LA.jpeg NFT artist interview | NFT CULTURE | Web3 Culture NFTs and Crypto Art

by James · September 21, 2022

*Full disclosure a member of the NFTCulture team bought one of LA’s NFTs on a basis.

Table of Contents

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in the Philippines, but I have now lived in New Zealand for the past 6 and a half years. I have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and am currently employed by a small engineering consultancy in New Zealand. I usually make art after work all week and spend the weekends hanging out with friends and family to relax.

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

When I was little I watched a lot of anime. Those were my usual inspirations and styles when I tried to draw and illustrate, I never had formal training, I just winged every art I made. But as I grew up, my attention shifted from other things and got busy with university, work, gaming, friends, so I stopped making art. This was from the time I was 13 to 24.
Last year, around the same time, I discovered NFTs through axie infinity. I got curious so I researched and read a lot about it then I stumbled upon opensea. The first NFT project I saw was BYO PILLS and immediately fell in love with the art.

I wanted to own a NFT so I started making fan art to get the WL, not to flip it but to actually own a really great piece of art. This lasted for a few months, but I realized that I have found my passion again and wanted to do more. That’s when I started thinking about creating my own 1/1 collection.

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

I made my first 1/1 collection on Foundation. I treated opensea as a platform for generative NFT projects, it also has many problems, so I did not like embossing there. SuperRare is an invitation platform. Foundation is where I mostly see 1/1 artists make their mark on their work, so I think it’s a good platform.

Can you tell us one thing you can’t live without?

Music. It is something that has been with me throughout my life through ups and downs. When I’m driving, cooking, making art, working. Life is hard without it because it’s something I can relate to and sometimes gives me energy when I need it.

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

Among my favorites are Suanjaya Kencut, Andy Warhol, Daniel Arsham. I like pieces that grab your attention in a second. The style, composition and uniqueness all come together to create a stunning piece. I want to make art so unique that you can see who the artist is at a glance. They are just some of my inspiration.

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

It’s hard to name one, so I’ll name my top list, @tylerxhobbs, @Grantyun2, @Jesperish, @cafromthesky. They have a really unique and consistent style that I’ve never seen before. You can tell in a split second who the artist is because of how distinct their style is. That’s the kind of artist I want to be.

What made you pursue NFT art?

I read a lot about the capabilities of NFTs, including authenticity, transparency, provenance, security and royalties.
Digital art that is not on the blockchain can be easily transferred and lost without knowing who the artist is.

What’s the one piece of NFT art you wish you’d bought but missed out on?

Fidenza by Tylor Hobbs

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why this location?

Japan, because I love Japanese food and want to try authentic Japanese food. The country is also rich in culture and beautiful nature.

What are your other passions besides art? Why?

I love to eat and travel. Because apart from art, these are the things that fill my soul, give me new perspective and energize me and refresh my creativity.

Do you make other forms of art?

If you’re reviewing 3d mechanical models and 2d fabrication drawings, I do that every day at work. I also try my photography skills very subtly.

How did you arrive at your specific style?

In the months I’ve been making fan art, I’ve done many different styles and subjects, and each time I find out which one I like and which one I don’t like to do.
The piece that made me discover the style I’m doing now is a piece I made for a rare art competition. I liked doing surrealism. I like aquatic animals like whales, I think they are majestic beings and I want to emphasize that in my art.

How has your style evolved over the years?

Much has changed and it is difficult to say how. I’ve seen more art this year than I have in my entire life, so there’s a lot that contributes to how I make art.
You can check out some of my fan art on instagram and how my style evolved in a year.

What is coming in the near future?

More parts are coming in my new collection called Anti-natural. A collection that branches off from my genesis series. Artwork that is composed to break your natural view of reality.