INTERVIEW
In Conversation with Bryan Brinkman on NimBuds
by Jeff Davis
Bryan Brinkman is an Emmy award-winning artist who utilizes his career in animation and motion graphics to bring fun and playfulness to his creations. He enjoys combining styles and techniques to convey ideas about the creative process and the crypto art community. I asked Bryan a few questions about his background and artwork in advance of his NimBuds release on Art Blocks.
Jeff Davis: Hi Bryan! Alright, let’s start from the beginning. How did you first get into making art?
Bryan Brinkman: I’ve always been a fan of creating digital graphics since I was a teenager. I often felt like I was split somewhere between graphic design and animation. I ended up choosing a path in animation because I felt it was a way to learn the process of filmmaking, digital art, and drawing skills.
JD: How has your creative practice changed over time?
BB: It has changed in how I release and share my artwork. The work I create hasn’t changed as much as the platforms and mediums I use. When I started, I was creating flash animations for friends or for sites like Newgrounds. Then it evolved into creating GIFs for sites like Tumblr, and then transitioned into physical pieces for galleries. When I discovered crypto art, it was a new and exciting platform for me to create for, and also a wonderful community to embrace.
JD: So how did you find your way into NFTs/crypto art?
BB: I found out about it through the artist Killer Acid, who I had collected physical work from in the past. That led me to applying to SuperRare, and from there I’ve been in a constant rabbit hole of creating work for all sorts of different projects and platforms.
JD: Any recent accomplishments you’d like to share?
BB: I was really proud of my Nifty Gateway drop in October, which is a bit of a predecessor to the NimBuds project. I work on hundreds of episodes of television, and I got a third Emmy award this year, and that always feels good. One other fun accomplishment is that I created a piece of art based on the movie Vegas Vacation, and the screenwriter of that movie reached out and asked for a personal piece made. That was just so cool!
JD: Wow, that’s amazing! OK, let’s talk Art Blocks. What made you pursue generative art for your upcoming Art Blocks project?
BB: My first collector (j1mmy.eth) has been preaching about on-chain art since before I was even in this community, so I’ve always been interested and excited about the aspect of storing forever on the blockchain, and the long-term health of crypto artwork. It’s been amazing to see the tech grow at a rapid pace alongside my own growth in the community.
JD: And what was the creative inspiration for your Art Blocks project?
BB: I had been talking with Manny Morales for months about the promise of generative technology, and while he was interested, we didn't really have an outlet for it. The piece that really pushed me to try Art Blocks was the recent work of Josh Katzenmeyer (luxpris.eth). Seeing how he was able to bring his art style into something that could be entirely code based made me realize what was really possible with the Art Blocks platform. Once Manny and I started doing some tests we couldn’t stop. As the project evolved quickly, we took inspiration from other generative projects like Avastars, Chainfaces, and CryptoKitties.
JD: What should collectors look for in your Art Blocks project as the series is revealed?
BB: I think what’s special about this project is that the collectors can impart their own personalities into these characters. There are also a few small hidden features that I don’t want to spoil, but they should add some fun to the project.
JD: I look forward to the reveal. Anything else people should know to better understand your art?
BB: I hope people come away from my art feeling positive. A lot of my design and art is based on the idea that these works will be in virtual spaces we inhabit in the future, and I want collectors to have the ability to brighten up their galleries with vibrance, motion, and color.
JD: Yes, I know that your work always puts a smile on my face. Before we wrap up, what is the best way for people to follow your work?
JD: Thanks Bryan, I can’t wait for your drop!
First published 14 January 2021: https://beta.cent.co/artblocks/+sutras
