Pixels & Paint

I believe that art doesn’t truly exist unless someone views it. The art is completed in the space between the object and the viewer.” — Brendan Dawes Brendan Dawes is a distinguished UK-based artist renowned for his inventive integration of generative systems, data, machine learning, and code in the realm of digital art. His artistic vision predominantly revolves around the concepts of time, space, and memory, uniquely combining these elements to produce captivating interactive installations, online experiences, and abstract environments. Dawes’ work is a testament to the evolving relationship between technology and art, showcasing how data can be transformed into aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking pieces. His notable works include Cinema Redux (2004), which became a part of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York's permanent collection in 2008, and Three Steps Forward (2022), a collaborative piece with Emmet Cohen. The latter garnered considerable attention, premiering at NFT.NYC and featured in Christie’s Cartography of the Mind charity NFT auction. Dawes' contributions have been recognized globally through exhibitions at prestigious venues like MoMA, ArtFutura, Big Bang Data, Brighton Digital Festival, and ZKM. He is an alumnus of the Lumen Prize and Aesthetica Art Prize, accolades that highlight his significant impact in the digital art community. Beyond the gallery, Dawes' art has reached unique platforms, including being 3D printed on the International Space Station. His continued involvement in high-profile exhibitions and auctions, such as "NTFism: No Fear in Trying" and sales at Sotheby’s and Fauve Paris, solidifies his status as a pioneering figure in the digital art landscape. Website Twitter Instagram

"Artists may have one of the most important jobs—connecting with people’s emotions, bringing them together, making them think, healing them." — David Ariew David Ariew (ar-ee-ev) is a skilled 3D artist, animator, and educator with expertise in creating visually striking narratives. He is well-known across the 3D and NFT worlds for his mastery of 3D animation tools and his ability to craft immersive experiences that meld the boundaries between the digital and the physical world. David's portfolio boasts a wide range of work, from intricate music videos and commercials to evocative short films and groundbreaking NFTs. With a background in neuroscience, David brings a unique perspective to his artistic endeavors, infusing his creations with a deep understanding of human perception and emotional resonance. He has honed his skills over the years, working with notable clients in the music and film industry, which has solidified his reputation as a creative force. As an educator, David (AKA Octane Jesus [for his beard, long hair, and generosity]) is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience. He teaches the intricacies of 3D animation, rendering, and various industry-standard software, empowering a new generation of digital artists to push the limits of their creativity. In the rapidly evolving world of digital art, David Ariew stands out as a visionary artist and a dedicated mentor, continuously exploring the vast possibilities of 3D animation and its impact on storytelling and artistic expression. ------- Please enjoy! The transcript of this episode can be found here. The show notes for this episode can be found here. Episode Highlights

"I define success as being able to create what you want, when you want, where you want, how you want." — Marco Santini About Marco Santini Marco Santini is a multifaceted artist with a background in sports, broadcasting, and branding, who has fully embraced his creative calling. His art draws from a rich tapestry of experiences and influences, combining elements of language, love, and community engagement. Marco's work is characterized by vibrant geometric designs and meaningful words that transcend language barriers and foster a sense of connection and positivity. See the Show Notes here. The transcript of this episode can be found here. Episode Highlights See the Show Notes here.

Thanks for so much for joining us for Season 1 of Pixels & Paint. We're planning an even better Season 2 for early 2024. In the meantime, check out any of the episodes you may have missed. E01: Empress Trash E02: Norcal_Guy and Signal Noise E03: Rob Sheridan E04: Vakseen E05: Leo Caillard E06: sgt_slaughtermelon E07: noCreative E08: Ana Maria Caballero E09: Leo Crane E10: Scott Sholder E11: Originalplan E12: Eric P. Rhodes E13: Dawnia Darkstone E14: AL Crego E15: Maria Finkelmeier E16: Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Kirsten Magwood E17: Adamtastic E18: Christian Burke of Refik Anadol Studios E19: jrdsctt E20: Vincent D'Onofrio and Laurence Fuller

