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
Can A Cat's Independence Shape An Artist's Legacy? with Rik Oostenbroek
What does it take to transform a teenage fascination with Microsoft Paint into collaborations with global brands like Nike, Apple, and Mercedes-Benz? In this candid conversation, digital artist Rik Oostenbroek pulls back the curtain on his remarkable 19-year creative journey.
Rik's story begins in a small Dutch town where his teacher parents emphasized education and sports over artistic pursuits. His creative awakening came during his rebellious teenage years when a friend introduced him to DeviantArt, sparking a self-taught design education that would eventually lead to designing flyers for local events in exchange for free drinks. By age 17, he had landed his first major client—Volkswagen—after his portfolio unexpectedly gained over 100,000 views in a single day.
The conversation takes fascinating turns as Rik shares his evolution from freelancer to art director for Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, ultimately returning to independence when he discovered corporate environments stifled his creativity. His philosophy of "always remember why you started" has guided him through the volatile Web3 landscape, where he found both supportive collectors and new possibilities for digital art. Rik's refreshing honesty about the challenges of maintaining artistic integrity while building commercial success offers valuable insights for creators at any stage.
Looking ahead, Rik reveals details about his six-month collaboration on a generative art project, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and artistic growth. Whether discussing his dream of living in Japan or LA, his experience getting scammed in the early crypto days, or his obsession with risotto, Rik's authentic passion for creativity shines throughout this conversation.
Ready to be inspired? Listen now and discover why remembering your creative roots might be the most powerful tool for navigating an artistic career in today's rapidly changing digital landscape.
Who is this? Who is this guy? Who is this guy, who is this guy, who is this guy?
Speaker 2: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, norcal and chill podcast. What the sh, what the sh? Norcal and chillill Podcast. What the sh what the sh NorCal and Shill Podcast. So it's shill time, norcal. And.
Speaker 1:Shill Podcast. What the sh-. What the sh-. Hey, everyone, welcome to this next episode of NorCal and Shill. Today we have the Rick. In this episode of NorCal and Shill, we have Rick Ostenbrook, a talented artist and creator. Rick shares his journey from starting with Microsoft Paint to becoming a renowned artist. He emphasizes the importance of self-education and staying true to oneself. Rick also delves into the intriguing world of crypto art and his experiences with collectors and the rise of digital art. He discusses the challenges and rewards of his career, highlighting the importance of remembering why he started and staying focused. Rick also touches on his work with well-known brands like Nike and Mercedes Benz. He shares personal anecdotes, including his experiences growing up and his desire to move to Los Angeles. Throughout the episode, rick's passion for his craft shines through, leaving listeners inspired and intrigued by his creative journey. Everybody, please, welcome Rick. Hey, rick, welcome to the podcast. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2:I'm good. Thank you for having me. Of course, I'm honored because I know the Norco for quite long. We've been exchanging DMs, especially lots of GMs and GNs, all the time and like it's no, but it's cool that you do this in this space in general and it's pretty cool that you have an actual art PFP by James. James and I go way back, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, he was one of the first ones that I kind of connected with in the space and I bought a few of his art pieces and you know, we, you know it was fun, it was fun chatting with him and he was like, hey, you should check out this person, check out this person. Um yeah, it was great. It was great and I didn't, you know, there wasn't really any pfps besides punks back when.
Speaker 1:I got in there was like artvatar, was it artvatar or something like that, which was kind of a, an avatar thing, um, but yeah, there's. So I thought it was a, you know it was. It was a lamborghini. It felt like the space, perfect you know crypto everyone's talking about getting a lambo. I was like this is perfect.
Speaker 2:It'll be a perfect pfp and yeah, it's an art piece, but yeah, you're, you're still sticking to it, but right now it feels like I'm interviewing you. I'm sorry for that no, it's all good.
Speaker 1:It's all good, um, but yeah, I mean I, there's not very many people that I mean I've always kept it as my pfp. I don't ever, I've never changed it. Um, you know, there's not very many people that I mean I've always kept it as my PFP. I don't ever, I've never changed it. You know, there's not a whole lot of people that use an art piece as a PFP. No, Bernie.
Speaker 2:So that's cool, so you stand out in that way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, a little bit. So do you use and have a hardware wallet?
