How to create stunning dark fantasy artwork using AI?

This post is a comprehensive guide on how to use AI art generators to create a dark fantasy artwork.The applicable popular AI art generators include NightCafe, DALL-E 2, Midjourney, Dream by WOMBO, craiyon, DeepDreamGenerator, and starry AI.  It includes 25 text to image prompt examples for users to experiment with and improve their painting skills. Each example covers the major aspects of painting the subject, such as the description of the scene, the best fit art genres, the techniques to use, the lighting and color settings, and descriptive terms to describe the image. The post also provides 5 suitable artists for each example, helping users to understand the meaning of the prompts and explore different styles. This guide is a great resource for artists looking to expand their creative abilities with the help of AI technology.

paintings of dark fantasy
text prompt examples for creating images of dark fantasy artworks with AI Art generators

Learn from examples like machine learning

Text prompt examples

  1. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a group of fallen angels battling demon armies in a fiery hellish landscape. The angels are depicted with tattered wings and battered armor, their faces etched with fierce determination as they engage in combat with the gruesome demon hordes. The painting will have a gothic and dramatic style, with bold brushstrokes and deep shadows creating a sense of ominous danger. Techniques used will include digital painting and photo manipulation, with the use of rich, vibrant colors to heighten the intensity of the scene. The lighting will be predominantly dark, with flickers of orange and red flames casting eerie glows over the characters and their surroundings. The descriptive terms that most fit this image are epic, intense, ominous, apocalyptic, and gothic. This masterpiece digital artwork would be best created by artists such as Brom, Greg Staples, Nekro, Marc Brunet, and Kerem Beyit. 3D shading,Unreal Engine 5, 8K 3D, CGSociety, trending on Artstation, 8k 3D, 8K resolution [“gruesome” should be removed when using NightCafe] @NightCafe Back to top
  2. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a mythical creature from the underworld. The creature has razor-sharp teeth, glowing red eyes, and its body is made of black, scaly skin. Its wings are torn and frayed, and its talons are twisted and menacing. The creature stands on a pile of bones and skulls, surrounded by an eerie, purple glow.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Surrealism Techniques: Digital Painting, Matte Painting, Concept Art Lights: Low Key Lighting, Eerie Glow Colors: Dark, Muted, Monochromatic with Pops of Purple and Red ;Descriptive terms: Terrifying, Menacing, Powerful, Macabre, Otherworldly; masterpiece digital artwork by Adrian Smith,Paul Gerrard,Pete Mohrbacher,Gerald Brom,Simon Dominic;3Delight. Unity 3D ,3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 ,CGSociety , trending on Artstation. 8K resolution @NightCafe Back to top
  3. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy artwork about a fearsome dragon terrorizing a desolate landscape. The dragon has massive wings that span the canvas, razor-sharp claws, and a menacing gaze that exudes pure malice. The dragon’s scales shimmer in the light, and its breath glows with an otherworldly fire. The landscape below is barren and lifeless, with twisted trees and jagged rocks strewn across the ground.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Surrealism Techniques: Realism, Digital Painting, Mixed Media Lights: Dim, Glowing, Fiery Colors: Cool Tones, High Contrast, Otherworldly; Descriptive terms: Fearsome, Menacing, Epic, Apocalyptic, Mythic; This masterpiece digital artwork by Paul Gerrard,Frank Frazetta,Brom,Nekro,Adrian Smith;3Delight. Unity 3D ,3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 ,CGSociety , trending on Artstation. 8K resolution @NightCafe Back to top
  4. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy artwork about a fierce battle between two rival kingdoms, one of them inhabited by vampires, and the other by werewolves. The foreground features the vampire army led by a powerful, malevolent queen with sharp fangs and icy blue eyes, while the background shows the werewolf army led by a noble, courageous king with golden fur and blazing red eyes. The battle takes place in a dark, misty forest with twisted trees and eerie moonlight illuminating the scene. The painting is characterized by its gothic, macabre style, with intricate details and vivid, contrasting colors that evoke a sense of danger, fear, and power. Descriptive terms for this artwork include: gothic, macabre, detailed, intense, and atmospheric. The masterpiece digital artwork can be executed by artists with strong skills in digital painting, photorealistic rendering, and 3D modeling, such as: Ian McQue, Alex Ruiz, Allen Wei, Raphael Lacoste, and Marc Simonetti. Techniques such as matte painting, digital sculpting, and texture mapping, along with software like 3Delight, Unity 3D, and Unreal Engine 5, can be used to achieve an unparalleled level of detail and realism. The artwork is expected to be trending on Artstation and CGSociety, and can be produced in 8K 3D resolution with 3D shading and advanced lighting techniques. Back to top
