REPLAY: NFT Artists Sam Madhu and Ola Vola on the NFT Market
Successful NFT artists Sam Madhu and Ola Vola brought the goods and insider tips on how to enter or expand—and succeed—in the NFT market. The artists, who sell their NFTs on Nifty Gateway, shared their struggles and lessons learned so that your entry into the NFT world can be smoother.
They also shared their personal experiences and what may be in store for NFT-curious artists should they decide to take the plunge.
If you missed it, you can always watch the replay. If you tuned in and you’re still considering your NFT options, you can relive the REPLAY here:
THE ARTISTS:
Originally from India, Sam Madhu is a Berlin-based mixed media digital artist whose work fuses elements from East and West with a side of cyberpunk thrown in. Her futuristic art of dystopian cities draws from temples, gods and demons from the past and reinterprets them into the future. Her work also features dystopian cityscapes, inspired by her time in New York and India. It also features goddesses but in a science fiction aspect. She’s worked with some of the biggest names in the biz, including Adidas Originals, Reebok, Puma, Mariott Group, Samsung, Sony Music, Levis and more. One of her more recent works, an audiovisual piece ‘Labyrinth’ is on display at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam.
Ola Volo is a Canadian Mural artist and illustrator with a distinctive style drawn from folklore, multiculturalism and identity. Her intricate works of animals, people, architecture and nature communicate diverse stories rich with symbolism and elaborate forms. Originally from Kazakhstan but growing up in Canada, Ola’s art reflects a melting pot of cultures. Her work is internationally recognized for its inventiveness and unique stories. She’s done commissions for a wide range of international clients, including Starbucks, Louis Vuitton, Lululemon and Volkswagen and Target.
Here are a few highlights from Sam and Ola’s webinar:
The work of both artists prominently features strong women. Both artists started experimenting with art as young girls, both believe art should be accessible and both have lived in New York city. Both arrived in the NFT space via different paths.
Sam has been drawing since she was a young girl, filling up her school notebooks with art instead of schoolwork. She eventually went to art school and got her start in advertising, which she says provided her with insights into the “business of being an artist.”
She is strictly a digital artist, falling in love with drawing on a tablet as a child. She has little interest in exploring other mediums, noting that her work “lives in the cloud.” Having discovered online drawing boards, she is an advocate for the camaraderie and community in the digital space and says artists can and should learn from one another. She describes it as an ecosystem of self-learning, as well as self-sufficiency. Tapping into the creative community taught her consistency in creating art.
She’s inspired by women who are “independent, creative powerhouses” and urges young female artists to remain focused on their talent. Her goal is to constantly experiment.
Sam had a successful launch on Nifty Gateway with FINAL PRAYER and has had other successful collection drops.
She says that this is a great time to leverage the internet and for artists to gain momentum. However, Sam warns not to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other artists or obsessing about making money.
Instead, remain focused on the creative process: Try new things, keep learning and challenging yourself.
Sam admits that in the NFT space, some days she feels as though she knows what she’s doing, while other days she feels she has no idea what she’s doing. That’s the exciting thing about being in a new space, she says, it’s risk or reward but it teaches you a lot about yourself and how far you can push your imagination. Ultimately, an artist has to be confident in their craft and go for what they want, she says.
She urges artists to use the internet to share your story and to strive for a good balance between “real life and internet life.” Above all, the most important thing is to “remember to have fun and keep creating,” she says.
Ola is a high-profile mural artist in high demand. She views her artwork as giving women a more powerful voice. While she creates complex narratives in her larger-than-life murals, her work also celebrates the little surprises of everyday life.
Her goal is for her murals to help shape and beautify spaces across the globe. She loves taking a boring wall “that is going to be there anyway” and creating an enchanting mural, some so large in scale that they can be seen from a plane. She believes that because public art is free, it belongs to the viewer, and she hopes viewers see a little of themselves reflected in the stories she tells in her murals.
She made her entrée into Nifty Gateway with a series titled “Queens of Lush,” which sold out.
Ola says when she decided to pursue her art full-time, she shifted her mindset to all “art-related thoughts.” However, she also views her art as her business and advises artists to learn from other entrepreneurs both inside and outside the world of art.
She strives to be playful and uplifting in her artistic storytelling, noting, “I have only one life to live, I want to make sure it’s a happy one.”
Find out what other inspiring NFT tips Ola and Sam had to offer on the webinar! It’s right here in the REPLAY.
