Tezos is the blockchain for arts and culture. Artists around the world build on Tezos to create sustainable, high-quality work that is changing the course of contemporary and digital art and creative content.

Do your research

Before you jump straight in, it’s worth taking some time to do your research. You don’t need to know everything about minting on the blockchain, but knowing the basics will enable you to find a path that’s right for you. It’s useful to familiarize yourself with different marketplaces, types of NFTs and pricing mechanisms. If you’re new to Tezos NFTs it’s also worth exploring the options for wallets and different minting platforms. 

There are innumerable resources to help you learn. As you’re getting started, you can read our 10 Steps to Minting an NFT and check out Help Center articles from different marketplaces to learn techniques specific to their marketplaces. If you want to dive into curation, theory and history you can explore Right Click Save or articles on fx(text) which provide a wealth of commentary from experienced creators, collectors and thought-leaders in web3. If you prefer video or audio content you can watch recorded classes from the Vertical Crypto Art’s residency program or subscribe to TezTalks to hear from creators in the ecosystem. Another great place to learn is by engaging with different communities, including your own community as well as other creator and collector communities on Discord, Twitter and Telegram.

Test it out first

Creating your first NFT can be daunting, especially knowing that you won’t be able to change anything once it’s out in the world. If you want to test it out first, you can mint a test artwork and then “burn” it - which effectively erases the NFT.

Create your artist identity

Whether you choose to create anonymously or use your real name, you’ll be building your artist identity. Over time, your identity should develop to include a unique brand and aesthetic as well as an online presence. This ensures you and your work are more easily recognizable. More importantly, celebrating this identity and voice will further empower your practice.

Build your online presence

A huge part of the NFT community are the interactions that take place on social platforms, in particular on Twitter and Discord. Having an online presence will help you get started when it comes to meeting fellow artists and gives collectors more confidence in your work if they can see you are active in the community. If you’re starting out in this space, a Twitter account is one of the most essential identities to have as the Tezos community is especially active there.

Engage with your audience

Use your social profiles to grow your own community and engage with your audience. From sharing newly minted works, to giving progress updates on new projects, retweeting works by fellow artists and thanking collectors there are so many ways to engage online. If you need some inspiration, you can start by following established Tezos NFT artists or reaching out to some of your favorite creators directly. 

Your participation matters

In the NFT space - but especially on Tezos - artists are just as much collectors as they are creators. Show your support by collecting works by fellow creators. Spotlighting NFTs by other artists on your social channels is another great way of connecting with the community and showing your support. Even if you choose not to collect at first, celebrating your favorite projects is a valuable way to learn, connect with like-minded creators and find a collector community of your own.

Choose the right marketplace

There are a number of marketplaces and minting platforms on Tezos - many with individual identities and communities that are right for different projects. When choosing the right marketplace for your collection, think about the type of NFTs you want to mint, the marketplace’s community and which artists are most active.  Marketplaces like Objkt and Teia enable you to mint a variety of NFTs in different file formats. There are a few specialized platforms such as fx(hash) - which is dedicated to generative art - or DNS.xyz which has a strong curatorial and music base. Vertical Crypto Art, Feral File, Admire.art and Objkt.one - among others - have curated selections which, over time, your project might find a place within as well. 

Be consistent

Whether in your communication or your artistic output, consistency is important. Releasing artwork regularly is helpful for keeping your collector base engaged as is sending out tweets to your followers. If you’re working on a long-term project, simply share updates on Twitter to let your community know what’s coming. 

While experimentation and growth is part of every artist’s journey, developing a consistent style, voice or direction helps you build your artist identity and ensures your work is recognizable to collectors. 

Think about pricing

If you want to ensure your collections sell out and you’re growing your market, you’ll need to think carefully about pricing. You might think about creating large edition sizes at lower price points or more expensive 1/1s (unique works). Many artists offer a combination of the two to reach a wider collector base. There are also different sales mechanisms to choose from including fixed price, traditional auctions, Dutch auctions and more. Take a look at how artists from similar backgrounds are pricing their works and if you have friends or mentors in the NFT space, don’t be afraid to ask them for advice.

Enjoy!

While there is a lot to think about as you embark on this new journey and the methods for success can seem drastically different to those of the traditional art world, the learning process is itself a creative journey. The Tezos arts community is devoted to the future of arts and culture on the blockchain, but is also supportive of experimentation, creative adventure and completely new ideas! Your exploration and engagement will lead you to inspiring discoveries, conversations and connections which will surely inform your creative practice along the way.