Oct. 22, 2024
Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Derek Redican, an Irish artist and designer, has spent decades exploring various styles and techniques, from oil painting to AI-generated imagery. Born in Dublin in 1962, Redican's creative journey spans traditional mediums like oil and watercolor, right through to his more recent exploration of generative art using Midjourney. Having worked in the creative industry across Ireland, the UK, Germany, and the Middle East, Derek brings a broad perspective to his art, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge AI technology.
Redican first discovered Midjourney in late 2022, and it instantly captivated him. "I noticed a contact of mine on LinkedIn posting artistic imagery that he said he produced using AI. I was instantly reminded of other images I'd seen on various websites and remembered thinking, 'Wow... I can never compete with these. How on earth are they being done?' That contact wasn't someone I was close to, but I kept following his posts and eventually found out he was using Midjourney. I checked it out, and after playing around with it for a short while, I knew I'd stumbled across something that was an absolute game-changer."
Today, Derek describes himself as an "AI Explorer," creating conceptual imagery that often blends both AI and manual art techniques. He considers AI a game-changing tool for artists, one that not only increases productivity but also removes the intimidating "blank canvas" barrier. His work reflects a fascination with the human condition, using Midjourney to explore themes that are both visually and intellectually engaging.
In this interview, Derek shares his journey with Midjourney, his approach to prompt crafting, and his insights into the evolving role of artists in the age of AI.
Derek Redican: "In late 2022, around September, I noticed a contact of mine on LinkedIn posting artistic imagery that he said he produced using AI. I was instantly reminded of other images I'd seen on various websites and remembered thinking, 'Wow... I can never compete with these. How on earth are they being done?' This contact was not someone I was close to but I kept following his posts and reading the comments until he was asked by someone closer to him to reveal which software he was using – which he replied, was Midjourney. So I searched for Midjourney, checked it out, and after playing around with it for a short while, I knew I'd stumbled across something that was an absolute game-changer. Something that would turn my industry on its head.
I dove straight into a yearly subscription and began churning out images by the hundreds. By September 2023 a year later, I had generated over 25,000 images. Right now in September 2024 that figure is at 50,000 generations. So the yearly average is 25k, meaning I usually generate at least 68 AI images daily."
“I knew I'd stumbled across something that was an absolute game-changer. Something that would turn my industry on its head.”
Derek Redican: "I've always been a big fan of the traditional. The Dutch masters—Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Hieronymus Bosch. The Italians—Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Botticelli. In more recent eras, it would be Picasso, Hockney, and Gottfried Helnwein. Albrecht Dürer is a particular hero of mine and probably the one I've invested the most in, in terms of books and prints.
More than any other artists, it should be possible to see the influences of both Helnwein and Dürer in a lot of my AI work. And maybe sometimes, Bosch."
Derek Redican: "I feel that Midjourney has made me a far better artist.
It gives me time. Time to explore. Time to make as many mistakes as is necessary. Time to revise, amend, vary, discard, redo, recompose, blend, experiment and finally get to the solution that fulfills my goal. All without wasting expensive paints, canvases or materials. And... most importantly, without wasting time.
You can then use your final Midjourney image as it is – a digital image file. Or you can print it or transfer it to a canvas and paint it. You can make your Midjourney image anything you want it to be. Turn it into a sculpture, an idea for a theatre show, a ballet or even a movie. The possibilities are endless."
“Midjourney allows me to experiment freely... and most importantly, without wasting time.”
Derek Redican: "Unlike many Midjourney users, I don't have a set, rigid process or approach to prompt crafting. For me, that would take the fun out of it. I prefer a loose artistic approach like an abstract painter looking at a blank canvas. Start by making a few splashes and see where those splashes take you. If you are, by your very nature or experience, an artist, then your Midjourney work will be artistic. If by your nature, you are more of a technician, then that is how your Midjourney work will look in my opinion. Midjourney reflects the person who is using it."
“Midjourney reflects the person who is using it.”
Derek Redican: "There are still many things that Midjourney cannot do. V6.1 seemed great when it was released but it still hasn't solved many of the issues that existed before it. Hands, secondary faces and details can still be a problem. Cropping is still limited. Upscaling is still weak. Typography is hit-and-miss at best.
I get around most issues by bringing the images into KREA and Photoshop and using their corrective AI tools to re-generate selected problem areas combined with whatever retouching I think will elevate the work."
Derek Redican: "I'm not sure that I have a unique artistic style. I'm more concerned with the concept and I will express a concept using whichever style I feel will suit it best. I guess this is the Art Director in me which governs my approach. It's really up to others to decide if they can discern a consistent style in my work or not."
Derek Redican: "My advice to Midjourney beginners is to just be yourself. Don't be blinded by all the jargon and code-speak. By all means, be inspired by the work of others but try to put your own stamp on everything you do. You'll eventually produce your own work your own way."