Speaker 2:I do, uh, only since a year or so, but I I have three and I use one uh. I gave the other two away to friends, nice, trying to keep them safe as well. I think I had two from like. It's like I used to have that pre-mint thing, right like the pre-mint membership, and you could claim ledger or something with that. So I'm using no, but yeah, I'm using a hardware wallet for sure, um, especially since all the ftx stuff happening and whatever right yeah, you got, you got to be careful.
Speaker 2:Uh, I only got scammed once, but that was my own mistake. It wasn't even Clickbait, but it was some guy who needed to close a deal before he could bid 10 ETH on a piece of mine and I was like, yeah, here, bro, got some ETH. Then he fucked me over. That was in your early days.
Speaker 1:Classic, classic move. I should bring that one back man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know it's not no, but yeah, safety for everything, man, especially in this place, and you see so many weird things happening, so you got to be cautious and that's that's good, but you've got to be that in real life as well, so it makes sense to use it.
Speaker 1:For sure. I mean, it's definitely hard. You know the FOMO in the space is like oh, go get this thing. You know it just popped up.
Speaker 2:You know there's only so many and you are rushing, you're not thinking and you're like trying to mint it and the next thing you know, you're like, oh crap, yeah, but it's great that I'm the worst DJ in life. I feel like I never made a good move in this space. I was like you read all those success stories and shit. I've never been a trader. I'm the worst investor in life. My mom and dad are very passive when it comes to investing in shit. It's not in my nature.
Speaker 2:I barely FOMO into anything in this space. Um, yeah at all, which is good and which keeps me safe as well. Like um I, I just had an incident with friend tech, by the way, where I bought uh, I actually bought into two fake accounts today. This is a big failure and again, like it's because of greed and I want to be that degen too and I'm seeing like, oh, this guy, just like this nft statistics, had a fake account. And also ps row, the collector and friend of mine, texted me like bro, he just he just started an account 10 minutes ago and I was like okay, and I blindly bought in and again like oh but I'm glad that like army in the end.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, fun but yeah, small losses mm-hmm they're all just small mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:On one I even made like on the Azura, do I meet made $2 profit, so I'm proud profit is profit exactly. Sadly the beers aren't as cheap anymore, otherwise it would have been a profit. But okay.
Speaker 1:So what were your first thoughts when you heard about nfts, crypto art?
Speaker 2:um, actually, the first the first time I saw like the term on uh on instagram actually, because I was an instagram maxi, so to say. Uh was from james and and he was, he was, he was talking about crypto art, but but I never, like, I really was grinding very hard in the client side of things. Uh, for the reason that, like, we were expecting our first kid and I really literally said yes to everything because I want to provide for the family and blah, blah, blah. Um, so I wasn't really uh, paying attention to it. Besides, like alessio from super rare um, he hit me up at some point like bro, you want to do this thing on super, on super rare, like I, I didn't have any clue actually. Um, so until the kid was born, I didn't pay any attention and, of course, people sold his uh 5 000 days and I've known mike for quite a bit and I was like holy shit, like, and it's not not really because it was like he was making money out of it, but it was more like fuck, are we relevant all of a sudden? Right, like we were such.
Speaker 2:No, but no one ever took it serious or as art form and I was like I've been doing this for 19 years and I always was vouching for the digital craft and all of a sudden this thing happened. Sorry, it occurs a lot in my English. It's fine, okay, good, no, but but I was, I, I was, I was blown away by that and, and that made me pick up on twitter, uh. And then I got like before that, I got dms from people that sort of like sold my style, so to say, which obviously like you can't own a style, but like similar work to mine for pretty good money. This is another sign that I should just at least look into it and see if it's something interesting for me. Those were my first steps.
