When Jenni Pasanen began exploring AI, she realized she had found her calling.
The Finnish artist learned about Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) and AI art in the fall of 2020, shortly after NFTs were discovered.
A friend introduced him to the blockchain concept, and he was immediately inspired. “I thought it was an amazing technology,” he said Decrypt. “From this day on, I love all the people in this space and the whole community.”
The endless possibilities it offered immediately fascinated Pasanen, and he began using it as an extension of his creativity.
“The AI creates these shapes that spark my imagination,” he said Decrypt. “I use it as my inspiration, like a muse. In the abstract images it creates, I see a horse, a leg, a person.”
From there, he manipulates the image to create a digital painting, sometimes combining it with 3D or photography.
“From something that doesn’t look like anything else, I carve an artwork that matches what I see in the AI-generated image,” he said.
Dreams and nightmares
Pasanen’s artistic universe is inspired by dreams and nightmares, inhabited by imaginary hybrid creatures made of flower petals, feathers, or smoke.
“The result depends on my mood,” he said. “If I’m happy, it becomes a happy work of art; when I’m sad or depressed, it’s really dark. You can see me from there.”
Since his childhood, art has been his language. “This is how I express myself for 27 years because as a child, I had a hard time speaking, writing, or expressing myself in any way,” he said. Decrypt. “I channel everything inside me into my art.”
When he creates, Pasanen uses Photoshop and the AI software Artbreeder as his tools of choice.
“The moment I learned about Artbreeder, I fell in love with it,” he said. “I still use it to this day even though it’s one of the oldest programs made with AI.”
He enjoys the element of surprise that comes with using tools he can’t fully control, including other tools like Stable Diffusion. Whenever new AI tools are released, he likes to experiment with them and incorporate them into his work.
“I often describe my style as a layered cake,” she explains. “I just put one layer on top of another. This time, I paint and then I draw with Stable Diffusion, then zigzag, remove from Art Breeder, paint, and move.
Her artistic endeavors span a wide range of mediums, from acrylic painting and clay sculpting to sewing and animation—she even learned coding and 3D.
However, of all the mediums he has explored, digital painting has always been his favorite.
NFTs are a gateway to becoming a full-time artist
After studying graphic design in school, Jenni moved into a career in branding and marketing. Over 13 years, he honed his skills in design and animation.
Despite his professional commitments, he always found time to create art. Ultimately, his enduring love for art fueled his desire to become a full-time artist thanks in part to the rise of NFTs.
“In the traditional art world, it’s harder to find your place,” he said Decrypt. He recalls his previous attempts to join traditional art institutions, but his lack of formal art education or certification prevented him from applying.
However, the advent of NFTs marks a turning point.
“With the arrival of NFTs, I see this as an opportunity for digital artists to really shine,” he said. “I’ve decided that no matter what, I’m going to give up the career I’ve been building for 13 years to become a full-time digital artist, even if I have to live under a bridge.”
Jenni Pasanen’s journey is still in the early stages, but she has already emerged as one of the best artists in this new era of digital painting promoted by NFTs.
His artworks, such as the “Golden Ratio” sold on SuperRare for a significant 4 ETH, show his rise to prominence in the field.
He recently unveiled a series of new artworks on Makersplace, “Mask Obscura.”
And on July 5, he dropped a new artwork, “Dust—BLOOM editions” on Manifold.
It represents a woman’s face surrounded by hands and a series of shapes. His eyes were closed, because he was dreaming of Pasanen’s next artwork.
As for what comes next, well, it probably depends on the content of Pasenen’s next dream—or nightmare.
