AI Illustrates 'The Wager and the Bear': Part Two - Chapters 7-13

 Here we go with some more of the weird and wonderful creations of OpenArt.AI illustrating chapters from 'The Wager and the Bear.' Some are good. Some are , er, less good. One is amazing. I'll let you decide.

Chapter 7: Tom and Monty meet in Greenland. This could be perfect if they didn't look like Russian cosmonauts from 1970. It kind of works though ... I think. 

Chapter 8: We're back in St Piran. It isn't quite how I imagine the path up to the church. And where does that lower path lead? But the church itself and the headland are reasonably Cornish.

Chapter 9: Almost perfect. Menacing and dark. The storm in St Piran

Chapter 10: It's another one in Tintin style. There's no motor on the boat, and Ilse should be younger, but let's not be picky. 

Chapter 11: Now we're doing it. Monty and Tom set off across the ice. Lovely.

Chapter 12: I have to admit it. This picture of Benny and Lacey Shaunessey is my favourite one of all. That's them. It really is. Go Benny!

Chapter 13: Let's be careful not to reveal too much. Welcome to the ice cave ...

So what do you think? Let me know. I'll post more in few weeks.

AI Illustrates 'The Wager and the Bear': Chapters 1 - 6 (11 October 2024)

 

Writers are forever looking for ways to generate interest in our books, and publishers are always keen to encourage us. So I had this idea for 'The Wager and the Bear' (which comes out in paperback in German on 31 October and in English on 21 February). I thought I might ask an AI image generator to have a go at illustrating the chapters, and if it worked, I could bash these out on social media.

Well, my expectations weren't especially high. But it has been a fascinating and generally instructive exercise. If you have read the book  (it is already available in German and Italian editions) you might like to compare the illustrations with your own impressions of the scenes they represent.

(For anyone who wants to have a go at this, by the way, I'm using Openart.AI )

Above is Chapter One. Tom arrives in St Piran, beautifully illustrated in watercolour. I like this. The village isn't quite right and the sky is a bit too gray. But the general impression is good. 

Here is Chapter Two:

So my brilliant editor, Sarah Jayne, says Monty is too tall here. Perhaps he is. But I rather like the sense of foreboding, don't you?

Chapter 3: AI really struggled with this. I must have tried over twenty variations of prompt to get here and it still doesn't feel right. So I shall cheat and give you two versions - the oil painting and the Tintin versions. I can't choose between them. 

Chapter 4 was almost perfect. It is done in a kind of Japanese watercolour style - and it really speaks to me about Tom's and Lykke's meet-cute encounter on the harbour at sunrise. I love this one. 

For Chapter 5 I chose an impasto oil painting style - and I like this too. What do you think?

 

In Chapter 6 Monty goes to meet the new Prime Minister. Here he is looking suitably shifty.

I'll post another set of chapter illustrations in a few weeks. It has been a rather fun exercise, and I am still working through them. Sarah Jayne has warned me no to give too much away. I shall try to follow her advice. Watch this space ...