"Your art has to come from you, your faults, and your greatness. That's how your work comes out. It comes out like you." - Vincent D'Onofrio About Laurence Fuller Laurence Fuller is a British-Australian actor, writer, and artist best known for his roles in films like "The Slaughter" and the HBO series where he portrayed David Hockney. He's also known for his active social media presence, particularly on Twitter, where he engages with the artistic community and shares his creative endeavors. His heritage deeply influences Fuller's artistic journey; his mother is a painter, and his father was an influential 20th-century art critic in England. His work often explores the themes of history and artistic legacy, especially the mid-20th-century London School painters. About Vincent D’Onofrio Vincent D'Onofrio is a renowned American actor, producer, and director. He gained prominence for his role as Private Leonard "Gomer Pyle" Lawrence in "Full Metal Jacket" and as Detective Robert Goren in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent". He is also well-known for his roles in "Jurassic World" and "Daredevil". Besides his acting career, D'Onofrio has an artistic side, presenting his work on social media platforms like Twitter. His approach to creativity is eclectic and inclusive, drawing on a wide range of influences, and he is a keen advocate for a balanced perspective on the artistic life that values joy and experience as much as struggle and pain. Episode Highlights Read the show notes

"We have this urge to communicate ideas, and when words fail, we turn to other mediums." — jrdsctt About jrdsctt Minneapolis-born digital artist jrdsctt is a MakersPlace OG and a staple of the community with over 250 unique collectors on MakersPlace. With his Genesis Drop, jrdsctt invites a new element into his creative process: artificial intelligence. jrdsctt joined MakersPlace as an artist in early 2019. He later became their first official ambassador, helping run the MakersPlace Discord server alongside staff. This role eventually transitioned into an official job with the company in May of 2021. He has been working there ever since, helping build the MakersPlace community during the day, and glitching dystopian worlds in the evening. The web3 space has consumed most of his waking hours (and some of his unconscious hours as well). Key Takeaways

“When it comes to the actual meaning and purpose of art, people take away whatever they want from it based on their own perspectives. What we really focus on is the human experience, allowing people to feel emotional reactions.” — Christian Burke About Christian Burke In this revealing interview with Pixels and Paint, we get an in-depth look into the world of data scientist Christian Burke, right-hand man to Refik Anadol. Navigating the fine lines between art, technology, and science, Burke provides insights into the future of AI in art, the intersection of sensory experiences, and the innovative projects he's been a part of. For those intrigued by the melding of technology and creativity, this conversation is an illuminating deep dive. Christian Burke (@christianburke0) is a contemporary artist operating at the intersection of art and technology. As a key collaborator with Refik Anadol and a leader at the AI and data science teams, Burke has been instrumental in numerous groundbreaking projects that blend the realms of AI, sensory experiences, and visual art. With a background in data science and machine learning, he's been at the forefront of initiatives that explore the latent space of AI, the application of technology in creating multisensory experiences, and the democratization of AI tools for a wider audience. Key Takeaways Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Check out our show notes: Show Notes Transcript YouTube

Come back on September 7th for our interview with glitch and AI maestro jrdsctt! Follow us on Twitter @makersplace

"People are always so afraid of the butterfly effect, that if they did the smallest little thing in the past, it would create a gigantic ripple into the future. Yet people in the present aren't willing to accept that small changes now will have giant ripple effects in the future." — Adam Levine About Adam Levine, aka Adamtastic Adamtastic (@adamtastic) is an award-winning Creative Director with a passion for telling stories. He studied film and animation receiving an MFA with honors from The Savannah College of Art and Design. His artwork has been showcased during Art Basel Miami and in several galleries including the 2Art4TV series at the Bunny Cutlet Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. From 2007 to 2021, Adam was the Creative Director for video and animation production at All Things Media. Through his art, Adam’s goal is to spread joy & positivity while also provoking thought. His pieces are character-driven, vibrant & whimsical inviting viewers to connect with their inner child. Since January 2021, Adam has been selling digital art on various platforms such as SuperRare, Nifty Gateway, and via his own Manifold Smart Contract. Charity partnership highlights: (RED), charity: water, Safe Away from Home, Hospitallers Client highlights: The Tonight Show, MTV, Colorforms, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Rolls-Royce Motorcars, Jaguar, Mazda, Toys R Us, Laureus Foundation, Thickwater Entertainment, Pearson Education, McGraw Hill Education, Cognizant Technologies, Stryker, and Sunovian Pharmaceuticals Inc. Key Takeaways In this insightful and candid interview with Adam Levine, he shares his experiences and perspectives as an artist, creative director, and strategist. Levine's conversation with interviewer Brady Walker explores his creative process, the importance of planning, his connection with the art community, and personal growth. They delve into various topics, including how to manage different roles, the impact of small changes, and the importance of authenticity in creativity. Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Check out the show notes Read the transcript Watch on YouTube

