Midwest Misfit • Artist Spotlight

What got you in to Crypto art?

I wouldn't say that I came about it all open-arms. I remember getting an e-mail from someone and it had mentioned KnownOrigin. I thought it was a super great idea, and I am down to sell my art anywhere that allows me to keep a large percentage of it and the full rights. So, I signed up and joined the waiting list ... and then I was approved. However, I didn't know much at the time except that Bitcoin was still the only crypto word I knew. I created my wallet and everything then for months I never even touched my account. I didn't really understand the value of Crypto art until I actually sold one and felt that feeling when someone tells you they really like what they collected.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Anywhere and everywhere.

What do you think of traditional artwork?

I will always appreciate the traditional mediums.

Do you think your art is fulfilling a purpose?

I believe my art is contributing to a larger purpose of an idea as a whole.

How did you start out as an artist?

I'm not really sure how to answer that question. I'm not quite sure of any moment where I felt "this is it, this is how I'm starting out as an artist." Looking back now it almost seems as if was an organic process. I had the typical classes that most kids in school from grades K - 12 had. However, once I did get to high school I dabbled in a lot of different art mediums. I had the standard art classes but I also opted for some photography and ceramic classes as well. That's when I at least knew I liked being creative. After high school, I attended a university to continue my education in ceramics and water color. Long story short, attending a university isn't for everyone. I didn't return for my second year, or my third and definitely not my fourth. I didn't really pursue anything artistic for a few years after that. I honestly felt like a failure and that maybe art just wasn't for me. Keep in mind, I'm in small town Midwest. We have nothing but cornfields for miles. I wasn't familiar with the industry standards, I didn't know anyone in the design or arts industry and there was zilch for an art community. In 2015 I really dove deep into digital art, and didn't really have much but a Samsung Note 5, so that was my little digital sketch pad for about a year. I then bought a tablet and used it but I wasn't really progressing at all, still I kept at it. When 2017 rolled around I was asked if I had ever thought about 3D work at all. Sure, I rendered a small video of dice rolling in Blender once, but other than that I hadn't given it any thought. I was gifted my first copy of Cinema 4D, and that's when it all started happening. That is when I finally felt like I was advancing. Later on I was still content with Cinema 4D but added a new render engine and started laying out ideas for Midwest Misfit. I played with a few ideas and added some programs like Marvelous Designer to my work flow and just started dressing this little virtual dude in clothes I had made and starting setting up different scenes and just really having fun. Somewhere between July 2020 and January 2021, after some talks, I come to realization that I have been creating Digital Fashion this whole time, but never really paid attention that there was an emerging industry and market for it. I mean we've all seen "Black Mirror," so we knew it was inevitable I just didn't think it would be for maybe another 10 years.

Who or what inspires your work?

One of the main things that inspires Midwest Misfit and the imaging with him is human consciousness.

Which other artist(s) do you admire?

The top artist that I admire is Andy Warhol, yeah his art is super rad, but when you get to the ideas and philosophies of why he used repeating images and such, it's really interesting.

Final question, what’s next for you as an artist?

A good magician never reveals his secrets.