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

Mango Street
30 Jun 202306:03

TLDRThe video script discusses the use of AI-generated images and the democratization of the creative process. It highlights the platform mid-journey, where users can generate art by providing detailed prompts. The video emphasizes that the value lies in the tools, not the individual, and suggests that AI can serve as a starting point for creativity, rather than a replacement for human artistry. It also touches on the importance of Squarespace in showcasing and selling creative works, offering a comprehensive platform for artists and content creators.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The video discusses the impact of AI-generated art and its influence on beauty ideals and cultural fixation with youth.
  • πŸ–ŒοΈ AI-generated images are becoming a lucrative market, but the technology is accessible and not limited to a select few.
  • πŸ’‘ Mid-journey is highlighted as an impressive platform for generative art, offering a subscription-based service on Discord.
  • πŸ“Έ Users can create art by being descriptive with their prompts, specifying details like camera, lens, colors, composition, and lighting.
  • 🌟 The video uses the example of creating an art series inspired by American fashion icon Iris Apple to demonstrate the process.
  • 🎨 Experimentation with various elements like color palettes, outfits, and settings is encouraged to create diverse and unique pieces.
  • πŸ“ˆ The value of AI-generated art lies in the tools rather than the individual, challenging the notion that it's only the artist who adds value.
  • πŸ“Έ Photography workshops can provide tools and techniques to photographers, emphasizing the uniqueness of each artist's vision.
  • πŸš€ AI is seen as a tool for enhancing creativity, particularly in mood and storyboard creation, rather than replacing human artists.
  • 🌐 Squarespace is praised for its versatility and ease of use, with the creators being long-time customers and using it for multiple websites.
  • πŸ’° The video mentions Squarespace's new member areas feature, which allows content creators to monetize their work through subscriptions and digital products.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic discussed when the lady is looking back from the screen?

    -The main topic discussed is aging, beauty ideals, and the culture's fixation with youth.

  • How does the speaker describe the process of creating AI-generated images?

    -The speaker describes it as a process where anyone can become a 'prompt engineer' by using a platform like mid-journey, starting with a basic subscription and providing detailed prompts to generate images.

  • What is the starting price for the basic plan on mid-journey?

    -The starting price for the basic plan on mid-journey is $10.

  • What elements should one include in their prompt to generate an image?

    -One should include elements such as the camera and lens, image colors, composition, lighting, and other specific details to achieve the desired look.

  • Who is mentioned as an example of a spunky old icon to use as a prompt?

    -American fashion icon Iris Apple is mentioned as an example.

  • What is the purpose of the variations the speaker suggests to the initial prompt?

    -The purpose of the variations is to explore different aesthetics and styles to enhance the image and potentially increase its appeal and marketability.

  • How does the speaker feel about the value of AI-generated art?

    -The speaker believes that the value doesn't lie in the human but in the tools used. They see AI as a starting point for creativity, not the finish line, and think people should make money the old-fashioned way.

  • What are the services offered by Squarespace that the speaker highlights?

    -The speaker highlights Squarespace's member areas for selling access to content, professional portfolio for showcasing photography, and the ability to schedule and book appointments from the website.

  • What is the speaker's recommendation for using AI in photography and filmmaking?

    -The speaker recommends using AI for mood and storyboard creation, as a tool to benefit photographers and filmmakers, rather than as a replacement for human creativity.

  • How long has the speaker been a Squarespace customer?

    -The speaker has been a Squarespace customer since 2013.

  • What is the special offer mentioned for new Squarespace users?

    -New users can save $10 on their purchase by going to squarespace.com/mangostreet or using the code 'Mango Street' at checkout.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 AI and Art: Challenging Beauty Ideals

This paragraph discusses the impact of AI-generated images on the art world and societal perceptions of beauty and aging. The video's creator shares a personal experience of watching a video of an older woman, which sparked a conversation about aging and beauty ideals with their wife. They challenge the notion that only a select few can create AI art by revealing that it's accessible to anyone with the right tools and platforms, like Mid-Journey. The creator also expresses skepticism towards those who claim that prompt writing for AI is an art form worthy of high prices, advocating instead for the uniqueness of human creativity and storytelling. They suggest that AI can serve as a starting point for creativity, not the final product, and promote a more traditional approach to making money.

05:01

πŸ’» Building a Website with Squarespace

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to discussing the benefits of using Squarespace for building websites, particularly for podcasters and photographers. The creator highlights their long-standing relationship with Squarespace, mentioning that they have been customers since 2013 and currently maintain four websites. They introduce Squarespace's new member areas feature, which allows podcasters to sell access to exclusive content, and showcase photography with a professional portfolio. Additionally, the creator talks about the convenience of scheduling and booking appointments directly from the website, emphasizing how Squarespace can simplify one's professional life. They conclude with a promotional offer for new Squarespace customers, encouraging them to explore the platform's extensive options.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Squarespace

Squarespace is a website building and hosting platform that provides users with templates and tools to create and manage their own websites. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a sponsor and is used to highlight the platform's capabilities for selling digital products and managing appointments, showcasing its role in empowering creators and businesses online.

