Did you like that photo in the title of this post? I don’t want to brag (I TOTALLY want to brag), but I designed it myself. New AI software means that people like me, who think stick figures are high art, can type a few words into a search box and create masterpieces like, well, mine. This will revolutionize art—and cover design. Plus, since I’m the one who typed the words into the search box, I own the copyright. How does the AI do it? It’s all very complicated, but the short answer is that highly trained gerbils are involved.
The big controversy right now is that Jason M. Allen of Pueblo West, Colorado, created art with Midjourney, one of these AI programs, and won the blue ribbon for digital art in the Colorado State Fair. Here’s his creation:
You can imagine the reactions of other entrants. THIS GUY WON BY TYPING A COUPLE OF LINES INTO A COMPUTER?? But Allen says that he was upfront about his entry, stating that he used Midjourney to create it. (The judges didn’t know what Midjourney was, but they say they still would have selected his art for first prize even if they’d known.) Allen also says that he spent over 80 hours editing his piece, so it was more than just typing in a couple of lines. His supporters note that artists were pretty hacked off when photography hit the scene, claiming that didn’t count as real art, and AI tools are just the next step in the evolution of art.
Well. I don’t mean to make Allen jealous, but I used DALL-E 2, one of these fancy gerbil programs, to create more than just that stellar piece I already showed you. Please note that I spent a touch less than 80 hours on my creations.
For this first one I typed: Mr. Darcy on a motorcycle in a leather jacket driving to Pemberley. Check out my Bad Boy Darcy cover.
Is he winking at us? Darcy, you sly dog, you! And do you like the Into the Woods-style forest in the background? It makes me think the Big Bad Wolf is about to pop out. Oooh, Austen/ fairy tale mash up, anyone?
This site is ending, so I moved this post. Click here to see Elizabeth on Mars, battling Darth Vader, and even…joining the dark side??
2 responses to “Mr. Darcy Riding a Motorcycle? Elizabeth Battling Darth Vader? These Cover Reveals Will Knock Your Stockings Off!”
thank you for the laugh, looks like you had fun. Love the Lego ones! I agree that the one by Allen is beautiful.
It was a lot of fun! Thanks for checking it out.