Please tell us more about your background, how you got interested in blockchain & DeFi and what you are currently working on?
My name is Linda Kristiansen, and I’m a photo artist based in 🇳🇴 Norway. I started out with photography almost 20 years ago, and moved in to the more personal creative work about 7 y ago.
I photograph, composite and add different digital techniques, always layering with symbolic meaning. My images are a personal expression for me and therefore always have a specific thought, emotion or story behind. Still I enjoy the fact that it can be interpreted and resonated with by the viewer in their own perspective.
I got interested in blockchain when I came across some articles on NFT earlier this year. I decided I wanted to learn something new and this seemed very interesting, challenging and full of opportunities.
My NFTs are for the most part an addition to my existing limited print-editions. Mostly stills but I also have some animated ones. I have for the last couple of years played around with simple animations, not really having any place for them other than posting on social media. But these seemed perfect now as NFTs. I am currently evolving creatively and exploring new ways to express my ideas and concepts.
If you could change anything from the past, what would you do differently?
I’m not big on regrets of any kind. I feel like everything is a lesson and continuously makes me who I am, and my work what it is. Guess you could say I am grateful for past mistakes instead.
What made you pursue NFT art?
Expressing myself through art is something I’ve done for many years already. I have my limited edition prints and sell both privately and through galleries.
For me NFT is a new and very exciting market with possibilities I’m sure I have yet to discover and experience. I always want to move forward.
How have DeFi and blockchain changed your life?
Well – I spend a whole lot more time on Twitter that’s for sure. Besides that I see possibilities in my future that I didn’t before which is a really awesome thing.
What is a typical day for you? What are your work habits? (Planning, how you work, rules you set for yourself, creative process etc...)
I work in a non-profit during the day so I am not a full time artist. This is something that works well for me as my creative process is very intuitive and I get waves of inspiration from time to time. The balance of work/creating art is good for me. Also because there is less pressure to monetize my art this way, and I can stay true to my process.
Usually I reflect on something, or have an emotional experience, and start wondering how I could make this look visually. I love how the mind works and I can actually sit for hours just in my own head, planning and visualizing down to the smallest details, before I put it into action.
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Which tools do you use in your daily life as a NFT artist?
I would not call myself an NFT artist. I am rather an artist also creating NFTs:) That said my toolbox holds my Canon 5D, photoshop and my tablet for drawing and editing.
What is different working as an artist creating NFTs?
I think that for now the collector side is mostly represented by crypto investors and not specific art collectors in the traditional sense. This is somewhat of a different approach at least for me as I am used to the irl art buyer. Working towards the NFT market one needs to consider this. Just be aware of who the audience is and that things work a little differently here.
With time though I do think we will see a lot more of the traditional art collectors also coming in.
What are the best resources (media, blog, artist, influencer, podcast, nl…) you follow to be always up to date on the DeFi and your niche?
I don’t really follow any blogs or podcasts, but I discovered Sheldon Evans on youtube when I researched all things crypto and I gained some good understanding from him.
What's the most important or impactful piece of art you created ? What made it so important or impactful?
I think this is a question with many sides. Impactful for me or for the viewer? I instantly feel that for me it is “Dancing in the rain”, the first piece I minted on Fnd. The impact and importance is a personal one. This is one of my very first conceptual selfportrait-based images, and creating it marked the start of my creative ventures. Also it shifted something in my life as I realized I could express myself in this way I had never managed to to before, and even inspire others to the same.
For the readers who want to become better NFT artists, what would be your best advice?
My best advise would be to spend time learning about crypto, blockchain and nft before even jumping in. Enter the community on twitter and discord and connect with people. Build this foundation for yourself with knowledge and community and at the same time drench yourself in patience. It’s so easy to get stressed and insecure with everything moving so fast in this space. Stay true to yourself and create art from the heart. In the longer perspective I believe this is what will have staying-power.