"I hope that this work helps people experience blackness in a way that is not traumatic, that is peaceful, affirming. I hope for collectors of color that they find some moment of peace and healing in this black existence through what these artists have shared to heal." — Kirsten Magwood "Artists ask questions, and it's that open-endedness that leads to design thinking, repositioning settled history as open possibility." — Marc Bamuthi Joseph --------------------------- About Marc Bamuthi Joseph & Kirsten Magwood Marc Bamuthi Joseph is a spoken-word poet, dancer, playwright, musician, and actor who frequently directs stand-alone hip-hop theater plays. When Joseph was 10 years old, he made his Broadway debut as Savion Glover's tap dancing understudy in the musical, The Tap Dance Kid. By age 12, he had appeared on television and toured nationally with the production. Joseph attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, where he was involved in the spoken word movement with classmate, Saul Williams. After graduating from Morehouse College in 1997, he was hired by The Branson School to teach English and dance. Joseph is a 2017 TED Global Fellow, an inaugural recipient of the Guggenheim Social Practice initiative, and an honoree of the United States Artists Rockefeller Fellowship. He is also the artistic director of The Living Word Project, a theater company dedicated to the creation of new works for the stage. Joseph is considered one of America's vital voices in performance, arts education, and artistic curation. He is currently the director of performing arts for San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. --------------------------- Kirsten Magwood is a seasoned producer and branded marketing expert with over 15 years in content creation, merging television and digital broadcast. Her roles as a shooter, director, writer, and editor allow her to guide creative teams seamlessly, translating technical needs into innovative results. This versatility ensures she maintains quality and budget controls. A graduate of Spelman College with a BA in History, Kirsten studied film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She gained industry knowledge working as a music video PA and interned for prominent figures like Jonathan Demme. During her Music Business MA at NYU, Kirsten secured a position at MTV Networks. Within three years, she became a senior producer for notable shows like The Source All Access and Weekend Vibe, excelling in branded content by integrating sponsors into engaging, culturally relevant content. Kirsten founded P.O.P. Media to offer her expertise to a diverse clientele. She has worked with high-profile individuals and brands, including Russell Simmons, Kanye West, Complex and Vibe magazines, Viacom, and Macy’s. Currently, Kirsten is venturing into documentary production and social impact, with projects at The Smithsonian Institution and two docu-series in the pipeline. --------------------------- Key Takeaways Show notes can be found here

"I want to make stories through art music that reflect our current times, using sounds and visuals that connect with how we experience the world today. That means the human and the machine working together." - Maria Finkelmeier About Maria Finkelmeier Maria Finkelmeier is a multi-faceted artist, teacher, and entrepreneur. She is a seasoned percussionist and composer, and her work expands into public art and music technology. Maria is also an educator at Berklee College of Music where she teaches classes on creative entrepreneurship and mindset. Known for her innovative approach to the creative process, she often intersects different disciplines such as motion capture and glitch art in her work. She is respected for transforming public spaces into musical canvases, notably transforming a bridge into a playable instrument in Cincinnati and performing at renowned locations like Fenway Park and the Hatch Bandshell. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The transcript of this episode can be found here. Watch the interview on YouTube.

"What I do in art is an excuse to do philosophy in some way. Because I love philosophy. I like to theorize and think about technology, sociology, economics, and politics. But I feel sometimes, if I explain that in words, I lose time when I can explain it in pieces." — A.L. Crego About A.L. Crego A.L. Crego (@ALCrego) is a GIF artist renowned for creating hypnotic visual mantras that oscillate between the stillness of a picture and the rhythm of a scratched record. Crego's passion for digital art emerged when he recognized how moving images could provoke thought more quickly and accessibly than other forms of art. His creations are often characterized by a sci-fi classical aesthetic, seemingly extracted directly from his subconscious. He has been approached by various DJs, artists, and agencies interested in his unique style. Recently, he has ventured into Augmented Reality apps, exploring the concept of "digital public space" and questioning the nature of museums, art, and even reality itself​​. Crego began experimenting with the GIF format in his early twenties, recognizing its potential as an artistic medium. Before focusing on GIFs, he had been heavily involved in photography and video. He started publishing his work on Tumblr and began animating street art in 2014. Between 2014 and 2018, he immersed himself in exploration and experimentation, leading him to develop a workflow that he continues to use to this day​​. Crego's work is influenced by his interest in music, particularly drumming. He sees GIFs as "beats" and has developed a series called "Visual Beats," which is a symphony of silence where GIFs, despite being silent, resound​​ ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The transcript of this episode can be found here.

