光希まさとの創造の世界へようこそ！

つれづれなるままに、硯にむかひて、心に移りゆくよしなし事を、そこはかとなく書きつくれば、あやしうこそものぐるほしけれ。

近頃、都の人々が語りぬ大河絵物語に心引かれ、北川北斎、歌麿らが残したる浮世絵、とりわけ花魁の姿に魅せられたり。かくて、わが心も浮世絵の風情を今の世に蘇らせんと、強き望みに燃ゆるが如し。

されど、現代の絵描きの道具たる「ミッドジャーニー」にて「ukiyoe」「utamaro」「kitagawa」など、様々の言の葉を投げかくれども、真の浮世絵の姿には巡り会えず。ひょっとすれば、浮世絵の真髄が、この新しき絵の具壺には注がれざるか、はたまた絵師の資格なる「著作」の壁がありてか。いずれにせよ、困難の道なりけり。

かかる状況にてこそ、わが創作への熱は一層高まりぬ。なんとかして浮世絵風のステンドグラスの美を生み出さんと、幾度も挑みたるも、浮世絵特有の「面長」の顔つきや、長き金の簪の煌めきなど、肝心の特徴を表現するに至らず。ただの和服の美女の姿が生まれるのみ。

思案の末、「ニジジャーニー」なる別の絵師の道具に助けを求めたり。遂に花魁らしき姿は生まれしも、そこにはアニメの風情あるのみにて、求めし厳かなるステンドグラスの輝きを見出せず。まことに行き場なき思いに、心は迷いの林に入りぬ。

されど、諦めの心は毛筋ほども抱かじ。日々の精進と不断の研究を重ね、ミッドジャーニーの先駆者としての長年の経験と、たゆまぬ修練のおかげにて、ついに「ニジジャーニー」においてもステンドグラス風の作品を制作する秘儀の発見に成功したり。

おかげさまで、わが心に満足ゆく作品を生み出すこと叶いぬ。試作だけにても千五百の画像、プロンプトの微調整も百に及ぶ。そのために費やしし日々は、一週間にも及びたり。

どこぞの愚か者が「AIにて簡単にできる」とほざきし声あらば、捕らえて説教せねばならずと思う。簡単に出来るはずもなく、そのような愚かな言葉を拡散するゆえに、本物のアートを愛するクリエイターや芸術家の反感を食らうなり。いと迷惑なることかな。

つれづれなるままに　光希まさと

Essays in Idleness – Modern Chapter “Dreams of Ukiyo-e”

As I sit here with my inkstone, letting my brush flow freely with whatever thoughts pass through my mind, how curious it all seems.

Recently, I have been drawn to the historical picture tales that captivate the people of the capital, particularly fascinated by the ukiyo-e works of Hokusai, Utamaro, and especially the images of courtesans. Thus, my heart burns with a strong desire to revive the spirit of ukiyo-e in this modern age.

However, when using the modern painter’s tool called “Midjourney” and casting various words such as “ukiyoe,” “utamaro,” and “kitagawa,” I could not encounter the true essence of ukiyo-e. Perhaps the essence of ukiyo-e has not been poured into this new vessel of paint, or perhaps the walls of “copyright” stand in the way of the artist’s qualifications. Either way, it is a path of difficulties.

It is in such circumstances that my passion for creation burns ever stronger. Though I tried many times to create stained glass art in the ukiyo-e style, I could not express the essential characteristics like the “elongated face” or the brilliance of long golden hairpins. Only images of beautiful women in Japanese clothing emerged.

After much contemplation, I sought help from another painter’s tool called “NijiJourney.” While I finally managed to create an image resembling a courtesan, it had only the qualities of anime, and I could not find the solemn radiance of stained glass I sought. Truly, my heart wandered into a forest of bewilderment.

Yet, I harbor not even a hair’s breadth of resignation. Through daily discipline and constant research, thanks to my years of experience as a pioneer of Midjourney and unceasing practice, I finally succeeded in discovering the secret technique for creating stained glass-like works in “NijiJourney” as well.

Fortunately, I was able to create works that satisfy my heart. The process required over fifteen hundred test images, more than one hundred prompt adjustments, and consumed about a week’s time.

Should some fool babble that “it can be easily done with AI,” I would need to catch and lecture them. It cannot possibly be easy, and spreading such foolish words incurs the antipathy of creators and artists who love genuine art. How troublesome indeed.

Written in idle moments, Masato Koki