In this interview, we have the pleasure of hearing from stuz0r, a talented digital artist who has made a name for themselves in the NFT space with their stunning 3D renders and animations. They share their experiences with their first Nifty Gateway drop and how NFTs have impacted their art career. The interviewee also provides insights into their creative process, inspirations, and influences, as well as upcoming drops and projects. Join us in learning more about stuz0r and their unique approach to digital art in the NFT market.
I keep returning to this style of my work over the years expanding on the lore and universe. I wanted to call back to the previous “Temples” series and continue building on that reality. In this new series, this civilization has several temples that help to keep the overall “self” in full balance. The Body, the Mind, the Heart, the Spirit, and one that is a throwback to my previous series, the Sol or Sun.
Can you talk about your first drop on Nifty Gateway, and what it was like to see your art sold as an NFT for the first time?
My first drop on NiftyGateway was pretty surreal! I wasn’t sure what to expect to be honest. I had a few friends at the time that were doing incredible sales through NG. I had a few pieces that I did as open editions. They were only open for 10 minutes but did a pretty incredible amount of sales in that small amount of time! It was pretty life changing for me and my family. I made in 10 minutes what I would usually make in 1 year.
I made in 10 minutes what I would usually make in 1 year.
How did you first become interested in the world of NFTs, and what drew you to the medium as a way to showcase your art?
Back in late 2020 I had started hearing things about NFTs from Beeple and FvckRender. I knew that it had something to do with crypto, but wasn’t sure what exactly. Then I saw Beeple’s drop and the absolutely massive response he got from it. I had some experience with Punks and BitCoin prior to this. What I mean by that is my friend at my old job had mention how BC was at like $1700 and people were buying this things called CryptoPunks, which I thought was hilarious because they just looked like 8 bit profile pics.
Are there any other NFT artists or collections that you admire or draw inspiration from?
I would say that I still am a fan of Beeple’s original collection he dropped on NiftyGateway! That was really the game changer for all of us digital artists (and all artists really). I’ve enjoyed watching some of my other friends like NessGraphics, FvckRender, and Ryan Talbot do their things on here!
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming drops or projects that you’re currently working on?
At the moment I don’t really have any upcoming plans for immediate drops. However, I always try to call back to previous drops and reward collectors and holders. For example, this series “Temples of Light” is in the same world as my previous “Temples” series that came out almost 2 years ago. Holders from that drop will be gifted with a $1 drop this time around. It pays to hold your works if you’re able! I also reward my 1/1 holders with additional 1/1 works over time.
Your next drop on Nifty Gateway is coming up soon. Can you tell us a bit about what collectors can expect from this release, and what inspired the pieces in the collection?
This series, “Temples of Light” is a continuation of my previous “Temples” series that I put out around April of 2021 on NiftyGateway. It builds on the lore surrounding this world. It focuses more on their spiritual aspects of the civiliazation. This time around all pieces are animated works for a more immersive experience. It will feature 4 works at $99 with an additional work that will be $1 for former “Temples” holders.
How do you approach creating pieces specifically for the NFT market, as opposed to traditional art sales? Are there any unique challenges or considerations that you take into account?
To be honest I’ve never really created work for selling in the traditional art world. It has always been strictly freelance work. I had a Society6 page a few years back for people that wanted to buy prints, but never really promoted it. When NFTs came around, that was the first time I started actually selling my work. I liked the way it could show it was my work as it had a digital footprint. Not only that, but you could see who was buying and where it was going, but could always be traced back to me!
As someone who has been creating art for several years, how has the emergence of NFTs changed the way you think about the value and ownership of digital art?
I think it’s a really great way to actually prove that the work you own is from the actual artist. The digital certificate is what really draws people in the artworld to this space I think. Can you screenshot an image and says it’s yours? Can you take a picture of the Monalisa and call it yours because you took the picture? You need that certificate that proves you are the owner. I wouldn’t walk into a art museum, show them the picture of the Monlisa on my phone and say, “How much do you want to buy this for?” Hopefully people can understand that.
Can you talk about any future plans or goals you have for your art career, both in the NFT space and beyond?
I would say to just keep doing what I’ve been doing really. I enjoy what I do. If I won the lottery and didn’t have to actually “work” another day in my life I would still do this because I love it.
Who are your biggest influences?
I would say that my biggest influence is Beeple. He is the reason I got started in all of this back in 2016. Along the way though there are several artists that I’ve found that do incredible work. Some I listed previously on here, but a few others would be Victor Duarte, Xsullo, Ash Thorp, Kidmograph, EyeDesyn, Jon Winbush, and several others I know I’m forgetting.
How do you incorporate spirituality into your artwork, and what themes or messages do you hope to convey through your religious imagery?
That’s interesting because I don’t really try to incorporate and type of spiritual aspects into my work. They just kind of end up looking that way haha But I hope that all people groups, regardless of their religions and beliefs can draw something from my works when they look at it.
How do you balance the technical aspects of 3D rendering with the artistic elements of your work?
Through doing my daily works I have been able to figure out a way to incorporate all different types of processes into my work. It’s not only the 3D aspects but also includes photos, video, and other elements in my post work. I have found that learning different programs allows me to conceptualize pieces differently each time. I use Cinema4D with Octane render, Blender3D with Cycles render and Unreal Engine. Each of these have both strengths and weaknesses.
Can you describe your creative process from start to finish, and how do you measure the success of a piece?
I have had pieces that take me an hour or 2 that do incredibly well on social channels. People absolutely love it. Then I have a piece that takes several days to finish and it won’t get as good of a response. You just never know what will resonate with people. I usually just open up a program, start playing with shape layouts. Then when I find a good look I continue with lighting a scene. It just kind of snowballs from there and hopefully something good comes out of it.
What do you hope viewers take away from your artwork, and how do you measure its impact?
I hope they are able to connect to it. When I used to make music, we would play shows and the crowd would be singing along to your music. That was an absolutely wild experience. They cared enough to learn the lyrics to the music YOU made. It’s kind of the same way with the artwork I create. I create it from my heart and hopefully that comes through to the viewer. I get a lot of comments on how my works look like something from their dreams or like they’ve been to that place before. Those are pretty incredible reponses to me!
Lastly, can you share with our readers any links to your website or social media profiles, as well as any other information or projects that you’d like to promote?
I really appreciate you taking the time to interview me.
The NiftyGateway page is https://www.niftygateway.com/collections/templesoflight
"Temples of Light" @niftygateway
Thursday 4/27
Open Editions and "Temples" holders reward. pic.twitter.com/DDzOvufuoj— Stuz0r (@Stuz0r) April 20, 2023