Featured Artist: Danish Mir
Q & A
Q: How did you come to meet Sendrock?
A: I came to meet Sendrock on foundation when he started sale on one of my close friends NFT and I knew he values the real ART! I followed him on twitter and Instagram and he followed me back....and thus we came to know each other.
Q: What changes have you noticed in the artist/collector dynamic since the NFT renaissance?
A: After the NFT renaissance the people who truly value ART showed the world that people of all race, all regions, all religion can be united through ART. Artists supporting each other to grow together is one of the best things that happened after the NFT renaissance.
Q: How has the onset of NFTs changed your creative process?
A: Well not majorly changed in the creative process, but what's changed is that earlier my major focus was on self-portraits now I am into more scenery and lo-fi works. So, when doing portraits, I used to click a lot of photos of myself and then worked upon them. Now I make most of my stuff in 3d and then add touch up to them.
Q: What is the first piece of art work you remember creating? Do you ever reincorporate childhood memories into your pieces?
A: Sunset Sea was my first piece of artwork I created as an NFT. Yes, there was a childhood memory attached to it. This art is inspired by my college days where after a day full of work around sunset we used to chill at our rooftops, have a cup of tea and as our home was near the Airport, we used to see flight landings and takeoffs just over our heads. Even though everything was moving so fast and we felt lost in the chaos, sitting at this place makes us forget all.
Q: How long has your work been digitally focused? Do you do any analog prep work or sketches? What programs do you use to generate your creations?
A: Since a long time, my entire focus has been on digitally. I only sketch to make a rough of what I am going to make. Programs I use: Blender Photoshop Premiere Pro After Effects
Q: Your work really brings in elements of fantasy, from a small tinge of the surreal ("Subway Melody") to full-on sword and sorcery ("Skyfire Tiger" and "Kali, Daemon Tamer"). Why are you pulled to fantasy?
A: Well, I like to bring out the things I dream to reality. When I first started doing artworks, I was so sure that I want to do this for long as it makes me happy to see my dream ideas come to life and I can share that to the world.
Q: Your work is also really meditative and reflective. Pieces like "Measuring Moments" and "Buddha Mind" create an atmosphere of calm in the viewer. Do you have a meditation practice? What role does meditation play in your life and your artistic process?
A: Well, there was time due to some financial problems in my family, I had to work overtime so that I can do my best to help them out. So, in the morning there was a time after my workout I did 5-minute guided meditation. What It did to me was give me calm and confidence to face the day and also felt more focused. Now when I make art, it is meditating for me.
Q: Your pieces are very narrative, and I wonder about whether there are stories that go along with some of them. Is there a story for "Destinies Collide" (the dancing animals in the burning house)?
A: In my artwork Destinies Collide I tried to depict a burning love story in which a Mice falls in love with a Tiger. The story breaks all the barriers of race, species, and shows the power of Love and Destiny.
Q: Urban spaces that have collided with the surreal or the fantastic are recurring elements of your work. What is interesting to you about picturing – and reconfiguring/reimagining – urban space?
A: To elaborate on this I can say I have felt from my childhood that there is magic everywhere, it’s just you have to believe in that. With that believe I may have tended to add some surrealism to realistic urbanism.
Q: Are there any real places (cities, rural areas, specific streets, etc.) that have influenced your worldbuilding? If so, can you share a few examples of these places and talk about why they are resonant for you?
A: Monuments like Taj Mahal makes me wonder how imagination has been brought to life. But more than real life, movies like harry potter, Narnia, etc. have been major source of inspiration for me to create surreal works.
Q: Cats show up in several pieces. What is the symbolism of the cat for you?
A: Honestly, no symbolism, it's just I love cats. I fell in love with a street cat who used to come to our house daily in the evening for food and I loved to pet him
Q: Any big exciting new projects on the horizon? Can you give us a hint as to what to expect?
A: Yes, I am planning about an Anime collection consisting of 100 artworks on Anime theme. I am trying my best to be better than the works we have already seen from me.
Q: What has most helped you become successful in this space?
A: My mother taught me to help people and in return you will be helped by GOD. I try to help as much artists and community members as i can and in return they help me be Successful in this Field
Q: How do you go about acquiring collectors?
A: I basically engage with the collectors on twitter and Instagram. I give them my 100% support in return they give me their love
Q: What advice would you like to give to new artists entering the space or those who have not yet found their momentum?
A: I would like to tell my fellow artists that they should focus on their quality of work. They should do art not because they earn from it but because they learn from it. They should love and respect ART and not worry about sales. Sales will come running after a true artist who loves Art
Q.What is your favorite platform and why?
A: Foundation is my favorite platform because of its variety of art present there. And the feature to get Auctions and Bid wars.
Q: What would you most like to see change in this space?
A: The mindset of the artists should not be Sales Oriented rather it should be Art Oriented. If I have the power, I would like to change the mindset of people to love Art.
Q: How do you feel about 10k collections versus 1/1 NFT art and the relationship between the two?
A: It's a different market. Have to consider utility roadmap traits Discord hype and Fomo. For 1/1s you just say do I like the art and artist and can I afford it. NFT Culture had a good tweet. 10k drop you're dealing with customers; 1/1 you're dealing with collectors.
Q: Where do you see your art/career in 5 years?
A: If I attain success as an artist in 5 years, I would love to support my fellow artists and Community by collecting as much work as I can.