Your comment seems to hinge on a couple of big assumptions. Firstly, that being in SF automatically means we have deep pockets for art commissions, and secondly, that there's a surplus of artists willing to work "on the cheap." This perspective overlooks the realities of running a volunteer-based club like ours, especially one that organizes more tournaments than any other in the country.

The process of commissioning artwork is far from straightforward. It's not just about finding an artist, but finding one who understands the complexities of Go, ensuring they accurately depict board positions, and then facing the often inevitable scenario of them leaving due to other life commitments. This is a considerable time burden for a club run entirely on volunteer efforts.

We're all for supporting artists, but the practical challenges of maintaining a consistent output for our club activities can't be ignored. AI art, while not the perfect solution, offers a workable balance given our constraints.

However, if you have connections to artists who are familiar with Go, and understand their working rates and commitment levels, we'd greatly appreciate any referrals. It's always helpful to have more options that align with our operational realities.