"Unlike the closely guarded secrets of the photography world, glitch artists are often eager to share their techniques. With the Glitch Artists Collective, we even have a group dedicated to teaching new techniques, called "Tool Time," where members are eager to share their discoveries." - Dawnia Darkstone About Dawnia Darkstone Glitch artist Dawnia Darkstone (@letsglitchit) evolved from photography to glitch after being enthralled by art and technology's intersection. Her methods encompass sonification, AI-enhanced textures, and circuit bending (just to name a few) to create unique art pieces. Notably, she's manipulated Google's new music AI and tweaked inexpensive children's cameras to generate one-of-a-kind visuals. Darkstone's contributions extend beyond art creation, with her interactive zine, Darkstone Review, and Crypto Webcams, a project addressing mass surveillance. She played a pivotal role in reshaping the glitch art community through her work in re-curating the Sotheby’s "Beyond Binary" exhibition to foster a more inclusive art space and drawing community appreciation. Darkstone's candidness about her bipolar disorder, its influence on her work, and the importance of self-care offer an inspiring narrative. She underscores the significance of supportive communities for artists, particularly those transitioning to full-time work. Her resilience, passion, and commitment to her community provide insightful glimpses into the glitch art world and navigating digital spaces. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights: Read transcript. See Show Notes.

"I see an opportunity here to grow, both as a creator and as a mentor for younger individuals like me." — Eric P. Rhodes About Eric P. Rhodes Eric P. Rhodes (@ericprhodes) is a digital artist and crypto OG whose strong perspective and distinctive approach have contributed a great deal to the web3 culture, including his creation and fostering of the Alt Punks movement and his early involvement in the trash art scene. Eric's work is not limited to his own creations. He is deeply involved in the larger art community, sharing his expertise and insights with fellow artists and newcomers. Beyond the digital and artistic spheres, Eric is a thoughtful advocate for mental health and a believer in the therapeutic possibilities of art. An intriguing personality, Eric is open about his past struggles with drug use, alcohol, anxiety, and depression, believing in the transformative power of honesty and openness. Despite his success, he remains grounded and dedicated to his personal and professional growth. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights: Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The transcript of this episode can be found here and Show Notes are here.

"[Originalplan® is] not a brand, and it never will be a brand. It’s an idea, a way of looking at art and design and not separating the two." — Originalplan® About Originalplan® Originalplan® (@origamiplan), also known as OP by friends and associates, is a multidisciplinary digital artist and designer who splits his time between Budapest and Mexico City. His innovative work combines street art and collectible culture with cutting-edge digital creativity as an OG in the web3 art space and one of the earliest creators on MakersPlace. OP's digital art includes the creation of Bearbrick dailies, a process he has been engaged in for nearly three years — though he creates daily, he only mints the work he deems up to par. He is also known for his significant collaborations, one of the biggest being “All Your Bases Are Belong to Us,” where he and 25 other artists took over every major NFT platform for a 24-hour period​. OP’s work also extends to the fashion and music industry with a deep affinity for hip-hop music and fashion — most notably his admiration for Virgil Abloh and Nigo. These influences have played a crucial role in shaping his creative direction, particularly his affinity for Tokyo street style. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Interview Highlights Please enjoy! Apple PodcastsSpotifyOvercastiHeartPlayerFMPodchaserBoomplayTune-InPodbeanGoogle PodcastsAmazon Musiccan be found hereYouTube“Designing Good Collaborations: Lessons from Originalplan”hereShow Notes People, Places, & Things Mentioned People BeepleGrant YunVirgil AblohMike Montgomery (of REMX)Nigo Places REMXA Bathing Ape Things Bearbrick"All Your Bases Are Belong to Us""Dead Mickey"

