By Olimpia Bellan
BEHIND THE ART OF FOCUSART
DevOps engineer by day, AI prompt maestro by night, Mohamad Alaw aka FocusArt blends technical precision with artistic vision. A lifelong creative, Mohamad’s journey into AI evolved from simple experiments to a compelling artistic practice, and his AI-generated portraits are a striking fusion of colours and textures. With a background in photography and 3D design, he brings a unique perspective to the AI canvas, taking us to the cutting edge of technology and creativity.
What brought you to AI art?
It was by coincidence. One day I got a notification on the Microsoft Bing app that I could create an image, and it gave a sample prompt for an astronaut in space. I tried it, and I was amazed with the results. After that, I started experimenting more with image prompting, and I just fell in love with the process. I started learning about AI by reading and watching tutorials. AI is evolving so fast, and I believe it to be one of the most important technological advances in human history, after the internet.
How does your background in photography and 3D design influence your approach to
creativity with AI?
My artistic journey has been a lifelong evolution. At a young age, I was fascinated by 3D design and wanted to learn it. Later, I transitioned to photography to document my life and the people around me. I particularly enjoy portrait photography, and it’s evident in my AI art, which you can see on my Instagram account, @focusart80.
AI art offers endless possibilities. Does AI add or take away creativity?
I believe AI enhances creativity by providing an avenue for experimentation in crafting prompts. You can effortlessly explore various materials, subjects, animals, and plants, leading to remarkable outcomes. Your portraits have a distinct sensitivity and depth. What do you think AI brings to portraiture that traditional methods can’t replicate?
Artificial Intelligence offers numerous advantages, but two of the most significant are time and cost savings. Imagine attempting to recreate some of my images using traditional methods. You would incur substantial expense, including thousands of dollars for equipment, materials, models, and more. Additionally, the process would involve tens of hours dedicated to shooting and post-production.
As a DevOps engineer, you are used to problem-solving in a technical environment. Do you
find that same logical approach influences how you experiment with prompts and refine your
AI art?
Very good question. I believe I do, but from a different perspective. For instance, when using AI to generate an image, I begin with the simplest prompt for an idea that comes to mind. Subsequently, I gradually build upon it by adding more details based on the resulting output. I continue this process until I am satisfied with the final outcomes.
How visually thirsty are you?
I consider myself very visually thirsty. I genuinely enjoy immersing myself in any visual experience, completely devoid of distractions.