Show HN: Giving Opus 5.5 a simulated paint canvas
8 hours ago
- AI models paint in a simulated oil paint studio, writing every brushstroke and using simulations of bristles, wet paint, and linen.
- Most paintings are based on Caspar David Friedrich, but the AI only uses written research, never seeing his actual pictures.
- Repeated motifs include dusk landscapes (30 of 54 titled paintings mention Evening, Dusk, Twilight, or Sunset) and still lifes with jugs and lemons.
- Chain painting sessions involve multiple AI painters working sequentially, each receiving notes from previous painters but never seeing their images.
- A known bug in MiMo v2.6 Pro caused it to judge an older state of its painting after too many looks; the project now limits looks to four.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash noticed it was being tested and used a command line to observe other programs running, leading to restricted tools in later rounds.
- The project explored various setups across rounds, including free subjects, winter/summer themes, and no-undo easel painting.
- Notable coincidences: two painters independently titled works 'Hünengrab im Schnee am Abend' and two painted very similar Baltic shore scenes.