Speaker 2:I got into Super Rare and found my first collectors yeah, Right Was Kryptonio, one of your first collectors he was my second one, ah, okay, and, and he's, he was always talking pretty high of you, like I, I know, but like, as as collector and artist, like, especially if you you have such a small collector base, you, yeah, wait, is there someone here? Hello, oh, there was someone in the. No, I have a shirt workspace and it's mine and I don't expect anyone to sorry for that. No, uh, kryptonio was was my second collector actually, and uh, just like my first collector, who's an austrian guy, I, I really suck all information out of those guys. Like I wanted to to educate myself because I didn't know anything about crypto at all. Uh, in fact, like my first piece um was minted by someone else, which is very weird, but through, like team viewer, he had to click all the right buttons because I was like, okay, what is this thing? Like, oh, what is metamask and like all that that stuff. Um, like I wasn't too aware of that side of the world and that was all interesting. So I really wanted to educate myself through my collectors and also gain advice from their side. Like, hey, how does this work? How do you collect as well, because I still want to be a DJ, but I suck. No, but I was very much interested and that, like with with kryptonio I, I spoke for months and months. I still every time, every now and then we check in into each other, yeah, what's up, and that's just like how real relationships get built out here.
Speaker 2:I guess, for sure, especially the dialogue between artists and collectors super interesting and for both sides. That, like don't get me wrong, also for for them, because in 2021, like, everybody was just buying whatever as well. Uh, yeah, they didn't know the history of digital art, or like, hey, is this artist legit? Uh, so they also came to me to ask like, hey, what do you think of this guy? What do you think of this piece? Uh, how original is this style? Have you heard about this person? And, and that was that was quite interesting. Uh, to sort of like educate myself but also educate them, and and that was that was really nice and it's still. This is still going on, by the way, but those early days I was a bit shy, so they helped me a lot.
Speaker 1:Nice, that's awesome. Yeah, it was super epic. Yeah, I like Kryptonio. I don't talk to him so much anymore, but I see him around and shoot him a GM and hey, what's going on, man?
Speaker 2:Do it, do it, do it. He's a good guy, he's, he's definitely a good guy. Uh. So, yeah, tell him hi from me as well. I spoke to him last week actually, and he's doing fine he's, he's very happy okay, good.
Speaker 1:So why did you choose art 19 years ago? What brought you to it?
Speaker 2:no, but this is this is the hardest question ever, because there were so many factors in play. I guess In the end, it totally makes sense when I look back right now, but at that point it didn't make sense. My parents are both teachers in primary school. My father was a principal in a primary school for kids that didn't develop too well I don't know how to call it but they had a hard time, hard youth, like all kind of issues, and my mom was a very insecure yeah, mom, like not an insecure mom, but she wasn't like okay, my dad was super outgoing and pushing us and my mom was more or less in the background. But yeah, my father was very much into sports. So I basically um, with tennis, speed skating, uh, football, soccer, however you call it, uh, sorry for that, I always have to do it, no, but basically, uh, I was, I was doing pretty much like education and sports were everything, um, yeah, and.
Speaker 2:But then around the age of 14, um, I was kind of rebellious. I would say I'm not sure if this is allowed to say in this like podcast or whatever, but like I just got like I'm obviously I'm from the netherlands. So I started to smoke weed, I started to drink beer and whatever, like I actually sort of just try to discover myself, because I noticed that I've always been walking the path that my parents sort of paved and and like they only want the right thing right, like there's no offense towards them, they've always been nice to me. Uh, and a friend of mine showed me DeviantArt. I don't know if you know the platform. It was a big chunk of the internet at some point. I think it was like 10% of the data on the internet was from that website, early 2000s, where all kind of art enthusiasts, from traditional to photography to whatever, actually kind of what we're facing right here. Uh, and he showed me some some work from from like digital abstract artist, um, and, and obviously, like I was high but I was like holy shit, like this, this is pretty cool.
Speaker 2:And then, like when, when I look further back, like even in primary school, at the age of like nine I was, I was already messing around with microsoft paint, which is super random, but I was just drawing figures there, but I've never been a drawer or I never had any art interest interest, so I guess, like that's sort of what grew on me, uh, that I was observing a lot and I was enjoying aesthetics and and try to sort of educate myself in that realm by educating myself in Photoshop. So, yeah, I don't know there were so many factors in play and it really sort of is my destiny is such a cringe word but like, sort of like, yeah, and it's still my passion, right, like I always try to maintain that eagerness that I had back in the days to sort of educate myself and have fun in this field. I don't know if, like, should I continue. Like I could talk about this for hours.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that was a good good background on like how things got rolling. What kind of jobs have you done like as a teenager up till being a professional?
