AI Art Styles Guide
Master 100+ art styles, movements, and aesthetics for AI image generation. Complete keyword reference for Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Flux, Leonardo, and all AI tools.
Classical Art Movements
Traditional art styles from art history
Renaissance
Classical realism with idealized human forms, religious and mythological themes, sfumato technique, and dramatic composition.
"Portrait in renaissance style, sfumato technique, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, oil painting, masterwork"
Impressionism
Visible brushstrokes, emphasis on light and color, everyday subjects, outdoor scenes, and capturing fleeting moments.
"Garden scene, impressionist painting, visible brushstrokes, dappled sunlight, Monet style"
Post-Impressionism
Bold colors, thick paint application, emotional expression, distinctive brushwork. Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin.
"Starry night landscape, Van Gogh style, swirling brushstrokes, vibrant blues and yellows, impasto"
Art Nouveau
Organic flowing lines, nature-inspired patterns, decorative elegance, feminine forms, intricate details.
"Woman portrait, art nouveau style, Alphonse Mucha inspired, ornate floral border, flowing hair"
Art Deco
Geometric patterns, bold colors, luxurious materials, symmetry, modernist elegance, Gatsby era aesthetic.
"Art deco poster design, geometric patterns, gold and black, 1920s Gatsby aesthetic, elegant"
Baroque
Dramatic lighting, rich deep colors, emotional intensity, grandeur, movement, ornate details.
"Portrait in baroque style, Caravaggio lighting, dramatic tenebrism, rich deep colors, oil painting"
Modern Art Movements
20th century and contemporary styles
Cubism
Fragmented geometric forms, multiple perspectives, deconstructed shapes, abstract representation.
"Portrait in cubist style, Picasso inspired, geometric fragmentation, multiple viewpoints, bold colors"
Surrealism
Dreamlike imagery, impossible scenes, subconscious exploration, melting objects, juxtaposition.
"Surrealist landscape, Salvador Dali style, melting clocks, dreamlike atmosphere, desert setting"
Pop Art
Bold colors, comic book aesthetics, mass media imagery, Ben-Day dots, consumer culture.
"Pop art portrait, Andy Warhol style, bold primary colors, screen print effect, repeated image"
Minimalism
Simple geometric forms, limited color palette, clean lines, negative space, essential elements only.
"Minimalist composition, simple geometric shapes, limited color palette, negative space, clean"
Expressionism
Emotional intensity, distorted forms, bold colors, psychological depth, subjective experience.
"Expressionist portrait, Munch style, distorted features, intense emotion, bold brushstrokes"
Abstract
Non-representational, color and form, gestural marks, emotional expression through pure visuals.
"Abstract composition, Kandinsky style, geometric and organic shapes, vibrant colors, dynamic"
Digital Art Styles
Contemporary digital and concept art aesthetics
Concept Art
Professional digital illustration for games and films. Detailed environments, character designs, mood paintings.
"Concept art, epic fantasy castle, digital painting, detailed environment, dramatic sky, AAA game quality"
3D Render
Computer-generated 3D imagery, realistic materials, lighting, and textures. Blender, Cinema 4D aesthetics.
"3D render, abstract sculpture, glossy material, studio lighting, Octane render, 8K, photorealistic"
Pixel Art
Retro gaming aesthetic with visible pixels, limited color palettes, 8-bit and 16-bit styles.
"Pixel art character, 16-bit style, retro game aesthetic, limited color palette, detailed sprite"
Vaporwave
80s/90s nostalgia, neon colors, glitch effects, Greek statues, palm trees, retro-futurism.
"Vaporwave aesthetic, Greek statue, neon pink and purple, palm trees, sunset grid, 80s nostalgia"
Cyberpunk
Neon-lit dystopia, high-tech low-life, rain-soaked streets, holographic ads, futuristic noir.
"Cyberpunk city street, neon signs, rain reflections, Blade Runner style, night, futuristic noir"
Vector Art
Clean scalable graphics, flat colors, geometric shapes, illustration style perfect for logos and icons.
"Vector illustration, flat design, geometric shapes, limited color palette, clean lines, modern"
Photography Styles
Photographic techniques and aesthetics
Cinematic
Movie-like quality with dramatic lighting, color grading, wide aspect ratios, and storytelling composition.
"Cinematic portrait, film still, anamorphic lens, dramatic lighting, teal and orange color grading"
Fashion Photography
High-fashion editorial style, professional studio or location, stylized poses, magazine quality.
