Retric Dreams is one of the fastest growing NFT artists in 2021. Already finding success on Makersplace, SuperRare, and Foundation, his retro-inspired, cyberpunk and dystopian aesthetics combined with a unique but beautiful palette has made his art highly recognizable and collectable. We very much appreciate Retric Dreams agreeing to participate in this profile.
Retric Dreams, Tell us about yourself
My name is Max, probably better known as ‘Retric Dreams’, and I’m a 25 year old Digital 3D Artist creating dreamy melancholic artworks of fleeting timeless moments & distant memories wrapped in a purple nighttime world.
I started using my first 3D software at the age of about 15 when I was playing around with friends & cousins of mine to create tiny short film projects, with spectacular effects in them of course!
From then on, it started to become more & more serious and eventually led me to start studying in this field after I graduated from school.
My personal art as “RETRIC DREAMS” as it is today actually started quite late, while I was working on my second year project at university in 2017 / early 2018.
The project was my first own animated CGI short film featuring lots of abstract neon visuals, which somehow got me excited about Synthwave music and led me to start experimenting with creating my own artwork in a similar visual style. So it happened that in mid 2018 I published my first post of art on Instagram and from that point on I kept going and trying to explore digital art in my personal way and as a balance to the usual study and client work.
Emotionally, when asked what Retric Dreams is about, I usually describe it as my aim to capture emotions of nostalgia, loneliness, solitude or longing for something distant and yet close, like a memory that comes back to your mind. As these are emotions in which I often tend to lose myself in and my work on pieces of art helps me to reflect on them.
Outside of creating NFT art, how do you spend your free time?
On weekends, but also in general, I like to try to be somewhere outdoors! Going for walks, whether in the city or in nature, is always something I really enjoy doing, either with friends or alone. For me, these walks are definitely a much needed balance to digital computer work, which I wouldn’t want to miss! Additionally, I am very grateful to have people around me, including my family, who have always supported me in what I have been trying to achieve and still continue to do so. Knowing that there is always someone willing to help & talk to at any given moment is certainly something without which I would probably be in a very different place then where I am now!
What Non-Digital Artists inspire you?
That is indeed a very difficult question as there are many! But let’s say, if I had to choose right now, then I would go for Eduard Hopper’s paintings. Nighthawks might be one of his most well known, but basically every other artwork he has done gives me a similar feeling. The way he captures seemingly ordinary situations in such a strong mood evoking feelings of loneliness, solitude and longing in a timeless way for me personally is something I find extremely inspiring and something that influences my own work quite a lot.
Who are your favorite NFT or Crypto Artists?
Another question to which I can’t really give a definite answer! It is amazing to see the amount of talent already in this space and joining every single day!
Just to mention a few names: Mad Dog Jones, Aeforia, Markinducil, Orabelart, Bakaarts, Peter Tarka, Catelloo, Friendly Robot, Polygon1993, Signalnoise, Tuomodesign, Tony Skeor, Unicityart, … the list is endless!!
What made you pursue NFT art?
To be honest, when I first heard of NFTs around november last year, I was pretty skeptical at first, but at the same time, curiosity and the ongoing adoption of some of my favorite artists on instagram has made me dive into it more & more and try to understand the principles behind the term.
What I’ve always loved about digital art is that it’s a combination of technological aspects and creative art. So when I finally got behind the technology & idea of NFTs, it suddenly made total sense to me in terms of the value of digital art but also the probable future of the internet as we know it. That’s when I first applied to NFT platforms and slowly started my own CryptoArt journey 🙂
What is the one piece of NFT art you wish you had purchased but missed out on?
I’d go for one of Beeples 2020 collection pieces on NiftyGateway and their physical counterparts. Not really because they are now selling at insane prices, but more so because Beeple as an artist and person has inspired so many digital artists over the years and I’m sure he will continue to do so in the future. His journey & hard work before and now within the NFT space is definitely something to look up to and especially now after the Christies auction he has even more so paved the way for generations of artists to come in this next chapter of the digital art world.
Owning a part of this history in the making is something I would definitely wish I had not missed out on at that time! 🙂
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?
A little vacation would definitely be desirable at the moment 😀
There are a huge number of places in the world that I would love to visit at least once in my life, from Canada all the way over to Australia. Since I also have a bit of a soft spot for larger modern cities and have never had the chance to experience Asian culture first hand, Tokyo, Seoul & Singapore are definitely high up that list!
For now, there’s a bit more work to be done! 🙂
Anything else you’d like to share?
For anyone new to the NFT space: Be curious of the technology & people around you, have patience if success doesn’t instantly find you and just enjoy creating art & all the new opportunities that come from this development! If there are any questions along the way, I’m always happy to help! (except if it’s about Foundation Invites :D)
Thank you for your time, where can NFT Collectors learn more about you and find your work?
Link to Website:
www.retricdreams.com
Social links:
instagram.com/retric.dreams
twitter.com/retricdreams
behance.com/retricdreams
NFT marketplace links:
superrare.co/retricdreams
makersplace.com/retricdreams
foundation.app/retricdreams