Through digital collectibles, Click allows the world to celebrate and experience premier bluechip art and never-before-seen video, letters, photos, artwork and more from culture-defining figures in art and culture. Click works with artists and their estates to digitize archives and modernize history through a new medium – NFTs.

Whereas much of NFT culture centers on topical content and fleeting virality, Click makes timeless cultural contributions that create long-term sustainable value. By using NFTs to spotlight iconic artworks, rare or forgotten archives, and boundary-pushing contemporary artists, Click is building bridges between past, present and future generations by way of the blockchain.

As Director of the John Chamberlain Estate, Alexandra drew on her experience carefully cataloging decades of artwork, archives and collectibles. Her unique upbringing in the art world allowed recognize the importance of preserving history and showcasing individuals’ contributions to society. For many estates and foundations, this process is often taken on far too late in an artist’s career, and hundreds, even thousands of pieces need to be located, archived, and placed in a digital storage unit to ensure eternal utility, cultural preservation and value. The cultural treasures of the last 100 years captured on 16mm, slides, letters and other ephemera are disintegrating—they cannot last forever in their physical form. Click’s expertise presents a utility for estates and foundations who wish to digitally archive collections and significant artifacts, but do not possess the technology or funding to do so.

This month, Alexandra Fairweather, Director of the John Chamberlain estate, launched her premier NFT art marketplace and editorial destination, Click. The NFTs will provide funding to the arts through a partnership with Art21, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring a more creative world through the works and words of contemporary artists.

Holders of The (Dis)integration NFTs will receive access to Click’s elite membership program, thus gaining early access to upcoming NFT drops in partnership with blue chip artists, exclusive programming, artist content, invitations to VIP parties, estate and foundation dinners, and more. Members will also receive a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration of the inaugural art series and the lost history uncovered with the project.

Click was founded by Alexandra and her team of art and tech gurus. Their mission is to engage the world through art and historic unseen moments digitized into NFTs.

Author Bio: Alexandra Fairweather is an art and finance veteran who co-directs the estate of world-renowned artist John Chamberlain. This year, Alexandra launched a ground-breaking new concept, CLICK, a premier contemporary art NFT platform and editorial destination. Through digital collectibles, Click allows the world to experience premier art and never-before-seen video, letters, photos, artwork and more from culture-defining figures in art, film, fashion, and music. 

She sits on the board of multiple investment vehicles in the art and real estate spaces. She was recently involved as an executive producer for Maven Pictures’ film A Mouthful of Air, starring Paul Giamatti and Amanda Seyfried. Her expertise in art and culture has segued into a career as both an editor-in-chief of a fashion-lifestyle publication and a filmmaker. Alexandra’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Hamptons Magazine, The New York Observer, and Social Life Magazine, including interviews with Katie Ford (Ford Models), Peter Cuneo (CEO Marvel Entertainment), world-renowned artist Cai Guo-Qiang, Broadway star Elaine Stritch, and celebrity restaurateur, Michael Chow.

The post Click Spotlights Lost Art and Artifacts Through NFTs appeared first on Art Business News.

These days, you do not have to be an accredited investor or an institution to own fine art or collectibles. You too can invest in fine art and own a masterpiece or rare collectible – or more than one! Use your eye for quality and build investing skills by enrolling in one of the art investment platforms online and purchasing fractional shares of works of fine art and collectibles.

This article explains the different platforms available to you and anyone who wants to start investing in works of art or collectibles to build passive income.

WHY SHOULD I INVEST IN FINE ART OR COLLECTIBLES ONLINE?

To Be Engaged with Your Investments

If you are interested in the art world or collectibles, investing in these will engage you more than if you invest in, say, shares of commercial property or mutual funds. Simply put, if you are an art lover or a collector, you will enjoy investing and learn more if you invest in art or collectibles.

To Further Diversify Your Investment Portfolio

If you have paid off all of your credit card debt, fully funded your emergency fund, regularly contribute to your IRA, and have disposable income in excess of these and your other monthly expenses, you can further diversify your investment portfolio by purchasing shares in fine art or collectibles online.

To Invest in Something that Historically Holds and Builds Value

Historical trends show that the fine art and collectibles market is not as volatile as the equity market. While gains in these markets may be less than those possible in the stock market, the value of your investment in fine art or collectibles will slowly and steadily increase over time.

To Own Shares of Artworks or a Collectible That Can Be Easily Traded

One problem with investing in fine art or collectibles is that physical objects are not nearly as liquid as stocks and bonds. A work of art or collectible must sell, usually through an auction house or a gallery before investors realize a profit. For a work of art or collectible to sell, there must be a buyer. So while there is almost certainly value in fine art and collectibles, an investor must be prepared and willing to hold until they sell.

