asrael’s interview — Revel in AI

Some artists whisper, some scream—asrael haunts.

A uniquely recognizable voice in the AI art world, asrael creates exclusively in square format, composing darkly ethereal visions that feel like fragments of forgotten nightmares. Her world is one of death and demons, dragons and monsters, moons and horses, twisted trees and ruined gothic spires. Drawing from literature, history, and the raw material of her own emotions, her art moves between high fantasy and gothic horror, touching even on the serenity of nature—though never without an undercurrent of mystery or dread.

There’s something deeply poetic in the way she conjures light within darkness. asrael’s compositions are meticulously detailed, balancing the surreal and the sublime: collapsing cathedrals with skull-like façades, skeletal monarchs cloaked in sorrow, hourglass clocks suspended in celestial gloom. Even her dragons are creatures of nightmare, more shadows than scales, towering and spectral.

I have always admired her work. Her style is instantly identifiable, her palette always muted, cold, or monochromatic—reds when there's rage, blue when there's loss, and the rest, cloaked in shadows. There’s a painterly quality too, as if her images had been etched onto stone or carved from ash. It’s fantasy through a gothic lens—moody, mythic, and mournful.

A very private artist who has found her voice through AI, asrael doesn’t just make images. She channels entire realms. And for those who dare step inside them, she leaves behind a lingering echo. It’s an honor to feature her in this interview.

Let’s discover asrael together.

Without getting too personal, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a single woman. I have not studied art or anything else and lead a pleasantly simple and rather boring life. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for a few years and have become very socially withdrawn, but that's ok; I like a quiet, unexcited life.

Could you please tell us which country you live in?

I was born in Austria and have stayed in this small, pleasant country.

What led you to begin working with AI imagery?

That was pure coincidence. I had always been interested in art, but since I am completely talentless in this respect, it never occurred to me to try something artistic myself. I opened a Twitter account out of sheer curiosity. I just wanted to look around, and then I saw all these wonderful works of art, heard about AI, and thought I could give it a try. I was thrilled to have found a way to express my fantasy.

What AI tools do you use?

Only Bing DALL-E.

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by all kinds of things. Horror and fantasy films and books, of course, but also nature and my own mood and whims. It's often just a bird that I see that gives me an idea. But sometimes, it's the AI itself that inspires me and leads me down a certain path.

(One of @revelinai’s favorite images by asrael)

In which other medium, if any, do you practice art?

I tried writing stories a long time ago, but apart from one publication, the result was rather mediocre.

Would you consider AI-generated art true art?

Yes. I think it depends on the picture and not how it was made. AI is just the next step, a normal evolution.

To be honest, in the beginning, I had problems and doubts about calling myself an artist, but that changed over time, and today I say a definite yes. It is a normal development of the tool. AI may make it a lot easier, but it also makes it more demanding. “Normal” artists who don't work with AI don't have to explain to their tool what they want to see in words.

Please share one or a few of your favorite images with us.

Here are a few of my favorite images:

Do you title your AI-generated art? If you do, what inspires you to come up with these titles?

I don't give my images titles. Each viewer should discover for themselves individually what they see in them. With some images, it is clear what you see, while with others, I think a title steers the fantasy in one direction and influences the viewer.

When do you tend to be the most productive, and do you work in long sessions or short bursts?

I prefer to work at night when I am undisturbed by outside influences, but then, unfortunately, I also forget the time, and it becomes longer than planned.

I either have to have a good concrete idea that I want to realize immediately, or I just feel like creating something and let myself drift. Sometimes, it can take all night or just half an hour, of course it also depends on the result.

What type of prompts do you prefer: text or AI-generated descriptions through fed images?

With images, I only use text, but with videos, I prefer an existing image that I can animate.

When prompting with text, do you write simple text-based prompts or complex ones?

I prefer to keep it rather short, but I rarely manage to do that as I'm always adding new ideas as I write.

Do you think text-based prompts should be shared within the AI art community?

I'm somewhat ambivalent about this topic. I often find it exciting how different AIs implement the same input, and you should also help each other if necessary, but I don't think it makes sense if dozens of people produce almost identical images and the individuality and versatility are lost.

What is the most unconventional method you have used to create an image?

I don't know how other artists generate their art. I like to experiment, and I even tried once to enter one of these SERF from Midjourney into DALL E, but of course, it didn't work. Apart from that, working with DALL-E is not always easy; you have to come up with some ideas to achieve your goal, but I love it.

How many images have you generated using AI technology?

It's hard to say, but it must be tens of thousands by now.

Please share your X (Twitter) handle with us.

@WratilSusanne

Tell us a bit about your X handle and X username.

Since I only opened my Twitter account out of curiosity and without a specific purpose, I didn't give it much thought. I didn't even intend to post anything, let alone have followers. The success of some of my images came as a complete surprise to me, and I left it at that.

How many X followers do you currently have?

Just under 7,400

How many X accounts do you currently follow?

About 4,500

How long have you been on X (Twitter)?

Since 2021, but I've only been really active for 2 years.

Is there any other online platform where we can view all of your previous work apart from X?

I recently joined Blue Sky.

In this world of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), are you currently selling your digital art on any platform? If so, which platform are you using?

It seems complicated and I haven't looked into it yet, but if I get interesting offers, yes, why not?

Are you selling tangible AI-generated artwork, such as high-quality prints like Giclée prints?

No.

Could you suggest some AI artists you like that we could follow?

There are so many outstanding artists that I admire, and I don't like to do that because you can never name everyone who would deserve it. But I do have a small selection.

I apologize to everyone I didn't mention here.

Is there anything else you would like to add or share with the AI community?

I would like to thank everyone who follows, supports, and accompanies me on this journey. I would also like to thank the initiator of this wonderful idea, @revelinai.

More fantastic imagery from asrael

Follow her @WratilSusanne

The asrael Interview

A conversation with AI Artist asrael, aka @WratilSusanne on X