STABLE DIGEST #2
Women's Day edition - Exclusive artist spotlight with illustrata.ai
THIS ISSUE: AN EXCLUSIVE DEEP DIVE INTERVIEW WITH illustrata.ai
Welcome back to the second issue of Stable Digest!
This issue, we’re bringing you an exclusive journey into the brilliantly bizarre world of the Prompt Witch illustrata.ai in our latest artist spotlight!
Continue reading for exciting news and updates from across the Stable communities, Mods Made This, Models & Embeddings, POW, Stability For Blender, ClipDrop and more lights on the horizon.
Thank you for being here with us as we dive into the wonderful world of AI art once more!
BY THE COMMUNITY
MODS MADE THIS
The Discord moderator team has been busy creating some truly awesome images since we checked in last issue!
Here’s a look at just some of the amazing work they’ve shared with us on the server.
Interested in joining our Stable squad and becoming part of the moderator team? We’d love to hear from you!
Join the community on the Stable Foundation Discord and fill out this application form!
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
POW! We’re back with another round of reflections on our recent Picture of the Week events.
We hopped into the lunar new year with a celebration of POW: Year of the Rabbit.
Love was in the air early this February as we kicked off the month with a Valentine’s-themed POW: Heart U!
Moving on to something completely different, POW: Foodchitecture proved that you can have your cake and build houses with it!
Check out our winners right here, and don’t forget to head on over to the Community events centre on the Stable Foundation server to show us your SD art skills in this week’s POW!
MODELS AND EMBEDDINGS
The model share forum over on the server is packed full of awesome community-created models and embeddings.
The forum’s been particularly busy these last couple of weeks; So many amazing new models have been shared that we couldn’t settle for only highlighting one in this issue’s feature!
First up, we have Andite’s Pastel-Mix anime model. This wonderful model can be combined with LORAs to create amazing desaturated pastel-style anime artwork!
And here we have Junglerally’s Old-Fashioned Diffusion embedding! This embedding can be used to create awesome pulp art style artwork and cool retro-sci fi illustrations!
Head over to the Models and Embeddings forum and give this issue’s features a go! Browse a whole host of awesome community-created content and drop a link to your own masterpieces while you’re there!
WITH THE COMMUNITY
STABLE SOCIETY DEEP DIVE: illustrata.ai
“I decided one morning I had been taking myself too seriously and I just stopped it - and have continued to stop it ever since.”
Hey illustrata, thanks for being with us today! Tell us a little about yourself, and how you began your journey into the wonderful world of AI art!
Thank you for having me! I'm an artist who has been working with AI since 2021.
I create art when I’m not working as a coach and organizational consultant. Although I've been creative my whole life, it wasn't until recently that I began to truly identify as an artist.Several years ago, I discovered and would periodically visit the Google “AI Experiment” library - a collection of interactive experiments and demonstrations that showcase the capabilities of AI and machine learning. It was always fascinating to me to see the cutting-edge technologies and creative applications that were emerging in the field of AI.
It wasn't until 2021 that I discovered text-to-image technology. I stumbled upon a mysterious image by the talented kiertwice on TikTok.
Her work ignited my curiosity and made me realize the vast possibilities of this new medium. Once I tried it myself, I was hooked. It might be strange to say, but I felt as though I’d been waiting for this technology my entire life.
What inspired you to take the first steps down the road of implementing AI art into NFTs? What was the first NFT you ever dropped?
When I joined Twitter in January of 2022, I was curious about the world of NFTs but felt hesitant to jump in right away.
It wasn't until I joined the AI Art Chill group that I felt encouraged to get started with NFTs. The folks over there were kind enough to include me in one of their virtual gallery shows, and answered my questions as I got started.I finally dropped my first NFT collection, "In the Back of Beyond” on objkt on March 14, 2022 - almost exactly a year ago! The collection features ten whimsical fairytale cottages, each one a unique piece created with Disco Diffusion.
The "Charming Mushroom Cottage” was my first mint, and one of my favorites.
