Otherworldly Art: Meet the Nobility of My AI-Generated Fantasy Realm

 

I've always had a passion for the fantasy realm, even before it was a "thing". It was one of the reasons I created this blog and others like it. I found comfort in the fantasy realm, and I still do.

I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I found my passion for the genre through movies such as Conan the Barbarian, The Never-Ending Story, and Labyrinth. I was a huge fan of Greek and Egyptian mythologies, and read everything I could find about the fairy world. Today, that passion has only gotten stronger.

As a writer, I was apprehensive about using a chatbot for any reason. However, from the creation of my first AI image, I was hooked. I've spent years learning to create images that call to my youth and my love of gothic fantasy. And as such, I've created my first Gothic fantasy AI-image pack: Nobles of the Mythic Realms.

The Mindset Behind the Nobles

I had a blast putting this package together. I've created 6 high-resolution images (4096x4096 300 dpi) that would make wonderful 18"x18" art prints. Included in the package are the images of what I believe certain members of the otherworldly nobility would look like, including:

The Queen of the Fairies

In my mind, the Queen of the Fairies was fairest of the fair. She was both beautiful and brilliant, mesmerizing and magical, graceful and grandiose. She could command a room with a wave of her hand and a glint in her eye. 

Lord of the Elves

Though he was called the Goblin King, I always felt David Bowie would have been better named as the Elvin King/Lord. He just looked like he'd make a great Lord of the Elves. I will admit that Orlando Bloom made a VERY good elf. 

The Baroness of the Banshees

Okay, I may have invented this one, but I wanted to showcase a few darker characters. I was raised by my Irish grandmother and was always told to listen for the wail of the Banshee. I'm not sure how much of what she told me was actual myth or not, but in my mind, this is what I'd see if I ever heard the Banshee's wail...and it would be the last thing I'd ever see. 

The Path to Creation

As I was creating this collection, I not only learned how to create high-quality, 300 dpi images, but I learned why it's important to do so. I didn't want to offer images that would become fuzzy and dull upon printing. I wanted to offer crisp images that others would be proud to exhibit. Each of the images found in this package is print-shop-ready and would look stunning in any dark academia or fantasy collection. 

The Nobles of the Mystic Realms Digital Art Pack can also be used as NPC portraits for RPG gaming communities. I've played in a few online RPG gaming rooms and enjoyed creating the characters that moved the game from one quest to the next. 

Along with the Fairy Queen, the Elvin Lord, and the Banshee Baroness, you'll meet the Abbess of the Elementals, the King of the Gnomes, and the Duke of the Goblins. 

I'm also offering all of this for the low price of $12. That's only $2 per high-resolution image that can be used over and over again. 

A Personal Invitation

I'm very proud of this collection and invite you to come check it out. You'll find 6 high-resolution Gothic art prints, each 300 dpi, for only $12. Use them to decorate your Gothic fantasy space or to add a new flair to your RPG stories. 

I'm living proof that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Not only did I learn how to create a group of images that are aesthetically pleasing, but ready to be taken from the online world to the physical one. I can't wait to get busy on my next collection. I hope you'll join me for that one as well.

Until next time,
Miss Chris!!!

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Nyx, Goddess of the Night

 

"The Goddess Nyx" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

Before the Olympians or Titans, there were the Primordials. The first beings who sprang directly from Chaos itself. These Primordials included Gaia (Earth), Eros (Love), Erebus (Darkness), Tartarus (the Pit), and Nyx (Night).

Hesiod portrayed Nyx as an evil being. He claimed that Nyx self-conceived a brood of children that included doom, misery, and deceit. However, she is also mother to the gods of sleep, dreams, and peaceful death. In conjunction with her brother, Erebus, she bore Aether (divine air) and Hemera (day). 

I'm one of those people who feel more alive at night. I've always been a night owl (my grandmother's term). I find it hard to believe that Nyx was a purely evil deity. A dark entity, yes, but not a purely evil one. I think she was seen as evil because in those days, it was dangerous to be out at night. Things ate you in the night. You could lose your way in the night. We learned to be wary of things that go bump in the night.

I used to write for a multi-character blogging community. Each of us wrote in the voice of one of the Greek gods. I wrote as the goddess Demeter, while another young woman wrote in the voice of Nyx. I loved the way the author portrayed the goddess. She wrote Nyx as someone who roamed through the seedier side of humanity, while maintaining her status as a most ancient deity. She was hard, cold, matter-of-fact. However, at the same time, she had a soft side. This young author brought Nyx to life, as both a hard-hearted demoness and a kind-hearted matron. It was magical.

In my mind, Nyx is a dual deity. She's hard when she has to be, but soft when needed. Her embrace can both terrify you and comfort you at the same time. She can give you peace in her realm or fear. It all depends on your actions.

As a kid of the 70s, I see Nyx as an old-school, retro superhero. She would have been badass, while still being that person you'd call when in trouble. I loved 1970s comic books, and she would have fit right in. I always had a thing for the darker characters. 

"Retro Nyx" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

I completely understand why she was seen as an evil entity. She wasn't just the ruler of the night; she was the night. The ancient Greeks believed she rode across the evening sky, her starry cloak flowing out behind her and blanketing the Earth. 

I've always felt like a child of the night. I'm more comfortable at night. I'm more inspired at night. My grandmother was the same way. I remember her always staying up late playing solitaire and drinking coffee. Perhaps we're descendants of Nyx. Now that would be cool.

What are your thoughts? Do you fear the night, or embrace it? Is Nyx an evil entity or just a mother watching over her clan? I'd love to know.

Until next time, my friends, I bid you a good Nyx.
Miss Chris!!!

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Christine Graves has been writing for more than 30 years. She runs several blogs including Priestess of Words, Collected Keepsakes, Promptly Creative, and Mystic Realms, all of which are part of her company, Graves Publications. She also writes for a platform called Medium.com, in which she runs a few publications.