"In the legal field, the consensus isn't that law firms will be replaced by AI, but law firms that don't adopt AI will be replaced by ones that do." — Scott Sholder About Scott Sholder Scott J. Sholder (@scottsholder), Co-Chair of the Cowan DeBaets Abrahams & Sheppard LLP’s Litigation group, focuses his practice on litigation, counseling, and dispute resolution in connection with entertainment, media, and intellectual property matters. Scott represents and advises clients across various industries in copyright, trademark, right-of-publicity, unfair competition, domain name, and commercial and business disputes, as well as defamation defense. He has appeared in federal and state courts around the country as well as administrative and arbitral tribunals and has handled cases from pre-suit negotiations through trial and post-trial procedures. His clients range from major media and entertainment companies and A-list talent to closely held and startup businesses and individuals in need of advice on intellectual property or guidance concerning brewing or existing legal conflicts. Sholder's understanding of the intersection of technology, law, and creativity is also reflected in his personal work as an artist, operating under the web3 name Metalhead. His art primarily involves photo manipulation, using applications like Procreate and Glitch Studio to transform everyday images into abstract, psychedelic pieces. Much of his work is influenced by music, particularly metal, which inspires his decisions about colors and specific additions to his pieces. Sholder's belief in the importance of consistent practice, self-belief, and the value of creative expression, regardless of public reception, is a testament to his passion for art. His experiences, as both an attorney and artist, provide a unique perspective on the implications of technology in the creative world. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The transcript of this episode can be found here. Still curious? Check out our past interviews covering legal topics: Discussing Legal Issues Surrounding AI Art with Kayvan Ghaffari, MakersPlace Legal CounselKnowns & Unknowns: NFTs & Intellectual Property Show Notes Scott Sholder on LinkedInScott Sholder/Metalhead on MakersPlaceCowan DeBaets, Abrahams & ShepardBored Ape Yacht ClubEd Sheeran vs Marvin Gaye EstateGetty Images vs Stable DiffusionAndy Warhol Foundation vs GoldsmithDigital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)Unofficial Drake & The Weeknd AI-Generated SongRick AstleyGrimes releases AI voice packMetallica vs NapsterNine Inch Nails releases album on PirateBayDanger Mouse’s Grey AlbumGirl Talk on how he’s avoided getting sued for samplingAuthors Guild’s protections against AIMakersPlace interview with Greg HildebrandtMegadeth LawsuitVic Rattlehead

"The nexus of community, creativity, industry, commerce, and collaboration is a vital part of my practice." — Leo Crane About Leo Crane Leo Crane is a highly-regarded animator and artist known for his work in both animation and fine art. He is a co-founder of the creative studio Figuration. Leo Crane studied at Bournemouth University, where he earned a Master of Arts with Distinction in 3D Computer Animation. His early success came with his first film, "The Library," which was commissioned by The London Library. The film made rounds in the festival circuit, winning the best film at the Miami International Animation Festival in 2012 and earning the title "Best of 2013" at Be There! Corfu. Crane continued to build his career by creating animations for various cultural institutions in the UK, including The Hepworth Wakefield, Dulwich Picture Gallery, and Forward Arts Foundation. In 2015, he was selected for an Open Residency at The Animation Workshop in Denmark and participated in their ANI:DOX Lab program in collaboration with the Danish Film Institute. Since 2016, Leo Crane has been studying painting and drawing under the mentorship of Maggi Hambling CBE, a renowned artist. This training has helped him develop a professional fine art practice, and he is now represented by Future Icons. Leo's work combines his digital training with fine art techniques to create sensitive animations that often highlight underrepresented perspectives. One of his notable works is "The Foundling," a micro-short charcoal animation that he created after winning an open call by Animate Projects/Anim18. He recently finished a longer watercolor animation titled "Nude Triumphant," which, like "The Foundling," employs a hybrid documentary-fiction process to create narratives based on interviews with real subjects. In addition to his animation work, Leo Crane recently had an exhibition titled "Life in Charcoal" launched on April 14, 2023, at the West Norwood Library and Picturehouse in London. This exhibition featured a series of original works, and the sales proceeds went towards supporting artists and funding public programs in visual storytelling​. Leo Crane is currently underway on the production of the 40-minute handpainted animated feature The Masterpiece of Tamagata, an adaptation of a controversial and unpublished short story by renowned South African children’s author Betty Misheiker. As part of the project, Crane is releasing still and animated NFTs to coincide with and contribute funding to the project. Those NFTs can be found here. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights In this engaging dialogue, Leo Crane unravels his artistic journey, highlighting a shift to animation at 33 and serious drawing at 39 as well as his remarkable blend of digital and traditional art. He reflects on his dual-studio setup, his encounter with South African author Betty Misheiker, and his decision to animate her unpublished story, "The Masterpiece of Tamagata," an allegorical piece influenced by apartheid South Africa, emphasizing its profound resonance with marginalized communities. Crane delves into his innovative process of merging traditional and digital art in his film, his study of Sumi-e painting, and the fortuitous involvement of a Hollywood cinematographer. A significant part of the conversation explores "L’amoure rebelle," a piece born in the NFT space that intertwines traditional opera with digital art, culminating in the world's first live opera NFT performance. He shares his inspirations from Pina Bausch and Samuel Beckett's play for robots that influence his use of repetition in animation. The dialogue also covers his short film "The Library," his collaborative dynamics with his husband Roy Joseph Butler, and the concept of co-creation in web3. The conversation delves into the nuances of collaboration, the challenges of earning a...