I soon branched out to other chains and have been fortunate to sell out several collections and special editions on both Ethereum & Tezos.
Reflecting on the past year, I'm amazed by how much has happened and how quickly the NFT space is evolving. It's been a wild ride, but I'm grateful for the support of the AI art and broader NFT communities.
Your art has a certain haunting, ethereal atmosphere to it; Can you tell us a little about the process and workflow behind bringing this aesthetic to life?
Thank you! I draw inspiration from various art forms, such as music, poetry, and books.
When I started creating AI art, one of my earliest experiments was using VQGAN to illustrate poetry and song lyrics, which is actually what inspired my name.
From there, my process has evolved to incorporate more complex prompts, but I still use some of the same phrases in my prompting today.Typically, I'll start with a word or phrase that evokes a particular emotion or aesthetic.
My process is less about having a specific outcome in mind, and more about exploring different possibilities. Working with AI is a conversation, an iterative journey that allows me to discover new paths and ideas that I wouldn't have found on my own.
When I do have a specific look or style in mind, I sometimes use pharmapsychotic's Clip Interrogator tool. By running an image with a similar look, I can extract elements from it and incorporate them into my prompt. While it's not a guarantee that it will match my desired outcome, it often provides a helpful starting point.
I've also used ChatGPT to create prompts, and I've shared my process for distilling my favorite passages, poems, and lyrics into themes and imagery on Twitter.
Many of these words and phrases lend themselves to spooky and ethereal imagery, which I find fascinating.
Overall, my creative process is a blend of intuition, experimentation, and collaboration with the endless possibilities of AI.
Your piece “Awkward Family Photo” in Obscura’s Uncanny Valley collection has been a particularly big hit! How did you come up with the concept and story behind this bizarrely awesome image?
I was thrilled with how well “Awkward Family Photo” was received, and it was an honor to be featured in Obscura’s Uncanny Valley collection alongside so many talented AI artists.
Charlenelingham won the bid war and brought me to an all-time high for my 1/1s, which was really exciting.
The concept of families, generational trauma, and dysfunctional family systems is something that has always interested me, and it’s a theme I’ve explored in my art before.
With this particular piece, I had been experimenting with strange family portraits and had created some interesting illustrations featuring a family made up of humans and other creatures. I had also previously created a piece where the entire family had the same face.
While those concepts were cool, I wanted to take things further and create a photorealistic version of an awkward and stiff family portrait that you might have stumbled upon in the early days of the internet.
And of course, I wanted it to tell an intriguing story about who these strange characters were and where they came from.Creating this piece was a long process, involving many hours of trial and error and countless prompts.
Ultimately, I was able to achieve the desired effect by focusing on a specific time period (the 1970s) and incorporating the word “ancient” into the prompts. One of the things I love about this medium is how unexpected words can often achieve a desired look.
In your recent interview with AI Artists Salon, you discussed your methods of discovering new prompts. Have you come across any “magic words” of sorts that prompt unusual or unexpected results, and how might these discoveries have shifted the direction of your projects?
Discovering new prompts is always an adventure and I've stumbled upon some fascinating combinations.
One of my favorite prompts was "gilded nightmare horror" paired with "maximalist" during my Disco Diffusion days. The elegant, macabre details of each piece in this style were so unique and unforgettable. I used this style in several pieces I minted as NFTs, and most notably in my “Gilded Nightmares” collection.
I’ve tried to capture the same feel with some of the newer tools, but haven’t had much success yet. I once fine-tuned a model on that work, but it didn’t quite get there. I’m certain I will try again in the future, though.
Another surprise hit was "dark solarized", a color scheme I had never heard of before but discovered with the help of Chat GPT.
I integrated it into a model I fine-tuned on the work of a public domain artist, and it took the collection in a much more dramatic and haunting direction. The results became the foundation for my “Autumnalis” collection, which I'm particularly proud of.One of my go-to prompts, which never fails to elicit an ethereal and ghostly vibe, is "oh, how the ghost of you clings."