πŸ’‘AI generated images

AI generated images refer to visual content that is created using artificial intelligence algorithms. These algorithms can interpret prompts and generate corresponding images based on the input, often used in generative art. In the video, it is discussed how some individuals are making significant money using AI to create images, which challenges the notion that only a select few possess the 'secret sauce' for such creations.

πŸ’‘Mid-journey

Mid-journey is a platform for generative art that operates as a subscription-based Discord server. Users can interact with the Mid-journey bot to generate images by providing prompts, which allows them to create unique visual content. The platform is highlighted in the video as an impressive tool for producing generative art, emphasizing its affordability and ease of use.

πŸ’‘Prompt engineering

Prompt engineering refers to the process of crafting specific and detailed textual inputs for AI systems to generate desired outputs, particularly in the context of AI-generated art. It involves a creative and technical approach to communicate the desired visual elements to the AI. In the video, the term is used to describe the act of creating prompts for AI to produce images, suggesting that it is a skill that can be learned and applied by anyone.

πŸ’‘Beauty ideals

Beauty ideals are the culturally influenced standards of physical appearance that are considered attractive or beautiful. These ideals can vary greatly across different societies and time periods. In the video, the discussion of beauty ideals is tied to the cultural fixation on youth and how it affects perceptions of aging, suggesting a need for a broader representation of beauty that includes different ages and experiences.

πŸ’‘Cultural fixation with youth

The cultural fixation with youth refers to the societal tendency to value and prioritize youthfulness over aging and maturity. This bias can lead to ageism and underrepresentation of older individuals in media and advertising. The video addresses this issue by discussing the importance of challenging these norms and embracing a wider range of beauty, including older individuals.

πŸ’‘Generative art

Generative art is a form of digital art that is created with the help of algorithms, often involving randomness or artificial intelligence. It involves the use of computer programs to generate patterns, shapes, or images based on a set of rules or input. In the video, generative art is discussed as a means of creating and selling images, emphasizing the role of technology in the art world.

πŸ’‘Iris Apple

Iris Apple is an American fashion icon known for her unique style and appearance. In the context of the video, her name is used as an example of a 'spunky old bitty' to create a more appealing and marketable AI-generated image series, reflecting the importance of personal branding and recognition in the creative process.

πŸ’‘Wes Anderson color palette

The Wes Anderson color palette refers to the distinctive and aesthetically pleasing color schemes often used in films directed by Wes Anderson. These colors are characterized by their vibrancy, saturation, and unique combinations, which create a visually striking and recognizable style. In the video, the mention of a 'Wes Anderson color palette' suggests adding these stylistic elements to the AI-generated images to enhance their visual appeal and marketability.

πŸ’‘Squarespace site

A Squarespace site refers to a website created using the Squarespace platform. These sites are known for their professional design and ease of use, allowing individuals and businesses to create an online presence that showcases their work, products, or services. In the video, the creators mention uploading their AI-generated images to their Squarespace site to sell prints, highlighting the platform's e-commerce capabilities.

πŸ’‘Member areas

Member areas are sections of a website that are restricted to users who have subscribed or paid for access to exclusive content. These areas can include video classes, digital downloads, or newsletters, offering creators a way to monetize their content and build a community around their work. In the video, Squarespace's new member areas feature is mentioned as a potential solution for podcast creators looking to sell access to additional content.

Highlights

The lady in the video sparks a discussion about aging, beauty ideals, and the cultural fixation with youth.

The video discusses the potential of AI-generated images and the misconception that only a select few can create them.

Mid-journey, a subscription-based Discord platform, is introduced as an impressive tool for generative art.

The basic plan for Mid-journey starts at $10, and users can create art by messaging the bot with descriptive prompts.

The video suggests using specific details in prompts, such as camera type, colors, composition, and lighting, to achieve desired results.

Inspired by Jonas Peterson's work, the video proposes creating an AI-generated series featuring Iris Apple, an American fashion icon.

The video emphasizes the importance of variations in prompts to enhance the creative process.

The video demonstrates how changing elements like color palette, outfit, and setting can drastically alter the final image.

The describe function on Mid-journey is highlighted, which allows users to upload an image for the bot to create a prompt and generate art based on it.

The video addresses the gatekeeping in the AI art community and argues that the value lies in the tools, not the human creator.

The speakers share their experience of hosting photography workshops, emphasizing the unique storytelling of each photographer.

AI is presented as a useful tool for mood and storyboard creation, but not as a replacement for human creativity.

The video discusses the benefits of Squarespace for creators, including its member areas for selling access to exclusive content.

Squarespace's professional portfolio and appointment booking features are showcased for photographers and businesses.

A special offer for new Squarespace customers is mentioned, with a 10% discount using the code 'Mango Street'.

The video concludes with a brief overview of the podcast website created using Squarespace, highlighting its features and design.