Select Page

Review of 2023 Art & Trends

✨ Happy Holidays to everyone! 🎉 As we reflect on 2023’s groundbreaking art and anticipate the trends of 2024, I invite you to watch an enlightening video, “Contemporary Art: Modern Masterpieces Or Shameless Cash Grabs? | Perspective.”

This thought-provoking video peels back the layers of the contemporary art world, offering an insider’s look at the commercial forces behind its glamorous façade. It’s an eye-opening exploration for anyone interested in the intersection of artistry and commerce.

What were your standout art moments in 2023? Join the conversation and share your insights! Also, mark your calendars for this week’s #LearnWithVitruveo, where we’ll revisit the significant developments of the past year in art and delve into what 2024 might hold for us. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage and get inspired for the upcoming year! Join #LearnWithVitruveo twitter.com/i/spaces/1yoKM

The art, digital collectibles, and NFT space in 2023 experienced significant developments, marked by the increasing involvement of traditional art institutions, the introduction of innovative features, and evolving trends in NFT utility and security.

Here are a few highlights to think about:

Sotheby’s Impact on the Digital Art Market: Sotheby’s, a renowned fine arts auction house, reported nearly $35 million in digital art sales in 2023, a testament to the growing importance of this sector. They conducted over 25 auctions focused on digital art and launched an on-chain marketplace for the secondary trade of NFTs, Sotheby’s Metaverse. The auction of Dmitry Chernyak’s NFT ‘Ringers #879’ for $6.2 million set a new record for an individual digital artwork.

NFT Market Revival and Integration into Broader Platforms: The resurgence in the NFT space, energized by a Bitcoin bull run, saw the digital art market’s trade volume near $1 billion, highlighting increasing transaction values. Sotheby’s, stepping into this space with a Bitcoin Ordinals collection, mirrors the heightened interest in digital art. This development paves the way for platforms like VTRU Stream, envisioned as a Spotify for visual art. VTRU Stream aims to democratize art appreciation through ad-free sharing, enabling a wider audience to engage with digital art where artists get paid. This concept echoes the spirit of Renaissance patronage, fostering a community where emerging creators are supported through micro-patronage, bringing art closer to people who might not be familiar with the intricacies of crypto and NFTs but are eager to celebrate and appreciate art in accessible, digital formats.

AI Art Generators’ Influence on NFTs: AI art generators, which became mainstream in 2022, continued to significantly impact the NFT market in 2023. They democratized access to digital art, allowing anyone to create and own unique AI-generated art pieces. This trend led to an increased supply of unique artworks and attracted a new wave of collectors interested in AI-generated art.

Brands Embracing NFTs for Unique Experiences: Major brands and celebrities increasingly utilized NFTs to engage with their audiences in 2023. Brands like Starbucks, Porsche, and McDonald’s experimented with NFTs in their reward systems and marketing strategies, using them to create unique digital collectibles and experiences. This trend indicated that NFTs were becoming a vital tool for brands to build deeper relationships with their customers.

Tangible NFT Experiences: The year saw a shift towards offering tangible experiences with NFT purchases. Digital artists, brands, and celebrities began including real-world experiences like meet-and-greets, VIP passes to events, and physical merchandise along with the sale of digital art pieces. This approach added a layer of value to NFTs, combining digital ownership with exclusive real-life experiences.

In summary, 2023 was a significant year for art, digital collectibles, and NFTs, marked by major auction houses like Sotheby’s embracing digital art, the rise of AI-generated art in the NFT space, brands leveraging NFTs for customer engagement, and the introduction of tangible experiences in NFT offerings. These developments illustrate the evolving landscape of digital art and collectibles, highlighting their growing importance and potential in the art world and beyond.