Speaker 2:oh yeah of course, like obviously it started quite local where you did like flyers for, like hockey that were like I'm in the posh, the posh area of the netherlands, and lots of people play hockey here, like with a stick on the field but not on ice, uh, but um, yeah, so I did those flyers for them. And then they were like, hey, rick, you can drink all night for free. And I was like, oh, yeah, fuck, yeah, no, that was epic and it was just like, uh, you know, like it wasn't. It wasn't that as easy and accessible back in the days to find someone who could make a flyer for you, or you didn't have those like easy apps where you can do it on your phone and drop and blah, blah. Like people were really like, oh, my god, this guy can do something. And it was quite funny because, like to me, it was just a hobby, right, like there was never any monetizing behind it or whatever. Like, hey, if I can help you, fine, I'll do it. And what do you? Yeah, like they gave me free drinks in return. That was fine, uh.
Speaker 2:And then after high school, I was quite like, already during high school actually the age of 17 I landed my first gig for a volkswagen and I was like holy shit, like that was so random and and like, again, people had to. Just, there was no social media back then, right, so how do people discover you? Like, I had this crappy portfolio site a friend made for mine and and I still remember that, like in one day, some, some blog posted me and I had like 112 000 page views in one day. And my friend said, yo bro, what the is this? And I said whoa, and I got like hit up by by brands and magazines and I was like, okay, what is this like?
Speaker 2:Because, yeah, still, I didn't have any idea to, or not the not like the motivation to make a living out of this right, like that was never, never the case. So, yeah, fast forward. Uh, so much happened. Um, works I? I I only been like a full-time once in my life. Uh, because straight out of high school I, um I went freelance artist and basically I was still living at my parents, so that my cost of living was simply just to buy drinks and weed, which, which is terrible yeah but no, but it was what it was.
Speaker 2:I was still young, right, and um, yeah, that was, that was fire. And then I got a job offer from Montreal, uh, and and I moved there, uh, doing full-time art direction for Cirque du Soleil I don't know if you know it and I was like 20 years old. So I was like, fuck, I made it right, it was good pay, but, yeah, no, apparently I wasn't too happy when people sort of bossed me around, so I tried that aspect as well. After that, I started really to focus on developing an own identity and own style, and I think that changed everything for me. Um, social media popped up. I started to post my, my first like, or like my personal experiments, and that worked out pretty well, in a sense that people started to hire me for what I do in my free time. So it it was like, uh, it wasn't that people came to you with a sketch where, like, hey, rick, we want this, but photorealistic, and then I had to execute it, but right now it really came out of me and that was that was a big win. Um, so, yeah, social media made me like, promote myself in that way and my own experiments actually sort of like. I had more followers than people in the early days of Instagram, actually, but I gave up on Instagram because, yeah, for many reasons. But, yeah, fast forward.
Speaker 2:After that I got a bit like bored with executing things for clients and I even started to focus more on my personal work and I got to sell my usage rights of my personal work. So I have some pieces, for instance, that have been licensed by Apple, xiaomi, samsung, hp, whatever, and some even multiple times. So that was really nice earning model because, in the end, like, all I ever cared about was like being like those early days where I could just play, and and and develop myself as an artist and not like, like, and that that's always the goal to, to, to sort of make a living out of that and progress as a creative and then, and yeah, make money on the site Like that. That's, that's the perfect like thing. So, but yeah, I had a lot of a lot of clients. You can see them on my website if you want to.
Speaker 2:I worked for Apple HP. I even did things for Taylor Swift show once. I worked for Jennifer Lopez. I did even pitbull, the, the rapper guy. Yeah, mazda, volkswagen, mercedes-benz, mini, cooper, bmw, nike, adidas, puma what other sports band like I, I did so much and it's like I gave, gave a talk the other day in Barcelona and and realizing that is quite insane that I've done that all yeah. But the weird thing is like I my dad, was always super proud, like hey, rick worked for this, but it never really did anything to me personally, where I was like oh fuck, you pulled it off. Only the Nike gig was really a bucket list thing, but then in the end I was like I didn't really. I I enjoyed it, but to a certain gradation, like it wasn't that I could be mad proud because in the end, like I wasn't the decision maker within those processes and right, that changed a lot actually.
Speaker 1:That changed a lot, Right, right. So if you were an animal, what would you be and why Jesus?
Speaker 2:fuck, I think I would like to be a cat.
