'Everywhere and Nowhere. Always and Never. Forever.'
- StevieWTVR
- Oct 5, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 7, 2022
If you'd kindly indulge me, I'd like to tell you about an experience I had a little while back which, personally, I feel is one of my biggest artistic achievements to date.
This is a story about a time where somewhere between 3000-5500 people came to own a piece of my artwork.
Did they ask for it?
...No.
Did they pay for it?
...Not necessarily.
These are, however, but mere details - and beside the point.
So let me provide you with a quick bit of background...
Since getting into Web3, Crypto and NFTs just over a year ago, I've spent a lot of time learning and building my presence in what can only be described as, a digital fucking Wild West.
Crypto by it's very nature is a truly unpredictable, volatile, bumpy, chaotic and emotional rollercoaster.
Now, sprinkle on top of that the trading of some overpriced jpegs, paid for in said volatile currency and you have yourself a perfect storm of plundered savings into a potentially life changing lottery.
This, is not necessarily the sole reason why I am here and involved - but then again, who doesn't enjoy a little bit of online picture roulette with 'fake internet money'?
I digress.
As a budding artist, I am doing what i've always been doing...drawing pictures. Only now, I am able to share those pictures with a community of people on Twitter etc. who may (or may not) be slightly more interested in the concepts of art and creation than most - even if that interest is purely for speculative financial upside rather than genuine love of creativity and art - but once again, beside the point.
*Disclaimer - this is a 'semi' joke and I do not believe everyone in Web3 to be degenerative gamblers.*
Anyway, I have been doing my thing and some people along the way have seemed to enjoy what I do - so that's been pretty nice.
Making My Next Move
When the Cypto market crashed back in the early summer 2022 - many watched on in horror as their digital assets (for the most part) became worth what most 'right click save' minded 'normal' people would consider their value to actually be - not a hell of a lot.
With that in mind, I made a decision at that time to attempt to restrain myself from spending my digital Monopoly money on random PFP projects (although not very well) and instead invest in people.
One such person, whose content had provided me with a large, invaluable percentage of my learning, was none other than, Zeneca.
Zeneca is a leader in the space whom I've followed closely since getting into Web3. His podcasts, newsletters, youtube channel and online courses have been a great resource for me in finding my feet in this crazy online ecosystem.
It was therefore a pretty easy decision to buy into his NFT project - 'Zen Academy'.
Zenmas
After hanging out in the ZA community for a while, an opportunity arose which grabbed my attention.
They were running an initiative called the ‘12 Days of Zenmas’ - perhaps a little confusingly titled given it was the middle of July - but then again, who am I to question the master.
Well, as it turns out, 'Zenmas' was first run at Christmas time 2021.
The initiative had been setup by the ZA team, whereby they had set aside a portion of the original project mint revenue with a view to helping support and promote up and coming artists.
The first event was such a success that even with Santa on his summer holidays they decided to run another one mid-way through the year.
I figured it was worth a punt and submitted an application which involved uploading an example of my work and a bit of a blurb about myself as an artist.
The Zen Academy team screened all applications and pulled together a shortlist of their 12 favourites from a total of around 275 applications.
My mind was blown when around a week later I got the news that i'd been selected as one of the 12 artists.
Throughout my time in this space there have been several opportunities that have arose which have almost seemed too good to be true - and yes, as the old adage goes…they usually were.
So needless to say, I wasn’t holding my breath.
But to my astonishment, it turned out to be the real deal.
The format was simple - create a piece of art to be minted as an NFT and airdopped to 5500 token holders of the ZenAcademy and 333 club during one of the 12 days of Zenmas.
During each of the 12 days, the team would showcase an artist’s work and provide a bit of much needed exposure in a hugely saturated space.
They were pretty loose with the design brief, allowing the artists to do their thing and show off their own style and flavour.
So I got to thinking...
My Concept
Firstly, I knew I wanted to follow the theme of the Zen Academy palette with the purple tones - so that part was easy.
But what about the concept?
Well...i've said it before and i'll say it again - all art is subjective.
It is this separation between Artist and Observer which I often find most interesting - as each individual undoubtedly prescribes different meaning to a piece of art depending on their own perspective, life experience and tastes.
With this in mind, I figured, for the purposes of this blog post, it may be worth providing a little bit of insight into my own thought process when creating this piece. If not for anything, at least to allow me to try and verbalise my own thoughts to get it clearer in my own mind what the hell the squiggles and scribbles of my drawing may mean.
By now, anyone who has perhaps followed my work will have noticed I like to mix fun, lighthearted, doodle based creations with sprinklings of flippant prophetic wisdom.
