MidJourney Style Reference Guide: Where Digital Techniques Meet Iconic Artistic Influences

Midjourney Prompt

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Dominant Colors

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Exploring the intersection of traditional artistic themes with advanced digital techniques offers a fresh perspective on visual storytelling. For example, an intriguing scene of a vivid red flamingo standing in dark waters under moonlight showcases the allure and mystery of a Dark Fantasy inspired setting, reminiscent of detailed works by Alan Lee. Similarly, the portrayal of a white raven holding a radiant red ball amidst a stormy backdrop merges the ethereal and surreal aesthetics of renowned artists like Zdzisław Beksiński and Mario Sanchez Nevado, highlighting the powerful narrative capabilities of combining contrasting styles. Another vivid depiction involves a knight clad in black armor against the ruins of an ancient city, representing a blend of dark fantasy elements evocative of Roger Dean and H.R. Giger’s styles, which underlines the emotional depth possible in art. Additionally, the portrait of an elderly woman overlaid against a surreal landscape illustrates the blending of dystopian realism with ethereal surrealism, suggesting profound thematic exploration. These compositions are prime examples of the benefits of using style references in AI art, where leveraging iconic artistic influences can elevate the emotional resonance and visual depth of digital artworks, enriching the viewer’s experience and broadening the horizons for AI-generated art.

Image Descriptions and Image Prompts

Midjourney Prompt

A Renaissance painter working on a masterpiece in a dimly lit studio

In a dimly lit studio, a man adorned in a white shirt meticulously works on a canvas, his expression focused and intense. He paints a chilling fantasy landscape dominated by tall, ominous spires and a foreboding castle, their stark forms bathed under the light of a red moon that casts an eerie glow against a pitch-black sky. This scene is depicted in a dark fantasy style reminiscent of renowned artists like Frank Frazetta, Roger Dean, and Zdzisław Beksiński, blending the grotesque, surreal beauty of H.R. Giger with the vivid, expressive details typical of Jean Giraud. On the table in front of him, a lone red ball echoes the moon’s hue, adding a mysterious, symbolic element to the composition. The painting, rich with dark, brooding undertones and hyper-detailing, particularly in the eyes, evokes a vintage, retro vibe from the 80s, characterized by its hyper-realism and otherworldly atmosphere. Aspiring artists interested in exploring similar dark fantasy themes can learn how to use MidJourney to incorporate techniques seen in this captivating scene, allowing them to delve into the depths of their creative psyche and bring such vivid imaginations to life.

Midjourney Prompt

A vibrant flamingo standing in a calm lake at sunrise, its reflection perfectly mirrored in the water

In a captivating scene that could be plucked from a world steeped in eerie enchantment, a vivid red flamingo stands solemnly in dark, shadowy waters, each detail of its elegant form reflected perfectly below. This setting, reminiscent of the meticulously detailed works of Alan Lee, is infused with the essence of Dark Fantasy art, featuring muted, gloomy colors in the sky and a dream-like mystical fog, enhancing the overall mystery. The surrounding willow trees drape their slender branches near the water, casting enigmatic shadows that blur the lines between the real and the surreal. Under the soft glow of moonlight, the reflection of the flamingo shimmers, melding with the Art Nouveau style prompts that guide the design, offering a timeless and otherworldly visual experience. This scene perfectly encapsulates the ethos of creative AI art using style prompts, blending natural beauty with haunting artistic vision to evoke a profound sense of wonder and intrigue.

Midjourney Prompt

A frozen waterfall with jagged icicles and mist rising from the base

The artwork, inspired by the distinctive techniques of Zdzisław Beksiński, masterfully captures a haunting and desolate landscape in black and white. It features a surreal, frozen waterfall cascading down a daunting, black rock cliff, surrounded by gothic architectural ruins that evoke a chilling air of mystery and foreboding. Overhanging trees, their branches heavy with ice, loom ominously over the abyss, their icicles dripping towards the dark waters below. The painting’s meticulous attention to detail and its chiaroscuro effect intensify the dark, eerie atmosphere, reminiscent also of styles like Anne Bachelier’s and Mario Sanchez Nevado’s. Additionally, the significant contrast between the stark black of the cliff and the ghostly white of the ice enhances the visual impact of this cold, dark fantasy landscape, making it an ideal subject for using –sref for realistic AI art in MidJourney. The artwork’s compelling depth and texture are bordered strikingly in black, setting a dramatic tone against its solid backdrop, immersing viewers into an 80s horror fantasy realm.

