adelaide at 2PM-3PM today. Hopefully see you there! 🤘🎃 #supanova #austenmengler #noai

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

Supa-Star @AustenMengler's art is spooky enough for us to think it's Friday the 13th, as he joins us for #Novalaide & #Brisnova!

Austen is known for his signature brand of 'pop horror' artwork; and recently provided art for the re-release of Black Sheep! https://t.co/xM56U0dzGu

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

I'm honored to be back as a guest artist/writer for @SupanovaExpo Comic-Con & Gaming Sydney '25 (Stand 16) on June 21-22 & Perth '25 (Stand 12) on June 28-29! I'll see everyone this weekend and next! #supanovaexpo #austenmengler #sydnova #perthnova #supanovacomiccon #supanova

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

A beloved independent concept artist and illustrator, you may know The Art of Austen from his viral horror-comedy series, Pop Horror, his published art books; My Shadows, and Scary Sketches, and his original graphic novel, Execution! https://t.co/xM56U0e7w2

[Supanova Comic Con & Gaming 💥 @SupanovaExpo]

💥#Sydnova & #Perthnova Tokens are ON SALE NOW! 💥

You can book your Supa-Star signatures and Photo-Ops now, Supa-Fans! And don’t fret, the Timetable announcement you’ve been waiting for is coming very soon!

🎟 SYD: https://t.co/hadccMTvni
🎟 PER: https://t.co/JTJ3FHJuyw

[FlippedNormals @FlippedNormals]

No AI art. No scraped data. No machine-made reference packs.
On FlippedNormals, artists can sell safely - and customers support the real deal.
We keep it human.

[Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex]

More evidence that generative AI competes with the work it's trained on, and the people behind that work.

Illustrators, copywriters, graphic designers out of work.

This is a key reason training data must be licensed, and gen AI training is not fair use

https://t.co/0kPMu4k738

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

For all upcoming conventions, exhibitions & markets I'll be travelling to on my 2025 Australian Convention Tour head to my Events page at my website: https://t.co/qVpf3Lh2Lm #artistalley #ozcomiccon #austenmengler #noai #australianartist #australiancomics

[The Art of Austen Mengler | austenmengler.com @AustenMengler]

This weekend I'm exhibiting at AA56 of @OzComicCon Adelaide 2025! May 31 - June 1 in the Artist Alley, with over 100+ artworks as prints, limited copies of My Shadows Vol 1 Remastered (2022) art book & EXECUTI0N Vol 1: Awakening (2022) comic! #ozcomiccon #austenmengler #adelaide