How AI "Artists" are making money with Midjourney right now

Mango Street
30 Jun 202306:03

TLDRThe video discusses how artists are using AI platforms like Midjourney to generate art and make money. The speaker explains the process of creating AI art using descriptive prompts and highlights that anyone can do it with the right tools. Examples are given, including variations inspired by styles like Wes Anderson and fashion icons like Iris Apfel. The video critiques gatekeeping in the AI art community and emphasizes that the value lies in the tools, not just the artist. It concludes with a promotion for Squarespace, encouraging creators to use it for selling their AI-generated prints.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 AI-generated art, especially through platforms like MidJourney, is becoming a viable way for artists to make money.
  • 🖥️ MidJourney is a subscription-based Discord service, where users can generate images by typing detailed prompts to the MidJourney bot.
  • 💰 The script emphasizes that making money with AI-generated art is accessible, and not as difficult as some might believe.
  • 📸 The key to generating successful images is being as descriptive as possible in the prompts, including details about camera angles, lighting, and composition.
  • 👵 The video demonstrates creating AI art inspired by famous personalities like Iris Apfel, customizing the image's appearance with specific prompts.
  • 🎨 Variations and creative adjustments (e.g., Wes Anderson color palettes, lens types) can make images more unique and marketable.
  • 🔄 MidJourney also offers a 'describe' function that allows users to upload an image, and the platform generates a related prompt for further customization.
  • 📈 The script argues that AI-generated art is a tool for creativity, but emphasizes that true artistic value lies in human creativity and storytelling.
  • 📷 AI tools like MidJourney could benefit photographers and filmmakers for creating mood boards and storyboards, rather than replacing human artistry.
  • 💼 The video ends by recommending Squarespace for setting up a professional portfolio and selling AI-generated prints online.

Q & A

  • What was the initial reaction of the creator when they saw the AI-generated image of the woman?

    -The creator was captivated by the image, putting their pen down and watching the woman on the screen for a few minutes. It sparked a conversation about aging, beauty ideals, and society's fixation on youth.

  • How can someone start creating AI-generated art using Midjourney?

    -To start creating AI art using Midjourney, you need to join their subscription-based Discord, with the basic plan starting at $10. You can interact with the MidJourney bot by typing '/imagine' followed by your prompt, allowing you to generate custom images.

  • What is a key tip for writing effective prompts in Midjourney?

    -Being as descriptive as possible is crucial. You can specify camera types, lighting, colors, and even the composition of the image to create a more personalized and detailed output.

  • How can an artist use Midjourney to make money?

    -Artists can sell prints of their AI-generated art by creating unique and visually appealing images. By experimenting with variations, such as different color palettes, styles, and subjects, they can create collections to sell online, for example, using platforms like Squarespace.

  • What role does variation play in creating successful AI art according to the video?

    -Variation is key to creating unique and appealing images. Artists can generate multiple versions of an image by tweaking the prompt, such as changing colors, adding different outfits, or altering the style to create something fresh and marketable.

  • What is the 'describe' function in Midjourney and how is it useful?

    -The 'describe' function allows users to upload an image, and Midjourney will generate a prompt based on its analysis. This can serve as a starting point for creating new variations or improving upon the original image.

  • What is the video’s perspective on prompt engineering and its monetary value?

    -The video suggests that while some people treat prompt engineering as a secretive, valuable skill, it's actually something anyone can learn. The value lies more in the tools themselves than the human input, and anyone could replicate the work with the same prompt.

  • How does the video contrast AI art creation with traditional photography or filmmaking?

    -The video argues that AI is better suited as a creative starting point rather than a complete artistic process. In contrast, traditional photography and filmmaking allow for more individual interpretation, with each creator's vision being unique, even when using the same resources.

  • How does the video suggest photographers or filmmakers can use AI tools like Midjourney?

    -The video suggests that photographers and filmmakers can use AI tools like Midjourney for creating mood boards or storyboards, helping them visualize ideas during the creative process rather than relying on AI for the final product.

  • What benefits does Squarespace offer to creators, as highlighted in the video?

    -Squarespace offers creators tools for selling content, like member areas for exclusive content, digital downloads, and video classes. It also provides professional portfolio templates for showcasing art and the ability to schedule and manage client appointments.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Reflections on AI Art and Beauty Ideals

The narrator describes a moment of inspiration when looking at an AI-generated image of an older woman, which sparked a discussion at home about aging, beauty standards, and societal obsessions with youth. This led to a realization of the potential of AI-generated images for creative work. The narrator also points out that some people make a lot of money selling AI art, emphasizing that it's not as difficult as it might seem, and offers an introduction to MidJourney, a platform for creating generative art using descriptive prompts.

05:01

🖼️ Creating AI Art with MidJourney

The narrator explains how to use MidJourney to create AI-generated images by messaging the bot, typing a command, and specifying prompts. They give an example of a fashion icon, Iris Apfel, in a specific setting, to illustrate how to craft prompts. Emphasizing the importance of variations, they suggest experimenting with different elements like color palettes, lens types, and whimsical outfits to enhance creativity and improve the quality of the AI art.

