Australian Illustrator combines AI and Adobe with traditional techniques for stunning results.

Stuart Flynn from Sunshine Design is an Australian Illustrator who is an early adopter of combining Midjourney AI, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and traditional illustration to achieve any style with customised text and detail. Using conventional and AI-assisted design, Stuart creates a captivating and unique commercial design aesthetic that stands out from the crowd. With a focus on prompt engineering and sketching for ideas, he adds detail, colour, and texture with Adobe software. Stuart creates not only aesthetically pleasing but also on-brief and customisable illustrations. By combining AI technology with Adobe programs, he can create pictures and graphics that are unlike anything else available on the market.

The Benefits of Combining AI and Adobe

One of the key benefits of using AI in the illustration process is the speed at which the designs can be created. The AI platforms like Midjourney and Dalle-2 allow the artist to easily create intricate and complex designs. While programs like Illustrator and Photoshop provide the tools necessary to add detail, colour, text, fonts and additional texture to designs. This results in a more efficient and productive workflow, allowing Stuart to create more art in less time.

Another benefit of using AI in the illustration and design process is the ability to create designs that would be difficult or impossible to make by hand. AI algorithms can generate intricate and complex designs that are impossible to create with traditional illustration methods without spending hours on sketches and ideas. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for him to push the boundaries of what is possible in art. Briefing becomes more straightforward, as early ideas are relatively easy to get through before entering into intricate detail phases of the project. 

The sky is the limit in this new mixed-media illustration process

The illustration begins with sketching ideas and concepts, text prompts, photography references or a combination. AI technology, such as Midjourney, generates complex ideas that form the foundation of client ideas or flesh out the original client references supplied. Once the AI algorithms have developed the design concepts, Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator is used to refine, upscale, and add detail to any chosen image. This mixed media process may include adding colour, texture, and shading to the design and making necessary adjustments to the overall composition.

Stuart also uses Photoshop to add his own personal touch to the illustration. This may include upsizing, extending backgrounds, and adding hand-drawn elements, such as intricate details or unique textures, to the design. The final result is a stunning and one-of-a-kind illustration that perfectly combines his traditional illustration skills, computer tools of the trade and the latest cutting-edge AI technology.

Stuart is based on the Sunshine Coast, one hour north of Brisbane, Australia. Contact him today for a free consult about your next design or illustration project.