NorCal and Shill
A podcast where NFT artists tell stories, hosted by NorCal Guy. https://twitter.com/GuyNorcal
https://twitter.com/norcalandshill
NorCal and Shill
Joyce Liu - Artist - Throwback Episode
Joyce Liu, a trailblazer in motion graphics and an avid NFT artist, shares her captivating journey from Taiwan to Mexico and finally to the U.S., where art became her universal language. Prepare to be inspired as Joyce opens up about her transformation from dreaming of working with giants like Disney to discovering her true passion in motion graphics. Her initial curiosity sparked by Beeple's NFT breakthrough led her to explore the dynamic world of Web3. Join us as Joyce reflects on the importance of community, the joys and challenges of staying true to her artistic vision, and how spontaneity fuels her creativity. Whether you're an artist, crypto enthusiast, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation is packed with valuable insights and laughter.
But that's not all—we also dive into some lighthearted and philosophical topics with Joice, exploring everything from the eternal debate between Mexican food and biscuits to the intriguing idea of gaining superpowers through risky potions. We discuss the concept of immortality and its implications, ultimately championing a grounded existence. Our guest shares her favorite books, including classics like "The Richest Man in Babylon" and Dale Carnegie's work on friendship, alongside the Bible. As we wrap up, Joyce gives us a sneak peek into her delightful project "Critters," showcasing animated creatures that embody spontaneity and joy, and teases the exciting launch of a new merch shop and series. Expect a fun and thoughtful exchange that will engage and inspire listeners from all walks of life.
https://x.com/joiceloo_art
Who is this? Who is this guy? Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal and chill podcast Show with chill time. Norcal and chill podcast. What the fuck? What? The chill? Norcal and chill podcast Show with chill time. Norcal and Shill Podcast. What the sh-? What the sh-? Norcal and Shill Podcast. So it's shill time. Norcal and Shill Podcast. What the sh-. What the sh-. Welcome back to another episode of NorCal and Shill. Today we are thrilled to have Joyce Liu.
Speaker 1:Joyce is a dynamic force in the motion graphics industry and passionate NFT artist. In this episode, she shares her journey from growing up in Taiwan, moving to Mexico and finally settling into the United States, where her love for art transcended language barriers. Discover how Joyce transitioned from aspiring to work for big studios like Disney and DreamWorks to finding her true calling in the fast-paced world of motion graphics. We dive deep into her first experiences with NFTs, her perspective on the best aspects of Web3, and her hopes for the future of digital art. Plus, joyce opens up about the importance of community, the challenges of staying true to one's art and the joy of spontaneous creativity. Get ready for an enlightening and heartfelt conversation that touches on everything from career advice to personal reflections. Whether you're an artist, a crypto enthusiast or someone looking for inspiration, this episode promises valuable insights and a few laughs along the way. Everybody, please welcome Joyce Liu. Hey, joyce, welcome to the podcast. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2:I'm doing good. Thanks for having me Super stoked to be here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm glad you can make this happen. I finally got to meet you in New York.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Which, uh, that was like. Oh, it was only like two months ago.
Speaker 2:I guess it was longer than two months.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it does, but uh yeah, we finally got to meet. Uh, uh, it's been fun getting to chat with you in the Click Create Discord here and there, and now in your own Discord and occasionally at every one-ing sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it didn't take you for an agent of chaos for uh, agent of chaos.
Speaker 1:Um well, I I was just playing along, because you don't get to at everyone, and uh, I thought I would just play along with the others that were at every morning and and just make sure someone could solve the problem it's helpful. It was being helpful thank you so I'm curious what were your first thoughts when you heard about nfts and this whole crypto art stuff?