Most online platforms buying and selling fine art and collectibles have largely overcome this problem by creating a secondary market for fractional shares and NFTs, allowing investors to buy and sell their investment in collectibles, works of physical art, and digital works of art.

Online Art Investing Platforms Allow You to Purchase Fractional Shares of Works of Fine Art and Collectibles

Platforms such as Masterworks, Otis, and Yieldstreet are democratizing investing in art and collectibles, allowing non-accredited investors the opportunity to purchase fractional shares of collectibles and works of fine art by established and blue-chip artists of the past and of today. These platforms bring more liquidity to investing in fine art and other collectibles by creating a secondary market for these fractional shares.

The offerings on these platforms are curated by research teams that track the market performance of various artists and types of collectibles. The teams purchase and securitize the works and collectibles they believe will perform well if sold in as little as eight months or as long as ten years, at which point after the platform’s fees are deducted from the sale price investors receive their pro-rata share of the profits.

However, an investor in any of these platforms does not have to wait for the work of art or collectible to be sold to sell their fractional shares. Investors can sell their fractional shares at any time through the platform’s secondary market.

While the fees may be substantial (as much as 20% of the final sale price), there is a low buy-in. The minimum initial investment for Masterworks is $1,000 and for Yieldstreet is $500, while fractional shares on Otis sell for as little as $10. And for all these platforms, investors can rest assured that management’s interests are squarely aligned with theirs – they too aim to sell art and collectibles at a profit, as they make money primarily through sales commission.

You Can Invest in Digital Art By Purchasing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

With the advent of Blockchain technology, investors can securely purchase and hold nonfungible tokens (NFTs) in digital artworks and digital collectibles. These works are unique, nonphysical, digital pieces that, thanks to Blockchain technology, can be verified and traced. Blockchain also supports liquidity of this type of investment, allowing investors to buy and sell NFTs in collectibles and digital art easily.

NFTs give contemporary artists and those creating collectibles such as sports and movie memorabilia the opportunity to sell their work directly to their investors, giving investors access to their work in an open marketplace. NFTs are easily bought and sold on various online platforms.

To purchase NFTs:

1. Go to an NFT marketplace online such as OpenSea, MakersPlace, or SuperRare and shop for the art or collectible that appeals to you as either a collector or an investor – or both!
2. Fund your digital wallet. NFTs are an Ethereum-based asset that can be purchased with Ethereum tokens.
3. Purchase NFTs for the work or works of art you are interested in.
4. Track the market and buy or sell NFTs as you see fit.

Do Your Due Diligence Before Investing in Fine Art Online

Every platform offering the opportunity for non-accredited individuals to invest in fine art and collectibles online will disclose their performance in the market, historically, as well as their administrative and management fees and sales commissions. Be sure to understand your financial and time commitment before you apply to invest in any online investment opportunity.

About the Author: Veronica Baxter is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She frequently works with the Law Offices of David Offen, a noted bankruptcy attorney in the area.

The post How Just About Anyone Can Invest in Fine Art appeared first on Art Business News.

Alex Lysak is an industry expert on finance and cryptocurrency. As an online marketing expert, Alex has gained valuable knowledge and insight on the latest trends and developments. In the following article, Alex will share his beginner’s guide on NFTs for crypto art. You’ll learn about crypto art and how to start selling your art as NFTs.

What is NFT Crypto?

Before you can learn how to create crypto art, you first need to understand what NFTs are. You also need to understand the difference between crypto art and cryptocurrencies. An NFT is a non-fungible token. It can be an image, video, gif, digital portrait, or paintings.

Although both cryptocurrencies and NFTs function with blockchain technology, they aren’t the same thing. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are fungible, which means one Bitcoin has the same value as another Bitcoin. But, NFTs have different values, and you can use cryptocurrencies to purchase NFTs.

Because an NFT lives on a blockchain, it can be tracked. When tracking, you can view previous owners and verify the authenticity of the piece. If you want to read more about the definition of NFTs, you can check out the Scan team investigation.

In 2017, a company called Larva Labs released the very first NFTs known as Cryptopunks. The crypto punks were a selection of 10,000 24×24 pixel images of punk-inspired characters. When Lava Labs first released the punks, they were accessible to anyone who owned an Ethereum wallet.

After four years in existence, the crypto punks’ value has increased tremendously. The lowest-priced punk is currently available for 15 Ethereum coins, which is approximately $35,843.37.

