The work on Mawu Art is created using a combination of digital art toolsMidjourney, a subscription-based generative artificial intelligence program. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Firefly and Adobe Express.

The creative process is flexible, adapting to the demands of each project. Sometimes, I take on the role of a creative director, guiding the AI's output by conceptualizing ideas, engineering prompts, and curating the final results. In these instances, the AI acts as the artist, translating my vision into tangible creations.

However, there are times when our collaboration takes on a more interactive nature. I utilize the AI's generative capabilities to lay the groundwork for a piece, leveraging its ability to generate novel concepts and imagery. From there, I step in to further refine and shape the artwork, often using tools like Adobe Photoshop to assemble and enhance the generated assets. This process of co-creation allows for a seamless integration of human and artificial creativity, resulting in unique and compelling outcomes.

In essence, our relationship in the creative process is characterized by a blend of directing and collaborating, where I leverage the AI's capabilities to enhance and complement my own creative endeavors.

The journey of creating each piece typically begins with a narrative woven around a specific theme, heavily influenced by my passion for science fiction, fantasy, and spirituality. I pull from my background in art and design to shape the creative direction. Crafting the prompt is a meticulous process, often involving medium-detail descriptions that outline core components such as subject matter, colors, and lighting, while leaving room for AI creativity.

I generate upwards of 50 renders, continuously refining the prompts by adding or subtracting details to enhance the creative output. To achieve better compositions and consistency, I utilize the /describe function in Midjourney. This tool allows me to reverse-engineer prompts, refining them based on reference images or existing renders. For instance, by inputting reference images of a dancer, I can generate prompts that accurately describe the composition, which I then build upon with stylistic details. Similarly, if a particular rendering strikes a chord, I leverage Midjourney's description to refine my initial prompt, ensuring visual coherence across the collection.

Once satisfied with the general direction, I curate the most compelling images to finalize the piece. I then transition to a tool like Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, or Adobe Photoshop to further enhance the artwork and add intricate details. Depending on the complexity of the piece, I may opt to generate components separately and then integrate them in Adobe Photoshop. For example, I may generate the background separately from the subject matter, allowing for greater control and refinement in the final composition.

The timeframe for creating a single piece varies depending on various factors. Typically, crafting a collection of four or more images can take anywhere from two to fifteen hours. The process may unfold over several days, over even months, allowing for breaks and reflection.

Curation plays a significant role in the creative process. After a session, I may have one or two images that resonate with the overall vision. In such cases, I often revisit the theme to generate additional images that complement the selected ones. This iterative approach allows for exploration and refinement of the artistic concept.

Moreover, depending on the complexity of the piece and the desired outcome, I may delve deeper into editing the images and even combine multiple renders to create the final composition. This additional layer of refinement ensures that each piece meets the standards of visual coherence and narrative integrity.

I derive the names for the collections from what inspired their creation or the emotion that I want to imbue within our audience. Once the collection name is selected, I research names that have meanings that expand on the collection's vision and also describe the piece itself. I focus on finding words within African culture that are both powerful and meaningful. 

There wasn't an intentional decision to focus on African culture. Neither was it meant to be a political statement. I chose to create black art because I am a black woman. I've lived in a country where black men and women are the majority, so the work reflects my experience. When I began this project, I intended to use the image generator to illustrate a series of science fiction stories inspired by Jamaica. Science fiction is one of my favourite genres, and I wanted to create stories that reminded me of home. 

AI, like any other technology, is a tool that can empower artists. AI image generators will make high-quality art more accessible to people who otherwise could not afford to hire artists. It is similar to what Canva has done in the graphic design space or what platforms like WIX have done in the web design space. There will always be room for artists who create specialised work, and this is where building a brand and community come into play. Introducing these AI image generators also creates new job opportunities for prompt engineers. The rise of social media has created a blurred line between art and content, with many struggling to keep up with the ever-changing algorithms. Artists can use these tools to reproduce their styles and lessen their overall workload. AI has the potential to make producing commercially viable work consistently more sustainable.