These philosophical ramblings may be entirely ironic and nonsensical, or may be fundamentally profound and messianic (*sarcasm alert*).
This, however, is not for me to judge.
This isn't something i've really done before, but I'm going to pick out a few extracts from the piece and as I touched on above, I'm going to probe a bit deeper into the meaning behind them and how they tie back to (my interpretation of) the core ethos and principles of the Zen Academy project and community.
Mental health; mindfulness; kindness; gratitude; education; and self development. (*list not exhaustive).
I like to think of the above as some of the main pillars I like to focus on in my own wandering journey fumbling my way through existence - so it seemed only appropriate to incorporate them into my piece.
So here goes..
Be kind to yourself
This is important. Without realising it, many of us, if not all, spend much of our time ridiculing ourselves - we can be our own worst enemy. Some of the internal monologue we can have within our own minds can be brutal to say the least. Oftentimes it isn't even a way you would speak to someone you had a particular dislike for. So yeah, just a little reminder - be nice to yourself. You're not that bad, really.
Tomorrow will be a good day
This is a little bit tongue in cheek. Tomorrow is exactly that. Tomorrow. It never really arrives. Because when it does, well...it will be 'today' and tomorrow will always be another day away. Try to be present and live in the moment and enjoy it for what it is. Happiness doesn't always have to be around the corner.
Create your own universe
Once again a matter of perspective. Only you know what it's like to be you. And the way you perceive your reality directly affects the way you exist. It's not always easy - but try to perceive things as you want them to be, not as you think they are. You will be a lot more content with your situation.
Problems are just solutions yet to be found
Problems are like death and taxes - they are inevitable. If you've got no problems then you're probably a victim of the first example in the previous sentence. Learn to enjoy problem solving and know that all problems are in fact soluble.
Don't choose the path, choose how to walk it.
See 'Create your own universe'. You can't always choose your situation, but you can choose your perspective of it.
Humble beginnings. Infinite endings.
At one stage in time, we were all simply particles of carbon dust. One day, we will be again. Try and enjoy the bit in between.
Wisdom is power
Learn new things. It will keep you engaged and happy. Happiness is the real super power. (Oh and also the Zen Academy owl - just because he looks a wise little fellow).
This moment it is temporary, the future's full of uncertainty, release your mind be free
This is a lyric from a song I wrote. It's pretty self explanatory. I may play it for you one day. But probably not.
We are non fungible
You are more special than you think. There's only one of you - unless you're a conjoined twin I suppose.
Zen. Calm. Love.
Chill out and be a good person. It will get you far.
A Mushroom
Because they are fun guys.
The search for a Deeper Meaning
Life is a journey. You may think you're working your way towards some kind of finish line. If you get there, please let me know.
Planets and space
Because it's fucking mind boggling to think about the vastness of the universe.
Everywhere and Nowhere. Always and Never. Forever.
The title of this piece of artwork. The never ending infinite connection between everything and everyone. We are quite literally all made up of stardust which coalesced to form every element in the known universe. The fact we even have sentience to consider this is also fucking mind boggling.
Tiny actions. Huge outcomes.
What seems a small gesture to you could change someone's day, or maybe even their life - for good and for bad. Keep that in mind.
Momentary bliss
Try and catch yourself in those fleeting moments of happiness and enjoy them. Everything is transient and you're only happy until you're not - so enjoy the good times when they come around.
Brain/mind
Your most powerful weapon. Look after it and use it carefully.
So That's That
In this piece, I tried to create something that could hopefully spark some curiosity in the minds of others and something I'd be proud to release to the Web3 world.
Yes...of course there is a lot of random nonsense included in there which may have zero explanation other than perhaps the direction my Apple Pencil chose to move when I put it to my iPad - but who knows, perhaps there is some unconscious underlying meaning and inspiration behind that as well.
Some elements I will leave for you to fill in the gaps...but i'm sure those who need/want to will be able to connect the dots as to my main inspirations.
Final Thoughts
Oftentimes, I think I like to hide behind my art. Perhaps with stuff i'm maybe too nervous to share or talk about aloud. The WTVR philosophy is supposed to be antithetical to this - and i'm forever working on it.
So on that note - I urge you to say the things you think, do what makes you feel good and don't get too hung up on the concerns or opinions of those who are underserving of your mental energy.
And on one final note, I'd just like to give a big thanks to Zeneca, the ZenAcademy team and the entire ZA community for the opportunity and support. It truly means the world.
And to all the other artists involved. The calibre of talent was incredible and I loved seeing how you all provided your own take on the concept.
Much love
WTVR x
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