This week’s prompt challenge was inspired by the work of Thomas Dambo and his magical giant forest troll sculptures. The person who chose this week’s topic said that one of his sculptures had been vandalized and destroyed by fire in East Texas. Of course, we recently lost our own troll here in Austin. I had no idea this was happening in multiple places. So sad that people want to destroy something that only brings joy. So, in honor of these art installations, our AI art was to be forest troll inspired.
Here are the technical aspects of this submission: Gencraft – Model: 40% Brahma – Pulp Friction; 16% Colourful Anime 2; Style: Realistic
And this is the prompt that resulted in the image I liked: Giant plump 18-ft-tall wooden forest troll gentle giant made of twigs, branches, bark, wood, and scrap items smiling, with hollow dark holes for eyes and sitting cross legged in a clearing with trees as a canopy. Realilstic children and realistic forest creatures leave bright colored little offerings of flowers, pebbles, berries, and twig all around him to show their friendship. The scene is peaceful, poignant, friendly, and happy.
Here is what I wrote about mine when I submitted it: We were very saddened to lose our Pease Park troll named Malin recently. Why do people have to be so evil? He was 18 feet tall and a gentle giant.
And here are some honorable mentions that did not get submitted, but turned out good:
This week’s art challenges have been fun. The discord community has been very welcoming and the ideas for art are non-stop.
The first challenge of the week was in honor of Pride month. I wanted something elegant, but simple. People were doing really over-the-top bright colors and such. I tried really hard to make a cake topper with two brides, but AI could not figure it out.
6/1/26 “Pride Love”
The next challenge was to create a single image using two dominant colors to create contrast, emotion, or meaning. I chose the contrast of red and purple. And I thought she turned out lovely. I got the most votes on this one, so it was my first time to win a challenge! That meant I got to pick the challenge for the next day.
6/2/26 “Red-eye Beauty
I decided to name my challenge “Unexpected Embrace.” The idea was for it to be a hug between two different beings. People were so creative. There were people hugging magical creatures, a Republican embracing a Democrat, people hugging birds, cats, zebras, and a cheetah hugging a zebra. But the winning image (by a landslide) was a boa constrictor hugging a bird very, very tightly. It should have been named “The Hug of Death.” But it was unique.
6/3/26 “Unexpected Embrace”
The next day, I got to participate again. It was a really fun challenge to create the Worst Super Villain ever. It could either be a Super Villain who was terrible at their job or possibly a Super Villain whose powers are silly, pointless, or unimpressive. There were some really funny ones, including a villain who likes to go around and tilt every picture frame so they are slightly crooked, an evil genius who extracts caffeine from coffee, a sock snatcher, a villain who tries to lure children away by offering veggies (spectacular failure), and a really bad sketch artist called Bad Sketch Girl. I went with Spine Breaker and wrote this little blurb with it:
Spine Breaker is the bane of bibliophiles. She has the power to crack hardcovers, dog-ear pages, mis-shelve multiple books at once, and summon mysterious coffee stains. She leaves devastation wherever books are cherished. Though banned from every library in the world, she continues to sneak in and wreak havoc. Her most notorious crimes include refusing to whisper and telling every reader, “You should just watch the movie,” at full conversational volume.
6/4/26 “Spine Breaker”
The next day was all about “Thresholds”, both boundary and beginning, that moment between before and after, what was and what could be. There were many different directions this one could go, but I decided to focus on the mystical realm between awake and dreaming. it is made with dots (pointillism.)
6/5/26 “Dream Threshold”
The next challenge went with the theme of the “Outcast.” I wanted to do something with overweight people shunning a thin person because that would be the opposite of how things often work in our society, but I decided it might offend someone. I tweaked it a little and used the same idea, but with aliens. It was well received.
6/6/26 “Alien Outcast”
The last one of the week required a ton of thought because it was about storytelling. It was titled “Moments Before Disaster” and was meant to show that moment right before everything will go terribly wrong. I worked through many scenarios but settled on campers unaware that they had pitched their tents somewhere very precarious indeed.
6/7/26 “The Giant Wakes”
And here are some of the honorable mentions that I did not submit, but still published on my art website:
Another challenge I am participating in with the community of AI art enthusiasts I joined is a weekly prompt challenge. The resulting art is of course the final goal of the prompt written, but the sharing of the prompt, what tools were used, and what platform the art was made on are also part of the submission. Some AI artists are very close fisted about their prompts because they do not want to share their intellectual property with anyone. This challenge, by nature is inviting others to share in that creative element of trying new prompts and learning from how other artists manage to get their results from AI.
