HashKey NFT Twitter Space — NFT Artist Jack Butcher: Creating Visual Value Through Digital Art
On 26th July, HashKey NFT conducted a Twitter Space interview with prominent NFT artist Jack Butcher who is renowned for his unique digital art pieces. In this interview, we have learned more about his professional background, Jack has also shared his insights on artistic philosophy and his accomplishments in the digital art field.
HashKey NFT ,one of HashKey Group’s business arms and ecosystems, is dedicated to driving the development of the NFT space. Embracing openness, innovation, and inclusivity, HashKey NFT continuously explore the applications of NFT in areas such as art, culture, entertainment and finance. Through collaborations with artists, designers, brands and creators, HashKey NFT strives to build a thriving NFT ecosystem, offering users exceptional experiences, diverse NFT trading and investment opportunities.
Part 1: Getting to Know Jack Butcher
In our conversation with Jack Butcher, we learned that he was once a graphic designer. In 2017, he started his own company, working on various creative projects including design and app-related work. However, when he discovered digital art, he realized the immense visual value it could offer and began shifting towards digital art creation.
Jack Butcher expresses his thoughts on art through images. In 2021, he officially delved into the Ethereum space. If you search his name on the social media platform Instagram, you can find some car advertisements and other creative works he has captured.
After establishing his first digital community, Jack realized that the Ethereum blockchain could publicly showcase his works through digitalized collections. Thus, through an auction company called the Foundation Platform, Jack’s art made its debut with the public.
Currently, one can appreciate an interactive project released by him in January of this year, titled “Checks.” This project combines visual art with digital interaction, providing viewers with a completely new experience.
Jack Butcher’s digital artworks have garnered widespread attention and acclaim. Through the NFT technology on the Ethereum blockchain, his creations possess unique ownership and value as art pieces. His works are not simple images but rather present visual innovation and aesthetics through digital media and interactive elements.
With the rise of NFT art, Jack Butcher has become one of the significant figures in the digital art field. His works have not only caused a sensation in the digital
collectibles market but also brought forth new possibilities and prospects for digital art.
Regarding the future, Jack Butcher stated that he will continue to explore the possibilities of digital art and utilize it as a means to express his creativity and thoughts. He plans to release more NFT works on the Ethereum blockchain and collaborate with other artists and creatives to drive the development of digital art.
Jack Butcher also discussed his perspective on the digital art market. He believes that NFT technology provides artists with a broader audience and income sources, while also ensuring better ownership and authenticity of art pieces. He is confident that the market for digital art will continue to grow and is poised to become an essential component of the mainstream art industry.
Part 2 — Interview: Jack’s Journey with NFTs
Question 1: What were Jack’s initial impressions of NFTs when he first encountered them, and have his feelings about NFTs changed since then?
Jack recalls that in late 2020, through a friend’s introduction, he first learned about NFTs and became curious. He admits that he wasn’t initially clear about what NFTs were, but what he could ascertain was that, through the internet, he was able to
connect with many people and tokens for the first time, which he found fascinating. Over time and after experiencing the craziness of 2021, Jack believes that now is a good time to think more deeply about how to bring communities, creators, and participants together through new technologies and find true creativity and value within them.
Question 2: VV Checks was highly successful in January this year. What are Jack’s thoughts on its popularity and why do people like it?
Jack believes that there are many evangelists in the current market, where a lot of content is being produced without a clear understanding of what they want to express, so he emphasizes the importance of clear storytelling. Even Twitter has changed its blue checkmark rules, and we’re going through a transformational period. Jack believes we should consider the meaning of “small pictures” more and apply that in our creations.
Question 3: After the success of VV Checks, Opepen also gained tremendous success. What are the differences between the two at their core?
Jack explains that VV Checks is an identity verification, and they made some differentiated design choices when developing Opepen. This shows that while both resonate in terms of success, there are certain differences at their core.
Question 4: Does the number 80 displayed in VV Checks and Opepen hold any special meaning for Jack? Regarding the number 80, Jack explains that the original Checks art was created with 80 checkmarks in an 8x10 grid. Based on the original creation, a numerical system was created by the team, where numbers would appear automatically, including 1, 4, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80, with the next number being the sum of all previous numbers. This numerical system determined the quantity of Checks and used the same numbering system for preallocation to enhance its rarity. Therefore, the initial number 80 doesn’t hold any particular significance, but as the team evolved, they imbued it with more meaning over time.
Question 5: Why was Opepen Edition released? Please share the story and concept behind it. Jack explains that digital identity was influenced by Elon Musk, and he had been pondering how to showcase derivative works of personal identity on the internet, representing the identity of a natural person through his own creations. This was the reason for releasing Opepen Edition. He wanted to create value in this way and establish a symbol of personal identity in the online world.
Throughout the interview, Jack expresses his views and opinions on the development of NFTs, as well as his delight in the success of VV Checks and Opepen. He believes that NFT technology can bring true creativity and value to communities, creators, and participants, and he will continue to explore and drive the advancement of digital art.
Part 3: Questions from Industry Professionals
Questioner 1:
Dan, Creative Director at 8Dao, 8DAO is a membership-based Web3 community that accelerates the future of ownership and community through NFTs and DAOs. Dan’s Web3 community currently focuses on three main aspects: 1. Sharing knowledge to educate community members about web3 2. Pooling investments 3. Building DAOs for the masses.
Questioner 2:
WaTell, seasoned NFT participant, game player, and contributor to the UNE_METAVERSE project. Expresses their understanding of NFTs through their thread.
Question 1: Does Jack have any plans to create purely on-chain NFTs in the future? (NFTs controlled by Ethereum smart contracts and generated randomly)
Jack responded by saying that he is willing to try creating purely on-chain NFTs, but it would require consideration of factors such as infrastructure development, system maintenance, and management. He pointed out that maintaining and addressing algorithmic issues would require a team of approximately 25–30 people, which poses a challenge for him, but he is willing to give it a try. Additionally, Jack revealed that he has an upcoming NFT project on Infinity Checks, which has generated great anticipation.
Question 2: Looking back on your NFT journey, what were some important lessons you hoped to learn? Can you provide some advice for other creators?
Jack shared the important lessons he learned during his NFT creation journey and offered advice for other creators. Firstly, he talked about the process of creating something from scratch. Using Infinity Checks as an example, he started with a blank canvas that allowed anyone to create on it, creating a network effect through long- term and explosive dissemination. This process taught him how to think creatively. Secondly, he advised choosing a few core elements and sticking to them during the creation process, avoiding frequent changes. This ensures coherence in the artwork and improves efficiency.
Jack’s valuable experiences provide helpful guidance for other creators, helping them succeed in the field of NFT creation.
As the conversation concluded, Jack Butcher expressed his confidence and passion for the future of digital art. He believes that digital art will continue to create stunning works and evolve alongside traditional art forms, providing viewers with more artistic experiences and emotional resonance.
