Working in AI PROFESSIONALLY since 2021! ft. EMMA CATNIP // Civitai Creator Session

Civitai
19 Aug 202461:15

TLDRIn this engaging interview, Tyler from Civitai hosts a conversation with the talented Emma Catnip, a music producer and visual artist who has been working professionally in AI animation since 2021. They discuss her journey into AI art, her creative process, and the evolution of the field. Emma shares insights into her work with the band Pla, her global travels for creative projects, and her thoughts on the future of AI in animation. The discussion highlights the rapid advancements in AI art tools and the importance of storytelling in creating impactful visual experiences.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Emma Catnip is a music producer and visual artist who has been working as an AI animation director for three years.
  • 🔍 The video that brought Emma to prominence on Twitter and Instagram showcased her unique AI animation style, which has a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of old cartoons.
  • 🌐 Emma's work has been shared widely on social media, garnering significant attention and appreciation from the AI art community.
  • 🚀 Her AI animation career took off after creating a video called 'Under the Sea', which caught the attention of agents and led to commercial opportunities.
  • 🎭 Emma has worked as a creative director for the band Pla, creating visuals for their performances and even a graphic novel, incorporating AI imagery.
  • 🌟 She has performed live with the band at various music festivals and venues, including the Sydney Opera House, showcasing the power of AI in live performances.
  • 🛠 Emma emphasizes the importance of storytelling in AI art, suggesting that having a narrative or emotional connection can elevate the work.
  • 🔮 Looking to the future, Emma believes AI tools will become more integrated into the industry, with both specialized AI artists and generalists finding their place.
  • 👀 She also highlights the rapid evolution of AI technology, noting that staying current requires constant learning and adaptation.
  • 🏆 Emma's graphic novel, featuring heavily processed AI imagery, received copyright, marking a significant milestone for AI-generated art.
  • 🔄 The release of AI tools like Flux to the general public via platforms like Twitter and X raises questions about misinformation and the need for education on AI capabilities.

Q & A

  • Who is Emma Catnip and what is her profession?

    -Emma Catnip is a music producer and visual artist who has become an AI animation director in the last three years.

  • What is the significance of Emma Catnip's video that has 74,000 views on Twitter?

    -The video with 74,000 views on Twitter is significant because it showcases Emma's AI animation work, which caught the attention of the host and many others in the AI art community.

  • What software did Emma Catnip initially use to create her AI animations?

    -Emma Catnip initially used Google Collab and Google Notebooks, where she discovered the Pity notebook, to create her AI animations.

  • How did Emma Catnip's work with the band Pla come about?

    -Emma was approached by the band Pla's management after they saw some of her AI work and were impressed. They then conceptualized a project together about a music festival in a faraway galaxy.

  • What was the first job Emma Catnip did as a commercial AI animation director?

    -Her first job as a commercial AI animation director was for a gaming company in Saudi Arabia, where she made 20-second animations to be played on screens around gamers.

  • What is Emma Catnip's advice for those who want to pursue a career in AI art?

    -Emma advises that one must have a story to tell and connect with the viewer, emphasizing the importance of narrative in AI art to create a lasting impact.

  • What is the role of Emma Catnip in the band Pla's live performances?

    -Emma Catnip serves as the creative director and visual artist for Pla's live performances, performing live on stage with the band and creating the visuals.

  • How did Emma Catnip's graphic novel about Pla's journey to the galaxy festival come about?

    -The idea for the graphic novel came as a bonus to the creative venture with Pla, and Emma applied for copyright for it, which was granted and is now housed in the Library of Congress.

  • What is Emma Catnip's view on the rapid advancement of AI tools in the art space?

    -Emma believes that as the tools get better and more user-friendly, they will be incorporated more into the industry, and there will always be a place for specialists in the field.

  • How does Emma Catnip handle the constant changes and updates in AI art tools?

    -Emma stays updated by being part of creative partner programs, betas, and alphas, and she continuously learns and adapts to the new tools and technologies.

  • What is Emma Catnip's perspective on the integration of AI tools like Flux with social media platforms?

    -Emma is concerned about the potential for misinformation and chaos due to the rapid integration of AI tools with social media platforms, emphasizing the need for education and safeguards.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to the AI Art Community and Guest

The script opens with a warm welcome to the viewers of a video on citi.com, a platform for the generative AI art community. The host, Tyler, encourages viewers to like and subscribe to support high-quality content. He introduces the guest, Emma Catnip, a talented music producer and visual artist who has been working with AI animation for three years. Emma's work has gained attention on social media, and Tyler expresses his excitement to have her on the show. They discuss the evolution of AI art and acknowledge Emma as an early adopter in the field.