This week’s challenge asked the question, “What does a witch do when she can’t sleep?” I wanted to show a regular person tinkering with a soft, peaceful glow about her. I didn’t want her to be green or ugly or any of the stereotypical things like wearing a witch’s hat or riding a broom. She is just making tinctures and soothing her nervous system with quiet meditation.
Here are the technical aspects of this submission: Gencraft – Model: 40% Olaf’s-AutumnVeil3.0; Style: Polaroid
And this is the prompt that finally resulted in the image I liked: moonlight on a dark night shines in a window onto a cute quirky young woman with hair in a messy bun and glasses wearing pajamas mixing tinctures into small glass jars in a comfy room filled with crystals and herbs, incense, magical items, orbs, old books, shelves of knick knacks and candles, fairy lights around the ceiling and decorative accents that feel magical and inviting
Week of 5/26/26 “Insomniac Witch”
Here are two honorable mentions that did not get submitted, but turned out nice:
I am having a blast generating a creative piece of art at least once a day as part of a new group I was invited to join of AI artists. The community is active, small enough to feel intimate, and wildly creative. The daily art challenge has been one of the first things I do in the morning and are providing a creative, joyful boost to the start of each day.
My first challenge was to generate something that included pyrography (the art of decorating natural materials by burning designs into their surface with a heated tool.) I am trying to do something unique or that contains a slight twist to challenge myself a little extra. I chose leather as the material, which was different from everyone else’s because they all used wood as their materials. And I featured a black cowgirl. I will note that AI has no idea how to render “chaps” and I had to describe what I wanted in detail. Some of the results were hilarious, but here is the final image I chose to submit.
5/26/26 “Cowgirl”
All images generated by Rebekah J. Marshall on Gencraft.
The next challenge was to create an image that shows a subject both directly and as seen through a lens, highlighting the contrast between raw reality and the captured perspective. The lens could be any type of lens: binocular, microscope digital camera, phone, etc. I knew what I wanted to do right away, but it was harder than I thought it would be. The model did not want to make the alien look into the microscope and wanted to put the inserted close up image in odd places. It took a while, but I finally got something I could use.
5/27/26 “The Specimens”
Then we were challenged to create an image with stained glass in it. Any theme, any style. I was determined to try to create something 3-D and moving. My first ideas were not looking good, but when I decided to try to start working with a flying bird, I was hooked. Each one got more and more beautiful and then I became determined to get the lighting right. The result was gorgeous.
5/28/26 “Flying Glass”
The next day we were challenged to create a version of a property space for Monopoly and include token pieces, houses, hotels, etc. And don’t forget to collect $200. I did not have much luck with creating only one property, so went with the entire game and made it for cats. I honestly kind of gave up on this one because I couldn’t get it to do what I wanted and didn’t have the time to commit to work with the model. It still turned out cute.
5/29/26 “Catopoly”
In honor of National Mint Julep Day, the next challenge was to create a cocktail (favorite, funny, magical, poison, etc.) I am sober and have not had a drink in almost 15 years, so I wanted to do something that would depict a cocktail as gross. The grossest thing I could think of were those Garbage Pail Kids cards that were popular when I was younger.
5/30/26 “Toxic Waste Punch”
And the last challenge of the week was to show something growing from a body, like flowers, vines, crystals, tree branches, light, wings, etc. I knew immediately what I wanted to do. It was really hard. Nothing looked right and I got frustrated with AI being stubborn, but we finally compromised and got something close to what I wanted.
5/31/26 “Growing Stars”
I am definitely going to keep doing these challenges because I’m having fun and enjoying using my creativity at the start of each day.
Here are some of the honorable mentions that did not get submitted, but turned out as pretty cool images:
All images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.
I am reading Hafiz’s Little Book of Life, poetry by Hafiz-e Shirazi. He is challenging me to become more comfortable with ambiguity. I will share his poem and some of my thoughts on his poem (sometimes with the help of experts when the concepts are too hard for me), followed by a poem and some art inspired by his poem.