Gamifying and Monetizing Digital Art Collections with Token-Gating

In the constantly evolving world of digital art, there’s a fresh approach that allows artists to both monetize their existing work and create an engaging experience for collectors—token-gating within tiered art collections. This innovative system doesn’t require artists to create new work but instead lets them turn existing pieces or byproducts of their creative process into valuable collectibles, much like a sawmill turning leftover wood into particle board. By doing this, artists can monetize their artwork in a way that feels natural and sustainable, rather than forcing them to produce more content.

Understanding Tiers in Digital Art Collections

Tiers within a digital art collection are different levels of artwork that provide varying levels of access, exclusivity, or perks to collectors. Each tier represents a different type of engagement with the artist’s work, allowing collectors to choose their level of participation while maintaining the integrity of the artist’s creative process.

Types of Tiers in a Collection:

  1. Ultra-Rare (Exclusive Access):
    • These are the most exclusive pieces in a collection, offering collectors unique access to the artist’s finest work or exclusive experiences. This could include:
      • Access to high-resolution digital artwork that’s not available elsewhere.
      • Invitations to private virtual or in-person galleries.
      • Behind-the-scenes content about the creative process.
  2. Rare (Special Editions):
    • These are limited but more widely available than ultra-rare items. These digital art pieces may offer unique perks such as:
      • Access to early releases of new collections or artwork.
      • Invitations to artist Q&A sessions or community events.
  3. Common (Standard Editions):
    • These are the most accessible artworks in a collection and are perfect for newer collectors. These pieces could include:
      • Digital downloads of artwork that can be displayed on personal devices.
      • Discounts on future artwork purchases.
      • Access to community-based rewards like group challenges or voting on future artistic themes.

Token-Gating Artwork Within the Same Collection

By token-gating, artists can control access to different parts of their collection based on the artwork or digital collectible a collector holds. The artwork itself acts as the key, unlocking additional content, benefits, or future artwork drops. For instance, collectors who hold ultra-rare or rare pieces could gain access to hidden, bonus artwork, or early previews of the next collection, making their experience more valuable.

How Token-Gating Enhances the Collector Experience

  1. Progression Through Tiers:
    • Collectors could “level up” by purchasing more artwork from a single collection, unlocking greater perks. For example, owning both ultra-rare and rare pieces may unlock access to a completely new, unreleased piece of artwork.
  2. Easter Eggs and Hidden Rewards:
    • Artists could gamify the experience by hiding secret artwork or collectibles that can only be accessed once the collector holds a certain combination of pieces. For example, collectors who hold two specific pieces could unlock a hidden, bonus artwork or gain access to a private event.
  3. Collaboration and Interaction:
    • Artists can invite token-holders to participate in collaborative projects. For instance, rare and ultra-rare holders could be given the opportunity to vote on the theme of an upcoming artwork or even submit ideas that the artist could integrate into the final piece.

Monetizing What Artists Are Already Doing

The beauty of this system is that it doesn’t require artists to go out of their way to create additional content. Instead, they can monetize their existing process:

  • Rough drafts, sketches, and concept art—often the byproducts of larger projects—can be packaged as digital collectibles.
  • Artists can token-gate behind-the-scenes content or create exclusive experiences like virtual studio tours without needing to produce new physical works.
  • Through the use of royalty systems, artists can even earn a percentage from the resale of their digital artwork or from merchandise created with their art (if commercial rights are granted).

Gamification Without Extra Work

This system also allows for gamification—turning the act of collecting into a fun and engaging process for buyers. By unlocking artwork through progression or combination of collectibles, artists can create a dynamic relationship with their collectors without needing to constantly produce new content.

Collectors are naturally incentivized to explore the artist’s existing body of work, unlocking new layers of value simply by holding multiple pieces from the same collection. This approach doesn’t require the artist to do more work, but rather to cleverly package and market what they’ve already created.

Conclusion: Monetizing the Creative Process Naturally

By embracing token-gating and tiered digital art collections, artists can create a more interactive and engaging experience for collectors while monetizing the art they are already producing. Artists can sell exclusive content, access to behind-the-scenes moments, and rare digital artwork—all through the same collection—without needing to create new work. This method turns the artist’s creative process into a sustainable income stream while keeping their workload consistent.

