Artist Interview with Facu Serif
Interviewer: How long have you been making art, and how did you start?
Facu Serif: Like everyone else, I drew as a child. I just kept doing it as I grew up. For a while, I focused only on design (Branding / UI) and returned to drawing more regularly when I discovered NFTs.
Interviewer: Which came first, designing an NFT platform or being an NFT artist?
Facu Serif: I first got involved in NFTs by rebranding Swap.Kiwi and designing its platform’s design system. From there, I started exploring, discovering projects, and meeting great people from whom I learn new things daily.
Interviewer: What overlap is there between being a designer on an NFT platform and being an NFT artist?
Facu Serif: They are worlds apart, at least for me, with different goals and processes.
Interviewer: Let's talk about a couple of your NFT art series and walk me through your evolution as an artist. Which of your series came first?
Facu Serif: My vector illustrations and animations series came first, followed by Nouns Heads (Noundry), Classic Pixel Monsters, and Snowmen, Banana...
Interviewer: Regarding the pixel series, had you done pixels before NFTs?
Facu Serif: Actually, not too much. My first in-depth approach to pixel art was with Nouns last year. It was a real challenge for me. Finding the perfect placement for a pixel in a 32x32 grid is not easy.
Interviewer: What makes for good pixel art? How's it different from your other art styles?
Facu Serif: I enjoy the elaborate pixel compositions of other artists, but I love the simplicity and challenge of finding the perfect place for each pixel in a 32 or 64 px grid. I can spend a ridiculous amount of time moving little colored squares 2 pixels up or down. These limitations make it a really fun thing to do.
Interviewer: Describe the process behind your animated pieces. Why animation?
Facu Serif: Thank you! To answer your question, it really depends on the project. Even a simple animation helps convey the idea better and adds more value to the piece. And to create them, I use paper and pencil, Illustrator, and After Effects.
Interviewer: What's the hardest part of being an artist creating NFTs? What's the part that keeps you at it?
Facu Serif: What I struggle with the most is being active on social media platforms like Discord and Twitter. I was never very fond of social media. But in the past year, I have met amazing people there. The support and positive energy from people in the NFT community keep me motivated.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about your exploration of the snowman - Chimper and the banana drop?
Facu Serif: I'm always looking for new ways to communicate ideas to people, and the snowman and banana drop are just some of my experiments in that regard.
Interviewer: When do you decide it's time to find a different style?
Facu Serif: I believe that finding a style, a visual universe, and being consistent with it is a job that can take a lifetime. Some people find it earlier in life, while others find it later. I am one of the slow ones.
Interviewer: How did you get involved in the Nouns space?
Facu Serif: A friend introduced me to the project last year. Since then, I've been trying to be as active as possible in the community. It's a great project that I feel very connected to.
Interviewer: What do you think about CC0? How does that influence the art that you do? And what CC0 projects have you yourself remixed?
Facu Serif: I think it is very positive for certain brands or projects. Not only does it help the project to proliferate, but it also helps artists to make themselves known and connect with their communities. I have a lot of fun doing versions and remixes.
Finally, last two questions:
What NFT artists inspire you?
.... every day I meet people doing great things to learn from.
If folks want to follow your work, what’s the best place to follow your work and collect your art?
I share almost everything on Twitter @facuserif