Hafiz’s Poem 41:
The sanctuary of the heart is no place For the company of antagonists
Where a demon departs An angel arrives
Some thoughts:
This one is lovely. The imagery is that of simply letting go of negativity to make space for the beauty and love that will naturally flow into the vacuum created. We don’t have to do anything special to fill ourselves with goodness. We simply must make room. Remove bitterness and compassion can enter. Release antagonistic thoughts and peace has a place. Let go of prideful arrogance and humility will naturally make a home inside us. Release fear and love can breathe easily. There is no demon to fight, no dragon to slay, no war to be waged. They are simply not invited in, like vampires whose welcome has been rescinded. We would not walk into a sacred temple and spit on the floor. Our hearts deserve as much respect.
What are we allowing to dwell in our inner sanctuaries? Is it time for some hangers-on to be evicted? Our heart is not supposed to house every wound, fear, resentment, and lie we have ever been told. When harm finally leaves, healing can walk in quietly and take up occupancy. Instead of having to vanquish foes, we must merely open a window and allow pain to exit so holiness can enter. Time to do some inner house cleaning.
My Poem 41:
Sweep out the house. Dirt belongs outside, not in our hearts. Throw back the curtains and open the windows.
The stale air must exit, so a fresh breeze, sweet with spring scents, can fill our space. Then healing can begin.
Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.
All the rest of these images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.
Thinking is the beginning and end of suffering. So says Joseph Nguyen in his book Don’t Believe Everything You Think. His basic philosophy is that we will be happier and more content if we spend more time in the flow state of experience rather than thinking or ruminating endlessly. Accepting reality as it is without judgment and layering of meaning via our perception of reality does not create as many negative feelings that derail us.
Christine Evangelou said, “A crowded mind leaves no space for a peaceful heart.” And Dostoyevsky said something about thinking too much being a disease. I think that is true. Not being able to turn off the mind, enter peace, creativity, flow, and just rest sounds terrible to me. Nguyen’s little book offers practical advice about how to quiet the thinking, stop judging ourselves and others so much, follow our intuition more, and develop unconditional love. He teaches the PAUSE method, which is a mnemonic for Pause with deep breathing, Ask yourself if your thinking is making you feel the way you way, Understand that you have the choice to let go, Say that thinking is the root of suffering, and Experience emotions fully without judgment.
And the back of the book is full of resources, journaling ideas, inner and outer work, practice suggestions, intentions, and reflections. I found the short chapters easy to read, helpful, and very beneficial to my peace of mind.
Nguyen, Joseph. Don’t Believe Everything You Think, Authors Equity, 2024.
All images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.
I am reading Hafiz’s Little Book of Life, poetry by Hafiz-e Shirazi. He is challenging me to become more comfortable with ambiguity. I will share his poem and some of my thoughts on his poem (sometimes with the help of experts when the concepts are too hard for me), followed by a poem and some art inspired by his poem.
Hafiz’s Poem 39:
Peace in both realms Depends on your interpretation Of these two utterances
“Be merciful with friends”
“Be tolerant of foes”
Some thoughts:
I’m not sure what two realms Hafiz is conceptualizing in this poem. There are so many options including: private life v. public life; religious life v. secular life; inner existence v. outer existence; human/earthly realm v. spiritual/divine realm; etc. I am going to keep it simple and consider the two realms “those who think like us” v. “those who do not think like us” as a simple way of saying “friend” or “foe.” That could apply to a number of different realms and is certainly relevant in current society where so much seems to balance on scales of dichotomy. Liberal v. Conservative; Rich v. Poor; Science v. Religion; Nature v. Progress; etc. We tend to be painted into black and white corners in nearly every conversation we enter.
I think Hafiz is suggesting that true peace depends on the way we perceive the gray areas that are not so easy to navigate. Can we be friends with someone who fails us? Those we love often hurt us the most because we care about their opinions and count on them. Can we be soft and loving to maintain relationships with those closest to us, even during the tough times? They are only human. And with our foes, can we allow for complexity and seek to understand without dehumanizing, othering, and judging too harshly? They are only human.
We will never have peace if we demand our way is the only way and there can be no other. Yes, we should have ideals, but then we must be merciful, tolerant, and gentle in our application of those principles as regards others. Can we hold compassion for those close to us and restraint toward those who oppose us? Will our differences and our interactions expand our hearts or harden them? The way we interpret these concepts holds the key to lasting peace.
