Explore Animated Watercolors in the MidJourney Style Reference Guide: From a Boy’s Smile to Waves and Whimsical Beasts

Color Palette
Dominant Colors
Collection Description

The artworks described vividly utilize vibrant watercolors and animated charm to capture a wide range of subjects, each with its unique appeal and thematic depth. From a young boy’s cheerful demeanor portrayed amidst pastel hues to a large, colorful wave embodying the chill and enchantment of the ocean, the mastery of anime styles and detailed brushwork is evident. Notably, the scene with a huge colorful wave and a young boy in vivid attire exemplifies the effectiveness of the –sref commands in MidJourney, illustrating how AI integrates diverse artistic influences from Studio Ghibli to classic comic styles, creating pieces that resonate deeply across broad audiences. These works also showcase how digital brushstrokes can achieve studio-quality softness typical of traditional watercolor, blending the fantastical with the realistic. Intricate details, from the flowing mane of a pink and blue lion to the spirited gallop of Wolverine on a green horse, show the command’s robust capability in fostering a cohesive aesthetic narrative in AI-generated images, making these examples vital for anyone looking to delve into digital artistry.

Image Descriptions and Image Prompts

Midjourney Prompt

Teapot

A delicate, ancient Chinese teapot emerges as the centerpiece in this enchanting watercolor painting, portrayed with exquisite soft pastel hues of pink, blue, and yellow. The teapot, resting on an elegant wooden base, features ornate designs reminiscent of traditional Asian art, including motifs of clouds, waves, and swirling patterns that seem to come alive with colors like light green, sky blue, orange, purple, red, and brown. Gentle smoke unfurls from its intricately designed spout, adding a mystical quality to the piece. Executed with a combination of watercolor and colored pencils, this artwork captures a dreamy, almost ethereal aesthetic with its clean background enhancing the vibrant detailing. For anyone interested in incorporating similar techniques into their digital art projects, this piece could serve as a splendid example when exploring MidJourney style reference tutorials and tricks.

Midjourney Prompt

Train

In a beautifully rendered watercolor painting, a colorful train engine moves gracefully along a track. Its journey is set against a pristine white background that accentuates the vivid colors and dynamic brush strokes used to capture its form. From a creative angle, half of the engine’s body is shown, emphasizing detailed elements such as the headlight and number plate, each meticulously noted with artistic precision. Lush green grass in the foreground contrasts sharply with the simplicity of the background, evoking a sense of spring and renewal. The painting’s perspective, either from behind or in a breathtaking front view, successfully illustrates the motion and vitality of the train as it traverses the imaginary landscape under a clear, white sky. The choice to utilize such a vibrant and pastoral style highlights the benefits of using style references in AI art, as it channels the essence of motion and life into the heart of the composition, making the scene not just seen but felt.

Midjourney Prompt

Mid-Shot of a Cowboy Riding a Horse

This artistic portrayal features Wolverine from the X-Men, uniquely captured as he gallantly rides across a meadow on a majestic, emerald-colored horse. The character, sporting black hair and a beard, is dressed in a green vest layered over a pink shirt, echoing an enchanting mix of styles from notable artists like Atey Ghailan and Bill Sienkiewicz, integrated with the animated charm typical of a Disney cartoon by Don Bluth. The image is rendered with a delightful pastel palette that emphasizes soft tones of green, blue, and pink, interplaying with the simplicity of a stark white background that gently underscores the scene. Various artistic influences converge in this illustration, from the traditional Disney Pixar flair evoked by John St. Grow and Alex Grey, to the dynamic, watercolor nuances enriched with soft shadows, high contrast, and a splash of vibrant colors, all contributing to a lively yet serene composition. This meticulous blend of multiple artistic expressions not only captivates but also exemplifies best practices for –sref in AI image generation, creating a coherent visual narrative that resonates deeply with both comic book enthusiasts and art aficionados.

Midjourney Prompt

Peacock

This stunning image captures the essence of a beautiful peacock with its feathers majestically spread out, painted in a delightful mix of pink and blue hues against a crisp white background. Rendered in the style of an oil painting, yet reminiscent of watercolor techniques, the artwork incorporates soft pastel colors that enhance the cute and dreamy aesthetic, ideal for a nursery or as an enchanting piece of children’s book illustration. Detailed brushstrokes and high-resolution photography accentuate the vibrant blue plumage and colorful tail feathers, creating a full-body portrait that radiates charm and vividness. This eye-catching representation is a clear demonstration of the benefits of using style references in AI art, as it expertly melds elements of realism with cartoonish allure, thereby catering to both artistic sophistication and whimsical appeal.

Midjourney Prompt

Futuristic Space Station

This stunning watercolor painting captures the essence of a pink and white space station, a visual homage to the renowned styles of Masamune Shirow and Hayao Miyazaki. The painting intricately depicts the space station with soft, rounded edges and small windows that offer glimpses of the expansive starry cosmos beyond. Integration of vibrant, pastel colors and yellow highlights, combined with atmospheric perspectives, lends a soft glow to the entire composition, reminiscent of a scene straight from a 90s anime or a Studio Ghibli film. The background features a serene mix of starry galaxy skies and delicate white clouds, enhancing the retro-futuristic vibe of the artwork. This high-resolution, hyper-detailed masterpiece perfectly exemplifies AI art style customization using –sref, merging the nostalgic elements of Moebius and Makoto Shinkai with a splash of the cosmic aesthetic.