"There's something quite beautiful in seeing how a poem can be made to move, not just through time as you're reading it, but also visually across the page." — Ana Maria Caballero About Ana Maria Caballero Welcome to episode 8 of Pixels & Paint. Today’s guest is Ana Maria Caballero, a first-generation Colombian-American poet and artist, recognized for both her writing and her role as a trailblazer of crypto poetry In her work, Ana Maria challenges the romanticized concept of motherhood and confronts conventional beliefs that package female sacrifice as a virtue. Her poems, described as moments of private rebellion made public, navigate both the intellectual and the everyday to name what's left unsaid in the all-important space of home. Ana Maria has garnered multiple accolades for her work. She has been honored with the Beverly International Prize, the Steel Toe Books Poetry Prize, and a Sevens Foundation Grant, among others. Her first book of poetry, Entre domingo y domingo, which documents her twenties in Bogotá, received Colombia’s prestigious José Manuel Arango National Poetry Prize and was the second-place winner of the nationwide Ediciones Embajales Prize. Her nonfiction manuscript A Petit Mal, an experimental text documenting her family’s collision with disease, was awarded the Beverly Prize and was a finalist for five other literary prizes. Ana Maria is a leading voice in the crypto poetry space, where her works such as “Kylo Ren + the Divine Feminine”, a 24-part poem that updates autonomously every hour in a 24-hour cycle, have been widely appreciated. She's also published a digital book through Alexandria Press titled "Tryst", a collection of three poetic short stories, and she is the co-founder of The VERSEverse, a poetry NFT gallery, which she cofounded alongside Sasha Stiles and Kalen Iwamoto. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights: In the course of their conversation, Brady Walker and Ana Maria Caballero discuss her creative process and her journey into the digital space. Caballero discusses how she separates her creative phases, distinguishing between intense periods of writing and subsequent moments of editing and formatting for digital spaces. She discusses her creative process, including the use of physical notebooks for initial drafts, and the evolution of these drafts through multiple iterations. She touches on the importance of structure and form, mentioning her enjoyment of subtle rhyme and the use of visual form within a page to subtly guide or surprise the reader. She also details her work with AI to generate visuals to accompany her poetry, describing her efforts to recreate images representative of Madrid in the 1890s for a poem about the enchantment of newness and modernity. Caballero also mentions her reluctance to use AI for her poetry creation, preferring traditional pen-to-paper methods, and expresses the importance of patience and commitment when entering the Web3 space. She also highlights the potential of the digital space for making meaningful connections and suggests resources, like the articles by Meg DeMatteo, for those interested in the literary Web3. Towards the end of the conversation, she encourages young poets to trust their voices and remain confident in their unique writing styles. Caballero also emphasizes the importance of supporting poets by buying their books, even in a digital age. In the final part of the conversation, Walker thanks Caballero for her contributions to the field of poetry and her innovative work in the area of crypto poetry. Caballero expresses her eagerness to continue the conversation in the future. Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Heard something interesting you didn't write down?...