There are several other NFTs that also proved to be successful. Recently, the famous Doge meme NFT sold for a whopping $4 million. The NBA NFTs also brought in more than $200 million in 2021 alone.

Selling NFTs

When it comes to creating crypto art, there are several different ways you can do it. It can either be a digitally created image, video, or motion design. If you have made a physical artwork, you can digitize it for online modification. But, online material can be copied, so you might wonder why anyone would buy a digitally designed art piece?

Well, that’s where NFT comes into action. When your art is presented as an NFT, blockchain technology marks your piece as the original. So, when potential buyers view your art, they’ll also have access to a smart contract that shows that the work is original. The agreement will also indicate that you’re the artist.

When selling an original NFT, the transaction will be registered on the blockchain. If the buyer resells your art, other buyers can view the transactional history. You, as the artist, have access to the entire record to see how your art is being bought and resold.

Royalties

When you create a physical artwork, like an oil-painted landscape, you can sell it and perhaps never know what will happen to it in the future. But, what makes crypto art unique is that an original piece can’t exist physically. There’s also the benefit of royalties which means you get a cut of the selling price every time someone resells your art.

You can set up a fee of between five and 10%, which determines the amount you’ll receive once your crypto art is resold. For example, if you sell an original NFT for $10 and someone resells it for $10,000, you can get a royalty of up to $1,000.

Thanks to royalties, you don’t have to sell your original work for thousands of dollars. If your artwork becomes popular, you’ll make money on it long after selling it for the first time. Another advantage is that no one can benefit by selling copies of your ideas or artwork.

A Step-by-Step NFT Guide on How to Get Started

You don’t need to be a computer genius to get started with NFTs. All you need is a creative idea and some digital design skills. You also don’t need to rely on art galleries or have thousands of Instagram followers to showcase your art, as several NFT marketplaces do.

1. Download the MetaMask application on your mobile. You’ll use this application as a crypto wallet, so you need to pay a gas fee. A gas fee can be anything from $3 to over $200. If the gas fee is too high, give it a few weeks as the cost can fluctuate. If you want access to your wallet on your computer, you can download the MetaMask Chrome extension.
2. To pay your gas fee, you need to link your debit or credit card to the MetaMask app. Next, you can buy some ETH (Ethereum). Keep note: It can take 20-30 minutes before your account will show your ETH credits.
3. Next, you must choose a marketplace where you’ll showcase your work. You can either use a closed or an open marketplace. Closed marketplaces, such as Foundation, SuperRare, and Async Art, require invitations or applications. So, if you choose one of these marketplaces, you may have to wait for an extended period before you can upload your artwork. If you’re a beginner, we suggest going for an open marketplace, as it showcases your work to anyone who wants to view NFTs. Examples of open marketplaces are Etsy, OpenSea, and Rarible. You also have the benefit of networking with collectors and learning from more experienced NFT creators.
4. To set up an account that will attract collectors, you need to add a profile picture, a cover image, and a catchy bio. We also suggest adding links to your personal website or social media pages, as it shows viewers that you’re a real person. Next, you must connect your crypto wallet with your marketplace.
5. Once you have completed your profile, you can mint your first artwork. When uploading your art, you’ll have to complete several steps. Each marketplace has its specifications, so it can take several minutes to complete.
6. Next, you can choose whether you want the public to bid on your artwork or if you want to sell your crypto art at a set price.
7. You’ll also need to add a description to your art. You can skip this step, but we wouldn’t suggest it, as a good story can help sell your art faster.
8. After uploading your creation, you need to choose the royalty percentage. It can vary, so we suggest taking the highest amount available.
9. After minting your piece successfully, you need to share your artwork. You can share your art on Facebook, Twitter, and other social pages. Remember to add a link to your art so that people can view it instantly.

How to Turn Your Ethereum Coin into Cash

When someone buys one of your NFTs, you’ll be paid in Ethereum. Although there are several things you can do with it, you might prefer cold hard cash. You need to use a cryptocurrency exchange application. Although there are many to choose from, we suggest using Coinbase.

After downloading the application, you need to link a debit or credit card. Next, you can request to receive Ethereum via a QR code. Once you’ve created a unique ID, you can send ETH from your MetMask wallet.

Conclusion

Although there are several steps to become an NFT artist, it can be done. So, don’t be intimidated by the process. The sooner you start, the sooner you can begin to claim royalties.

Author Bio: Alex Lysak is the CEO of ScanTeam. I have been working in online marketing since 2011, my main areas of expertise are marketing research, social media marketing, and SEO. During 9 years of experience, I have helped many products and startups develop marketing strategies and implement them further. https://twitter.com/lysak_aleksandr

The post A Beginner’s Guide to NFTs for Crypto Art appeared first on Art Business News.