It's a quote from the Watchmen graphic novel in which it appears multiple times as the tagline for a perfume called "Nostalgia." It's inspired by a song from the 1930s called "These Foolish Things", which is all about how the things associated with a former lover can elicit memory, heartbreak, and nostalgia.
This prompt has led to some of my favorite pieces, such as “Ethereal Waltz”, which heavily draws inspiration from the quote.
What has been your personal favourite collection to work on? Which piece within that collection are you particularly drawn to?
Working on the “Autumnalis” collection was truly a creative journey for me.
It was a project that allowed me to tap into my passion for surrealism and explore new techniques with a fine-tuned model.
The process of fine-tuning a model on some of the public domain works of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a forefather of surrealism, was a fantastic learning experience. I wanted to put my own modern and eerie twist to his surrealistic style, and I'm thrilled with the results.
The Autumnalis collection features three pieces, "Vespertine Harvest", "Aurum Autumnalis", and "Eyes of the Earth", each with their own unique atmosphere and feel.
Out of the three pieces, "Vespertine Harvest" is definitely my favorite.
It's a strange piece that combines rich, autumnal colors with surreal and intricate markings on the face of the subject.
I'm incredibly proud of the Autumnalis collection and the way it showcases my artistic growth and exploration.
Are you able to give us an insight into the project you’re currently working on?
Right now I'm working on a project called "Survival Instincts".
This collection explores mental health and trauma responses. Each edition captures one of the four common trauma responses - fight, flight, freeze, and fawn - through the depiction of children.
It highlights how we adopt these responses during our childhood, and may display them through our lives.As someone with a professional background in psychology, mental health has always been a significant theme in my work. It's a topic that can be difficult to discuss, but the more we do, the more compassion we can have for ourselves and others
I'm pleased to say that the first two pieces - The Fawn and The Fighter - have been released, with two more to come.
I did have to take a brief break to take care of myself and resolve some computer issues, but I'm now back on track and excited to share the next piece in the collection soon.
You’re well known as a member of the AIIA Collective. Can you tell us about the Collective, your experiences and your work together?
AIIA is both a collective and movement that celebrates the intersection of AI and art. As artists increasingly integrate AI into their creative process, we wanted to come up with a term that reflected the diversity and ingenuity of this approach:
AI-Infused Art. That's why we encourage anyone using AI in their work to share it with the #aiia tag.As a member of AIIA, I feel incredibly grateful to be part of a community that is both supportive and inspiring.
Through the collective, I've had the opportunity to exhibit my work in physical galleries, such as the Mecenate Fine Art gallery in Rome, where I was part of the "AI is Freedom" show with my small collection titled "Lost Tomorrows".Recently, we also held our second show at the Mecenate Fine Art gallery, and collaborated with the AI24 youtube channel to create a stunning livestream display of our work set to music.
Working with talented artists like moisesdsanabria on this project was an unforgettable experience.We've recently established an AIIA DAO and we're working on some incredible new projects that I can't wait to share more about.
At AIIA, our mission is to inspire and promote the use of AI in art, encouraging exploration and innovation within the creative community.Currently, we're working on some exciting new initiatives that will showcase the incredible talent and creativity of our members. From virtual exhibitions to unique NFT collaborations, we're constantly exploring new ways to share AI Infused Art with the world.
Creative expression can be a great exercise for our mental wellbeing. How do you feel about AI art as an art therapy tool, both in terms of its efficacy and accessibility?
Whether through generating visual art, text-based works, or musical compositions, AI can offer a unique and novel way for people to express themselves and explore their emotions.
In fact, I've heard countless stories of individuals already using AI art as a therapeutic tool to process trauma, manage stress, and even to return to creative pursuits after illness or injury.
Personally, I've found AI art to be an incredibly effective way to boost my own mental health and wellbeing, and I've seen firsthand the positive impact it can have on others.However, while AI art has tremendous potential as a tool for mental health, there are still some challenges to overcome.
