Most Influential Artist: Sarah Script
A calligraphy artist, Sarah Richardson (who works under the name Sarah Script) had been making Instagram videos of her work for about seven years before learning about non-fungible tokens (NFTs). “When you do calligraphy, you only get one shot to get it right. You have to nail the ledge,” she said. “I shot videos for hours with one or two words that lasted as long as 15 seconds after edits.”
The work can be tedious, but Richardson found that it lends itself to the NFT format. “Cementing” her videos on the blockchain has given her a sense of ownership that she didn’t get from posting on Instagram. “I would love to see more calligraphy like NFTs,” said the bespectacled Arkansas native, who now lives in Brooklyn, New York, “because I think it definitely has a place.”
When the 34-year-old Richardson learned about her “most influential” subject, White House counsel for its Executive Order on Ensuring the Responsible Development of Digital Assets, Carole House, felt moved by the work of another young woman making waves in the crypto world.
“The House, Senate, Supreme Court and other government agencies did nothing [about crypto]”, Richardson said, “and here’s Carole House, who’s my age. It was really inspiring to see her come in and be a big part of moving the regulations forward.”
How and when did you first learn about NFTs?
I learned about NFTs in February 2021 through Clubhouse. Someone I met in a room there asked me if I had heard of NFTs, and I hadn’t. It snowed in Arkansas, where I’m from, and when it snows here, everything shuts down. I couldn’t go anywhere so I dove into this crazy world of NFTs.
What was your first ever NFT artwork and why did you decide to make it an NFT?
It was a digital mosaic that I learned to do in a Skillshare class a month before. I remember thinking, “What’s the point of this other than sharing it online?” It sounds so negative, but I really enjoyed the tedious nature of making something look like a real mosaic, digitally.
I embossed it on Mintable and I didn’t really know what I was doing. It said “Je t’aime,” and it was a gif, because I thought NFTs had to move—you had to incorporate all the elements of digital that you could. It sold to a person I learned about NFTs with in a clubhouse the same day. They learned how to buy NFTs while I learned how to make them.
What were some of your main considerations when creating your “most influential” portrait of Carole House?
I was impressed with how seriously she took national security regarding cryptocurrency. As someone who has been immersed in this space for the past two years, I never paid attention to it. It got me thinking and I wanted to emphasize how important it was. In one of the illustrations [I made before the final piece]the direction is to herd cats.
What about House’s work in the crypto/blockchain industry inspires or interests you the most?
I like that she is an unsung regulatory hero. She’s behind the scenes doing something for the greater good, and not to—in this era of Elon Musk types—taking the limelight for leadership. I like that she just does what needs to be done.
Who/what are your main artistic influences? Do they come more from the traditional art world or the NFT art world, both?
When it comes to calligraphy, my inspirations are Nina Tran, David Grimes and John DeCollibus. DeCollibus is one of the few living master penmen.
As for lettering artists, I love Jessica Hische and Louise Fili. In the NFT world, I love Diela Maharanie, who creates bright, colorful illustrations and Suzie. I fell in love with her work when she created this series called “Angry Susies”. Something that is so cute and angry at the same time is funny to me.
Where do you see yourself going in the NFT art world going forward?
I plan to be involved and keep an eye on what’s going on. Many of my illustrations refer to what happens in the NFT room. Right now it’s rough times, so I’m not doing mint work. My main goals over the next few years are to improve my illustration skills and build out stories. I’m in a children’s book writing class right now and trying to take two of my characters from past collections and put them into a story. I’m not sure if I’ll succeed, but that’s the goal.
