The story of Giant Swan, an Australian-based VR painter and sculptor, is one of persistence, timing, and pushing boundaries. From crying in his car before work to becoming a successful digital artist, Giant Swan’s journey has been transformative. In a world where digital artists can now monetize their work through NFTs, Giant Swan has made a name for himself by being the first artist to put a 3D object on-chain. His unique and immersive pieces have captured the attention of collectors worldwide.
Giant Swan recalls the days when he would sit in his car, crying before work, feeling like he didn’t belong. He knew deep down that he was meant to be somewhere else. According to him, every artist strives to find a place where they truly belong. That realization was a turning point for Giant Swan.
On November 30, 2019, Giant Swan minted his first NFT on Known Origin, catching the initial wave of interest in digital art. He credits David Moore from Known Origin for helping him take the plunge into the world of NFTs. Giant Swan’s artwork is dreamlike and captivating. It has a depth that needs to be experienced firsthand to be believed. OG Crypto artist Josie Bellini describes it as a work that makes you think and evokes emotions. Each stroke in Giant Swan’s art is created in VR, adding depth and emotion to his pieces.
To create his art, Giant Swan uses a PC VR headset and gaming rig. However, he believes that a basic Meta Quest VR headset can do the job for most people. He describes the process as turning his movement into shapes and color. Wearing the virtual reality headset, he enters an empty void where he can fill the space with an endless amount of materials, shapes, colors, and more. Giant Swan’s goal is to make art that feels like a dream, an experience that cannot be easily described.
Giant Swan’s art has garnered attention from collectors worldwide. Notable collectors such as j1mmy.eth, Moderats Art, and Whale Shark have taken notice of his unique pieces. His artwork has also fetched impressive prices in the NFT market, with pieces like Anomaly272 selling for 15 ETH ($41,423) and The Soul of the Void selling for 14.3 ETH ($28,502).
When asked about his artistic style, Giant Swan describes it as a balanced emotional take on surrealism in art. He draws inspiration from artists like Ashley Wood and Jamie Hewlett, who have created iconic imagery in their respective works. Giant Swan aims to create art that is experienced rather than simply observed.
He also recommends paying attention to Melbourne artist Mysterious Al, known for his incredible murals. Giant Swan finds joy in knowing that notable collectors like Pranksy, j1mmy.eth, Josie, Whale Shark, and Moderats Art own his pieces. These collectors saw the potential in his work before it became highly valued.
In the larger NFT art market, notable recent sales include works by Tyler Hobbs and Snowfro, with prices reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. The NFT market has had its ups and downs, and platforms like OpenSea have made controversial decisions regarding creator royalties. OpenSea recently announced that it will move to optional creator royalties on secondary sales, a decision that has received mixed reactions from the community.
While enforcing royalties without compromising decentralized asset ownership remains a challenge, many have voiced their opinions on the matter. OpenSea CEO Devin Finzer acknowledged the difficulty of ensuring buy-in from the Web3 ecosystem, leading to the decision to make changes in their approach to creator fees.
Giant Swan’s journey as a digital artist showcases the power of persistence, timing, and pushing boundaries. From his humble beginnings to becoming a sought-after artist in the NFT space, Giant Swan’s unique and immersive art continues to captivate collectors worldwide. His story serves as an inspiration to artists who are striving to find their place in the art world.
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