#620 Dramaturgy
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Ever wondered how to create characters that could step out of a 1920s avant-garde theater... or a future Tokyo stage? Three stunning styles, endless possibilities 🎪🌟
Hey there 👋
Today, we're diving into a series of prompts that blend historical art movements with character design in a way that's absolutely electrifying. I've been experimenting with these dramatic, persona-based compositions that merge different artistic epochs – from Constructivism to Cyberpunk – and the results have been consistently striking.
The art of theatrical character design has always walked a beautiful line between the realistic and the sublime. Like how stage makeup transforms under theatrical lights, these AI-generated figures take on a larger-than-life quality that speaks to both historical art movements and contemporary digital aesthetics.
The Prompts
Here's how to create these dramatic personas …
NB: Midjourney Settings - V6.1 and Stylize: Med
Constructivist Performer:
A surreal figure with a bold, avant-garde style, dressed in a high-contrast red and white outfit. The figure has an intense expression with chalk-white skin and constructivist-inspired makeup, evoking a modernist ballet performer. The background is a vivid red filled with interlocking circles, triangles, and linear patterns, creating a hypnotic, constructivist atmosphere. The figure wears long gloves, one white and one red, and is surrounded by an intricate geometric collar made of floating Bauhaus-inspired shapes, enhancing the dramatic effect. Lighting is sharp, casting stark shadows, and the overall style is inspired by Bauhaus stage costumes and Russian constructivism.
Art Deco Pierrot:
A surreal figure with a bold, avant-garde style, dressed in a high-contrast gold and deep purple outfit. The figure has an intense expression with porcelain-white skin and metallic gold makeup, evoking a modernist pierrot. The background is a rich purple filled with art deco sunbursts and zigzag patterns, creating a hypnotic, gatsby-esque atmosphere. The figure wears long gloves, one gold and one purple, and is surrounded by an intricate fan-like collar made of geometric art deco motifs, enhancing the dramatic effect. Lighting is sharp, with golden spotlights, casting stark shadows, and the overall style is inspired by art deco and symbolist art.
Cyber Kabuki:
A surreal figure with a bold, avant-garde style, dressed in a high-contrast neon blue and chrome outfit. The figure has an intense expression with metallic skin and circuitry-patterned makeup, evoking a technological kabuki performer. The background is a vibrant electric blue filled with flowing digital code and hexagonal patterns, creating a hypnotic, cyberpunk atmosphere. The figure wears long gloves, one chrome and one blue, and is surrounded by an intricate holographic collar made of fractal patterns, enhancing the dramatic effect. Lighting is sharp with LED undertones, casting stark shadows, and the overall style is inspired by ghost in the shell and abstract techno-surrealism.
Here’s the ChatGPT interpretation of this Cyber Kabuki prompt …
Prompt Breakdown
Let's break down the common style elements that make these work:
"A surreal figure with a bold, avant-garde style"
Sets the overall tone for dramatic, artistic interpretation
Signals to the AI that we're not aiming for photorealism
Creates consistency across different style variations
"intense expression with [texture] skin and [style]-inspired makeup"
Connects character design to the specific art movement
Creates distinctive facial features that match the period
Maintains theatrical quality across variations
"background is [color] filled with [pattern] patterns"
Ensures figure doesn't get lost in complex backgrounds
Creates period-appropriate environmental context
Maintains visual interest without overwhelming the figure
"intricate [style] collar made of [elements]"
Acts as a focal point connecting figure to background
Creates visual flow between costume and environment
Adds dramatic flair while maintaining style consistency
Tweaks to Try
For the Constructivist version:
Experiment with different geometric primitives in the background
Try inverting the red/white color scheme
Add "inspired by El Lissitzky" for more angular results
For the Art Deco version:
Replace purple with emerald or sapphire blue
Add "in the style of Erté" for more elaborate costume details
Experiment with different metallic colors beyond gold
For the Cyber Kabuki version:
Try "synthwave color palette" for different tech aesthetics
Add "influenced by Hajime Sorayama" for more metallic results
Experiment with different pattern types in the circuitry
General Tips:
The "sharp lighting" and "stark shadows" are crucial for the dramatic effect
Maintaining the contrasting glove colors helps create visual balance
Using specific art movement references helps maintain style consistency
What Next?
Tomorrow we are focusing on some dreamy watercolour cities. Until then, keep pushing the boundaries of your character designs!
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