Yamer wants you to feel nothing but pure dread when you see his AI art...which is exactly why he's known as The Terror Artist. In this exclusive interview with us, Yamer shares what motivates him and lets us in on the secret to succeeding as an upcoming AI artist like himself.
Realm AI: Hi Yamer, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you became interested in AI art?
Yamer: Sure, my online name is Yamer, I live in Italy and the first time I joined Discord was in 2017. When I first joined the app, I knew nothing about AI or AI artwork. My first pieces of art were banners, profile pictures and videos. The first edited videos I created can be found on Youtube. They were the starting point and when/where I realized I could do something bigger than that. Then came the AI revolution with Stable Diffusion and Midjourney.
Since I was very young, I’ve had a vivid imagination and consider myself a philosopher (sometimes) and a logical person. The reason why I jumped in the artificial intelligence art world is very simple: I like to share my creativity and freedom of expression to others…that mixed with the fact that AI resulted in the creation of my first checkpoint.
Realm AI: Interesting...
How long have you been creating AI Art?
Yamer: I started creating AI artwork relatively recently, almost 2 months now. When you love something you do, you won't work a day for it.
Realm AI: That is quite true. So tell us, what motivates you to create the art you do? Why are you so interested in terror art?
Yamer: That's a very specific question and I love it. The reason why I do terror/horror art with artificial intelligence is to stand out. My idea is to be unique, create something new people will admire in the future and that can inspire others. Terror art for me is the way I express my feelings toward a multitude of things such as oppression of creative expression and free speech, which are topics I really care about.
What truly motivates me is my determination: the same determination I use every day to improve and get better at things I'm not good at, such as painting. AI can be a tool of great help if you know how to use it.
Realm AI: Oh, I see. To be honest, you do really stand out! You are the only artist I know that creates solely terror/horror art.
What challenges or limitations have you encountered while working with AI in the artistic field? How do you overcome them?
Yamer: One of the main obstacles I face in improving my work is the limitation of my current GPU, an RTX 3070. Its processing speed often hinders my ability to generate a sufficient quantity of images for experimentation. Additionally, the limited memory on my PC poses another challenge, as I frequently have to delete existing checkpoints to make space for new ones. Another challenge lies in deciding where to focus my efforts, choosing the right direction for each checkpoint project can be difficult; should I create another horror-themed checkpoint, venture into the realm of fantasy, or perhaps explore the world of anime? To fix this, I can work on smaller projects.
The last challenge I must overcome is managing my time and sleep schedule. Often, I find myself sacrificing sleep, going days without proper rest, which can negatively impact the quality of my work. To address this issue, I recognize the importance of establishing a consistent sleep schedule, especially as I delve deeper into the world of AI. Overcoming these challenges requires me to address the limitations of my hardware, make informed decisions about project directions, and prioritize self-care to optimize my creative output in the AI world.
Realm AI: Almost every AI artist out there can relate to the disruption in sleeping schedule. There are many times where I am in bed and I get random prompt ideas I feel I should check out before sleeping. Like you, I have learnt to discipline myself and prioritize sleep.
On GPU limitations and exploring new checkpoints, do you think this can be resolved by trying an all-encompassing tool? For example, have you tried using any tool like Realm, an iOS app, for instance?
Yamer: On this matter I don't really have an opinion, I have never tried an all-encompassing tool.
While I have experimented with some AI art apps on my phone, I haven't experienced the same satisfaction and creative fulfillment as I do when creating images on my PC.
Unfortunately, I am an Android user and I don't even possess a phone at the moment due to it breaking some time ago. At the moment, I'm waiting for my new phone to arrive via shipment.
Realm AI: Oh, I see. Moving on, what do you hope viewers or audiences take away from experiencing your AI-generated artwork? What kind of emotional or intellectual response do you aim to evoke?
Yamer: I want to create pure dread for my viewers. I'd like to explore the Lovecraftian side of art and the chaotic mind that everyone of use has. When you see my art, the first thing I hope you feel is happiness--happiness that what you see is just fiction. The second thing I hope you feel is is fear--because you subconsciously imagine that what is presented can be a reality in the near future.
Realm AI: Noiceeeee.
What advice do you have for aspiring AI artists who are just starting their journey in this field like you?
Yamer: Be chaotic, be free of any stereotypes, always act logically/rationally, and never, never stop; Do not limit your mind by the limitations that society imposes on you.
Realm AI: Are there any specific projects or collaborations you are currently working on that you would like to share with us?
Yamer: Yes, I'm currently working on 2 projects, both aimed at a mature audience. With these projects, I am opening a new field of possibilities; unfortunately, I can't share any more information regarding the projects because I have yet to complete their respective versions.
Realm AI: Do not hesitate to share the information with us once you are ready!
Can you share your top 3 AI arts with us?
Yamer: Here are my best pieces:
Before AI, I used to create everything by hand on my phone. Here's an example of some art I created 4 years ago, before AI.
Realm AI: One last question before I let you go: do you have any long-term goals or aspirations as an AI artist? Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
Yamer: My definitive goal is to be known as someone who can make people feel fear but who really is a regular human with no special abilities or super powers.
