Art has long been a bridge between emotions and expression, allowing us to communicate beyond the limits of language. For Mohamad Alaw, an AI artist who is deeply rooted in surreal portraiture, the unspoken becomes the essence of storytelling. His images- dreamlike depictions of women adorned with flowers, rich textures, and vibrant hues- invite viewers into a world where feelings transcend words. Join us as we step into his world- one where visuals alone speak volumes.
Your background
Where are you originally from? Where did you grow up?
I was born in West Virginia, USA while my father was finishing his master's in fine arts. Once my father graduated, we moved back to Iraq where my family is from. I grew up there, and then I moved back to the US after I finished my bachelor's in computer science.
What sources of inspiration have influenced your artistic journey?
Growing up, I was surrounded by art; my dad had an extensive library of art books, and I used to love to draw and paint at a young age. With my current art, I'm influenced by nature, I like to mix multiple elements and see what outcome I get.
How did you first start exploring AI-generated art?
I started with the Microsoft Bing app initially. After playing around with it for some time, I decided to create an Instagram account and started following other AI artists. After seeing what other tools the AI community is using I transitioned to using Midjourney.
Artistic Journey
What drew you to focus on women’s portraits as a central theme in your work?
I’m surrounded by strong, beautiful women in my life; they inspire me every day, and I think that’s why my central theme is focused on women.
Your art is rich in surreal elements- flowers, colors, and textures. What inspired this visual language?
I love the beauty and delicacy of flowers, mixing them with other elements elevates the visuals.
What emotions or narratives do you hope viewers pick up from your pieces?
I like to give people a calm and relaxing feeling with a spark of wonder when they see my art.
How do you balance AI-generated elements with your own artistic vision?
Good question, I think it’s a balancing act, I start with the basics of the elements that I need in an image, and once I get to the results that I like, then I might merge my photos with other images that I created previously and see what kind of outcome I get, sometime the results are pretty interesting.
Have you encountered any limitations in using AI?
Yes, initially. For example, too many fingers on a hand or face distortion when subjects are far away, but by utilizing additional AI upscaling tools now I can easily fix these issues.
If you could describe your art style in three words, what would they be?
Ethereal, Floral, and Dreamlike.
Future of Art and AI
How do you see AI evolving in the art world? Do you think it will change how we “communicate” visually?
AI is reshaping the art world, and I think most people are getting comfortable with AI art. Yes, it’s giving a lot of people an easy way to express their art through AI.
What’s next for you? Are there new themes or techniques you’d like to explore?
I’m trying to explore more by converting my images to videos and getting more into a storytelling approach.
Do you provide any services? How can people find you?
Yes, I do provide commission-based work, the easiest way to reach me is through my Instagram account @focusart80