Midjourney Prompt

Formula 1 Vehicle

This imagery captures a charming portrayal of a Formula One car, presented in a delightful yellow and pink hue, reminiscent of a children’s storybook illustration. The car, marked by the number “26,” is stylized with the whimsical essence characteristic of Studio Ghibli, blending seamlessly into a serene natural backdrop. The medium of watercolor enhances its anime influence, giving it a soft, ethereal quality that contrasts sharply with the common perceptions of high-speed racing. The simplicity and flat colors evoke a sense of innocence and joy, making it approachable and appealing. Its high-resolution capture using professional photography techniques ensures that every detail, from the playful design to the subtle interplay of light and shadow, is crisply depicted, earning a spot in any discussion on how to master AI art style guides with its unique synthesis of anime and realistic textural effects.

Midjourney Prompt

Living Room

Drawing inspiration from the whimsical worlds of Studio Ghibli, this illustration portrays a vibrant and color-saturated interior of a modern two-story house, artfully captured in the nostalgic lens of 90s anime. The artwork, executed in nuanced watercolor, features an open-concept living room bathed in natural light streaming through ample windows. Pastel hues dominate the scene—pinks, yellows, blues, and greens blend seamlessly on the walls, floor tiles, and furnishings. At the heart of the room, pastel-colored sofa chairs nestled around a coffee table invite a serene repose, while potted plants add a refreshing burst of greenery. The space is architecturally enhanced by a double-height ceiling and a charming second-story balcony that overlooks the airy living room. Intricate details like a colorful patterned carpet and a solitary watercolor painting on the wall further enrich the visual narrative, making it an inspiring scene for those exploring how to use MidJourney –sref for unique art styles, encapsulating a perfect blend of realism and fantasy typical of a Hayao Miyazaki creation. This delightful setting not only captures the essence of a peaceful, dream-like domestic environment but also serves as a stellar example of blending traditional art styles with modern aesthetics.

Midjourney Prompt

Landscape

This watercolor painting masterfully captures the serenity of a scenic path leading into a forest, bordered by lush trees that evoke a sense of peaceful seclusion. The path itself, possibly a symbol of journey and exploration, is neatly lined with vibrant pine trees and bathed in soft pastel hues that suggest the freshness of spring. In the foreground, the green grass, sprinkled with pink flowers, adds a lively contrast to the tranquil blue of the sky overhead, which is lightly dusted with white clouds. As the path winds into the distance, it draws the viewer’s eye toward distant mountains, creating a delightful depth. This portrayal is a perfect reflection on the natural beauty and could be shown as Examples of –sref commands in MidJourney, eliciting the use of gentle colors and delicate textures to convey a peaceful outdoor scene.

Midjourney Prompt

Ocean Wave

This captivating depiction of a huge, colorful wave combines the ethereal qualities of anime and watercolor styles with a dazzling palette of pink, blue, green, and hints of yellow. The strokes are simple yet bring out detailed coloring, making the scene pop against a sky blue background, reminiscent of a clear summer sky. The playful interplay of colors gives the artwork a dreamy, almost magical quality, evoking the warmth and joy of a day at the beach. The white cloud floating in front of the waves adds a soft contrast, enhancing the scene’s whimsical and child-like charm, akin to something painted by a youthful artist inspired by greats like Atey Ghailan and Artgerm. How –sref impacts MidJourney outputs is notably embodied in its dreamy pastel tones and soft, airbrushed textures that promote a sense of calm and enchantment, making it a perfect piece for brightening up a living space or bringing the spirit of the ocean indoors.

Midjourney Prompt

Fish Under Water

A watercolor painting captures the whimsical charm of a cute and happy baby koi fish frolicking in the water, perfectly styled as a children’s book illustration. The artist employs a serene yet vibrant palette of dreamy, pastel colors that enhance the simplicity and high contrast of the composition. This full-body portrayal of the koi fish, set against a clean white background, is rendered from a wide-angle perspective, invoking a feeling of innocence and joy that is both engaging and soothing. The simplicity in the details, alongside the effective use of color and contrast, embodies the MidJourney –sref style guide, making it an appealing piece for both children and adults.

Midjourney Prompt

Cartoon Character

In this charming anime-style watercolor illustration, a young boy with short silver hair and glasses radiates cheerfulness and curiosity. His vivid attire pops against the stark white background, drawing attention to his ensemble of pastel colors that include a pink jacket, green shirt, and yellow pants, complemented by blue jeans and white shoes. Each accessory, including his purple backpack, is meticulously detailed, adding to the overall cartoonish appeal of the character. This artistic depiction, reminiscent of the works of Atey Ghailan and Katsuhiro Otomo, combines both simplicity and expressiveness, ensuring that the young boy’s happy demeanor and stylish outfit are the focal points. This illustration exemplifies best practices for an effective and engaging use of vivid colors and clear character design in AI image generation, showcasing how to capture the essence of youth and whimsy in a visually appealing format.

Midjourney Prompt

A Lion

Capturing the essence of a tranquil and picturesque setting, this scene displays a pink and blue lion, head held high, resting in a lush grassland. This digital painting merges the detailed character illustrations reminiscent of the styles of renowned artists like Artgerm, Atey Ghailan, and WLOP, with a vibrant anime-inspired aesthetic. Around the lion, wildflowers and soft greenery are rendered in soothing watercolors, with sharp focus that emulates studio quality. Above, the sky bursts with sunlight and fluffy white clouds, enhancing the dreamy watercolor atmosphere. Creating professional AI art with MidJourney has been exemplified in this artwork, where intricate digital brushstrokes meticulously replicate the subtle textures and soft edges characteristic of watercolor, blending the fantastical with the realistic. This artwork not only represents a stunning vision but also conveys a sense of peace and beauty, making it a splendid display of creativity and digital artistry.