What is an NFT?

The NFT acronym stands for non-fungible token. It is a collectible digital asset that has value as a cryptocurrency and as a form of art and culture. NFT is a digital token like Bitcoin and Ethereum; but unlike coins in the blockchain, it is unique and cannot be exchanged for something similar to it; that is why it is called non-fungible.

What makes NFT unique and different from crypto coins then? NFT files store information aside from currencies. That makes it possible for them to be converted into absolutely anything. There are different types of NFTs, but the most common one right now is digital art.

When you think of NFT art, imagine a physical collectors’ item. But instead of getting an oil painting on a canvas to hang on your wall, you get a JPEG file. NFT art owners can sell artwork in the form of a blockchain gif just as legally as traditional artists sell their paintings.

How do NFTs Work?

NFTs have become very popular in the digital art and gaming worlds. For digital artists, stepping into NFTs is an avenue to showcase their work to the world. With these digital expressions of their art, they can get support and recognition and earn money.

In the gaming world, NFTs have shaken up the concept of buying game assets too. Initially, people purchased virtual gaming assets belonging to a company. But with NFTs, players can own these gaming assets.

Do NFTs Give Hope to Digital Artists?

As they say, modern problems require modern solutions. Plagiarism has hit the art world hard since the pandemic. So, artists, especially those who produce cyber art, have been at a loss.

Cyber art is a non-traditional style of painting that uses computer software and hardware. The most common cyber art tools are tablets, styluses, and software that can render images. But because this art style is digital, it is nearly impossible for artists to control how their art moves from hands to hands. A reliable way for digital artists online to protect their work while making a profit is by making it an NFT art.

Let’s use the Rainbow Cat GIF by NyanCat as an example. 

The artist sold this shaking GIF of a pixelated cat for $693,000, and it is an NFT art. But do you think we paid that much money to use it in this article? We aren’t Bill Gates yet, unfortunately.

Yes, anyone can download this GIF online, but our downloaded versions aren’t as valuable as the original NFT artwork nestling in a secure blockchain. There will only be one original Rainbow Cat gif and wealthy art lovers will fork out a fortune for its ownership rights.

So, is NFT Art Here to Stay?

NFT art has apparent benefits. The artwork Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple was auctioned off at $69.3 million at Christie’s. 

After that sale, the internet and tabloids were frenzied as artists didn’t think digital art should cost that much money. Understandably, people fear what they don’t understand. For some, it felt like NFT art was stealing the thunder of other handmade works.

But the skepticism around NFT has steadily increased. Artnet analyzed Beeple’s art and found out that it contained many racist and sexist references. While that doesn’t necessarily undermine NFT art, it takes some shine off the Beeple’s milestone.

Is NFT Art Sustainable?

Since NFT is under the Ethereum blockchain, this information does not fill us with much hope because an Ethereum transaction takes up the electricity equivalent of an American household for two days. Even a single Bitcoin transaction takes up more electricity than Argentina does. So, for every NFT minted, there is a drawback.

NFTs operate in a largely unregulated market, just like cryptocurrencies. And if you are looking to buy NFT art for investment purposes, such a market may not be your kettle of fish. Items appreciate and lose value on a whim in the crypto market.

As an NFT art investor, there is little guarantee that you will profit when you hold an artwork to resell later. How much profit you make by reselling in the NFT marketplace depends on the demand for your art, not on its value. Additionally, the fact that anyone can download superficially indistinguishable copies of your art means that ordinary folks have less incentive to pay for it.

When you purchase an NFT art, what exactly do you own? Why stake that much for something intangible? At the moment, there is no indication that you get paid when users freely download or share an NFT art that you own. These and many more question marks form a bubble around what the future holds for NFT artists and collectors.

The Bottom Line

The pandemic has affected every sphere of our lives and livelihoods. Art creators also had a tough time selling their works since people were stocking up on essentials. So NFTs became an innovative response for these artists to make money.

As an artist, you can decide to make your work a non-fungible token, but don’t put all your eggs in that basket yet. The value of your artwork hinges on the trends in a market that you have little control of, and a digital token can drastically lose value at any point. NFT art is making waves right now, but we haven’t seen enough to believe that it will stand the test of time. While we admire the concept behind the NFT marketplace, it is likely to be a fast trend.

Author’s Bio: Amanda Dudley is a professional essayist who works in a college essay writing service agency. She is also a professor of history at Stanford University, lending to her credibility in the world of academic writing. Amanda is passionate about teaching and has worked with special needs children. To sharpen her mind, she stays abreast of new developments in art and technology.

