OtterFlyer's interview

OtterFlyer, known as @otter805 on X, is a versatile and multi-faceted artist. I first became aware of his fantastic work through the numerous engaging and creative challenges he regularly presents to the AI community on X. OtterFlyer continually pushes boundaries, exploring various real-life artistic styles and embracing a wide range of AI tools to achieve stunning results. He is truly a master AI-explorer, and I am honored and grateful to have him join us for this interview.

Let’s discover him together.

Cosmic Brilliance

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

My early career passion was aviation engineering, and eventually, I had a brief career as a transport pilot. However, I have always had a huge interest in computers and photography. Now fully retired I chose to pursue the creative side.

Could you please tell us which country you live in?:

I was born in Canada but now live in Southern California, where I have resided for approximately 20 years.

What led you to begin working with AI imagery?:

I have always had a passion for photography, and it was another friend photographer who caught me on to the potential via mid-journey about two years ago.

What AI tools do you use?:

Night Cafe Studio was my first AI tool. However, I have mostly migrated to using several different ones depending on the application. I have no real favorite at the moment.

What inspires you?:

It may sound corny but the X AI Art community in general. There are so many cool creators with original ideas. Also the positivity and encouragement are truly amazing. It actually gives hope for the human race when there is not a lot of positive about it.

The Swimmer

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

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

Photography definitely. I have a very large collection of original photos going back to the 1970s.

Would you consider AI-generated art true art?:

It's a tough question because I see the arguments for and against having legitimate points. The only thing I can say for sure is that artists have been copying artists for years. What is the difference between picking up a brush and using a human-created AI to make the artwork?

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

I’ll share one. Here is my favorite creation because it reminds me of my wife.

OtterFlyer’s favorite image

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

Yes, I like too. I try to use a short title based on what I was thinking at the time.

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

Long sessions are preferable, but sometimes short bursts are productive too.

One of OtterFlyer’s Favorite portrait of the week

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

Text, but I would not be averse to using the latter.

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

I start with short and expand to complex, often using chat GPT or Copilot to get a more detailed prompt for the AI. It is always interesting to see the different results of different AI tools.

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

Yes. I do not see a reason to hide them, and I always encourage my followers to take mine and develop them further if it means producing a better artistic result. If I use one of some others, I always give them credit with “inspired by @”.

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

I use a phrase starting with “describe in two sentences…” in an AI chat tool to start and then so on until I get the right description of the idea. If someone posts a Midjourney prompt I like, I just run it through the chat tool. Often that produces the correct result.

How many images you have generated using AI technology?:

Well over 10,000 at this point, but I would say about 80% does not meet my standards (or anyone else's for that matter) as good art.

Matador

Please share your X (Twitter) handle with us.:

@otter805

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

The de Havilland Otter is the type of aircraft I flew during my pilot career. 805 is ATC call sign and, coincidently, the area code of my phone number.

How many X followers do you currently have?:

Approaching 4,500.

How many X accounts do you currently follow?:

Approximately the same number.

How long have you been on X (Twitter)?:

Since 2009

Color Pencil Sketch - Close-up Portrait

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

Best place would be my web site.

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?:

Not currently, and no plans.

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

If someone asks for a print, I upload it to my Fine Art America store here.

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

I have managed to fine-tune my "following" list to mostly accounts interested in AI art creation. There are about 150 of those that I engage with regularly on my "Art Style" challenges.

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

Only that this community does have some important momentum going forward, and that we need to grow by encouragement and a positive attitude.