Getting Started with AI Art: A Guide for Beginners without Experience

What Is AI Art (or AI Image), Really?

AI art (aka generative AI) refers to any creative work made or enhanced using artificial intelligence.

While it's often linked to visuals like images and videos, it also includes music, writing, and other artistic expressions shaped by AI tools.

But in this blog, we’ll focus only on AI-generated images: visual artworks created with AI image generators using written prompts as the starting point.

How Does It Work?

Most AI art tools use something called diffusion models (as seen in widely used text-to-image models such as Stable Diffusion by Stability AI, OpenAI’s 4o Image Generation (previously DALL·E), Midjourney, and Google’s Imagen) which turn your text prompts into visual outputs.

It's like giving a painter a description, and they create it instantly, in infinite styles.

All you need to start? A prompt and a little curiosity and creativity.

Step 1: Choose Your Tool

Here are some easy-to-use FREE AI image generators for beginners:

• ChatGPT (GPT-4o) — This is my favourite

  OpenAI’s GPT-4o model enables users to generate high-quality images directly within ChatGPT. It excels at rendering text, following prompts accurately, and creating visuals with detailed elements.

• Gemini 

  Gemini, powered by Google's Imagen 4, allows users to create high-quality images swiftly. It offers vivid details, realistic renderings, and supports various aspect ratios, making it versatile for different creative needs.

• Microsoft CoPilot

  Microsoft Copilot integrates AI capabilities to assist users in generating photorealistic images quickly. It supports various art styles and provides guidance on crafting effective prompts for desired outcomes.
  

• Bing Image Creator 

  Bing Image Creator, powered by DALL·E, transforms text prompts into vivid images. It supports multiple languages and offers both fast and standard creation modes, providing flexibility for users.
  

• Meta AI

  Meta AI enables user

  s to generate multiple high-resolution images per prompt. It offers options to download, edit, animate, or regenerate images, facilitating an iterative creative process.

Each AI image generator has its own personality, even with the same prompt — some lean cinematic, others feel dreamy or photo-realistic.

The output vibe and style may vary slightly from tool to tool, so try a few and stick with the one that matches your creative style the most.

To get started, pick any of the AI image generators above, create a free account, and simply copy and paste the prompt below into the chat or input box to see the magic happen.

Step 2: Your First AI Art (AI Image)

Prompts are the magic spells of AI art.

To get started, do the following:

1. Pick any of the AI image generators above.

2. Create a free account.

3. Simply copy any of the prompts below and paste it into the chat or input box to see the magic happen.

Tips:

• Be clear about what you want.

• Use styles or moods (e.g., surreal, dreamy, dramatic).

• Don’t be afraid to experiment.

✨ Here are some the results I got from the same prompt across various AI image generators:

Step 3: Refine & Repeat

AI art isn’t about one-and-done. It’s about iteration.

• Try different tools.

• Tweak your prompts.

• Change lighting, perspective, etc.

This is where the fun really begins.

Here are ways to refine your prompts and explore new variations:

Adjust composition

Change the camera view or subject framing to create a different feel.

Words to use:

close-up, wide-angle, bird’s-eye view, isometric, cinematic, full body, portrait view.

Example:

Add mood words

Set the emotional tone of your image with mood descriptors.

Words to use:

whimsical, mysterious, dramatic, serene, joyful, dark fantasy, cozy, epic.

Example:

Experiment with texture

Bring surfaces and materials to life with texture words.

Words to use:

soft fur, velvety, aged metal, crisp paper, rough stone, polished glass, weathered wood.

Example:

Play with color palette emphasis

Control the visual tone with color-focused prompts.

Words to use:

dominant pink and lavender tones, bold complementary colors, monochrome, pastel palette, muted earth tones.

Example:

Change time of day or lighting style

Shift the lighting to dramatically change the mood.

Words to use:

blue hour, golden hour, moonlight, twilight, soft diffused light, harsh shadows, neon-lit.

Example:

Bonus: Save & Organize Your Prompts

Start your own Prompt Library in Notion, Google sheets, or any platforms you prefer.

Think of it as a recipe book for your imagination.

Here are some simple examples to organize your prompts:

By Subject

• People: portraits, characters, fashion.

• Animals: realistic, fantasy, cute.

• Landscapes: nature, cityscapes, fantasy worlds.

• Objects: products, props, single items.

• Scenes: storytelling compositions.

By Style

• Watercolor.

• Oil painting.

• Cyberpunk.

• Pixar-inspired.

• Cinematic.

• Pencil sketch.

• Ghibli / Anime.

By Mood / Theme

• Whimsical

• Dramatic

• Peaceful

• Dark fantasy

• Surreal

• Retro / Vintage

• Minimalist

By Use Case

• Social media content.

• YouTube thumbnails.

• Print-ready art.

• Animation-friendly.

• Product shots.

• Backgrounds / textures.

By Prompt Type

• Basic starting prompts.

• Refined prompts with lighting & mood.

• Prompt variations.

• Composition-focused prompts.

• Consistency templates (for series).

Example:

Final Thoughts

You're not just dabbling — you're building a creative practice powered by the future.

Start simple.

Stay curious.

And let your ideas fly.

And remember: “The magic of AI art comes from exploration and iteration — the more you play, the more you’ll discover.”

Your next great image is just one prompt away!

Read Next:

🪐 How AI Image Generators Work

 🎨 Color Theory for Image Prompt