Meet Oona!
Introducing Oona (IG:@oonaode) – a creative spirit from Vancouver who embraces AI as a muse, crafting art that balances bright hues with deeper undertones. With a history rooted in environmental science and crafting, her works range from abstract to surrealist, capturing the essence of her diverse inspirations. Oona finds AI art therapeutic, allowing her to explore thoughts and process past traumas. Her creations often feature striking black and white or vibrant pastel colors. Active in the AI art community, Oona's work continues to inspire and provoke thought. Join us in discovering Oona's journey and her captivating AI art creations.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got interested in AI art?
Growing up surrounded by talented woman crafters who could sew, knit, cake decorating, and flower design with ease, I've always considered myself more of a creator or crafter rather than an artist. Ten years ago, my eldest sister and I translated our instilled do-it-yourself creator attitudes into starting a female-focused art subscription box company. In which I found myself thrust into the position of in-house designer. Since its closure, I've been selling my hand-designed items on Etsy and have had two children.
My background is in environmental science. I've worked several years as a consultant in this field, most of which consisted of me wearing hazmat suits, wandering abandoned buildings, and sorting through the rubble that remained of house fires.
I heard about AI art generators on TikTok in September of 2022. I was fascinated by the technology and decided to try Craiyon as it was free to use. I quickly found a prompt that created a colorful abstract art style that I loved and spent countless hours on the site generating thousands of tiny images that I turned into animations. An update at Craiyon that changed how my prompt was interpreted drove me to try Dalle, Pickapic.io, and Midjourney.
Who or what are your artistic inspirations, and if you had the opportunity to collaborate with any artist, who would it be, and why?
I'm inspired by:
House fires, moldy walls, soggy carpets, cracked plaster, Women, Anxiety, Insomnia, ADHD, IBD, RIP, Good tunes, queer books, space, bad memories, crafting, weird thoughts, Maud Lewis, Mayumi Oda, and Will Barnet.
If I could collaborate with any artist, I would choose Mayumi Oda. I love the delightful way she depicts the female form, and the way she uses bright colors is so inspiring. I have also always wanted to learn how to silkscreen, and I can't think of anyone better to learn the art form from.
How do you approach the creative process when working with AI?
I usually start prompting after I have an abstract idea of how the particular feeling I'm trying to convey would look like. I'll then compile a list of words, phrases, and other ai generated images that I will use to build off that core idea. My process is more like weeding or coaxing out of the image rather than recreating a firm image from my mind. I will work on an image until it feels like it correctly portrays my original thought. This can happen quickly or may take many hours.
I do struggle with mental block, but not in the traditional sense. A block for me is the switch between absolutely loving the images I'm creating to really hating them and less of a lack of ideas. I battle this block by listening to new music, doing community ai art challenges, or switching up my art style completely.
Can you share a specific artwork you've created that you're particularly proud of?
An image I feel proud to have made depicts a group of tenants struggling to keep a house from floating away. I generated this image in response to the housing crisis that my city is experiencing. It captures the sense of hopelessness that many renters feel, that struggle as they might secure housing gets further out of reach. I find that the images I'm most proud of are the ones with themes I feel the strongest about.
How has working with AI in art influenced your mental and emotional wellbeing?
For me, the process of creating AI art is therapeutic. Not only does it provide me a creative outlet to explore my thoughts, but it also allows me a safe way to process past trauma.
I have also always been a shy person and have found it difficult to express my ideas openly. At first, I was excited about AI art as a creative outlet to express my artistic ideas for just myself, but as I've gained confidence in my images, I now really enjoy sharing them within the AI art community.
What advice or encouragement would you give to aspiring women and non-binary folks who are interested in pursuing AI art?
Just try it already! I'd also suggest not reading too many instructions or other people's prompts, let your imagination lead the way.
For more of Oona’s incredible work, make sure to visit her Instagram account: @oonaode