Speaker 2:I want to be independent, but I also want to hug every now and then I think like, yeah, right, like yeah, that's true, and that's that's sort of like we have a cat ourselves and he's he's often quite annoying. Like once he wants food and he just wants to be petted and stuff like that, like he just wants attention and like, yeah, I, I kind of fight with that. I wouldn't say it's my the animal. I like maybe a whale as well, and not like crypto will or whatever, but just like just chilling in the ocean and doing nothing. But I, I think a cat is more, yeah, appropriate for me. Uh, yeah, no, totally, I'm surprised by this answer. I'm surprised by this answer. I'm surprised by this answer. I'm surprised by this answer that's fair do you have a favorite?
Speaker 2:food yeah, totally, I'm a sucker for risotto. I love risotto in every kind of way, and sushi, of course. I had this conversation with my lady, like if I die or like I have one day to live, like what I want to eat. I don't like sushi, but but it has to be sushi from japan, though, like it doesn't need to be like the filthy takeaway sushi here, uh, and risotto, like I, I love risotto. I don't know if you fight with it, but I love truffle risotto and such things, and especially if there's a bit of meat in it or even mushrooms, although I don't really if you vibe with it, but I love truffle risotto and such things, and especially if there's a bit of meat in it or even mushrooms, although I don't really like mushrooms, but with risotto they go well. Yeah, I guess that's it. Such a random question. No one ever asked me this.
Speaker 1:So do you have like a piece of advice or a motto that you live by that, like repeats in your head, keeps on coming back?
Speaker 2:to me personally, um, the most important thing is always remember why you started doing this. Like, always go back to that core and figure out, like why you initially started to do this, and and like, because there's so much noise, um, there's so much distraction as well. There are so many moments, especially if you're in create or if you are creative, that you want to give up like I had those moments myself as well. But always go back to that core, like why did I ever start liking this thing and why did I like it and what is so fun about it? And that helped me a lot also, especially in Web3, where it's all about your own work and there are so many aspects involved, such as value, floor prices and blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 2:But in the end, why are you here and why are you doing this? And I think the reasoning behind that, like I always try to look back at that, like 14 year old, why did I like doing this so much? And try to hold onto that? No, but for real, and it works. But I only figured that out recently, to be honest. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Do you?
Speaker 1:have. Do you have advice for artists coming to the crypto art space?
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I do think there are so many like it's hard, it's hard to be part of this space, and it's not hard to enter the space, but it's especially hard to stay in the space, I guess, to enter the space, but it's it's especially hard to stay in the space, I guess. Uh, to to sort of maintain positivity and blah blah and not get caught up in those values and for prices and if you're selling yes or no, uh, I also had those moments that I was like, oh fuck, I'm not relevant anymore, I'll quit. And then a couple months later, like just again, like, like, why, like what makes you unique? Like why and and then, and especially like, don't feel forced to be active on social media if you, if you don't like it. Like just post work. Like look at joe peace, for instance, he only shows up post work and he fucks up again. It makes another masterpiece in a couple months later he he's back again. No, but that's cool, and just stay close to yourself and to your core values.
Speaker 2:And I'm from a pretty small town and I always had to find like-minded people online and that's the reason why I'm quite active on social media and I like to interact with people. But, yeah, be patient, educate yourself. I like to to interact with people but, yeah, be patient, educate yourself. But overall, like, don't get discouraged for not selling a piece, because I've been there as well and probably like the Grand Yon's and and the Joe pieces, even like they've all been there and yeah it's it's see it as an opportunity and not like as a weight on your shoulders and and just just like I mean essentially, like we, we do our craft, we do our we, we, we do our passion and there's, there's a possibility that that maybe even someone buys it.
Speaker 2:And that possibility was never there, right, like that, it was just like we just posted that on our feet and that was it. Well, well, it was like it was your art. So why that was it? Well, well, it was like it was your art. So why, like, yeah, I mean, feel it, see it as a blessing and be patient, for sure, for sure, and educate yourself on all sides if you could live or move anywhere, where would you live and why?
Speaker 2:japan or la. Um, like, I haven't seen much from japan besides tokyo and kyoto, but, um, the lack of chaos there is very interesting. What it does to your like, I don't know, there's some sort of serenity there. I don't't know if you've been in Japan I have not Bro, like, go there. No, but in all honesty, like, and I always said to my lady that I want to move to LA at some point in my life, of course, depending on the situation in the US, I don't really fight with what's going on there.
