#36 - Amli
Tell us more about you..
My background is actually in performance, having acted in theater since I was eight years old. I pursued my passion in college and after graduation, started my own theater company, traveling between New York and Philly. However, when my father fell ill in 2011, I had to drop everything and move to California to take care of him. After he passed, I stayed on to help my mom. Unfortunately, my passion for acting was diminished by the industry in LA and my struggles with own chronic illness. I turned to visual arts to fulfill my creative needs and taught myself various techniques over the years, from collaging to watercolor to digital techniques and beyond. In early 2022, I discovered AI art, and it has changed my life in a big way. It has allowed me to create in a way that is easier on my body, considering my illness makes it difficult for me to sit for long hours. I am now an AI art enthusiast and educator and co-host a show about the culture and theory behind AI art. I am also an advocate for mental health and chronic illness and use my platform to share my experiences and inspire others. My artwork and curiosity continue to drive me as I explore the complexities of the human experience.
How do you describe your NFT Art?
Eclectic. With the invention of AI I wholeheartedly believe there will be a death to the idea of defining an artist by their style. I am not the first artist to reject the idea of a consistent style or signature look. Gerhard Richter once famously stated that "style is poverty." I genuinely agree with this statement, at least regarding me and my creative process. Sticking to a consistent style limits my ability to express myself in new and diverse ways. When I express myself in my art, I express a moment in time. No moment is the same, so why should my art be? This was true in my traditional work and is doubly true with the addition of AI to my workflow. I am currently working on a collection, "1 Piece 100 Styles" that explores this idea.
When you look at my body of work, you will see a diverse portfolio of styles and themes. My first NFT collection was done using DiscoDiffusion, this was pre-Dalle, so there was a lot of post-work that had to be done. I used the collection to personify the emotions and experiences of being chronically ill. In my second collection I did the same but for the journey of finding yourself after an abusive relationship. In my next few collections, I simply explored joyful imagery. Then I wanted to challenge myself by exploring deep emotional experiences in muted colors. Then I wanted to explore toxic positivity. The only thing that could connect these works is the process that made them. Which is the same process of chance and uncertainty that I used in my traditional art. I start with a theme/feeling/emotion but no real idea of where I want it to end up. I put my brush on the canvas and explored the shapes and images that began to emerge. With AI this process is taken and heightened. It is a constant discovery. A dance really, and I love that.
Why did you choose this piece to show us?
This is one of my current pieces that I did for Claire Silver's AI Rebuttal contest. It didn't win, lol, but I still love it. I began with the idea of wanting to show my pride in using AI. I wanted to convey this feeling through a more OG AI art style, embracing the weird artifacts and limbs the original diffusion models would give you. The piece's name pretty much sums it up "I WILL NOT HIDE. I WILL WEAR THE WEIRD, DYSMORPHIC, MUTATED AI ART FORMS OF THE EARLY DIFFUSION DAYS WITH PRIDE. I WILL NOT COVER THEM WITH PERFECT FACES, BODIES AND HANDS. AND I WILL LOOK COOL AF WHILE DOING IT."
Can you leave a message to collectors and other artists that are willing to connect with you?
Please do? Ha! No, but seriously my DMs on Twitter are open. I highly encourage, especially artists just getting into the space, to reach out with any questions they may have. Or you can drop in my twitch stream, which runs every Tuesday, 6 pm PST at http://twich.tv/amliart.