The post Fast Trend or Stand-Alone Direction: Is NFT Art Here to Stay? appeared first on Art Business News.

Q: Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

A: My name is Jayson Fate. I am a full-time collage mixed media artist working in Chicago. I have been a commission artist for 22 years and have projects where I have pulled in on bars, nightclubs, hair and nail salons, and residential interior and exterior design projects. Looking to expand markets and development towards the art community.

Q: What is your background?

A:  I am told I am an “outsider artist” 4$HO!

Q: What art do you most identify with?

A: POP but anything that catches my eye. Modern or contemporary art. I love minimalist art as well as street artists. I love when someone has created something that engineers design or has functionality as well.

Q: How Do You Work?

A: Most of my work has been some divine intervention. God has blessed me and honestly, I roll day by day. The art just happens organically and when I need cash I push a bit. I archive images that interest me from tear sheets, books, magazines, any form of mixed media even garbage I find on my litter cleanups and create. I love commission work because it sharpens my focus and pays well. I will collage by hand with images and Mod Podge on multiple surfaces.  In the beginning, I started on plywood or canvas. I found collage on a hard surface was a faster process so I started gluing tables, cabinets, walls, SPEAKERS, and who knows what’s next. I have been on a POPART series for some time, mostly musicians. I love music and will admit it was my first love. The art flows really well and does not feel heavy or frustrating which past pieces have. The eyeballs are changing so my style has been as well. “City of the Century” was the beginning of a new technique and I love the way they look.

Q: What has been your favorite experience so far as an artist?

A: Wow, I would have to say just the amount of art that has been created and what is still to come! I am amazed by this, it is the reason to continue also look back at what has been molded. Now with NFT’s in sight, I feel like I can make sense of the reward in the future. As an artist, you experience tears of joy, terrible gaps of income but I continue and seriously grateful to provide to this day. This world is a world of patience and productivity. As David Lee Roth quoted, “AFTER 10 years or 10,000 hours of what you drive towards, you earn the right title…Wasabi!” I got Wasabi. (It sounds better coming from his voice)

Q: Who inspires you?

A: My family, some friends. I draw inspiration from prayer and the vision of other art. Sunshine helps, good people, music inspires me tremendously, that is why I honor those who touched me.

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: 1.) Do EVERYTHING with love.

2.) Show up with your talent.

3.) The hand is the overflow of the heart.

4.) Life does not hand you anything without asking for something in return.

5.) Enjoy this day because it is not coming back.

Q: How Has Your Career As An Artist Shifted in the Past Year?

A: Cleaning, I run a pretty tight ship. BTW I challenge ANYONE who has a cleaner neighborhood than mine. It is the cleanest in the world. That’s where you will find me OR the gym.

Q: How has your career shifted in this past year?

A: Great question, I have definitely purged things I do not need and had more time to organize my work/life environment. I am more focused to be in the public eye however that manifests. 

The post Meet the Artist: Jayson Fate appeared first on Art Business News.

Saturday’s RAVE event ended with an after-party focusing on the crypto craze of NFTs. Co-Hosts, Eric Smith, CEO of Redwood Art Group, and Hannah Smith, Social Media Manager of Redwood Art Group spoke with Craig Kausen of Chuck Jones Gallery, Jon Stock of Corridor, and Gary Symons, Editor in Chief of The Licensing Letter. These industry professionals gave viewers a quick lesson on what NFTs are, dove deep into how they work, and more importantly, gave insight on whether or not artists and art enthusiasts should be involved in the new trend.

You may be asking yourself, “what is an NFT?”

To sum it up, NFTs are non-fungible tokens, which are a unit of data stored on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, that certifies a digital asset to be unique and therefore not interchangeable. They can be used to represent items such as photos, videos, audio, and digital art. 

Similar to receiving a certificate of authenticity when you purchase a piece of art, an NFT is unique to whoever owns that “piece” or digital file. 

NFTs are a way for artists, especially digital artists, to sell their work to new collectors and make a profit. In fact, Chuck Jones Gallery is offering an NFT on their booth page for RAVE Artexpo New York. 

However, this new form of cryptocurrency is gaining more and more controversy as professionals are learning more about the impact NFTs have on the environment.

Jon Stock and Gary Symons spoke on the environmental effect NFTs cause during the RAVE after-party and the shocking and eye-opening statistics scientists have discovered. 

If you’re interested in learning more about NFTs, check out the RAVE After Party event – “WTF are NFT’s?” on the Redwood Art Group YouTube page! 

The post WTF are NFTs? appeared first on Art Business News.