My Poem 40:
Loving another means accepting that they are human, with all that entails, including: lateness, forgetfulness, distraction, fear, ailments, impatience, frustration, weakness, faults, arguments, disappointment, and the list could go on…
The other we love may be friend or foe. Both are in the same category of human, with all that entails, including: beating heart, breathing lungs, thoughts, opinions, feet to walk away, mouths that open, hands that ball up into fists and clasp in prayer, and the list could go on…
Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.
All the rest of these images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.
Ava Caldwell’s debut novel The Birds Don’t Care If You’re Pretty is a story of community, friendship, tragedy, and redemption. The fact that the main characters are members of a magical coven in an idyllic setting cranks up the friction and suspense quite a few notches. Teen bullying, romantic rivalries, and risk taking all become tinged with the potential for life and death consequences when dangerous magic is involved.
How far will the characters go to be included, to get their way, to feel love, or to get revenge? Who can be trusted? How does one cope if their magic is taken away from them? And what happens when the reality becomes clear that no one is coming to save them from fate? This story has surprising twists, satisfying character development, and could totally be a movie or tv series. It is a standalone novel, but I would love to read follow up stories or books about the characters because I came to admire some of them and only felt like I was beginning to know their real selves by the end of the book.
I look forward to more from this author if this is only the beginning of her novel-writing career. I’m ready for more!
Caldwell, Ava. The Birds Don’t Care If You’re Pretty, 2024.
All the rest of these images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.
Blue Mind by Wallace Nichols soothed my soul. I’ve always known water is healing, transformative, magical…but learning some of the science behind those less concrete concepts was extremely affirming. Water is a great equalizer. Some people who are not as mobile as others are buoyed up, gravity no longer a concern. Others who are not comfortable with the vastness of open space can feel protected and enveloped by the extra pressure of water’s embrace. Anxiety and stress can be washed away. Addictions and obsessions can be rinsed off and replaced with water’s allure. And all of us benefit from even a glimpse of an image or painting of water, whether pond, lake, ocean waves, or waterfall.
I’ve always loved the sound of rain and waves. I think most humans’ nervous systems are calmed by those sounds, possibly because they mimic the earliest sounds we heard in our mothers’ wombs. This book delves into nearly any topic you can think of related to our love of water, from surfing, scuba diving, boating, fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing, swimming, and beyond. And even more fascinating, our brains on water can now be studied with advances in technology like fMRI machines. They are learning that spending time in, on, around, or near water enhances our focus, perception, creativity, memory, cognition, connection to others and nature, empathy, health, and mood.
The main thing this book confirmed for me is that I need to take more vacations to the beach, swim in the pool more often, and watch it rain every chance I get. And I probably need to drink more water, too. And science says so!
Nichols, Wallace J. Blue Mind, Little Brown and Company, 2014.
Oh my goodness, this book was hard for me to slog through. I’m not exactly sure what was so challenging for me, but I was unable to keep focused for more than a few pages at a time. A Happy Pocket Full of Money by David Cameron Gikandi was chosen as a book club pick for a women’s trading group I’m a part of for Day Trading. I try to play along but this one did not do it for me.
Perhaps I have read too many “Think Yourself Rich” books and have grown weary of the sound bites and platitudes. There must be something to said concepts for so many wealthy people to espouse them. I’m not saying they are false, but perhaps the constant koan-like paradoxes have exhausted me. I don’t know. My brain could not jump from one metaphor to another quote to a different story across a leap of faith required to accept the link between quantum physics and wealth generation. It is probably a failing or weakness on my part, but the threads were too loosely connected for me to follow.
My favorite chapter was the last one, and no, not because it was bringing the ordeal to a close. It was truly the chapter that made the clearest argument that my brain could comprehend. It focuses on money as symbol, only worth the value ascribed by those using it in trade. There is advice about taxes, offshore accounts, investing, energy transfer, ethics, etc., but no practical advice about how to make ends meet when living paycheck to paycheck. It remains a theoretical argument only the rich can claim as proof of success, while pointing to the poor as proof of failure. At some point, those doing all they can to better themselves grow weary of being told if only they believe harder, invest smarter, and intuit better, they too can become rich.
Gikandi, David Cameron. A Happy Pocket Full of Money, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., 2008.
The following was repeated no less than 500 times in the book: “I am wealth. I am abundance. I am joy.” I decided to use those words with AI to see what kind of images would emerge. These are the result:
These images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.
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