Category: humor

AI art, daily paintings, fantasy illustration, humor, step by step, how to, storytelling art

Creating Backgrounds with Copic Markers

Michele B. Naquaiya

Abstract lines drawn on YUPO translucent paper by Legion

When you use these fascinating markers, aka alcohol inks, you can get lots of effects. When the inks touch each other on the special paper, they can bleed together, repel each other, or you can layer one on top of another, side by side or upsidedown, to create more choices. I usually only use two or three colors because this background will be combined with another artwork.
I have been experimenting with making cat characters. Here’s what I used: #1 cat breed #2 a facial expression #3 clothing. I was looking for a combination of all three to come up with a comical character who had a great personality. I chose the grey cat and inserted a pipe for him to smoke. The background was black because I wanted to see the trailing smoke from the cigar. So my prompt included a “CAT SUIT”. For the background, I used the above Yupo sketch. The AI gave me this guy who I kind of fell in love with. Here are a few versions, with a made up text that seemed appropriate. I pictured him running a casino and having a flashy flare….

I liked him. I added the Yupo paper background to give it a little art deco style flair. What I especially like is the way the colors blend and compliment each other. Here is another version where I changed his suit and thought he looked like a casino boss. So I gave him a title to advertise his place of business.

Wow. Look at that personality change. I went through 3 or 4 versions of the fishy suit and decided on this one. I gave the suit a leathery texture and that gave his face a grainy texture as well. Here my Yupo background is very subtle. To my eye it compliments and looks a but moody and mysterious. What a dapper guy. Would you trust him? So I hope you can see that you can create your own backgrounds. They are important because they are individually YOU!

AI art, animals, humor, storytelling art, watercolor, whimsy

When Cats Go Chatty

Michele B. Naquaiya

I overhead a coversation of two cats chatting over morning coffee.

The big Maine Coon cat on the left (Alfredo) has a sarcastic look on his face as though he’s bored with everything. The Rag Doll cat on the right (Louisa) looks a little stuck up and kind of snooty. Alfredo says “Hey girl, have you ever heard of a Rag Doll?” Louisa stares at him in disbelief “I AM ONE YOU BOZO!” What a way to start the day.

AI Art, animals, daily paintings, fantasy illustration, humor, Odd Little Stories, Revising Old Work, storytelling art

Candid Cat Conversations

Michele B. Naquaiya

Cats are smart and independent as we all know. Here are a couple of buddies discussing what they’re going to do today, as well as life in general.

After tea, wanna go out and look for a few birds?
I’ll bet when we get out I can beat you to the gate!
Do the Roberts still live in the old farmhouse? I heard they had mice.
Did you ever wonder what it’s like living in an 18th century Chateaux?
I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of this cartoon life!
six months later ——See???? Piece of cake! I told you we could do it!!!!

We dropped by a few weeks later. Check this out!

fyi: I created this little story with prompts and my cat art. When I started putting it together, I had no idea where it was going. All I knew was I wanted a few different breeds of felines and a window with a window sill that I could cover with different fabrics, and a few outdoor views and weather conditions that told different stories. So the teapots eventually became samovars in France??? Doesn’t bother me. I added the idea and the text of Provence because it’s a dreamy place and Freepix offers cool instant graphics. The images become increasingly sophisticated as the story developed. This little story was created in Freepix AI. You can try it out. I’m getting a feel for it. I think with an extended plot , this could become something kind of precious.

This is my watercolor of Jake and Elroy. Collection of July Schlotman.

Your comments are appreciated and sharing is good too. It’s a new world out there and I’m in because I believe AI can help artists. Even artists like me.👌

AI Art, AI art, animals, fantasy illustration, flora and fauna, humor, thoughts behind the work

How to love a Moose

Michele B. Naquaiya

As I explore lots of learning challenges in AI, I’m leaning on some of my favorite animals. Today I play with a moose. I’ve never seen a moose in person– in the wild. If you remember the series “Northern Exposure”, I loved the opening where they used quirky music and the big moose walking around downtown Cicely, Alaska. It still makes me smile and the moose always stuck in my head.
Here are three elements of me playing with a moose, to create 2 completely different versions.

This is the first prompt with soft watercolor

I thought this guy was great but wanted to try another version using the same elements but adding a layer of white, to create an intricate texture and a completely different look.

This is the 2nd prompt with additional white
This is the last element of a whimsical, nonsensical watercolor doodle in the background

If you look closely, there is an odd set of legs at the bottom of the first two. You might not ever guess they came from this little guy who is a 3rd watercolor, blended into the first 2 images. He’s not a moose at all but I included him in the mix because of the color palette and whimsical nature as a surprise element. So that’s the story of my evolving learning experience today. It’s about having fun with art and whimsical images. I think of it like cooking. The last element is the unidentiful spice that makes the dish amazing.