By Editor In Chief

“Are you an Artist, OR a Musician?” Arizona based NFT Artist and Musician Robert Brogan gives us a deep dive inside his creative journey.

Most people associate NFTs with jpegs. Music NFTs however are not quite as popular. What has been your experience with both types of NFTs?

It has been a rollercoaster. I started with jpegs in February of 2022, and it was so uncommon at that point, it didn’t even cross my mind to make my music project until about 2 months later. It was then I was in a community that I brought up the idea of making a music project specifically related to my indie music Album. It was then the idea was born. I realized it fully in April, when I launched my Music NFT project! I have had incredibly positive feedback when people learn about what I’m doing. Due to the fact that Twitter asks: “Are you an Artist, OR a Musician?”, I actually have found that my two talents sort-of “overshadow” each other at times. But from my perspective, it has worked out perfectly, because I always have more work to do. If I don’t have more work to do on my Artwork, I have endless work to do on my Music.

You describe yourself on Twitter as 95% nft artist and 5% musician. What do you mean by this?

In my Bio it mentioned I’m 95% nft Artist & musician, & 5% nft collector,* I tend to change my bio info often, but this was put there due to the fact that I wanted to make it clear that, I’ve gone to school to study light, and ceramics, and started playing the violin when I was 8 years old for 4 years before getting my first acoustic guitar(then I fell in love with it!). But I have now, also achieved status as an nft collector, since I have started over the last 11 months to build up a small collection of my own! I started out creating Art & music, But once I started to make a few sales, I wanted to invest back into the community, seeing so many amazing artists working so hard everyday, with so much talent and skill! So many who had helped me so much, because I believe fully in the technology that were using, and there are different levels of support. Some of my NFT’s I currently own, like my Avril 15, PGSports, Stoned Tigers, PoodlePops or meta fans NFT (not to mention so many amazing 1/1 artists I love, too many to name!) allow incredible added benefits, amazing community, and even lifelong friendships have been discovered because of these digital assets! I would say that being a collector is equally as important as being an Artist and musician, if your in web3, because in many ways, it truly is a community effort! Being able to give back to someone when you have had that support, when they have put in the work, is incredible! This is so important because you can give back to the community and give the amazing feeling of “your item sold” back to someone else. As a creative, putting your work out there is a very brave thing to do, and you are making yourself incredibly vulnerable to many things. This in itself is a huge achievement!

Right now the Nft space is in a bit of a bear market and some artists have stopped making nfts altogether. How do you navigate the bear market and keep creating nft art?

I have never once payed attention to any details like this in regards to my work. Before I was making NFTS, I was a traditional Artist my entire life, using pen & ink, spray paint, acrylic, and oil. I took 3 years of “life drawing” in college, where i learned to draw people of all shapes, sizes, and shades with graphite, charcoal, & pastels. I was attempting to get my canvas paintings into galleries before I discovered web3, and it was dead end after dead end. The ability to share a creation with our entire collector database is incredibly valuable, and I just always remain positive, and look to the future. All of my projects were designed thinking 5 years out. So, in short, I stay positive, and I keep my eyes on the prize, or my “future goals” and the future of this amazing technology in general!

Can you talk about the inspiration behind your classic foundation nft titled 001 Ice Cream Lane?

Yes! This was actually created after the “Benjamin/Kato” contest where they asked to create a piece that had the attributes of BenjaminBitcoins PFP at the time (it was a BYAC APE with olive green background, cheetah print.. etc. I ended up creating a piece for this ( still in Eden, “Goofs from the year 5022”) It was THIS piece, where the “GooFs in ShroomVille” were born, and their story. From this, I created the new Collection, “GooFs in ShroomVille” where each NFT “Habitat” is hand drawn on Procreate, using IPad & Apple Pencil 2. I created this project, again, thinking 5 years ahead. With each FIRST sale, so each time a habitat is sold either via “Buy now” or via “Live Auction”, the winner has the option to also be sent a different, unique, hand painted 1/1 gallery wrapped canvas painting. (Free shipping). I did this because in the end, there will be 50 people who own habitats, but they each will have also received a physical painting. I hope to one day see these physicals cherished, displayed, and perhaps even auctioned off at a prestigious auction house!

Can you also explain your amazing nft art piece GooF Love?

Yes I would be happy to! I created “Goof Love” using my (more recently) favorite method of digital technique . I created it using digital charcoal technique. I love it because it combines digital, with techniques from the traditional world I am very familiar with. I have found that this is my strength and you might see some new Artwork from me in this style very soon!

What are your thoughts about NFT wizard Garry Vee?

I have a TON of respect for this guy. I really admire is outlook, and positive mindset. He is an Incredible human being and love his vibes. I haven’t had the pleasure yet to have met him or have spoken with him personally, so I can’t speak in that regard. From what I have seen him share, which involves his tweets & instagram video’s, each one has inspired me to never give up, and know that anything is possible! I look forward to one day shaking his hand!

NFT Twitter is a fun place but it can also be toxic. How do you navigate it?

Very true. I think for someone my age this is nothing new, (I am 33) and I learned to type(very fast) talking to friends on AOL instant messenger, and msn messenger. The internet has always, and will always be a very negative and dangerous place. But, it can also be an extremely uplifting, positive, and amazing place. It’s all about who you surround yourself with. I personally have learned the most important thing for me is to NEVER compare myself to others, or their journey. Each of us are so special, and on a different path, at a different place. We have similarities, but we are so unique. The only person I can compare myself to, is my previous self. In that regard, things are always moving forward, and each day I learn something new. Even if it’s what NOT to do the next day. I try to evaluate what works, what doesn’t, adapt, and make necessary improvements I want to become the best version of myself. For each person that is so different. For me, I try to stay positive and steer clear of negativity as much as possible. One of my favorite quotes is “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t- You’re right!” – Henry Ford

Are you working on any new projects?

In the Art world of things, in fact, I am! I am currently working with someone on something that is actually the biggest deal I have done, yet. So, yeah it’s pretty exciting & pretty big, but I am not able to share any more information about this currently. I will tell you that you can expect more information on that soon (updates via Twitter/Instagram/My website)! I can say that I am incredible excited about it! I will keep you posted, and updates will be coming soon. In the music world of things- I am currently working on new music, for the next Album. Release for the next Album will be early-Mid 2023. Im also working on the music videos from last years release! So much to do, all the time! I couldn’t love it more! I get so excited even talking about these things, I absolutely love everything about this world of creativity that is blooming and starting to flourish and thrive! I am so grateful to be an Artist & musician alive during this time!

When you are not being creative, what else do you do to relax?

I love to longboard with my dog, we have so much fun! I call it Arizona Dogsledding, and when we see a cat, or a bird, we hit record speeds! I also work 40 hours a week at a temporary job for now. I have my electronic engineering degree, and plan on using this to get a better job, until I can do my Art & music full-time. I have created 1 Electric guitar from scratch (for an engineering course in school) & that is when I learned how much passion I had for this! One day, I hope to travel the world, finding rare & exquisite woods that I will then carve/shape and then make into electric guitars! Being a luthier combines my love for Art, Music, and electrical engineering into 1 beautiful work of Art! This is one part of my much bigger dream! Most of all I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend, my dog, and two cats at home. I am very grateful to still have my Mom in my life who I love very much and she is my greatest fan & supporter & always will be! Thank you for this incredible opportunity! I’m honored! Sincerely, Robert Brogan.

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