Midjourney Prompt

An abandoned Victorian mansion with ivy creeping up its cracked walls

In an enigmatic composition reminiscent of Zdzisław Beksiński’s surreal architectural photography, the scene features a house with walls cloaked in deep black cement, evoking a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. The entrance to this house is distinctly crafted in the form of two interlinking circles, leading to stairs that descend into darkness, which sharpens the overall surreal quality of the image. Adding a striking contrast to the somber facade, the surrounding trees are adorned with bright red leaves, scattering a vibrant hue on the ground below. This striking visual tableau can provide MidJourney style reference tips for beginners looking to capture or recreate the unique intertwining of surrealism and natural beauty in their artwork.

Midjourney Prompt

A ghostly knight in shimmering spectral armor, wielding a glowing ethereal sword, standing on the ruins of an ancient battlefield under a full moon

The vivid image captures a dark medieval knight clad in black armor, powerfully poised among the eerie ruins of an ancient city with a striking full moon illuminating the scene. This compelling portrayal blends dark fantasy elements reminiscent of Roger Dean, H.R. Giger, John Blanche, and Zdzisław Beksiński, reflecting a haunting, otherworldly atmosphere. The knight, sword raised high or held steadfastly while staring with determination, embodies a fierce resolve against a backdrop that enhances the mysterious and arcane mood of the artwork. The high contrast between the knight’s dark figure and the moon’s bright glow adds a dramatic touch, encapsulating the quintessential essence of how to generate quality AI images which can evoke powerful emotions and visual depth, just like hand-painted masterpieces by esteemed artists. This image not only tells a story of valor and resilience but also showcases the intricate possibilities of combining traditional artistic influences with modern digital art techniques.

Midjourney Prompt

A futuristic motorcycle speeding down a rain-soaked neon-lit street at night

Capturing the essence of a noir, retro-futuristic world, this image illustrates a scene where a man rides an old motorcycle through a rain-soaked street. The setting, reminiscent of a sci-fi movie, features atmospheric elements like misty rain and movie-quality lighting that contribute to a sense of impending mystery and isolation. Vibrant red banners, adorned with Chinese characters and stylistically influenced by the artistic visions of Ralph McQuarrie and Zdzisław Beksiński, flutter in the background, adding a mysterious cultural narrative to the scene. This street scene seems plucked from a futuristic cityscape celebrating Chinese New Year, vividly combining traditional elements with dark, foreboding tones of red and black under a dark gray sky. For artists and enthusiasts exploring how to create high-end AI art, this image serves as a dynamic example of blending elements from notable visionaries like Enki Bilal, Frank Frazetta, Moebius, and others into a singular, cohesive piece that transport viewers into an evocatively rendered world.

Midjourney Prompt

A colossal space station orbiting a gas giant, with tiny spacecraft docking

In an eerie tableau that merges the visionary styles of John Harris, Frank Frazetta, H.R. Giger, Zdzisław Beksiński, John Berkey, and Moebius, a massive, brooding spaceship dominates the sky above an alien cityscape. The spacecraft, vast in scale, boasts a sinister palette of black and red embellishments that give it a formidable presence. Below, the city unfolds in a landscape of spacefaring skyscrapers, their brutalist architecture rendered in dark stone and highlighted with ominous red lights that echo the spaceship’s accents. The fog engulfs the scene, adding a grainy, film-like quality to the artwork, enhancing its retro-futuristic, dark cyberpunk flavor. This dense, atmospheric setting is a textbook example for enthusiasts learning how to use MidJourney to create dark fantasy art, capturing the essence of an industrial planet entwined with high-tech despair and architectural might.