05:02

🎶 The Creative Process Behind AI Art and Music

In this paragraph, the conversation delves into the creative process behind Emma's AI art and music. She discusses how she starts with music to inspire her visual work, referencing a specific video that has garnered significant attention. Emma talks about her use of AI tools like Google Collab and her initial struggles and eventual breakthroughs in learning to use them effectively. The discussion highlights the iterative nature of creating AI art and the importance of music in setting the tone for the visuals.

10:02

🌊 Emma's Journey into AI Art and Her Breakthrough Video

Emma recounts her journey into AI art, starting with a chance encounter with an AI video on Twitter that sparked her interest. She describes her initial attempts to learn and apply AI tools, her frustration, and eventual success after taking a Python course and receiving guidance from others in the field. The release of her 'Under the Sea' video in 2021 marked a turning point, gaining attention on social media and leading to commercial opportunities as an AI animation director.

15:04

🚀 The Rapid Evolution of AI Art and Its Future

The conversation explores the rapid evolution of AI art tools and their potential impact on the industry. Emma and Tyler discuss the improvements in AI capabilities and the increasing accessibility of these tools. They consider the future integration of AI into traditional studios and the unique opportunities for specialists in the field. Emma emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in this fast-paced environment.

20:07

🌍 Traveling the World with AI Art

Emma shares her experiences traveling the world as a creative director for the band Pla, using AI visuals in their performances. She describes the development of a show concept around an intergalactic music festival and the use of AI in creating album covers, press shots, and music videos. The project's success led to performances at significant venues, showcasing the power of AI art in live settings.

25:08

📚 Emma's AI Graphic Novel and Copyright Achievement

In this paragraph, Emma reveals her work on a graphic novel that incorporates AI imagery, which she has successfully copyrighted. The novel tells the story of the band's journey to an intergalactic festival and has been recognized by the Library of Congress. This achievement underscores the originality and potential of AI-assisted creative works.

30:12

💡 Advice for Aspiring AI Artists

Emma offers advice for those looking to pursue a career in AI art, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and creating a connection with the viewer. She discusses the balance between creating shareable short clips and developing more thoughtful, narrative-driven pieces. Emma encourages artists to focus on personality and subtle movements to enhance their storytelling capabilities.

35:15

🔮 Looking Ahead: The Future of AI Art and Technology

The conversation turns to the future of AI art, with Emma and Tyler discussing upcoming projects and the continuous evolution of AI tools. Emma hints at a new creative journey and the importance of adapting to new technologies. They reflect on the necessity for artists to stay ahead of the curve and the excitement of being part of a dynamic and innovative field.

40:17

🤝 The AI Art Community and Its Impact

Emma expresses her admiration for the AI art community, particularly highlighting the contributions of AI Warper and the Badu crew. She discusses the importance of community and the inspiration she draws from the shared works of others. Tyler and Emma agree on the value of taking AI art seriously and the potential for it to lead to thriving careers.

45:17

🌐 The Implications of AI Art Accessibility

The discussion concludes with thoughts on the broader implications of AI art becoming widely accessible through platforms like Twitter and X. Emma and Tyler consider the potential for misinformation and the need for education to ensure responsible use. They acknowledge the challenges but also the opportunities that come with the increased visibility and normalization of AI art.

50:18

🎉 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward

In the final paragraph, Tyler thanks Emma for her insightful conversation and looks forward to her future projects. They discuss the importance of consistency and quality in finding an audience. Emma is invited to return for a follow-up discussion once her next project is released, and Tyler signs off, highlighting the success of the stream and the upcoming civetta AIR Round Table session.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI PROFESSIONALLY

This term refers to working with artificial intelligence in a professional capacity. In the context of the video, it highlights Emma Catnip's career in creating AI-generated art and animations, emphasizing the legitimacy and full-time nature of her work in this emerging field.

💡Civitai

Civitai is a community platform for generative AI art. The video is a 'Creator Session' hosted on this platform, where artists discuss their work and experiences with AI art, as evidenced by the title and the transcript's reference to 'Thursday Civettai Creator session'.

💡Emma Catnip

Emma Catnip is a music producer and visual artist who has become an AI animation director, as mentioned in the transcript. She is a central figure in the video, sharing her journey and insights into working with AI in the creative process.

💡AI Art Space

The AI Art Space refers to the community and domain where artists use artificial intelligence to create art. Emma Catnip is described as being an early adopter in this space, indicating her experience and influence in the AI art community.

💡OG

OG is slang for 'Original Gangster' but in the context of the video, it refers to someone who has been involved in a particular scene or activity from the beginning, implying a level of respect for their experience. It is used to acknowledge Emma Catnip's early involvement in AI art.