📸 Refining and Selling AI Art

Further refining the creation process, the narrator swaps out different elements to tweak the aesthetic of the image, ultimately achieving the desired result. They mention uploading these AI-generated images to a Squarespace website to sell prints, highlighting the platform's ease of use for creatives. The narrator also discusses MidJourney’s ‘describe’ function, which analyzes an uploaded image to generate new prompts, providing another way to refine AI art.

💻 The Debate Around AI Art and Gatekeeping

The narrator critiques the gatekeeping within the AI art community, where some claim that writing prompts is a unique skill worth thousands of dollars. They argue that the true value lies in the tools, not the prompts, drawing comparisons with traditional photography workshops, where the tools and processes are shared freely. The narrator acknowledges the benefits of AI for mood boards and storyboards but cautions against using it as a creative endpoint.

🌐 Squarespace Sponsorship and Tools for Creatives

The video shifts to discussing the narrator's long-standing use of Squarespace, a website-building platform, and their sponsorship relationship with the brand. They explain how Squarespace can help creatives sell content like video classes, digital downloads, and newsletters, or use professional portfolios to showcase photography. The narrator highlights the functionality of booking appointments directly on the website, and encourages viewers to check out their podcast website, offering a discount for Squarespace users.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Artists

AI artists are individuals who use artificial intelligence tools like Midjourney to create generative art. In the context of this video, AI artists are profiting from selling AI-generated images, often emphasizing how easily these tools can be used to produce professional-quality artwork with detailed prompts.

💡Midjourney

Midjourney is an AI-based generative art platform that allows users to create images through descriptive prompts. The platform operates through Discord and requires a subscription. The video showcases how Midjourney is used by 'AI artists' to generate unique images and even make money by selling them.

💡Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering involves crafting detailed and specific prompts that guide AI tools like Midjourney to generate desired outputs. The video highlights how users can refine their prompts by specifying elements like camera angles, lighting, and color palettes to create distinct and marketable images.

💡Subscription-based Service

Midjourney operates as a subscription-based service with plans starting at $10. This business model means users pay a monthly fee to access the platform's generative art capabilities, making it accessible for those who want to experiment with AI-generated art. The video mentions this cost as part of the process of making money with AI art.

💡Variations

Variations refer to the process of tweaking prompts to create multiple versions of an image. In the video, the creator experiments with different variables like color palettes, clothing styles, and settings to generate new versions of a single prompt, which adds uniqueness to the final outputs and potentially increases their marketability.

💡Wes Anderson Color Palette

A Wes Anderson color palette refers to the distinct, visually appealing color schemes seen in the films of director Wes Anderson. The video uses this as an example of a specific visual style that can be incorporated into AI-generated art by adjusting the prompt, adding a unique artistic flair to the images.

💡Describe Function

The describe function in Midjourney allows users to upload an image, and the AI generates a prompt based on its analysis of the image. This feature is useful for users to get inspiration or starting points for creating new art. The video explains how this function can simplify the creative process for AI artists.

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is a website-building and hosting platform featured in the video as a sponsor. It’s recommended for selling AI-generated prints and hosting portfolios. The video also promotes Squarespace’s tools for creating membership areas where creators can sell content or showcase their work.

💡Found Footage

Found footage in the context of the video refers to incorporating a vintage or documentary-like aesthetic into the AI-generated images. By including this style in the prompt, users can create images that resemble old, discovered footage, adding a layer of nostalgia or realism to the artwork.

💡Combat Boots and Checkered Tile Floor

These elements are part of an example given in the video to show how specific details in a prompt can dramatically change the tone and feel of an AI-generated image. By swapping out a drab outfit for combat boots and a checkered tile floor, the artist adds a sense of modernity and quirkiness to the artwork.

Highlights

The narrator describes a powerful emotional reaction to an AI-generated image of a woman, sparking a conversation about aging and beauty ideals.

The narrator expresses their intention to exhibit this AI-generated work, signaling a shift in artistic approach due to AI.

The claim that many people are making significant money from AI-generated images, suggesting that it's not as difficult as some make it out to be.

Introduction to MidJourney, a subscription-based platform for creating AI art, starting at $10 per month.

Step-by-step process for using MidJourney, starting with messaging the bot and entering descriptive prompts for AI-generated images.

Advice to be specific with prompts, including details like camera type, lens, colors, composition, and lighting to create detailed, photorealistic images.

Using Jonas Peterson's high-priced AI-generated prints as inspiration to create a 'spunky old lady' series featuring Iris Apfel.

Experimenting with variations in style, including changing the color palette to a Wes Anderson-inspired theme.

Further customization tips include using lens types, found footage, and changing outfits to add visual variety.

The narrator increases the stylization settings to experiment with different artistic outcomes.

Using MidJourney's 'describe' function to analyze and generate prompts based on existing images.

The discussion around gatekeeping in AI art, and the notion that the tools, not the human, hold the true value in generating these artworks.

Highlighting the potential use of AI for photographers and filmmakers, particularly for creating mood boards and storyboards.

The narrator suggests that AI is best as a creative starting point rather than a final product.

Promotion of Squarespace's features, including portfolio showcasing, member areas for selling content, and tools for booking appointments.