Stephan Vasement: Sacrament, Style, and Surprises in AI Art

Realm AI: Hi Stephan (@StephanVasement), can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you became interested in AI art?

Stephan: I did commercial animation and created advertising videos for various companies. One day, I came across some early AI art that Ganbrood was making. I thought it might be interesting to give it a try. Just a week or two later, Midjourney's public release happened and things got rolling.

Realm AI: How would you describe your art form? What genre (I don't know if we can call it this) of art do you create?

Stephan: It is very difficult to understand what exactly style means in AI art. We can change style in seconds. I'm trying to follow my feelings and hope that in this way, different styles and themes will form a single portrait of me. 

In general, I am interested in mystery and sacrament. I show it through what seems comfortable. I also really like flowers, although I never paid attention to them before art. It's strange, isn't it?

Realm AI: Are there any misconceptions or myths about AI art that you would like to debunk? What do you think people often misunderstand about the creative process involving AI?

Stephan: Much of what people say is true. It's very easy to create AI art. But there is also the flip side of the coin. If it's so easy, how do artists stand out? The most powerful works stand out because of their inner content, and AI remains only a tool. But it is also possible to stand out if you use this tool a little wrong. For this, a simple knowledge of creating prompts is no longer enough. You have to mess with the algorithm itself. 

Realm AI:  Can you share a memorable or surprising moment you've experienced while creating AI-generated artwork?

Stephan: I love these moments. They happen all the time. I usually have some raw idea in my head that I sit down to work with. But then anything can happen. I just go with the flow. The theme might change, the style, the character... each time it's a fascinating adventure that hasn't bored me for a year now.

Realm AI: How has working with AI art influenced or changed your perspective on traditional art forms and techniques?

Stephan: Surprisingly, AI art allows me to see traditional art much more clearly. People copy style, but style is just a shell for thought. And it often gets lost or changed to something more boring. So after seeing 10,000 AI artworks all day, the eye starts to understand what's a copy and what's the original. I hope other people go through this as well. 

Realm AI: How often do you try new AI art Tools? Or better put, what inspires you to want to try a new AI art tool?

Stephan: I try them all the time. Right now there are still very few tools, so I'm exploring each one. The tools are developing at a breakneck pace, the progress in just one year is amazing! And what will happen next...

Realm AI: Have you ever come across our app (joinrealm.ai)? How would you describe our app to others?

Stephan: It's very interesting! I create a little in it and the idea and implementation are done very well.  My username is @stvasement. I really like how easy and simple it is to use additional models, great job!

Realm AI: Are there any specific projects or collaborations you are currently working on that you would like to share with our readers?

Stephan: At the moment, I'm working on a series about animals and nature. It's a story about a flock of swans going through a bad time.  It will be done in a photographic style.

At the same time, I began to create multi-layered giant works. The Aquarium is the first of them. But it takes a lot of energy.

Realm AI: Can you share your personal top 3 favorite AI artworks with us?

Stephan: As for my work, the following three are passing through time. Each of them has some inner power. I really love to find it.

Here are the works of others that I find interesting:

Realm AI: Finally, do you have any long-term goals or aspirations as an AI artist? Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Stephan: I would like to continue to create and reach new heights. I'm looking forward to generating videos. It will be another evolutionary shift. Everyone will be able to create their own movies. Imagine the world it opens up to us. 

I hope I'll be able to make some beautiful videos, too. I think about it all the time.