Stella Adler: Beacon for Aspiring Artist

In the vast tapestry of artistic legends, Stella Adler stands out not only for her extraordinary contributions to the world of theatre but also for her unyielding belief in the power of storytelling. For artists who find themselves doubting the value of their work or struggling to find their voice, Adler’s legacy is a shining beacon of inspiration.

“Life beats down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one.” This quote by Adler is a profound testament to the undying spirit of every artist who has ever picked up a brush, a pen, a camera, or taken to the stage. Life, with all its trials, tribulations, and tragedies, can often feel overwhelming. Yet, it’s through art that we rediscover ourselves, rekindle our spirits, and reclaim our identity.

Stella Adler, with her unique methods and deep commitment to acting as an art form, championed the idea that artists are not mere entertainers. They are visionaries who have the power to hold up a mirror to society, reflecting its beauty and flaws. They tell stories that can heal wounds, ignite passions, and inspire change. It’s through these stories we find solace, understanding, and hope.

For every artist feeling despondent, questioning their place in the world, or wondering if their work matters, remember Adler’s words. Art is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s the balm for crushed souls, the fire for dulled spirits, and the voice for silenced hearts.

In today’s rapidly changing world, where noise often drowns out truth, and shadows often obscure light, your art matters more than ever. Like Stella Adler, stand firm in your conviction, embrace your unique voice, and continue to tell your stories. They are the lifeline that connects us, the thread that binds our shared humanity, and the beacon that guides us through the darkest nights.

So, dear artists, let Adler’s legacy inspire you to rise, create, and remind the world of the indomitable spirit that lies within each of us. Because in art, we not only find ourselves but also each other.

Learn More About Stella:
Stella Adler: Awake and Dream!

Batch Resize Images in Photoshop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Batch resizing images in Photoshop is a time-saving trick that every digital artist, photographer, and design enthusiast should know. Whether you have a batch of photos from your latest photoshoot or a collection of digital art pieces, resizing them all at once can save you a lot of time. Here’s how to do it:

Creating a Resize Action

Before running a batch, you’ll need to create an action for resizing. Here’s how:

  1. Open Photoshop and Load a Sample Image: Open Photoshop and load any image that you can use as a sample for your action.
  2. Navigate to the Actions Panel: Go to Window > Actions to display the Actions panel.
  3. Create a New Action: Click on the New Action icon at the bottom of the Actions panel. Name your action something descriptive, like “Batch Resize.”
  4. Start Recording: Once you’ve named your action, hit the Record button. Photoshop will now record the steps you take.
  5. Resize Your Image: Navigate to Image > Image Size in the top menu. Input your desired dimensions, making sure to keep the “Constrain Proportions” box checked to maintain the aspect ratio of the image.
  6. (Optional) Save the Image: If you want your action to also save the resized image automatically, go to File > Save As and pick your preferred format.
  7. Stop Recording: After you’ve done all the steps, go back to the Actions panel and click the Stop button to finish recording your action.

Running a Batch Job

Now that your action is set up, you can use it to resize a batch of images.

  1. Open Batch Menu: Navigate to File > Automate > Batch in Photoshop.
  2. Set the Source Folder: Select the folder that contains the images you wish to resize.
  3. Choose the Action: In the “Action” dropdown, select the resizing action you created earlier.
  4. Set the Destination Folder: Choose where you want the resized images to be saved.
  5. File Naming: Customize how you want the new files to be named, if desired.
  6. Execute the Batch: Once all settings are in place, click “OK.” Photoshop will automatically resize all the images in your source folder according to the action you created.

And there you have it—a quick and easy way to batch resize images in Photoshop. This guide serves as a great reminder for future projects and a helpful resource for anyone looking to save time in their digital workflow.