💡Psychedelic

Psychedelic describes a style of visuals or music that is inspired by the sensory experiences of hallucinogens, often characterized by bright colors and surreal imagery. In the script, Emma Catnip mentions being inspired by psychedelic 60s videos for her AI animations.

💡CFG

CFG stands for 'Control Flow Graph,' which in the context of AI and animation, refers to a tool or setting that influences the generation process. Emma Catnip mentions pushing the CFG settings to achieve a particular 'vibe' in her animations, indicating the technical aspect of her creative work.

💡Rotoscoping

Rotoscoping is a technique used in animation where motion is captured by filming live actions and then tracing over them frame by frame. The video script mentions Emma Catnip's work being compared to rotoscoping, highlighting the unique visual style of her AI-generated animations.

💡Generative AI Art

Generative AI Art refers to the creation of art through artificial intelligence algorithms that generate new content based on learned patterns. The video is centered around this concept, showcasing how artists like Emma Catnip use AI to create unique and innovative art pieces.

💡AI Animation Director

An AI Animation Director is a professional who uses artificial intelligence tools to direct and create animated content. Emma Catnip's introduction in the video script describes her as such, emphasizing her role in combining AI technology with animation.

💡Disco Diffusion

Disco Diffusion is a specific AI tool used for creating images based on textual descriptions. The script mentions Emma Catnip using Disco Diffusion in her creative process, showcasing the variety of AI tools available to artists in the field.

💡Keyframe

A keyframe in animation is a frame that defines a significant change in the movement of an object or character. The script discusses the importance of keyframe-to-keyframe animation, especially in tools like Luma, for creating smooth and natural motion in AI animations.

💡InAnimate Diff

InAnimate Diff, or 'animate different', seems to refer to a specific AI tool or technique used for creating animations. The script mentions Emma Catnip's preference for this tool, indicating its importance in her workflow for generating AI animations.

💡Runway

Runway is an AI platform that Emma Catnip mentions in the script, which she uses for creating certain types of animations. It is highlighted as a tool that she finds useful, despite some limitations, such as the lack of a vertical video option.

💡Luma

Luma is another AI tool mentioned in the script, which Emma Catnip finds particularly useful for its keyframe-to-endframe feature. This tool seems to play a significant role in her animation process, allowing for more control over the animation's movement.

💡AI Day

The term 'AI Day' is used metaphorically in the script to describe the rapid pace of development and change in the AI field, where a day's progress can feel like a year in other industries. It underscores the fast-evolving nature of AI technology.

💡Copyright

Copyright in the context of the video refers to the legal right to control the reproduction and distribution of creative works. Emma Catnip discusses obtaining copyright for her AI-generated graphic novel, indicating the novel's originality despite being based on AI imagery.

💡Flux

Flux is mentioned in the script as a newer AI tool that is being integrated into various platforms. The discussion hints at the potential impact of Flux on the AI art community, suggesting it as a significant development in the field.

💡Laura

Laura is an AI model or tool that is being trained in the script's context. It is mentioned in relation to the Flux tool, suggesting that Laura is a component or feature that users can train for customized AI-generated content.

💡Misinformation

Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally. In the script, there is a concern about the potential for AI-generated content to be misleading, especially when integrated into widely used platforms without proper context or safeguards.

💡Town Square of the World

This phrase is used in the script to describe a platform, likely referring to a social media platform where many people gather and share information. It highlights the importance of responsible use of AI to prevent the spread of misinformation in such public spaces.

Highlights

Emma Catnip, a music producer and visual artist, has been working as an AI animation director for three years.

Her AI art video gained 74,000 views on Twitter, showcasing the potential of AI in art creation.

Emma's creative process often starts with music, using it as a core driver for visual inspiration.

She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in AI art, suggesting it's key to connecting with viewers.

Emma's work has taken her around the world, including performing live visuals for the band Pla at various music festivals.

Her AI-generated graphic novel, filled with unique imagery, received a copyright, marking a significant milestone in AI art recognition.

Emma discusses the rapid evolution of AI art tools, noting how they've become more sophisticated and user-friendly over time.

She shares her experience learning AI art tools, mentioning the necessity of adapting to new technologies quickly.

Emma highlights the role of humor in AI art, using it as a means to communicate and engage with audiences.

The discussion touches on the challenges of misinformation and the responsibility to educate people about AI capabilities.

Emma shares her thoughts on the integration of AI tools like Flux into social media platforms, expressing concerns about potential misuse.

The conversation explores the importance of consistency and quality in building a successful career in AI art.

Emma talks about her experience with different AI art tools, including Runway and Luma, and their unique features.

She provides advice for aspiring AI artists, stressing the need for originality and a strong idea when creating AI art.

The interview concludes with Emma teasing an upcoming project and expressing excitement for the future of AI art.