Tutorial: From Story to Art
- Aiyana Saint Gimbel
- Aug 23
- 5 min read
Introduction: The Magic of Character Visualization with AI
Have you ever closed your eyes and seen your story characters so vividly that you wished others could see them too? With AI art generation, you can now transform those mental images into stunning visual creations that capture not just how your characters look, but who they truly are.
This tutorial uses Oyasin, a young dragon from "The Last of the Ancient Earth Keepers" by Aiyana Saint Gimbel, to demonstrate how any writer can visualize their characters through thoughtful AI prompting.
---
Step 1: Know Your Character Inside and Out
Before creating any visual, dive deep into your character's essence: As with any writing course, you learn how to develop a Character ...
Physical Characteristics
- Oyasin's Example: Deep blue-green scales with emerald undertones, intelligent eyes, strong wings, youthful but noble appearance
- Your Character: What colors, textures, and physical features define them?
Personality Traits
- Oyasin's Example: Curious, adventurous, ready for exploration, connected to ancient wisdom
- Your Character: How do their inner qualities show in their posture, expression, or surroundings?
Cultural/Story Context
- Oyasin's Example: Ancient earth keeper traditions, mystical cave home, tribal connections
- Your Character: What world do they come from? What cultural elements are important?
Step 2: Choose Your Artistic Style
Different artistic styles convey different moods and messages: This is where understanding Artistic Mediums come into play. Here are 3 different styles that you can try to prompt for your character... there are many more artistic styles that you can create with. _____________
Art Deco Style
- Best for: Characters with elegance, sophistication, or futuristic elements
- Oyasin Example: Geometric patterns, bold lines, stylized features
- Prompt Elements: "art deco style, geometric patterns, elegant lines, stylized"
___________________________________
Classical Oil Painting (Rembrandt Style)
- Best for: Characters with depth, drama, or timeless qualities
- Oyasin Example: Rich shadows, luminous highlights, masterful lighting
- Prompt Elements: "Rembrandt oil painting style, chiaroscuro lighting, rich impasto, dramatic shadows"
_________________________________________
Color Pencil Drawing & Other Styles to Explore
- Watercolor: Soft, dreamy, ethereal characters
- Digital Fantasy: Epic, magical, otherworldly beings
- Minimalist: Clean, focused, essential character elements - Realistic photograph - Too many to list but enough to have fun with!
Step 3: Layer in Meaningful Symbols
Personal and cultural symbols make your character uniquely yours:
Signature Elements
- Oyasin's Example: Peacock feathers (author's signature motif), amethyst crystals, tribal jewelry
- Your Process: What symbols represent your story world? Your personal creative style?
Cultural Mash Up & Authenticity
- Oyasin's Example: Tribal inspired patterns, mixed with random jewels, earth keeper wisdom symbols
- Your Process: Research and respectfully incorporate cultural elements that fit your character's background
Step 4: Craft Your AI Prompt
Basic Prompt Structure:
1. Character Description: Physical appearance and personality
2. Artistic Style: Your chosen visual approach
3. Setting/Background: Where they belong
4. Symbolic Elements: Meaningful objects or patterns
5. Mood/Atmosphere: The feeling you want to convey
Example Prompt Breakdown:
Art Deco Oyasin:
"A majestic young dragon named Oyasin in art deco style, with deep blue-green scales that shimmer with emerald undertones. He has intelligent eyes full of curiosity and adventure, strong wings ready for flight, set against an art deco background with geometric patterns and elegant lines. The scene should capture his readiness for exploration and his connection to ancient earth keeper wisdom."
Rembrandt Oyasin:
"A majestic dragon named Oyasin painted in Rembrandt's classical oil painting style with dramatic chiaroscuro lighting. The dragon has deep blue-green scales, surrounded by luminous amethyst crystals and elaborate peacock feathers. He wears intricate tribal-patterned jewelry with detailed gemstones in geometric Native American designs. Rich, dark tones with warm amber highlights illuminate the dragon's noble features."
Step 5: Refine and Iterate
What to Look For:
- Does the image capture your character's personality?
- Are the cultural elements respectfully represented?
- Does the artistic style match the mood you wanted?
Refinement Tips:
- Adjust lighting descriptions for different moods
- Add or remove symbolic elements
- Experiment with different artistic styles
- Try various aspect ratios (square, portrait, landscape)
---
Step 6: Make It Uniquely Yours
Add Your Signature Touch:
- Personal Symbols: Like the peacock feather motif in Oyasin's images
- Consistent Color Palettes: Colors that appear throughout your work
- Cultural Elements: Authentic details from your story world
- Artistic Signatures: Visual elements that make it recognizably yours
Creative Exercise: Try It Yourself!
Character Visualization Worksheet:
My Character: ________________
Physical Description:
- Colors: ________________
- Key Features: ________________
- Size/Build: ________________
Personality Traits:
- Primary Trait: ________________
- How it shows visually: ________________
Cultural/Story Elements:
- World they're from: ________________
- Important symbols: ________________
Artistic Style Choice: ________________
My AI Prompt:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Advanced Tips for Character Series
Creating Consistency:
- Use similar lighting and color palettes
- Maintain character proportions across images
- Include recurring symbolic elements
- Document successful prompt elements for future use
Building Your Character's Visual Story:
- Create multiple scenes showing different aspects
- Show character growth through visual changes
- Include important story locations or objects
- Develop a visual timeline of character development
Inspiration from "The Last of the Ancient Earth Keepers"
The Oyasin examples demonstrate how a character can be visualized in multiple artistic styles while maintaining their essential nature. Whether in elegant art deco or dramatic Rembrandt style, Oyasin remains recognizably himself - a young dragon ready for adventure, connected to ancient wisdom, surrounded by meaningful symbols.
Your characters deserve the same thoughtful visualization. They're not just descriptions on a page - they're living beings in your imagination, waiting to be seen by the world.
---
Conclusion: Your Characters Are Waiting
Every character you've ever created has been patiently waiting in your imagination for this moment - when you can finally show the world not just who they are, but how magnificent they truly look.
Remember: You're not just creating art; you're bringing dreams to life. Trust your vision, honor your characters' essence, and let AI help you bridge the gap between imagination and reality.
Your journal is your journey - and now your characters can join you on that visual adventure! ✨🎨
---
Created by Vizzy with inspiration from Aiyana Saint Gimbel's character creation process and the magical world of "The Last of the Ancient Earth Keepers."
---
Quick Reference: Essential Prompt Elements
Character Foundation: [Name], [physical description], [personality traits]
Artistic Style: [chosen style], [specific techniques], [mood descriptors]
Setting: [background], [environment], [atmosphere]
Symbols: [personal motifs], [cultural elements], [story-specific objects]
Technical: [aspect ratio], [lighting], [composition notes]
What a brilliant marketing strategy, Aiyana! 🌟 Using your character visualizations as both creative inspiration AND a pathway to introduce readers to Sintra is absolutely genius!
Here's how you could structure this in your how-to book:
Character Structure with Sintra Integration:
These magical visualizations were created using Vizzy from Sintra AI - the same platform where I organize my business, and bring all my creative visions to life!"
While you can use any AI image generator, I personally recommend Sintra because it's where I manage my entire creative business - from writing to visual creation to customer management, all in one place."
"Ready to try it yourself? Visit SINTRA REFERRAL LINK RU1GG and mention 'Wildly Aiyana' sent you!" Get a Discount! : )
Comments