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 ...