Rebel Without Applause

@TymothyLongoria ∙ Published April 14, 2023

What’s your background and how did you get into AI art?

I have been a writer for nearly 20 years, and I have been writing seriously for about 14 of those years. This journey led me to opportunities such as writing for the now-defunct online macabre children’s magazine, Underneath The Juniper Tree, and acquiring an agent through the traditional query process. However, I left the community and took a break after my agent exited the business. I returned in late December 2021 and stumbled upon an image created with AI by the brilliant artist Nekro. I felt compelled to try it for myself, and the creative spark was reignited. And so, here we are, taking another step in my journey.

Do you have a specific project you’re currently working on? What is it?

Through experimentation and my passion for lore and worldbuilding, I have created a character named Stelle. Although she is more than just a project, I consider her to be a character within my enigmatic wilderness. At the moment, Stelle and the aforementioned wilderness are at the forefront of my creative endeavors.

Any tips for aspiring lore / worldbuilders?

You own your perspective, and only you can tell a story like you can. Your experiences, your views, the color you see the world in is yours, and that’s how you tell your story. Pay close attention to detail - people notice.

What drives you to create?

The inherent need to share of my thoughts, my divergent thinking.

The desire to write.

Writing+art=prompting.

What does your workflow look like?

Concepts and ideas come naturally to me, for better or worse and I primarily use Midjourney, photomanips and Photoshop/After Effects.

What is your favourite prompt when creating art?

My favorite ways to prompt are to use phrases, that is, instead of using a man with a ten-gallon hat etc, I’ll write:

a devious and dapper entity with macabre and ominous notions

I use that and a myriad of similar dramatic prompts as foundations.

How do you imagine AI (art) will be impacting society in the near future?

We’re already seeing people with no artistic background finding their way in and around and through the creative world. Those who before could only imagine, can now /imagine. And those who hone their skills, can only become better. Just as with the creation of art, non-writers can now become writers and poets with the help of ChatGPT. This hits me personally, and reminds me to empathize with traditional artists who for whatever reasons are against art creation with AI. I say this sincerely: it won’t impact me negatively, and I can honestly say I might give it a try to help lay the foundations for future stories and world-building.

Who is your favourite artist?

I didn’t have a favorite band until a few years ago, so “favorite” isn’t a term I often use.

However, one artist that come to mind are 0009, which has a brilliant aesthetic blend of color and rebellion. Other notable names are OTHERfaces_Ai, Aempatia, Trez Art, Doc T, Manu, and BLΛC.ai, to name just a few.

Bellini and Caravaggio also come to mind, as I tend to favor a darker, more ominous palette.

You said you didn’t have a favourite band until “now” – which band is that?

Absolutely, and without a doubt - The Contortionist.

Anything else you would like to share?

Lastly let me say thank you for this opportunity to speak on a few things about my journey, and to leave the reader with this:

Find joy in what you do - in your art, your process, your style, and your expression. If you can, this will never get old.