Why This, Why Now?

Initially (and maybe even still), it felt like Klondyke -- people rushing in at full speed after Beeples massive (and well-deserved) entrance into the web3-scene, which paved the way for all artists who followed. Everything from evangelists and amazing artists, to gold diggers and speculators.

Then came the skeptics who point to the environmental impacts, the scams and rugpulls, the speculations, and those who are all here to make a quick buck. Now, there are even people who seem to hate NFTs with a vengeance. As usual, I think people on both ends of the spectrum need to get more towards the middle of the road.

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Like all emerging technologies, there’s always a line of people looking for a way to exploit it and its users. I’ve been skeptical for a long time and reluctant to join in. However, having spent a lot of time diving into the gritty details, reading and listening to podcasts about NFTs, I’ve decided it was time to enter the scene. I already feel it’s late, even though I know it really isn’t: the tech is still in its infancy and the scene as a whole has a lot of maturing to do. But it’s also evolved quite a lot already, things have become easier and users have become better educated. There’s also a lot of effort that seems to be put into solving the current issues both NFTs and cryptocurrency are facing.

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I’ve been a fan of Cardano for some time. The CNFT-scene seems to be a very friendly and conscientious community and being a more sustainable alternative, it felt like a natural place to start. Still, this scene is also, like all NFT-spaces, full of scammers, bots, and people willing to do anything for cash.

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For me, being able to sell my art as a way to make a living has always seemed like an unrealistic dream, something only a few selected people are destined to be able to do. And those who manage seem to struggle, having to rely on funding from the government or similar support schemes. NFTs have changed all that, and I've witnessed CGI artists I've followed for a long time transition from client work to 100% living off their art. That was unthinkable only a short time ago, and I can't let that opportunity pass having spent over 20 years making digital images and animations myself.

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Deck of Dark Dreams came naturally, almost by itself when I wanted to explore a universe for a collection. I've always been fascinated by dreams and how they affect our minds and lives. I have no superstitions about them, but I believe they are an important part of our psyche, our brains trying to tell us something. I've also always been deeply fascinated by the scary part of dreams, nightmares, and weirdness. The characters created for this project are almost like archetypes, people, or roles I've either seen, been, or thought of in one way or another, in real life or in dreams. More on them later.

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I'm looking forward to evolving this into the next chapter. At the end of this run, I've been playing with the idea of turning it into a game, something physical that can be enjoyed together with others. An MTG-style card game? A deck to interpret your dreams? The possibilities are endless.

Thanks for reading this. I hope you choose to follow my journey.