Recently, I got access to an Art AI program called Fooocus. You can read more about my experience with it here.
I am still torn about the use of AIs for art. I know a lot of wonderful artists, and I worry about their future a great deal. Many already have trouble making ends meet without this, too.
On the other hand, the pictures you will see below are not taking anything away from an artist, because I would never have been able to pay someone to do them. (If I ever make a bundle on this series, one of my dreams is to be able to pay an artist to do a yearbook of the character. But for now, that is waaaaaay out of my price range.)
The main thing I have done with Fooocus is make images, for my own use, of my characters, dressed in appropriate costumes.
I work with photos all the time, as a writer. The original game that these books are based on had photos of most of the characters, and I have continued to use the same actors/models, etc. for most of them.
But pictures you get online are not dressed correctly, etc. So, for inspiration, I managed to make some that were.
On the other hand, as John puts it, AIs with their odd eyes and hands, etc. are a bit like going to the elves for art.
Nonetheless, I thought I would share a few with you all.
These are all of Rachel. (Rachel Griffin from The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin.) I’ll share other characters—and some wonderful pictures I now have of the dorms—another time.
Rachel Griffin at Roanoke. (This picture used the face from a photo of actress Tiffany Tang/Tang Yan but changed the clothing and background. The rest are just the AI’s conjecture of Ms Tang.)
I don’t remember the prompt for this one, but I am amused at the hat tassel that looks like a broom.
Not sure what the eerie green smoke is from. lol This one is cute, though.
This Victorian biking outfit, featured in a Victorian issue of Harper’s Bazaar, has always been one of my favorite garments. It is quite neat to see the AI put Rachel in this outfit.
Rachel in one of her favorite dresses. This is obviously a slightly older Rachel.
Rachel, in another favorite dress, on Dartmoor:
And at Gryphon Park. (A little photoshop work done on the eyes. A bit more needed.):
Rachel, age sixteen, dancing with Magnus Ridel:
Rachel on the Gryphon Park lavender farm. This one, the face doesn’t really look like her:
Face is better here, but what’s up with that skirt?
Sixteen-year-old Rachel in a ball dress:
And another ball dress:
And horseback riding, sidesaddle, even!
The dress from the cover of Book Six:
Shorter hair:
Longer hair:
Rachel in her red coat in London (Book Nine):
And at Loch Sidhe Castle (Book…Sixteen?):
And at home, in a different coat:
Finally, an animated one…with a trusty, double-sided broom.
I like the longer hair.