Create Stunning Japanese Ukiyo-e Art Prints Using AI Text To Image
If you’ve ever wanted to create gorgeous artwork inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e art, now you can — all thanks to AI text-to-image generators.
Artificial intelligence (AI) text-to-image technology makes it easier than ever before to take your written words and turn them into masterful works of art.
This means that today you can witness the beauty of a traditional woodblock print in mere seconds and have it framed and hanging on your wall in no time!
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What Is AI Text To Image?
The basic principle of AI text-to-image technology is simple: you input words and phrases, and the AI produces visuals that “make sense” according to whatever description you gave it to work with.
This can be incredibly useful for anyone who needs to quickly whip up visuals for blogs or social media posts without having to spend hours creating them from scratch.
It’s also great for those of us who love to create our own home decor wall art!
What Is Japanese Ukiyo-e Art?
Japanese Ukiyo-e art is a type of wooden block printing that began in the 17th century and is famed for its vivid colours, and beautiful scenes of nature.
The literal translation of Ukiyo-e means “Pictures from the Floating World” in Japanese. The “Floating World” often refers to the physical world – like nobility or Samurais – as well as cultural aspects such as entertainment.
Even today these Japanese art prints are still popular and are mass-produced around the world. You may not know it but I bet you’ve seen or bought them on products.
Can AI Create Art In The Style of Japanese Ukiyo-e Artists?
The short answer is yes! It’s fascinating to see how AI can mimic this ancient talent and emulate the skillful masterpieces crafted by master artisans from Japan’s distant past.
AI art may not be 100% perfect just yet, but you can still create impressive results and some truly stunning Japanese Ukiyo-e art.
Most Famous Japanese Ukiyo-e Artists
In order to get the AI text-to-image generator to create art in the style of a particular artist you need to use their name in your text prompt.
So here is a list of 10 of the most famous Japanese Ukiyo-e artists.
- Katsushika Hokusai
- Kitagawa Utamaro
- Hishikawa Moronobu
- Utagawa Hiroshige
- Utagawa Kunisada
- Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
- Utagawa Kuniyoshi
- Toshusai Sharaku
- Torii Kiyonaga
- Suzuki Harunobu
Canva AI Text To Image Generator
Canva.com has a text-to-image generator app that is easy to use and is perfect for beginners. So, I’m going to use it in this brief tutorial.
However, in order to create a beautiful Japanese Ukiyo-e art piece, I’ll need to feed Canva’s AI art generator descriptive text prompts. So below are some ideas.
10 Japanese Ukiyo-e Art Text To Image Prompt Ideas
Text Prompt 1 – Japanese ukiyo-e style art of sunset with soft brushstrokes to give the painting an ethereal feel.
Text Prompt 2 – A samurai warrior stands atop a hill at sunrise, looking out over the horizon with a determined expression on his face. Japanese Ukiyo-e style art with dynamic brushwork and subtle colour contrasts.
Text Prompt 3 – Two geisha sit side by side in a garden, both wearing traditional kimonos and hairstyles. They are engaged in conversation as they enjoy each other’s company amidst the cherry blossoms that are scattered around them. Japanese Ukiyo-e style art with graceful lines and pastel colors to create an atmosphere of tranquility.
Text Prompt 4 – A kimono-clad woman reclining in a garden of cherry blossoms, with a large fan in her hand, painted in the traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e style to include flat planes of color and bold outlines.
Text Prompt 5 – A pond filled with lotus flowers. The art style should capture the delicacy of the scene with gentle outlines and muted colors, while still paying homage to the traditional Ukiyo-e aesthetic.
Text Prompt 6 – A Japanese Ukiyo-e style serene landscape of mountains, streams, and trees on a cool summer night to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.
Text Prompt 7 – A traditional Japanese woodblock print of a solitary figure walking in a serene landscape inspired by Ukiyo-e, with soft colours and subtle brushstrokes to create an airy atmosphere.
Text Prompt 8 – Two samurai warriors engaged in a fierce battle, rendered with dynamic brushstrokes and vibrant colors that contrast against the black background.
Text Prompt 9 – A portrait of two samurai warriors standing in profile, their swords drawn and ready for battle. The art should take inspiration from the Ukiyo-e technique, but also incorporate bold outlines and contrasting colours to create a striking visual impact.
Text Prompt 10 – A peaceful scene of a temple courtyard surrounded by vibrant cherry blossoms trees, rendered in classic Ukiyo-e style with muted colors and soft brushstrokes to capture the serene atmosphere.
Create Your Unique Japanese Ukiyo-e Art
Now that you have some prompt ideas to get you started, it’s time actually create your own unique Japanese ukiyo-e art with the help of artificial intelligence.
In order to create the unique artwork above I used text prompts 1, 5, and 10.
AI text-to-image generators are still relatively new so you will not get amazing images every time. This just means that you may have to create several images before you get what you want.
Canva’s text-to-image app does create 4 images at a time so this increases the chances of you finding something you love.
What Can You Do With Your Images?
If you want to print these images to frame at home then you will have to upscale the images first to make sure that your image yields the results you’re looking for as you don’t want grainy or pixelated pictures!
This little bit of prep makes all the difference when it comes to making sure that your images are properly sized before sending them off to print.
Once your images have been upscaled you can not only print and frame them but you can also use them on a ton of products such as:
- Posters
- Coasters
- Bookmarks
- Notebooks
- Sweatshirts
- Stickers
- Cards
- Mugs
- Printables
- Tote bags
- Invitations
- T-Shirts
- Flyers
- Postcards
- And so much more!
Canva.com actually has there own facility to allow you to print your design on all the products listed above and more.
You can also put your images on platforms like Zazzle, Redbubble, or Etsy and sell them.
Conclusion
Japanese ukiyo-e paintings have an instantly recognisable look, thanks to the artists’ use of bright colors and bold lines.
If you’d like to create your own ukiyo-e-inspired artwork, you can now do so using Canva’s AI text-to-image generator.
With just a few clicks, you can upload your own words or phrases and watch as they’re transformed into beautiful prints in the style of Japan’s most famous painters.
If you want to explore more art styles that you can create using AI text-to-image generators then check out these blog posts about creating abstract art and whimsical art.
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give it a try!