"Fashion photography, editorial style, Vogue magazine, studio lighting, elegant pose, high fashion"
Portrait Photography
Professional headshots and portraits, flattering lighting, sharp focus, natural or studio settings.
"Professional portrait, soft natural lighting, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field, catchlights in eyes"
Landscape Photography
Epic natural scenery, golden hour, dramatic skies, deep focus, National Geographic quality.
"Epic landscape photography, mountain range, golden hour, dramatic clouds, wide angle, National Geographic"
Film Photography
Analog film aesthetic with grain, specific color profiles from Kodak, Fuji, or Cinestill stocks.
"Shot on 35mm film, Kodak Portra 400, natural film grain, warm tones, slightly lifted blacks"
Black and White
Classic monochrome photography emphasizing contrast, texture, light, and shadow.
"Black and white photography, high contrast, dramatic shadows, noir style, fine art monochrome"
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Styles
Genre-specific aesthetics for imaginative worlds
Epic Fantasy
Lord of the Rings style epic landscapes, medieval settings, magical creatures, heroic atmosphere.
"Epic fantasy castle, Lord of the Rings style, dramatic mountains, magical atmosphere, golden hour"
Space Opera
Futuristic spacecraft, alien worlds, nebulae, Star Wars/Star Trek inspired cosmic adventures.
"Space opera scene, massive spacecraft, colorful nebula backdrop, Star Wars style, epic scale"
Dark Fantasy
Gothic horror, dark atmospheric settings, monsters, haunted aesthetics, Dark Souls inspired.
"Dark fantasy castle, gothic architecture, stormy sky, Dark Souls atmosphere, ominous, detailed"
Steampunk
Victorian era meets advanced technology, brass gears, steam engines, goggles, airships.
"Steampunk airship, Victorian aesthetic, brass and copper details, cogs and gears, industrial"
Anime & Cartoon Styles
Japanese animation and Western cartoon aesthetics
Anime
Classic anime style with large expressive eyes, stylized features, vibrant colors, dynamic poses.
"Anime girl, cherry blossom background, detailed eyes, soft lighting, manga style, beautiful"
Studio Ghibli
Hayao Miyazaki's distinctive style - whimsical, nature-focused, hand-painted backgrounds, nostalgic.
"Studio Ghibli style landscape, rolling hills, fluffy clouds, hand-painted, Miyazaki, whimsical"
Makoto Shinkai
Hyper-detailed backgrounds, stunning skies, lens flares, romantic atmosphere, photorealistic anime.
"Makoto Shinkai style, stunning sunset sky, detailed clouds, lens flare, anime cityscape, romantic"
Western Cartoon
American animation styles from Disney to modern shows, expressive characters, bold outlines.
"Disney animation style, cute character design, expressive eyes, vibrant colors, 3D render"
Comic Book
Comic book and graphic novel aesthetics, bold lines, halftone dots, dynamic action poses.
"Comic book style superhero, dynamic pose, bold ink lines, halftone shading, Marvel/DC aesthetic"
Children's Book
Whimsical, colorful illustrations suitable for children's books. Soft, friendly, imaginative.
"Children's book illustration, cute forest animals, watercolor style, whimsical, soft colors"
Cyberpunk + Film Noir
Dystopian detective aesthetic with neon and shadows
"Cyberpunk noir, detective in trench coat, neon-lit alley, rain, high contrast, Blade Runner meets classic noir"
Art Nouveau + Fantasy
Ornate fantasy portraits with flowing organic lines
"Art nouveau fantasy portrait, elven queen, ornate floral frame, Mucha style, magical, gold accents"
Studio Ghibli + Steampunk
Whimsical mechanical worlds
"Studio Ghibli steampunk, flying machine, brass and wood, fluffy clouds, Miyazaki style, whimsical"
Vaporwave + Classical
Ancient meets 80s digital aesthetic
"Vaporwave Greek sculpture, marble bust, neon pink and blue, retro grid, glitch effects, aesthetic"
💡 Style Keyword Pro Tips
Layer styles for unique results: Combine an art movement + a medium + a mood for best results. Example: "impressionist oil painting, melancholic atmosphere, muted colors"
Use specific artist names carefully: "In the style of [artist]" works but may have ethical/copyright considerations. Instead, describe the characteristics: "loose brushstrokes, vibrant complementary colors, outdoor scene" captures Impressionism without naming artists.
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