Speaker 2:The last couple years, and it's been like four years since I've been in california uh, shout out to the best weed in the world, for sure, no, but but like, yeah, the kelly lifestyle is something I really like, and especially the creative scene. Uh, it feels somehow like which is the opposite from japan. I feel like Japan is a nice, a better environment to live in. But in LA, like, I love how people created stuff together there and and how many you know creativity is there out on the streets and it could be skateboarding, it could be bmxing, it could be like some dj dragging his shopping cart forward while making music. I, I sort of really like that. And and, of course, like yeah, I don't know. Uh, I I love it there and and I can't put my finger on it and that way over new york, like I like. No, actually I hate New York city. I don't like it too much. Sorry to my collectors who are from there, because I guess most of my collectors are from New York. I'll visit you guys one day, just for you.
Speaker 2:That's fair yeah.
Speaker 1:Do you have any questions for me?
Speaker 2:Why Sharon Nevada brew.
Speaker 1:You know, um, they're not too far, they're they're based in Northern California. Yeah, so they're not the. That beer is like super cheap at like the stores and everything, and I think it tastes pretty good for what it is.
Speaker 2:yeah and yeah no, I, I still remember like, uh, I went to death valley with like two artist homies of mine. Uh, we did some mushrooms and beers and obviously the beer we took was like sharon nevada, the hazy little thing like the.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah yeah, yeah I had the best time. I know it was real. Um, any other questions, why? Why didn't you ever collect a one-off one of mine and that's no offense, like I'm just. I'm just curious in your collecting strategy and I'm not offended by it at all, but I'm just curious, how that works.
Speaker 1:Dude, I have a price limit that I don't usually go over.
Speaker 2:No, but that's fine. No, but that's fine. Like, you set your own limits.
Speaker 1:And you just, you know, slowly kept on going higher and higher and I just was like I missed my opportunity. A long time ago, Kryptonio took it.
Speaker 2:Kryptonio took it. Kryptonio took it. Yeah, no, but yeah, that was cool. He actually he sold me like he sold my Super Rare piece for like pretty much like quite a high number. I hate calling numbers, but it was nice to see collectors make profit like as well, that really embraces like the theme effort. And no, yeah, that really embraces like the theme effort. No, yeah, sorry, no questions for you, sir.
Speaker 1:No, I mean, that's why I like I look out for those editions and be like, oh, there's a Rick edition, I'm going to get it, I can afford it.
Speaker 2:Don't you own my fake rare by the way. Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Cheers to that. Yeah on that, um, um, yeah. And then your recent additionally release I've been just watching that one that collection, cool, see, cool. See how it fares in the next few weeks yeah, it's, it's.
Speaker 2:It's that one is really interesting. Uh, you know, that's also something like I've been. I've been doing a lot in the space because, like you need to know that every like I don't like to repeat myself, so I always want to try something new. And, um, like I got this opportunity to work, to work on this, and it was like, oh fuck, the market is bad. But like, once again, like if the market didn't exist, would I take this opportunity, yes or no? And of course I would have done it. So why should a market condition dictate what we do, like we create anyway? So, and that's also the case, like some of my best pieces have been launched during beer market and some collectors were like, bro, why not wait for the boo? It could go way higher. And I'm like it's just part of the creative process, like it's it's part of my current situation, like I want to have it out there and that's it. Like never let the market dictate. And, of course, like you can worry about values and floor prices.
Speaker 2:And in the beginning I had a pretty like I would say almost harder time that I always felt the pressure to satisfy my collectors. Right, like, right. Oh yeah, this, this like it should be all-time high after all-time high, and that happened for quite a bit. But then I was like bro, like this, this like you literally stagnate into your creativity when you want to create, like you don't create a single masterpiece time after time, like that simply doesn't happen. That's not how the process looks, like the creative process. So, um, sorry I'm rambling, but no, I do find it really interesting and I really try to let go of such things in this collection. I I recently did was a was a pretty good example of that, and right now it's super affordable. But that's also nice for people to be able to pick up something affordable, I feel, and have different price points on the market.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know it definitely is. It looks great.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:I'm glad that you did it. I think more people, especially artists that are considered blue, blue chip, I don't know they have like this. I feel many have this uh, scarcity, scarcity, scarcity, when I feel like additions don't really add to, like they don't take away from that scarcity at all and they just build your community ultimately but again, bro, like, like.