  5. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a group of witches performing a dark ritual in the middle of a haunted forest, surrounded by spirits and supernatural entities. The painting should have a gloomy and ominous atmosphere, with a focus on intricate details and dark colors. The witches should be depicted with a mix of realistic and surreal elements, with their faces partially hidden by their hooded cloaks and mysterious markings on their skin. The spirits and entities should have otherworldly designs, with eerie features and ethereal appearances. The painting should be created in a gothic or baroque style, with a mix of traditional and digital techniques to enhance the level of detail and texture. The lighting should be dim and moody, with subtle highlights to draw attention to certain elements of the painting. The colors should be predominantly dark and muted, with hints of bright and contrasting tones to add depth and interest to the composition. The descriptive terms that best fit this image are macabre, surreal, intricate, mystical, and haunting. The masterpiece digital artwork can be created by artists such as Caravaggio, Zdzisław Beksiński, H.R. Giger, Brom, and Victo Ngai. The artwork can be created using 3Delight, Unity 3D, 3D shading, Unreal Engine 5, and should be rendered in 8K resolution to capture every detail of the painting. This artwork is expected to trend on CGSociety and Artstation. Back to top
  6. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a cursed castle overrun by demonic creatures. The painting features a large castle with sharp, gothic architecture and towering spires, surrounded by a dark and ominous forest. In the foreground, a group of brave warriors are fighting off the demonic hordes, their weapons clashing against the monstrous creatures. The scene is lit by a red, foreboding moon and the flickering light of torches. The style is heavily influenced by gothic horror, with a focus on intricate details and ominous atmosphere. The techniques used include digital painting, 3D rendering, and photobashing to create an intricate and detailed composition. The lights are dark and moody, with dramatic shadows and highlights to create a sense of tension and drama. The colors are dark and muted, with a focus on reds, purples, and blacks to create a foreboding and ominous atmosphere. Descriptive terms include gothic horror, demonic, cursed, atmospheric, and intricate. The masterpiece digital artwork could be created by artists such as Ian McQue, Marc Simonetti, Karla Ortiz, Peter Mohrbacher, and Antonio José Manzanedo. 3D shading, Unreal Engine 5, 8K 3D, CGSociety, trending on Artstation, 8K resolution. Back to top
  7. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a demonic creature emerging from the shadows of a gothic castle; the creature is depicted with razor-sharp claws, horns, and wings, and its eyes glow with a menacing red hue. The castle is surrounded by a dense forest with twisted trees and a full moon shines through the clouds, casting an eerie blue light on the scene. The overall style is macabre, with intricate details and a sense of foreboding. The technique is a blend of digital painting and photo manipulation, using high contrast and rich textures. The lighting is dramatic, with deep shadows and highlights that emphasize the creature’s features. The colors are predominantly dark and muted, with pops of intense red and blue. Descriptive terms include macabre, haunting, intricate, dramatic, and foreboding. This masterpiece digital artwork would be perfectly executed by artists such as Rafael De Jongh, Richard Anderson, Kerem Beyit, Ian McQue, and Adrian Smith. 3D shading, Unreal Engine 5, 8K 3D, CGSociety, trending on Artstation, 8K resolution. Back to top
  8. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy artwork about a demonic entity summoned by a group of dark sorcerers. The creature is a grotesque and menacing figure with multiple eyes, sharp fangs, and twisted horns. Its skin is covered in pulsating veins and it exudes an aura of pure malevolence. The sorcerers stand around the entity, cowering in fear and awe of their own creation. The painting should convey a sense of terror and danger, with an emphasis on the macabre and supernatural. Styles: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Surrealism. Techniques: Oil Painting, Digital Painting, Photorealism. Lights: Dramatic Lighting, Shadow Play. Colors: Dark and Desaturated Colors, Accented by Bright Hues. Descriptive terms: Grotesque, Menacing, Macabre, Terrifying, Surreal. Masterpiece digital artwork by Artists: H.R. Giger, Brom, Zdzisław Beksiński, Andreas Rocha, Michael Hussar. 3D shading,Unreal Engine 5, 8K 3D, CGSociety, trending on Artstation, 8K 3D, 8K resolution. Back to top
  9. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy artwork depicting a mythical creature known as a Chimera, with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. The Chimera is perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking a desolate wasteland, with an ominous storm brewing in the background. The style is highly realistic, with intricate details on the creature’s fur, scales, and horns. The technique used is digital painting, with a focus on hyperrealism and texture. The lighting is dark and moody, with shadows cast by the storm clouds adding to the sense of foreboding. The colors are muted, with shades of brown, grey, and black dominating the scene. The descriptive terms that best fit this image are: haunting, menacing, awe-inspiring, otherworldly, and macabre. The masterpiece digital artwork could be created by any of the following artists: Alex Ruiz, Ian McQue, Simon Stålenhag, Aaron Sims, and Marc Simonetti. The artwork will be created using 3Delight, Unity 3D, Unreal Engine 5, and rendered in 8K 3D resolution. The artwork is sure to be a trending topic on CGSociety and Artstation. Back to top