Speaker 2:um, when I first heard about it I think it's similar to a lot of people it was when Beeple did his big everyday, like big drop back in 21. And I didn't really know much about crypto at all, aside from what's that Dogecoin that people were trading during, like COVID. I bought some and that was the extent to a crypto that I knew. But you know, when I heard about people like he's a pretty big name for a long time, like in the motion graphic space and that's like the industry I work in and yeah, everybody was like what is NFT, what is blockchain? And I just did a little bit of research and found super rare and just decided to like apply and see what happens and give it a go, cause it was like very heated at the time. You know, people either love it or hate it, so I decided to try it for myself. Um, yeah, awesome.
Speaker 1:So why did you choose?
Speaker 2:art or like what brought you to art? I've always you're going to end up starving under the street, you know, and I guess that kind of sparked a little bit of that rebelliousness in my little heart and I was like I'm going to prove you all wrong when I grow up. Um, plus, I just really loved it, um, from like reading children's book, uh, like the illustrative books and um, to like playing games and everything. It's just always been a big part of my life. So later moved out to like Mexico and and then to the states.
Speaker 2:Like my English was really, really bad and I didn't speak Spanish, so art was kind of what carried me through. And like in school, the teachers they would just let me do extra credits to get by because I was a terrible student. I'll do like classroom murals and greeting cards for people and I just always loved it. And for college, I went to school for design, like I went to Art Center, college of Design, and I believe you were there for a little bit right to our center college of design and I believe you were there for a little bit, right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I took. I never like was accepted. I took the night classes and I took classes at pasadena city college. Um, and I never actually formally applied. I was like I'm like I'm not gonna make it here would be so different, though, if you have been.
Speaker 2:But but yeah, um went to our center college of design and initially wanted to work for big studios like disney dreamworks. Studying um, like entertainment arts, wanted to do visual development kind of work. But um, like my last year, decided to switch over to motion motion graphics because things are a little bit more fast-paced and I like to try different styles and explore just like different things. So I found that the more fast-paced industry which is MoGraph kind of fit my personality a little bit better.
Speaker 2:So I've been working in motion graphics for like six years now oh wow nice yeah, I still work full-time and nfts and the whole crypto thing is just like my passion, like my weekends, my afterwards and every chance I get.
Speaker 1:Yeah oh awesome. So what are the best things about web 3 today?
Speaker 2:I gotta say it's the people. Yeah, because, um, when I first started like um, doing like nfts it was 21 I just uh, gone on to super rare a few months after I applied, kind of forgot about it and then, um, out of nowhere, it's like, oh, you got accepted. I'm like, oh, now I can mint something. What is minting, you know? And minting back then was so expensive it was like three, four hundred dollars to mint something but I just decided to try anyway because I'm like well, why not? So I just minted something and also forgot about it again and it was like a few months later it got bought and it was a lot of money to me and just kind of blew my mind like whoa, somebody like appreciated my art enough to want it pay me and at the time, like digital art, I think in my brain it was just like only valuable is like commercial work or client work, and I didn't. I couldn't make the connection between like art, art and digital art.
Speaker 2:But when all that happened, my brain just exploded and was so excited and I didn't have a twitter back then. So I kind of discovered that there are people on twitter who there's a whole community. So I made a twitter and just started trying to make friends, um, and actually this is where your podcast came in. You were one of the first people that I followed I forgot how, um, but and I found that you have this podcast. So I will listen to every single episode and, after listening to the episodes, if I like, find something that I I that I uh resonate with the person, I'll go and dm them oh, that's cool um, oh yeah, I just go and dm them.
Speaker 2:Be like, hey, really, uh, like what you said in that podcast, blah, blah, uh, just try to make friends and yeah, eventually I stumbled onto solana 2022 and I think I just really clicked with the community and really found my crew, and now I have like a group of people and friends that I would like to travel and see all of the world, and so it's a very roundabout way of answering your question, but I think that people is the best thing oh man, that's an awesome story.
Speaker 1:I love that. I had no idea I didn't realize that about, um, what that's so cool. I love hearing that. So where do you see digital art and NFTs in five years?