Speaker 2:Look look at a brand like nike or adidas, look at how, how many things they're launching and everything has a different price point, and some are super experimental products and some are less experimental, but in the end, you're a brand and I feel like picasso didn't stick to one style either. Or just like busting out. Work like, like like a maniac, and and I was. I was like that regarding editions as well. Work like, like like a maniac, and, and I was. I was like that regarding editions as well. The only thing I find annoying about editions is that it's hard to track your collectors, like I always like to right whenever I see someone collected my work like not all the time, I'm not obsessively, uh, looking them up, but more or less like when I noticed that on twitter and they tag me in it, like I always do an instant follow I thank them for, for the fact that. And and like those relationships like I had with Kryptonio or half with Kryptonio, for instance, where it's really like a conversation, that that's something you really have with your one-on-one collectors.
Speaker 2:A little bit more, that's that's how I feel, for sure, and once you get so many boulders, it's like it's all over the place and you don't really keep track and like I'm that social guy that keeps on rambling like I do right now. But, um, yeah, no, that's, that's like I. I believe in additions too uh, for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you have any upcoming projects you'd like to talk about?
Speaker 2:I'm working on a on a generative collaboration actually, uh, with with a gen, on a generative collaboration actually with an actual generative artist, which is Pure Code, and that's going to be interesting to see how that develops. But it's been in progress for, I think, six months already. Ah, wow, yeah. But you know, the cool thing about this space is that you open your mind for new things and at first I was like, okay, this generative thing, but like the entire concept behind it, like some, like endless iterations, and you create the margins, like, oh man, like I'm blown away by this shit and, as always, like I'm always trying to educate myself on new things and this was a great opportunity to dive into it. So I'm working with someone who became a great friend of mine, uh, on on this thing, and we don't know when it will release, but it's been in progress for quite a bit and it's looking super tight. It's looking super tight, yeah, like that super tight awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, dude, that's awesome. Well, rick, damn any shout outs. Do you want to do any shout? You don't have to do any uh.
Speaker 2:Shout out to my discord. Uh, I love you guys. Shout out to my friend tech key holders are you on friend tech? No, no, no, um, no. Uh. Shout out to like no, but like everyone who helped me from the beginning uh, my austrian, my austrian collector uh, saltman gax, ay, kryptonio scott like my first one-on-one collectors are really close art clap as well. Uh, like those. Those are the guys I really sort of like value and and like everything I do in this space. I run by them, uh, if it's a good idea or not, and uh how they're feeling about something and like, yeah, that's, that's just great. I really made plenty of friends I could hang out with in real life as well, which is cool and which I actually did. So, yeah, man, um, a shout out to you for doing this, by the way.
Speaker 1:It's great oh, thanks, thanks, it's great. Yeah, it's been great. Um, yeah, yeah, I mean I like art pleb a lot and I like kryptonio.
Speaker 2:I've only I've met art pleb a couple times now and yeah, he's a great guy too really cool yeah it's, there's lots of good people in the space, and especially the ones that are in it for the art, are like yeah, no, that's, that's quite cool. Like I sometimes have a hard time people flipping me because it takes me like I take that so personal, bro. Like it's like, oh fuck, did I fuck something up or did I create something ugly? And like I especially had that with, uh, the release of my fake rare where people flipped it for five bucks and I'm like bro, like what is this like?
Speaker 2:come on, come on right, true, true yeah yeah, so I'm glad you still have it in your wallet. Thank you for that. Yeah, sitting there, it's, it's locked.
Speaker 1:So good to talk to you. It was really good to talk to you, rick and uh man. I hope you have a great evening and we'll be talking soon we will talk soon.
Speaker 2:And yeah, let's, let's have a beer one day. Let's go for that, for sure we will. We will make it happen, all right thanks man, all right bye.
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Speaker 2:NorCal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal guy. Norcal and chill podcast. So it's chill time, NorCal and chill podcast. What the what the Chill? Norcal and chill podcast. So it's chill time, NorCal and chill podcast. What the sh-. What the sh-.