  10. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a mysterious and haunted forest. The painting should have a surrealistic and dream-like feel, with twisted and gnarled trees, foggy atmosphere, and surreal elements like floating objects or creatures. The overall tone should be eerie and unsettling, with an underlying sense of danger lurking in the shadows. The style should be highly detailed and realistic, with elements of horror and gothic aesthetics. The painting should be created using digital painting techniques and have a strong emphasis on 3D shading, making the forest and its inhabitants feel truly alive. The colors should be dark and moody, with a focus on greens and blues to capture the haunting feel of the forest. Descriptive terms that best fit this image include eerie, haunting, surreal, gothic, and otherworldly. Artists who would be best suited to paint this image include Zdzisław Beksiński, H.R. Giger, Brom, Michael Hussar, and Sam Wolfe Connelly. The masterpiece digital artwork should be created using 3Delight, Unity 3D, and Unreal Engine 5, and rendered in 8K 3D resolution to truly capture the stunning detail of the painting. This artwork should be trending on CGSociety and Artstation due to its hyperrealistic and hauntingly beautiful imagery. Back to top
  11. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a bleak and foreboding landscape that is both beautiful and terrifying. The painting depicts a desolate wasteland that is covered in shadows, with twisted, gnarled trees and jagged rocks jutting out of the ground. In the distance, there is a looming castle, its dark spires piercing the sky. The painting is filled with a sense of impending doom, with dark clouds gathering on the horizon.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Surrealism Techniques: Realism, Digital Painting, Mixed Media; Lights: Low Key, High Contrast, Shadows; Colors: Dark Tones, Desaturated Colors, Muted Highlights; Descriptive terms: Grim, Gritty, Otherworldly, Haunting, Mysterious;This masterpiece digital artwork by Justin Sweet,Brom,Simon Dominic Brewer,Ian McQue,Peter Mohrbacher;3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 ,3Delight,Unity 3D, CGSociety ,trending on Artstation, 8K resolution Back to top
  12. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy artwork about a desolate wasteland, filled with ruins and abandoned structures. In the foreground, a lone figure stands, draped in tattered robes and holding a glowing crystal in their hand. The figure’s face is obscured, adding an air of mystery to their identity. In the distance, dark storm clouds gather, hinting at a coming cataclysmic event.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Surrealism Techniques: Realism, Digital Painting, Matte Painting Lights: Dim, Glowing, Dramatic Shadows Colors: Dark Tones, High Contrast, Muted Palette Descriptive terms: Desolate, Eerie, Apocalyptic, Otherworldly, Mysterious. masterpiece digital artwork by Simon Stålenhag,Ian McQue,Marc Simonetti,Jock,Peter Mohrbacher;3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 ,8K 3D , CGSociety ,8K resolution , trending on Artstation. Back to top
  13. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a grim and foreboding landscape filled with twisted and gnarled trees, their branches reaching skyward like skeletal fingers. In the center of the painting is a towering, shadowy figure – a dark lord or sorcerer – surrounded by an aura of malevolence and power. The sky overhead is a sickly green, the color of decay and corruption, and lightning crackles ominously in the distance.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Surrealism, Horror Techniques: Realism, Digital Painting, Matte Painting Lights: Stark, High Contrast, Dramatic Shadows Colors: Dark, Muted, Monochromatic with Pops of Green Descriptive terms: Eerie, Foreboding, Malevolent, Twisted, Powerful; masterpiece digital artwork by Michael Kutsche,Paul Bonner,Ian McQue,Brom,H.R. Giger; 3Delight,Unity 3D , 3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 , CGSociety , trending on Artstation, 8K resolution Back to top
  14. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy art work about a towering fortress, shrouded in shadows and filled with the echoes of ancient battles. The fortress is built into a jagged cliff face, with twisted spires that reach up into the night sky. From the fortress gates pour forth a horde of twisted, demonic creatures, their eyes glowing with a fierce malevolence.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror Techniques: Digital Painting, Matte Painting, Realism Lights: Dim, Flickering Torchlight, Muted Moonlight Colors: Dark, Muted, Monochromatic with Pops of Red and Orange; Descriptive terms: Foreboding, Malevolent, Twisted, Demonic, Powerful; masterpiece digital artwork by Paul Richards,James Ryman,Mark Molnar,Marc Simonetti,Michael Komarck;3Delight. Unity 3D ,3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 ,CGSociety , trending on Artstation. 8K resolution Back to top
  15. An insanely hyperdetailed dark fantasy artwork about a mythical beast that has risen from the depths of a long-forgotten underworld. The creature is massive, with a muscular and sinewy body that is covered in scales and fur. Its eyes glow with an otherworldly fire, and its razor-sharp claws and teeth glint menacingly in the dim light. In the background, a dark and foreboding landscape stretches out to the horizon, with jagged peaks and twisted trees silhouetted against a blood-red sky.Styles: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Surrealism Techniques: Realism, Digital Painting, Mixed Media Lights: Dim, Glowing, Shadows Colors: Dark Tones, High Contrast, Bold Accents Descriptive terms: Monstrous, Malevolent, Mythical, Foreboding, Nightmarish;This masterpiece digital artwork by Boris Vallejo,Frank Frazetta,Brian Froud,Luis Royo,Simon Bisley;3Delight. Unity 3D ,3D shading,Unreal Engine 5 ,CGSociety , trending on Artstation. 8K resolution Back to top