Midjourney Prompt

A majestic griffin with piercing eyes, perched on a rocky cliffside at sunrise

This AI-generated piece combines the ethereal and surreal aesthetics of artists like Zdzisław Beksiński, Anne Bachelier, Mario Sanchez Nevado, Wayne Barlowe, Moebius, and Jean Giraud. The central figure in the artwork is a captivating white raven, symbolically portrayed with an orange beak, grasping a radiant elongated red ball—reminiscent of a sun—between its jaws. This spectral bird is perched precariously atop towering, dark gray to black rock spires that pierce a stormy, cloud-filled sky, lending an overall aura of mystery and foreboding to the scene. This blend of styles, with contrasting and vivid color play against a brooding landscape, offers a unique visual narrative, powerfully evoking the themes common in dark fantasy and surrealism. Using –sref for realistic AI art in MidJourney enhances the depth and realism, bringing the fantastical to life with startling clarity and emotional resonance.

Midjourney Prompt

A stack of fluffy pancakes drizzled with syrup, topped with fresh berries and powdered sugar

In an atmospheric setting reminiscent of a dark fantasy world, a stack of fluffy pancakes takes center stage, adorned with a generous drizzle of maple syrup and fresh berries. These pancakes are elegantly arranged on an ornate plate, capturing the viewer’s attention fully amidst a surreal backdrop. The background tells a tale of its own with towering black rock formations and lava fields, where lava visibly drips in the distance, adding a dramatic contrast to the dimly lit scene. Glowing embers float in the shadowy air under a dark, brooding sky, enhancing the mystical and slightly foreboding atmosphere that envelops the pancakes. This striking composition, inspired by the iconic style of David LaChapelle and captured using a high-quality Hasselblad camera, brilliantly merges the world of fine art with culinary delight. For those intrigued by visual storytelling and the fusion of food and fantasy in imagery, learning how to use MidJourney to create similar evocative scenes could open up new avenues for artistic expression.

Midjourney Prompt

An elderly woman with deep wrinkles, wearing a traditional embroidered shawl, looking out a window

In this captivating artwork, a portrait evokes the haunting beauty of an elderly woman adorned in black and red, her pale skin contrasted by dark lipstick, with earrings that catch the flicker of dim light. She gazes out a window, her eyes fixed on a mysterious and fantastical landscape that melds distant ruins with misty mountains and surreal rivers, invoking a mood of reflective solitude. The painting blends the dystopian realism of Zdzisław Beksiński with the ethereal surrealism of Mark Rothko, while the influence of Luis Royo adds a gothic touch to the ruins she observes. Chiaroscuro lighting dramatically accentuates her features, enhancing the shadowy, ominous tones of the scene. This image, a metaphor for memory and legend, envelops the viewer in a world where the boundaries of time and reality are blurred. This technique and style could serve as a phenomenal guide on “How to generate unique AI images with MidJourney,” exploring the interplay between different artistic influences to create deeply resonant and visually stunning compositions.

Midjourney Prompt

A ladybug crawling on the edge of a vibrant green leaf with tiny water droplets

A ladybug delicately rests on a leaf, adorned with shimmering dew drops, and illuminated by the light emanating through a dark, moody backdrop. This scene, rendered in high detail, captures the essence of a hyper-realistic oil painting, reminiscent of the works of artists like John Howe, Thomas Kinkade, Greg Rutkowski, Robert Bissell, Peter Wileman, John Singer Sargent, and Jeremy Mann. The artwork masterfully uses dramatic cinematic lighting to enhance the vivid textures and colors of the scene, creating a captivating, fantasy-like atmosphere that merges realism with a touch of enchantment. Such compositions not only showcase artistic skill but also align with best practices for AI image generation, where attention to detail and lighting plays a crucial role in elevating the visual experience.

Midjourney Prompt

A lone astronaut floating in deep space, tethered to a spacecraft with Earth glowing in the distance

This captivating image features an astronaut serenely floating above billowing clouds, set against the stark, expansive backdrop of a red planet and a pitch-black sky. Rendered in a sumptuous oil painting style that evokes the iconic works of Frank Frazetta, the depiction also integrates elements reminiscent of Drew Struzan and Martin Ansin, yielding a dramatic, yet dreamy visual experience. The precise airbrushing technique enhances the ethereal quality of the scene, creating a sense of depth and realism that is further accentuated by the detailed texturization akin to the style of Alex Ross. For anyone crafting visual narratives in a similar vein, this image could serve as a prime example of MidJourney style reference tips for beginners, demonstrating how different artistic influences can be woven together to produce a resonant and powerful artwork.