We’re back with another project in this month’s Proton May #BetterNFTs campaign. As a reminder, our goal is to introduce the incredibly talented creators behind the projects you know and love to help you learn more about the Proton ecosystem.
As part of the campaign, we publish a ‘Meet The Creators’ interview everyday, alongside an NFT giveaway from that creator, so you can learn more about their project, the inspiration behind each series, what’s next for them, and why they chose Proton.
Don’t forget: Proton allows users to mint NFTs instantly and without paying gas fees. Intelligent smart contracts ensure that creators earn royalties on future sales of their NFTs, allowing a pathway for artists to continue to earn income from their creations. And because Proton Market has an open-source template, talented creators can customize their own storefront to create a truly unique experience for their communities.
Please meet the team from another community favorite project, Abstrakts & Cyber Punks!
Meet The Creators – Abstrakts & Cyber Punks
Tell us a little bit about yourself, and your background before getting into NFTs.
James is a Senior Art Director who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and Jessy is a system administrator who lives in Quebec City, Quebec. Both have been in the cryptophere since 2017.
How were you introduced to NFT’s?
James: I was always aware of NFT’s but never understood how JPGs could store value. I had looked into possibly starting an NFT project on Opensea but i couldnt get past paying gas fee’s to sell my own work. So later in 2021 I was introduced to proton when it first listed on kucoin. I invested a small sum and then began doing research. After downloading the proton wallet, and really starting to use it and understand its true potential, I basically went all in on it. Then i learned about the Proton NFT markets and it was game over; A young market with free to exponentially low fees to mint. I couldn’t deny this opportunity. However i was super naive and didnt really understand how it all worked. I was just making cool shit but without a rhyme or reason. I then met Jessy, and he really helped me understand more, lended me ideas, and after speaking with him for a few days, i knew i needed someone with his train of thought. Less than a month after I had started the Abstrakts collection, Jessy helped me develop and architype our Cyber Punks collection.
Jessy: I was following NFTs without buying them and at the day of listing of XPR on Kucoin, Joejerde did a giveaway of the Kucoin token on his cryptocoins collection. To receive it, we needed to have a protonwallet, so I did one and that’s where my journey on the NFT on Proton started. Bought 2-3 NFTs I liked and saw one being given away: The spaceman from Abstrakts. I Started following it and engaged with almost all the tweets James did for a couple weeks. He started to talk to me the day I put a bid on his Carnage Abstrakt. A couple days later I was a member of the team.
Why did you choose Proton Blockchain to host your collection?
After downloading the proton wallet, and really starting to use it and understand its true potential, I basically went all in on it. Then i learned about the Proton NFT markets and it was game over; A young market with free to exponentially low fees to mint. I couldn’t deny this opportunity.
Tell us about your collection and the inspiration.
The inspiration for Abstrakts came when I was watching a video by crypto influencer , MMMcrypto. He was showcasing his NFT collection, which he had displayed on these video panels on his wall. They were cryptopunks. And as we all know crypto punks are very flat, simple, 8bit art. I thought to myself what if NFT’s resembled more “fine art”. I discovered an AI software that became a staple for creating abstrakts. I was able to develop a stylized paint stroke and color schemes with it. And then used my photo manipulation , and digital painting skills to fill in the rest!
I’ve always been a HUGE Cyber Punk / dystopian future fan. From newer cinematic experiences such as Altered Carbon to Blade Runner 2049, gaming experience such as Cyber Punk 2077, and good old classics such as the original Blade Runner, Running Man, and Total Recall. I had an idea for a Cyber Punk series done in Abstrakts style, but i was unsure how to execute it. When I met jessy, he really helped me expand on an idea and create what it has become today.
What benefits do your NFT holders have? (Passive Income, DAO, Airdrops)
Between BOTH Abstrakts and Cyber Punks, our benefits include, Free Canvas Prints/Merchandise raffles, Airdrops, and a new limited capacity, passive Income plan with Cyber Punks which we call the “Elite Cyber Syndicate (ECS)”.
What’s next for your project?
After Cyber Punk #50 is dropped, we will begin our “Super Cyber Season” in which weekly airdrops and raffles will occur. All Abstrakts and Cyber Holders gain points based on the NFT’s they hold + their cyber builds. Our ECS passive income plan will also kick in at this time, and the Top 5 point holders will earn 5% of all sales. Each season, the Syndicate will gain another 3 seats until there are a total of 20 seats.Furthermore, Abstrakts and Dragons Lair NFT’s are doing a collaborative collection.
Taking place in the Dragons Lair storyline, we have developed a new enemy called the Abstragons. These are evolved General Kroks and Serpents. Dragons lair designed NFT’s, with Abstrakts painting style. If you own a Krok or a Serpent, you will be able to use an Abstrakts Stone to evolve your General Krok or Serpent into its ultimate “Abstragon” form.
If you want to give a shoutout, now is your chance!
Shout out to the Proton XPR community! We are the first class of many to come! Keep setting a strong example of what a crypto community should be about!
Project Details
Main Website | https://www.abstraktsnft.com/cyberpunks
Twitter | https://twitter.com/abstraktsNFT
Collection | https://protonmint.com/255455314435