Speaker 2:I don't know, I really don't know. Yeah, that's fine, I think it's going to be around for sure, and I hope it will gain more recognition and I think it has been. But I do think it will be around and I hope the hate between the art community and the digital art community will kind of die down and everyone can get along.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, for sure. Is there anything you'd like to see more of in the crypto art space?
Speaker 2:you'd like to see more of in the crypto art space more, I think, discoverability, if that's a word. Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I think right now the art space is pretty dominated with just a handful of artists, regardless of chain, and there's just so many amazing artists and people out there that I think deserve the spotlight a little bit more. So maybe through like I don't know, collab or curation, like Kuri is doing, to bring up some of these amazing people, I think would be great.
Speaker 1:Nice. So does one ETH equal one ETH or, in your case, one Sol equal one Sol.
Speaker 2:Yes and no. I don't know USD value.
Speaker 1:no, uh yes and no. I don't know usd value, no um I'm leaning towards no, all right, all right, yeah, yeah, yeah, does supply matter?
Speaker 2:I think so, like it's such a weird topic, I guess, um, but I think it depends on person, person to person, like. For me, um, I feel like I'm leaning towards low just because that's the amount of output I can handle at the moment. So I think, if another artist super fast and has demand, why not go for super high supply?
Speaker 1:so I think, all right, no, no, no, I see that. Um, because I feel like I uh that answer, like because some say that it's, it's like I can't produce at a high rate, so I produce and I release it. I still feel like you're putting out I don't know how many you're putting out like every other week. I feel like you put out like a one of one.
Speaker 2:Is that right? It's been like one once a month.
Speaker 1:It's once a month, okay, right what do you think, do you? I. I mean I'm an advocate of higher supply, for sure, as far as maybe a balance between one of ones and additions, because I mean the thing is um, and editions, because I mean the thing is I feel one of ones are amazing and awesome, but you know you can, as you become popular, you price out potentially a large set of supporters. So I think that's where additions play a huge role.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that I would agree.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So if you were an?
Speaker 2:animal. What would you be and why? I like to think myself some sort of feline or a cat? Because I like to observe people and I think when I'm around people I can be quiet, just like quietly observing. But um can be spry when I want. But I actually asked my husband the other day like what animal he would think like I would be, um, and he said I'm a noisy monkey because he thinks I am loud, mischievous and like the grace of a cat. So I don't know, maybe a cat? I'm still leaning towards a cat.
Speaker 1:All right, all right, that's fair. That's fair. Do you have a favorite food?
Speaker 2:Ooh Korean food.
Speaker 1:Oh, all right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, korean food and Taiwanese food yeah.
Speaker 1:Fair, very good Good foods Sure, yeah, fair, very good good foods for sure. What's the best piece of advice you've been given, or do you have like a mantra that you kind of live by?
Speaker 2:I think the the quote like that goes like this too shall pass and just like remind us to really live in the moment. And this moment could be really good or it could be really bad, but it's all just temporary and we're all on this earth temporarily. So it gives me a lot of comfort, like to kind of zoom out and not think about things too hard or take things too personally, and yeah, that phrase has just always brings me a lot of peace nice, I like that.
Speaker 1:Do you have advice for artists joining the crypto art space?
Speaker 2:yeah, I guess find your people, that's the most important thing. Um, get a ledger, don't click on links and oh, and maybe just like, try not to be swayed by what the current trend is and just stay on course on what you love and keep try to like produce, produce good quality work and try not to compare yourself to others for sure.
Speaker 1:So if you could live or move anywhere, where would you live and why?
Speaker 2:I kind of like where I am right now, um, but I also feel like I haven't traveled enough. But I also feel like I haven't traveled enough to know exactly where, but maybe just wherever my family is, I'm happy.
Speaker 1:I like that. That's solid. Do you have any questions for me?
Speaker 2:Oh yes, I've been waiting for this. I'm so excited. Is there a limit? No, let's just, we'll do them all. Okay? What inspired you to start the podcast?
