Creating imaginative and unique AI art requires crafting precise prompts that provide enough direction while still allowing room for creativity. As an expert in AI art prompts, I have learned some key best practices for writing effective prompts that generate stunning visuals.
Focus on Specific Details
The more detailed your description, the better results you will get. Be very specific about the subject matter, style, composition, colors, lighting, and other elements you want to see.
For example:
An oil painting portrait of a girl with red hair in pigtail braids. She is outdoors on a sunny spring day, with daffodils blooming behind her. The lighting is soft and golden, highlighting her freckles and green eyes. The style is reminiscent of John William Waterhouse.Compare that to a vague prompt like “painting of a girl.” The AI has much more to work with when you provide vivid details.
Direct the Overall Style and Composition
Give guidance on the mood, style, framing, perspective, and other compositional elements:
A dramatic scene viewed from below of a wizard casting a spell, arms raised to the night sky. The style is epic fantasy art, painted with bold brush strokes and high contrast lighting. This tells the AI exactly what type of scene you want, encouraging specific creative choices.
Use Multiple Style References
You can combine or blend different styles by listing several artists or genres. This adds nuance beyond mimicking a single style.
For example:
An ink pen illustration blending Alphonse Mucha's art nouveau style with Moebius's sci-fi fantasy in a creative way. It shows a woman with long hair looking into a glowing crystal ball.Experiment with Stylistic Keywords
Most AI art platforms recognize common stylistic terms. Use these to steer the aesthetic:
A retrofuturistic digital illustration with vibrant neon colors, dynamic composition, and dramatic lighting. The scene shows the interior of a spaceship cockpit with holographic controls.Keywords like “retrofuturistic”, “neon”, “dynamic”, and “dramatic” send strong signals.
Provide Examples for Abstract Concepts
When depicting abstract ideas, give some concrete examples, metaphors or symbols to illustrate your meaning:
A surreal painting representing peace and harmony. Include elements like a dove carrying an olive branch, children from different cultures playing together, trees growing from swords and guns, etc. The style should be dreamlike and mystical.This gives the AI more clarity on what you mean by “peace and harmony.”
Useful Websites for AI Art Prompts
Here are some of my favorite sites to get prompt ideas and inspiration:
- Lexica – Browse AI art by prompt and get new suggestions
- PromptMania – Prompt examples for Midjourney, DALL-E 2, and more
- Nightcafe – Text-to-image with style transfer options
- Neural.Love – Public prompt library to explore
The key is to keep experimenting with prompts and learning what works best for your creative goals. Use these examples and tips as a starting point, and don’t be afraid to try unusual combinations or descriptors. With practice, you’ll be crafting prompts that produce jaw-dropping AI art in no time.