Golden Handcuffs (New AudioVisual NFT) | A Mixed Media Art Project for LW Art Challenge VI

I read about the LW Art Challenge VI from @juliakponsford's post Bind by Disguise.

Here's the Challenge she discovered on another platform and decided to participate, then share with the Alien Art Hive Community. Anyone is free to participate in that challenge:

Make an abstract artwork or music piece (or both) based on this phrase:

"Golden handcuffs bind by disguise, but in the uncommon path, fulfillment lies."

That's all I needed to get started seeing that I love contests and challenges.

My interpretation of the prompt:
My thoughts on the prompt description was mixed. First, handcuffs are a tool to restrain someone or something. To add the word "golden" as an adjective I feel means aspirations of wealth. Combined with the words "bind by disguise" could be interpreted as an aspiration of wealth that comes in other forms one wouldn't think.

For instance, an individual can be bound by an emotional attachment or bond that's difficult to extract one's self from. This can be in the form of a failed relationship, a disappointing career, or unreasonable goal set but not yet realized or achieved.

It's the choices one makes that may result in a feeling of failure that can be interpreted as the "bind". However, resolution may come via an unforeseen or unexpected event leading one to a different and sometimes satisfactory outcome than anticipated.

With these thoughts in mind, I took the phrase and enlisted a few of my favorite stable diffusion programs to see what it could design for me. I was a bit surprised at the initial raw results achieved given @juliakponsford awesome design from the same prompt.

StarryAI Text input:
"Golden handcuffs bind by disguise, but in the uncommon path, fulfillment lies."

Style: Fantasy

Results:

I knew my work was just beginning in order to design an abstract project based on the images. I'd be required to consider other means to achieve my result.

I decided to use one of the StarryAI images. The first image contained both a hand and chains. I envisioned combining it with a different colored eye image to break up the gold hue and fill in the empty spaces in the dark areas of the circular chains.

First Turn: KREA

Including the free-sourced eye image, I inserted the two StarryAI stable diffusion images into KREA. Below is my result.

From KREA, I retrieved several designs. I found it difficult to choose which to continue on the process of animation. Luckily, I can utilize the other images for future projects. The first image I used as the Thumbnail for this post.

Second Turn: Deep Dream Generator:

This program was where I discovered the magical element I was looking for. The TRAVEL animation tool. From the second KREA image with the hands inside the circle and the golden chains outside, I decided to try the new animation feature in Deep Dream Generator to create my animation. I was totally surprised at the result. The hand creeping up from out of nowhere to grab hold of the chains intrigued me.

Third Turn: PHOTOMOSH

With my animation in hand, I decided to add a touch of extreme filters found in the upgraded version of PhotoMosh. From the Deep Dream Generator animated image with the hands, I chose the Kaleidoscope and Stretch filters.

The above result I chose to tokenize at NFT Showroom.

NFT Showroom

Below are the details of my minted video:

Date Minted: November 15, 2024
Name: Golden Handcuffs
Number of Editions: 10
Price: 4 SWAP.HIVE
NFT Showroom Link: Golden Handcuffs

Thanks for taking the time to view my post. I hope you like my mixed media art project and NFT.