"When I start working, everything else disappears. It's like meditation for me." — noCreative About noCreative Kristian Levin, also known as noCreative (@NoCreative_eth), is a professional retouch artist and photographer with 15 years of experience who turned into a 3D artist. He's based in Copenhagen, Denmark. His work centers around 3D-based art, with emphasis on an exploration of architecture, art history, and the radical movement of fabrics suspended in weightlessness. Levin was introduced to the world of crypto art in late 2020 and has since become a rising star of the space. Before pursuing art, Levin had various jobs in his teens and early 20s, including being an electrician and a street salesman. He moved to Copenhagen to study Japanese at the Copenhagen Business School but soon realized that he was more interested in playing around with Photoshop​​. His artistic inspirations are drawn from photographers such as Mario Testino, Henrik Bülow, Trine Søndergaard, Blaise Reuterswärd, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Ansel Adams, and Annie Leibovitz, among many others. He's also influenced by Dadaists and surrealists like Magritte, Miró, and Dalí, as well as the great masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, and the painters of Baroque like Rembrandt, P.S. Krøyer, and Carl Locher. In addition, he draws inspiration from architecture, particularly brutalism, and various themes, lighting, and compositions​​. Levin's process for creating art involves using AI for mood boarding and creating textures, modeling in Cinema 4D, and doing the simulations in Houdini. He renders, textures, and lights using Octane Render and does post-production in either Photoshop or Davinci Resolve, in addition to several other supportive programs and plugins​. Levin's advice to other artists starting out is to be part of a community, be consistent, and have curiosity. He emphasizes the importance of speaking to everyone you can, and he notes that many of his interactions in the NFT space have led to cherished friendships​. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights: Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The transcript of this episode can be found here. Watch the interview on YouTube. The article “Digital Scenius and Your Creative Career: Wisdom from noCreative” inspired by this conversation, can be read here. Show Notes People, Places, & Things Mentioned Bloom CollectiveShavonne WongStephan DuquesnoyBen ThomasIckiHiroshi Sugimoto​Tár by Todd FieldDogville by Lars von TrierNature as Object by noCreativeCanary by noCreativeThe Gardener by noCreativeDevéloppé by noCreativeEn Route by noCreativeEdgar Degas

"The key is not to take ourselves too seriously. If we truly understand the meaninglessness of it all, then irony and nonchalance make more sense than nobility or defiance." — sgt_slaughtermelon About sgt_slaughtermelon sgt_slaughtermelon (@sgt_sl8termelon) is a digital artist working mostly in abstract compositions — often code-driven. His designs span the gamut from looking backward to modernist and Bahaus-influenced geometric abstraction to crumbling code-addled neon structures fit for a future age. He is best known for his Artblocks drop autoRAD, “Lazlo Lissitsky” generative Swiss modern collection, and his glitch artwork across the blockchain and on album covers. He recently had a sold-out drop called Cantographs on the Canto blockchain and, the same week, a sold-out collaboration with FiveTimesNo on MakersPlace. sgt_slaughtermelon earns the high distinction in my book as being an articulate artist who takes his art seriously while at the same time being incredibly playful and taking absolutely nothing seriously. If you’re interested in his work, I highly recommend you check out his website sgtslaughtermelon.com to read some of the extensive essays he writes on each of his series. See our show notes for this episode here. The transcript of this episode can be found here. ---------- Follow MakersPlace on Twitter: @makersplace Follow Brady Walker on Twitter: @bradyevanwalker ---------- Episode Highlights: Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, iHeart, PlayerFM, Podchaser, Boomplay, Tune-In, Podbean, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. See our show notes for this episode here. The transcript of this episode can be found here. You can read our very first interview with sgt_slaughtermelon here. Show Notes People, Places, & Things Mentioned sgt_slaughtermelonCanto blockchainCantographs by sgt_slaughtermelonInaccessible Worlds by sgt_slaughtermelonArtist: Kim AsendorfArtist: Rosa MenkmanArtist: Michael Betancourt$BASEDBased Ghoulssgt_slaughtermelon on BASED & ArtGlitch Forge (Tezos blockchain)Kazimir MalevichLisa FrankMarfa, TexasDonald Judd Time-Stamped Episode Highlights