One key issue is accessibility, both in terms of cost and usability. While some apps like DreamStudio and NightCafe offer affordable options for creating AI art, I would love to see more no cost options or programs.
Additionally, while it’s currently easier than ever to create AI art from text prompts, there is still a learning curve that can be a barrier to entry for some.Although not specifically art related, one promising project in this field is Overjoy, an app that utilizes the same technology used by ChatGPT to serve as a mental health companion. Though it doesn’t replace therapy or clinical treatment, it provides a secure and encouraging platform for individuals to navigate their thoughts and emotions while dealing with daily struggles.
Overall, I believe that AI art has the potential to be a transformative tool for improving mental wellbeing, and I'm excited to see how it continues to evolve and impact the community and world at large.
Are there any additional thoughts you’d like to share with us and our readers in the community, or any shoutouts to your friends and collaborators? And for today’s inspirational quote: Let us know the first sentence that comes to mind!
I am extremely passionate about promoting equity, particularly with respect to race and gender, in the NFT space and Web 3 as a whole.
Unfortunately, women and non-binary artists are often overlooked or have limited access to opportunities in this field.
To address this issue, my friend and fellow AI artist, ManekiNekoAIArt, and I have created a survey to identify women and non-binary AI artists. We hope to better understand the experiences and needs of underrepresented artists and create resources to promote their work and connect them with new opportunities.
The survey results will be used to compile a Twitter list and other resources for sharing with interested collectors and industry partners.
If you're interested in being included, please complete the survey - we want to hear from you!I would also like to give a shoutout to some amazing communities that have helped me along the way.
The AIIA and #tezgirls communities (ai_infused on Twitter) have been extremely supportive, as well as the folks from the AI Art Chill group on Twitter.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, AiJoe_eth, pharmapsychotic, and scor64pio host the “AI Art Chill” space, which is a fantastic resource for anyone getting started with AI art. They are always willing to answer questions and provide guidance.My good friends amli_art and bl_artcult also host The New Renaissance space on Thursdays, which covers news and issues in AI art and Web 3. The discussions are always lively and thought-provoking, and I highly recommend tuning in, even if just to listen!
And, to wrap things up, I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes by Leslie Neilsen. It inspires me to not take things too seriously and to approach life with a sense of humor.
“I decided one morning I had been taking myself too seriously and I just stopped it - and have continued to stop it ever since.”
FOR THE COMMUNITY
STABILITY FOR BLENDER
Introducing a brand new plugin! A stabilisation of a two-part fusion, generative AI and 3D modelling have been blended to create a one-of-a-kind creative tool.
Stability for Blender is the officially supported, free to download add-on for Blender that lets you use Stable Diffusion (and future Stability models!) to create amazing AI post-processing effects - all with nothing but an internet connection.
That means no GPU or dependencies required - Just head on over to the Platform site and get started with a whole suite of useful documentation.
Check out the trailer below for a quick preview of what AI-enhanced 3D modelling can look like!
CLIPDROP X STABILITY
Stability.ai and Init ML, creators of the industry-defining imaging tool Clipdrop, join forces to push the limits of AI-enhanced applications even further!
As a newly-acquired independent subsidiary of Stability.ai, Init ML will build the next generation of cutting-edge imaging applications backed up by the power of Stability’s technology and compute power.
Open source AI is about to take the image editing world by storm all over again; Watch this space!
A COMPETITION LIKE NO OTHER
Hot on the heels of the brand new Blender plugin, a competition of unprecedented scale approaches!
3D artists, animators, AI enthusiasts and audio aficionados; You’re not going to want to miss this one!
Very soon, we’ll be announcing the first in a one-of-a-kind series of events, where you’ll have the chance to showcase your skills to an artist of truly legendary renown in this once in a blue moon opportunity!
And that’s a wrap! Thank you for reading our second issue, we hope you’ve enjoyed another trip into the wonderful world of AI art!
If you’d like even more, don’t forget to join us and our community over on the Stable Foundation Discord for all sorts of amazing events.
Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates as we dive into Stable Digest #3 soon!