... the goal isn’t to mimic reality — it’s to elevate it - Tornado V3
🌪️ TORNADO – Fantasy Reimagined Through Fine Art
TORNADO was one of my earliest model experiments in the SDXL space — and while it started as a planned update to DreamcatcherFantasy, it quickly took on a life of its own.
My original goal? Build a model that could channel everything from Middle Earth to Alice in Wonderland, from surreal dreamscapes to neon-drenched Cyberpunk — and do it all without relying on LoRAs.
Let’s be honest: DreamcatcherFantasy bit off more than it could chew. It wanted to do everything — realism, fantasy, abstraction — and ended up doing none of them particularly well. TORNADO was my answer to that: a tighter, more focused vision with fewer compromises and a lot more personality.
But let’s be even more honest: this is now an older model. These days, I’m neck-deep in newer projects (like Typhoon and its growing ecosystem), and Tornado doesn’t see updates as often. It’s still in development, but at a slower, more deliberate pace — and that’s okay. Tornado isn’t trying to chase trends. It’s carving its own little niche in fantasy and fine-art generation.
Unlike Typhoon, which leans hard into stylization and visual punch, Tornado aims for something different:
A blend of surreal fantasy and fine-art realism, painted with elegance, subtle texture, and dramatic tones. It wants to feel like an oil painting — not a digital render. It’s imaginative, introspective, a little moody — and not afraid to be understated when it counts.
You can trace its evolution through the versions:
V1 was the noob — a cleaned-up remnant of Dreamcatcher, full of big dreams and unrefined energy. This initial iteration reveals a model grappling with its own identity. The style is a jumbled mix of influences, a bit of this, a bit of that, none of it quite coalescing. There's a clear desire to create something impactful, but a lack of focus and control leads to a visual hodgepodge. The execution betrays the inexperience, but also the unbridled enthusiasm of a beginner experimenting with all the tools at their disposal. It's a stylistic identity crisis writ large.
V2 was the angsty teen — bold, experimental, reaching for everything. But in doing so, it sometimes lost its identity and felt a bit too generic. Jack of all trades, master of none. V2 sees the model embracing its inner angst. The style is bold, punchy, and deliberately dramatic. There's a desire to shock and impress, resulting in a high-contrast, over-the-top aesthetic. However, in its pursuit of edginess, the model falls into the trap of generic rebellion. The choices, while initially striking, lack originality and depth. It's a phase of self-discovery expressed through loud, borrowed aesthetics
V3 is the quiet voice — it’s finding its footing, and with it, finding its voice. It feels more focused, elegant, and painterly — and most importantly, it knows what it’s becoming. There's a quiet confidence to V3, like an artist who no longer needs to shout to be seen. The style is soft, painterly, and infused with pastel hues, creating a sense of tranquility and ethereal beauty. The result is a harmonious and evocative that reflects the model's newfound maturity and artistic confidence. More importantly, with this found identity and voice, the model is now confidently on course for further exploration and refinement, a journey only just beginning.
Interestingly, training for V3 included touches of soft anime, which brought unexpected synergy to its composition, lighting, and facial detail. It doesn’t read as “anime,” but the influence is there — subtly shaping the fantasy aesthetic into something expressive and ethereal.
TORNADO continues to evolve, slowly but intentionally. It may never be the loudest model — but it’s quietly becoming one of the most unique.
📜 Usage Disclaimer:
This model is strictly for personal, non-commercial use only.
You are not allowed to repost, sell, merge, or otherwise profit from this model in any form.
It is hosted on CivitAI for personal use only. Unauthorized redistribution or monetization is prohibited.
🌩️ ☕ Support the Storm
If you like what I’m building — Typhoon, Tornado, the tools, the chaos — and want to help keep it all spinning, consider supporting me on Ko-fi:
Every bit helps cover compute costs, caffeine, and the occasional "why is this broken?" meltdown. Thanks for keeping the storm alive.