Speaker 1:ah, so like there was no other podcasts really when I started.
Speaker 1:There's like maybe I think Buna had his, and like Rug Radio just started like a month after me, I think, or they were talking about it, I don't know and I wanted something that was easily digestible, that was more short form, like these two-hour podcasts, um, because like I personally don't have time to sit down for a two-hour podcast, or like I got three kids now and I'm with them most of the time, I'm like I'm like homeschooling them and, um, I'm not gonna be able to like have even if I have it, have my headphones in, like, or earbuds, like I'm not going to be able to sit there and listen for two and a half hours or two hours, whatever it is.
Speaker 1:So I wanted something short form. So I like and I went specific with like a format where I asked specific questions, so it would be approximately about the same amount of time per show. So that's kind of why I went with that. So is what I was looking for in a podcast, because everyone does like long-form, not focused or organized in a way I guess you could say.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. Yeah, I love your podcast so much and this is kind of a full circle moment for me, so it means a lot.
Speaker 1:That's awesome.
Speaker 2:Next question If you could only choose between Mexican food or biscuits for the rest of your life?
Speaker 1:Um, Like, can I eat biscuits with something else too?
Speaker 2:Sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I might go with biscuits. I love like biscuits and eggs a lot and biscuits and jam biscuits and honey cheddar biscuits it's all good.
Speaker 2:Nice, it's versatile.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay. Next question If a scientist comes and presents you with a potion that can give you a 50-50 chance of either getting a really cool superpower that you've always wanted, or a really lame one that you only get noticed when you don't want to, or something, would you take the potion and what superpower would you like?
Speaker 1:uh, I, probably wouldn't take the potion because I don't want any. I mean, 50 is not good odds for me, like to have something lame happening um, other than that. I mean flying would be pretty cool, but yeah, I probably would say, nah, pass, I'm down with just staying. Uh, the guy I am sweet.
Speaker 2:Okay, if you could be immortal, would you?
Speaker 1:immortal, would you? Uh, is it just me alone, by myself? Probably not, that's not. I mean that would be like a lonely life. I mean it'd be fun and like sad, fun, sad, fun, sad. Just a bunch of up and downs. I don't know. I probably say no nice okay, last one.
Speaker 2:What are your top three favorite books?
Speaker 1:well, I like the richest man in babylon a lot, um, it's kind of like an older book, um. And then there's another one, I think it's how to win friend, what's it called? How to win friends and make what? It's something. Uh, I'm like messing up title right now how to make friends and freaking just by carnegie and what's his name. I'm blanking on it right now. Shoot, so something like that. Oh, my goodness, I'm blanking on it, it's anyways. It's something along like how to make friends and I, but it's am. It's like a classic book, um. And then one that I should read is probably the bible, and I'm not very good at that, but that would that one should be on there too nice, yeah, that was all the questions I had.
Speaker 1:That's it. Yeah, all right. So do you have any projects or any things you'd like to discuss about yourself that you're working on?
Speaker 2:I'm working on a little merch shop for my ongoing project Critters critters and for context they're these little animated creatures, cat-like creatures with noodley arms. They kind of represent spontaneity living in the present and just finding joy in ordinary things. So that's my ongoing project and, yeah, a little merch shop is coming. And I'm also working on, uh, a new one of one series and, yeah, I think that's it.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Well, that's great. Uh, joyce, I want to tell you thank you for coming on the show. I hope a listener reaches out and DMs you for advice or anything. I hope they get the same thing like you did out of it, and it was very nice to meet you in New York and to chat with you now, and I hope to see you at some more events in the future. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's go. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:Who is this? Who is this guy? Who is this guy? Who is this guy? Who is this guy? Who is this guy? Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy, norcal guy, norcal and chill podcast. So it's chill time, norco and chill podcast. What the what the chill? Norco and chill podcast. So it's chill time, norco and chill podcast. What the what the chill.