Explore MidJourney Style Reference Guide: How to generate quality AI images blending dark and golden motifs in dynamic, high-contrast visuals, from ethereal animal depictions to adventurous landscapes.

Midjourney Prompt
Color Palette
Dominant Colors
Collection Description

Navigating the rich tapestry of digital art, the MidJourney Style Reference Guide reveals the vivid potentials of AI-enabled creativity. In one breath-taking scene, a baby elephant adorned with ethereal golden scales plays jubilantly in the water, encapsulated in a dynamic junglecore aesthetic that merges Y2K elements and a striking gold and black color palette, emblematic of oshare kei fashion. This theme of dark and golden tones recurs across various artworks, such as a fearsome golden lion with mythical allure roaring amidst swirling black clouds, and a shrouded figure generating spirals of golden energy in a stormy, fantastical environment. Proving the versatility of these elements, another digital canvas unfurls a yellow Jeep conquering rugged terrains under a dramatic, moody sky, each droplet on its surface reflecting life and adventure. This seamless integration of golden highlights and dark backgrounds exemplifies the –sref command in MidJourney, serving as an invaluable resource for artists seeking to create intense, high-contrast visuals that resonate across myriad artistic expressions, like capturing the gothic charm of Victorian London or the explosive drama of an erupting volcano. Such images are not only a testament to technical skill but also guide modern artists in wielding tools that enhance creative execution and narrative depth.

Image Descriptions and Image Prompts

Midjourney Prompt

A Victorian-era gentleman in a tailored suit and top hat, standing under a gas streetlamp in a foggy London alley

In a haunting digital painting, a mysterious man cloaked in a black coat and adorned with a top hat commands attention against the backdrop of Victorian London. The scene is set under a warm, yet sinister yellow glow that casts long shadows from the lingering gas lamps, evoking an eerie ambiance. This figure, potentially a portrayal of the infamous Jack the Ripper, exudes a dark charm, his faint, unsettling smile adding a layer of complexity to his character. The entire composition mimics the gritty aesthetic of a vintage horror movie poster, with high-contrast lighting and a textured film grain effect enhancing its alluringly ominous vibe. Incorporating styles reminiscent of celebrated artists like Alex Ross and Travis Charest, this artwork brilliantly captures the essence of a dark fantasy narrative. For artists and designers intrigued by such vivid, thematic expressions and seeking to incorporate similar elements into their work, understanding how to master AI art style guides can significantly amplify their creative output, ensuring each element aligns perfectly to evoke the intended emotional and visual impact.

Midjourney Prompt

A baby elephant playing in a muddy watering hole, splashing water with its trunk

For beginners looking to capture the enchanting essence of a baby elephant using MidJourney style reference tips, this scenario is a perfect example. The image features a baby elephant caught in a dynamic moment, splashing energetically within whispers of water. The overall aesthetic merges a junglecore theme with a striking gold and black color palette, underpinned by an intriguing mix of oshare kei fashion and punk touches. The depiction is highly realistic, especially noted in the meticulous detail given to the elephant’s skin texture and the ethereal golden scales that seem to shimmer under dynamic lighting effects. This detailed scene is set against a mysteriously dark background, enriched with golden yellow tones that radiate a powerful atmosphere. The composition includes a fluid blend of realistic and cartoonish elements that incorporate Y2K aesthetics with splendid splashes of light and glistening water droplets, enhancing the jungle-inspired aesthetic while a bold ‘MV3’ logo in yellow adorns the image’s corner, contributing to its fashion-forward vibe. The combination of high resolution, hyper-detailing, and a low-angle perspective heightens the grandeur of this youthful subject as it joyously engages with its natural habitat.

Midjourney Prompt

A volcanic eruption at night, with glowing lava flows and billowing ash clouds

The image presents a stunning portrayal of an erupting volcano set against a backdrop of a black and golden sky, capturing the essence of a dark fantasy world. This landscape is intricately detailed, reminiscent of the epic fantasy art styles of notable artists like John Blanche and Frank Frazetta, combining elements of surrealism and grotesque to enhance its dark, mysterious allure. The volcano itself, depicted in vivid black and yellow, dominates the scene, with lava cascading down its slopes into a valley where a river carves through, surrounded by scattered rocks. The golden hour lighting casts dramatic shadows and highlights, creating a high-contrast, hyper-realistic atmosphere that resembles a scene straight out of a cinematic masterpiece. The symmetrical composition and ultra-high definition of the artwork contribute to its immersive, high-quality visual experience, making it a perfect example of artistry in the digital age. Such imagery could vividly illustrate examples of –sref commands in MidJourney, offering a dynamic and powerful visualization of natural cataclysm within a fantastical setting.

