Joey Tadiar NFT Artist Interview | NFT CULTURE | Web3 Culture NFTs and Crypto Art

Where are you from? (State a bit of your background, have you moved, etc.) Born and raised in London, UK. My father is Filipino and my mother is English.

Can you tell us about your background and what led you down the path to becoming an artist and eventually experimenting with NFTs?

I’m actually quite new to identifying myself as an artist, but as a creative director for an advertising agency, I’ve always had a keen eye for art and design. I started experimenting with oil painting in May 2020 at the start of the pandemic and immediately fell in love. I picked up difficult techniques and developed my style very naturally, and since then I have commissioned a dozen paintings. After seeing my work, my friend introduced me to NFTs in January 2021 and convinced me to learn about the space. He recommended Nifty Gateway as a good starting point, but I didn’t have the liquidity to buy anything at the time, or the contacts to get my own release on the platform. I’ve spent the last 18 months investing in projects, losing more than I’ve gained, selling my first NFT on Foundation, building a Web3 agency and developing a project for Warner Records and Bose, and now, my very first release on Nifty Gateway.

When did you make your first NFT? Which platform did you choose and why?

I minted my first NFT in September 2021. It was a Sushiverse NFT I picked it up at Opensea. Why? Purely out of curiosity and to lose my minting virginity!

Can you tell us one thing you can’t live without? (and why)

Before I became a father, I couldn’t live without traveling. But now I’m a dad, I couldn’t imagine a single moment without my son. It has reawakened my inspiration, motivation and dedication, and I wake up with a selfless purpose every day.

Who is your favorite artist(s) (Not NFT)? What about their style resonates with you?

I follow an oil painter called Will Rochfort. Before I saw his work, I just threw paint on the canvas and said it was abstract art. His ability to capture snapshots of real moments inspired me to take my time with my work and develop my own style, and the most important rule of oil painting, Work from dark to light.

Who is your favorite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique?

I really admire the work of Thankyoux for his ability to put street art on a canvas and add an immersive, digital aspect to his work. I also love Slimesunday, his collages are thought provoking and every piece makes you think “Damn, I wish I thought of that!”

What made you pursue NFT art?

The fusion of art and technology fascinates me. A painting is not just a painting anymore. You can get a high quality photo taken of it and sell it as a piece of digital art. You can then send the original to the buyer, and the NFT becomes proof that they own it.

What’s the one piece of NFT art you wish you’d bought but missed out on? It has to be a Cryptopunk, purely for the historical value they have.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why this location? What are your other passions besides art? Why?

If I had to choose anywhere, it would be Koh Samui in Thailand. Why, because it’s away from the hustle and bustle of London and I focus on health and wellness on a daily basis. Thailand is the purest place to keep a pure mind for inspiration and creativity.

Do you have other interests or hobbies?

My biggest passion besides art is cooking. It is an art form in itself. I’m no Michelin star chef, but create some beautiful flavors and present it well too! Ramen is my favorite thing to make.

Do you make other forms of art?

I write poetry for my mental well-being and I love to illustrate using Procreate on my iPad. I am quite handy when it comes to graphic design as well and frontend web design.

How did you arrive at your specific style?

My style is constantly changing. It is dictated by mood and moment. I feel like the NFT space defined my current style – I started painting PFPs to whitelist projects I loved. HAPE and Azuki were the two I remember fondly. Now I’m obsessed with collectable culture, which is where I want to focus now.

How has your style evolved over the years?

I started with abstract, and experimented with colors, composition and form. I moved into more realistic work, painting vintage movie posters, and then into painting more cartoonish work when I got involved with NFTs. With my recent project, REMO, I am more determined than ever to bring a timeless and lovable character to life as a collection of paintings, illustrations and animations so my son can tell his friends “My dad made it”.

What is coming in the near future?

All my artistic and creative focus is on developing my character, his world and a compelling narrative. I hope every day that this will be my future in the NFT art space.

If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be?

Banksy. Because, well, it’s Banksy.

Do you have any upcoming drops?

On October 5th at Nifty Gateway I am dropping my project, REMO.

Where can collectors find your work?

I have a foundation profile, but I stopped releasing it until I figured out an idea I could run with. I have it now, so keep an eye out for Nifty Gateway, Foundation, Known Origin and eventually, my own Web3 site.

Links

The collection will consist of a 4-piece open edition, with each piece acting as an entry to unlock either an 8-inch resin REMO toy or an 8×10 Giclée print. There will also be a 1/1 auction of a 100% unique REMO titled ‘$0 BROKE’. The winner of this auction will receive an 8″ hand painted REMO toy.

Core elements will be inspired by the 3 elements of earth and cost $25-50

Biggest piece sold?

I sold my oil painting ‘HAPE X’ as a nft on foundation for 2.3Eth. The winning bidder had the original piece shipped to them as well.

What was your biggest failure and what did you learn from it?

I don’t really believe in seeing things as mistakes. I’ve definitely made mistakes and learned from them. Investing more than I can afford. Does not take profit. Fomo-ing for projects. I learned to trust my instinct and not get sucked into the hype.

Anything else you want to share?

I appreciate everyone who has come this far to learn more about my journey as an artist and creator. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on!