Ai vs Traditional art.

Experimenting with Midjourney Ai artwork to help me create this painting.

Hey there Again! So, picture this: a parakeet, perched on a grenade, casually pulling the pin. Quite a quirky image, right? Well, that's the idea I had when I wanted to make a point about the explosive reaction to having an opinion. But here's the twist - in this project I dipped my toes in the world of AI and Midjourney, to see if I was able to generate a decent enough Reference image or anything else that may help me create this painting using Midjourney Ai artwork as a tool.

You may already be aware I try to make my subjects speak to today's world, often in a quirky, humorous, or thought-provoking manner. This particular painting, featuring a parakeet and a grenade, was my response to some backlash I received after expressing my opinions which Is often also seen on social media. This painting is a visual metaphor, a reminder that our words, like grenades, can ignite explosive situations if not handled with care.

Parakeets are Vocal birds

These birds are quite vocal. The parakeet symbolises an opinion, and the grenade with the pin all already pulled symbolizes the emotional reaction that may or may not come with your words.

Before diving into oil paints with this project, I decided to test the waters with AI, specifically the famed MidJourney. You know, to see if it could offer any 'feathered' insights. And while AI did provide me with some colourful ideas, it couldn't quite capture the essence I was looking for. So, I embarked on this artistic adventure, drawing from a photo reference instead. but before I show you the original artwork let me tell you a bit of my experience using Midjourney.

In my vision, I had a particular pose in mind for the parakeet painting I wanted the painting to look as if the parakeet intentionally landed on the grenade pulled the pin and was about to fly off at any moment. I had already assumed that Mid Journey had put some safeguards in place to avoid generating any controversial imagery this included creating a list a list of naughty words that get flagged and halt the image generation process. One of these words happened to be a grenade, so in my attempt to engineer a prompt around this restriction, I was able to generate the following images that I thought had potential.

Not sure what to make of this specimen!

This Midjourney ai artwork is looking funky. Is that a peach? and those feet look like they are dripping.

Lets have some coffee

Drinking coffee while tip toeing

The more I tinkered with MidJourney the deeper the rabbit hole became. I began adding artists’ names and artistic styles into the prompts to get more of a painting look to the results. MidJourney did do a great job, but I found myself immersed and going on a long tangent Minutes became hours as each new set of images sparked a burst of new ideas and inspiration. Check out the midjourney ai artwork Below.

Even with all the controversy surrounding AI in the past year, I can't help but feel that it still can't quite capture the essence of painting. There's a certain magic in the act of painting, you see. It's not just about the end result, but the entire journey from that first spark of inspiration, the dance of colours in our pallets to the choices we make with each brushstroke. It's a moment that's unique. where feelings and thoughts influence the art that is created. And let's not forget the special connection between the artist and the canvas, a bond that adds that extra touch of uniqueness to every painting. With that said lets paint.

In this painting, I wanted to keep it vibrant right from the start. So, I decided to get a bit creative. Inspired by elements I found intriguing in Midjourney's generated images, I borrowed the colour palette. But, instead of going for the dark and sombre tones, I steered toward a brighter and more positive vibe. I began with a lively mix of magentas, yellows, and cyans. However, as I progressed, it became apparent that these bold colours were overshadowing my main focus - the blue-ringed Parakeet.

I chose a pastel magenta background to harmonize with the calming cyan tones of the bird. This combination struck the right balance for me and brought my vision to life. Isn't the essence of it all about achieving the right balance? to keep the viewer in thought, even if it’s for just a second?

Conclusion

Now, let me tell you, MidJourney, had its perks, no doubt about it. It turned out to be quite the trusty sidekick for this project. You see, it had this knack for sparking ideas, opening doors to fresh concepts, and giving me a whole bouquet of perspectives to choose from. It felt like I had a playful muse right there with me, ready to unleash a plethora of possibilities.

But here's the thing, and it's important to keep this in mind if you decide to dive into the AI world headfirst – sometimes, too many options can make your head spin. It's easy to get caught up in what they call "analysis paralysis." So, just be mindful of the time you invest if you decide to explore AI's vibrant universe.

In the grand scheme of things, this experience proved one important point: the journey from a blank canvas to a finished painting will forever hold its own unique and magical essence. But tossing a little AI into the mix? Well, that just adds some playful twists and turns to the adventure!

Check out the Original Painting below and let me know what you think.