Midjourney Prompt

A suspension bridge spanning a canyon at sunset, with cables glistening in the golden light

Venturing into the realm of dark fantasy, the image captures an old rope bridge precariously stretching across a seemingly bottomless abyss, set against a dramatic mountainous backdrop. The composition bathes in a mesmerizing sunset, where shades of black blend with orange hues to create a foreboding atmosphere that could draw comparisons to the aesthetic sensibilities of both Dark Souls and legendary artists like Frank Frazetta and Martin Ansin. The orange sun dips low in the sky, casting an eerie yellow light that highlights the bridge and silhouettes of two individuals bravely making their transit. This scene encapsulates a perfect blend of mystery and imminent danger, explored through dark and intense colors which starkly contrast with the vivid yellow sun. Exploring these features in MidJourney further enhances the stunning visual narrative, inviting viewers to ponder the story behind this mysterious journey across the rope bridge.

Midjourney Prompt

A hooded magician performing a trick, with glowing runes circling around their hands in a stormy sky

In this visually captivating digital artwork, a figure shrouded in mystery is depicted wearing an oversized yellow hoodie and black pants, evoking a dark and stormy fantasy atmosphere. The character, whose face remains unseen under the hood adorned with golden lightning symbols, kneels on the ground amidst smoky tendrils. Both hands are positioned powerfully in front, emitting spirals of glowing gold energy rings that contrast starkly against the backdrop of a black sky littered with threatening yellow thunderclouds. This scene is crafted with cinematic precision, boasting ultra-detailed and hyper-realistic elements, achieved through advanced digital painting techniques. The fantastical elements combined with a high level of resolution and contrast enhance the overall surrealistic feel of this piece. The use of golden light particles and dynamic symbols demonstrates the benefits of using style references in AI art, allowing artists like James Jean and Atey Ghailan to explore complex themes and moods through a highly stylized visual narrative.

Midjourney Prompt

A rugged off-road truck splashing through a muddy trail, surrounded by dense forest

Capturing a scene of unbridled adventure, the image features a yellow Jeep aggressively splashing through a body of water, framed by a dramatic backdrop of towering mountains and dense forests. The scene exudes a dark, moody atmosphere with a deep orange and dark tones laying the canvas for this rugged terrain. As the Jeep forges ahead, water droplets glisten on its surface, illuminated by the glow of its headlights against the dark, high-contrast environment. Rendered with an ultra-realistic approach, every detail is meticulously crafted—from the texture of the wet ground to the distant birds scattered against the nighttime sky. Employing techniques like those used in digital art and leveraging tools like Octane render, this imagery culminates in a cinematic quality akin to a hyper-realistic oil painting. Such clear, sharp focus and intricate detail align with the style of ArtStation. Using –sref for realistic AI art in MidJourney enhances the illustration’s depth, making the whole scene burst with life and vibrancy, fitting perfectly into someone’s collection or a showcase of extreme adventure-themed art.

Midjourney Prompt

A humanoid robot wielding an energy shield, standing in a neon-lit city with rain pouring down

In a striking blend of mid-century manga and modern artistic vision consistent with the MidJourney –sref style guide, a highly detailed image captivates with a scene of a robot standing alone on a rain-soaked street. This robot, characterized by its yellow eyes and black armor, carries an aura of melancholy and mystery. Its hyper-realistic features are vividly illuminated by golden hour lighting, reflecting off wet pavement and casting sharp contrasts of dark golds and oranges against a moody, dark backdrop. The setting is a blend of old Japanese cityscapes and futuristic cyberpunk elements, where vintage Japanese posters add texture to the scene. Artists like Tsutomu Nihei, Katsuhiro Otomo, and Yoji Shinkawa infuse their distinctive styles into the composition, adding layers of cinematic quality and deep colors. This evocative portrayal combines elements of dark anime, vintage manga art, and high-contrast cinematic lighting, creating a narrative that feels both nostalgic and foreboding.

