It was awesome to be joined by the talented digital artist Yours Truly, known for his stunning portraits. With a total 17 years experience as a graphic designer he’s recently delved into the NFT market, making a name for himself, becoming a verified artist on Rarible
Yours Truly, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us.
1,000 followers! That’s amazing! It’s clear that you love being a part of the ever-growing NFT community, how did you first get into creating digital art?
Thank you! It’s been an exciting journey so far and I’m excited to see where the future takes us!
I’ve had an interest in digital art from an early age. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing around in applications like KidPix and MSPaint. Eventually, I traded those in for Photoshop and the creative suite and really began focusing my studies on graphic design.
Digital painting actually began as more of a hobby for me than anything else, and NFTs have provided me with an outlet for applying multiple aspects of my skill-set. I’m very grateful for that.
Your work primarily consists of mind-bending portraits that look incredibly realistic. Available here: https://rarible.com/yourstruly
What are your inspirations? This could be artists (NFT or non-NFTs), TV shows, music, or any random thing on the internet!
I’m inspired by so many different things! Technology, Cyberpunk, Realism, Retrofuturism, Cubism, Electronic Music (Com Truise, Tycho, Porter Robinson, Gunship, etc.), artists such as Simon Stålenhag and Scott Hansen (ISO:50), 80’s aesthetic, among so many other things!
I think there’s something uniquely beautiful about the juxtaposition of digital anomaly with elements of clean design and traditional art.
What would you like to see more of in the NFT art/crypto space?
I’d love to see more focus put on the smaller and emerging artists in the NFT community.
Many of the current NFT markets tend to keep the spotlight on the established artists who already have large followings eager to collect their latest drop, but I’ve always been a big supporter of independent artists and musicians.
My good friend, NFT artist Michelle K. Connop and I curate a weekly showcase of artists in the community called #HiddenGemsNFTs on Twitter for that exact reason.
Multiple times per week we’ll find work that stands out to us and showcase it in panels which we share with our followers as a way of showing support to our fellow creatives. It’s really rewarding to be able to support fellow artists who have supported us on our own NFT journeys.
What is your work process from idea to finish?
My process usually involves a lot of exploration. I start with a general concept of what I want to create and start blocking things out in Photoshop until I find a composition that grabs my attention; lots of reference, detail passes and a bit of trial and error until I start to feel my idea really taking shape the way I envision it.
I approach each piece with the intention of capturing a unique moment in the world that surrounds the subject. Each portrait has a lot of unique details which I hope help to bring to life in their own way. I try to put a bit of myself in each project because I think it allows my work to resonate on a more emotional level with the viewer.
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs have been dominating the world news for the past year thanks to the meteoric rise of Bitcoin, Cryptopunks, and of course, the famous Beeple $69M NFT purchase. What are your honest thoughts on the cryptocurrency and NFT space right now?
I think cryptocurrency itself has an incredibly bright future ahead of it, and we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of possibilities. Decentralisation is a historic and much needed step in the right direction for the world as a whole.
It’s easy for a lot of people to see the numbers and want to get in on NFTs to try and cash in on the hype, but to me, NFTs are so much more revolutionary than that. I view the NFT community as a unique platform for independent artists to showcase their work to the world while having the potential to be compensated fairly as creatives for their years of trial, error and dedication to their craft.
We’re still so early into what NFTs have the potential to become and I’m truly humbled and excited to be a part of that.
What are your other passions besides creating art?
I’m an avid traveler; I love exploring new places and immersing myself in different cultures!
I enjoy reading sci-fi novels and historical non-fiction. I also produce electronic music under the pseudonym Rabblrouser.
This is something CoinBurp asks new starters in the company as part of their Q&A interviews that get posted on the blog, but the answers are always great! What TV show or movie are you ashamed to admit you love?
It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I used to love the show ALF.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for us. The CoinBurp team can’t wait to see you grow as an artist!
Post some links to where people can find your artwork and social media accounts. Also, feel free to shout out anything else you wish.
Rarible: https://rarible.com/yourstruly
Foundation: https://foundation.app/yourstruly
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourstruly_nft
Showtime: https://tryshowtime.com/yourstruly_nft
Instagram: https://instagram.com/yt.nft
Official: https://yourstruly.design
Thank you so incredibly much to the collectors who have found value in my work. Your support means the world to me!
I’d also like to give a special thanks to my NFT partner in crime Michelle K. Connop (https://twitter.com/michellekconnop) and the rest of the NFT Community for their endless support and inspiration.
Important Information
Cryptocurrencies are generally not regulated and investors do not have access to recourse or compensation schemes such as, for example, in the UK, the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Investing in cryptocurrencies can be high risk and investors should carefully evaluate their appetite for risk and their understanding of trading cryptocurrencies prior to entering into a transaction.