Midjourney Prompt

A chimera with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent, roaring in a fiery cavern

A golden lion with black horns and the fierce expression of a mythical beast dominates the imagery, roaring amidst swirling dark clouds and ominous black smoke, creating a scene that feels both ancient and otherworldly. This magnificent creature, illustrated in vibrant yellow hues against a stark black background, features hyper-realistic details reminiscent of the work by Japanese illustrator Nyo Nagano. The lion’s eyes blaze yellow, adding an intense life to the ink-painted mane and fearsome fangs. Every element of the creature, from the flowing mane to the symmetrical placement of its fearsome claws and detailed teeth, is captured with exquisite high-resolution digital art techniques. The smoke-filled atmosphere and stormy-cloud patterns enhance the visual impact, making this depiction perfect for dramatic T-shirt designs or bold digital art displays. Employing such detailed and dynamic elements in digital art offers great inspiration and tips for creating unique images with MidJourney, encouraging artists to explore the blending of traditional styles with modern digital capabilities to generate compelling, high-quality visuals.

Midjourney Prompt

A colorful Mediterranean salad in a rustic wooden bowl, with glistening olive oil drizzled on top

This striking image presents a bowl filled with an assorted mix of fruits and vegetables including black olives, yellow peppers, strawberries, cherries, plums, and peaches, all encapsulated in a captivating comic book art style influenced by the work of Ralph Steadman. The scene is set against an urban backdrop, under a foreboding sky that ranges from dark yellowish-grey to ominous black clouds, subtly hinting at an impending storm. The meticulous attention to detail and bold use of colors bring the fruits to life in a hyper-realistic manner, enhanced by the dramatic lighting and shadow effects that add a compelling depth to the overall composition. In a clever artistic touch, black and olive oil drips from the fruits, creating a dynamic interaction between the elements and invoking a sense of movement within the piece. This artwork exemplifies advanced AI art techniques with MidJourney, seamlessly blending photorealism with a comic style to create a visually arresting narrative that draws the viewer into its dark, vibrant world.

Midjourney Prompt

A close-up of a woman wearing a jeweled crown, her face half-covered by a rose, with soft studio lighting

In an ethereal blend of artistry, the portrait captures a majestic queen, her elegance epitomized by a crown and a rose held delicately in her hand. The image is a convergence of various artistic styles, including those reminiscent of Colbinion, Enki Bilal, Yoji Shinkawa, and Dino Valls, culminating in a striking visual narrative that is both dark and luminous. The queen’s face, illuminated by golden light against a somber dark gold background with deep black shadows, is depicted with ultra-realistic detail that highlights her dark yellow skin tone, black eyes enhanced by heavy makeup, and golden facial tattoos. Her gaze is intense and mysterious, further accentuated by the noir atmosphere and chiaroscuro lighting, rendering bold lines and high contrasts that capture the viewer’s attention. The rose in her hand adds a touch of softness to her imposing presence, complemented by her facial scars and tattoos that tell tales of royalty and resilience. This portrait not only serves as a masterful example for those seeking tips for creating unique images with MidJourney but also as a testament to blending classic elements with modern stylizations to produce captivating, hyper-realistic art.

Midjourney Prompt

A snail on a moss-covered log, with sunlight filtering through dew-laden spiderwebs in the background

Delving into the magical realm of fantasy art, the image vividly captures a yellow and black snail inching its way across mossy rocks. This detailed creature is set in a mesmerizing scene with a backdrop of an ancient fantasy castle rich in texture and cloaked in mystery with spider webs draping over its crumbling, shadowed walls. The castle’s eerie charm is enhanced by the dark orange sky, casting a surreal glow characteristic of golden hour lighting. This visual tale combines hyper-realistic details and high-resolution quality akin to a 3D model rendering, achieving a photorealistic effect reminiscent of notable artists like David LaChapelle and Greg Rutkowski. Adding a unique touch, the snail’s shell intriguingly features the yellow text “x sä.obs,” blending seamlessly into the image’s fantastical, artistic aura. For artists and designers aiming to recreate such captivating visuals, understanding how to master AI art style guides can significantly elevate their creative prowess in digital artistry.

Midjourney Prompt

A planetary ring system surrounding a gas giant, with moons casting shadows on its surface

In a captivating digital painting reminiscent of Greg Rutkowski’s style, a gloomy yet compelling alien landscape unfolds under a midnight black sky. Dominating this scene is a massive yellow planet adorned with rings and accompanied by multiple moons, casting an eerie glow over the serrated mountains and rocky valleys below. A dark and reflective river meanders through this harsh terrain, enhancing the mysterious charm of the image. The tableau is rich with dark gold and amber hues, sharply contrasting with the deep blacks and grays of the stony wilderness. This starkly cinematic artwork, melding elements of fantasy and surrealism with a touch of science fiction, masterfully uses chiaroscuro techniques to highlight the dramatic interplay between light and shadow. As artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize artistic creation, pieces like this underscore the potentials of the best tools for AI art generation in 2024, making even the most surreal visions accessible for artists worldwide.