Blockchain technology presents numerous innovative opportunities in the field of art and especially the NFT (non-fungible token) market. The term “NFT” describes a type of asset that provides functionality within a game or platform. In this case, the “NFT” being considered is actually Fine Art.
A new type of NFT art has emerged called Art Blocks.
Creating a new type of generative art that uses blockchain technology to enhance transparency and ease of creation, as well as increase collector value.
Users are invited to create unique artworks through code modifications and to vote on the fate of components in each artwork.
Through a combination of technical ingenuity and real-world experience in the contemporary art market, Art Blocks aim to make collecting meaningful digital art accessible and delightful for everyone.
What is Art Blocks?
Art Blocks is the world’s first platform for truly programmable on-demand generative content, stored immutably in Ethereum smart contracts.
The user chooses a style that speaks to them, and pays for the creation of content based on it. Then they receive a personally generated copy from an algorithm—which has been produced using their choices as input data.
The platform can generate any type of output, from static images and 3D models to interactive experiences.
How Does Art Blocks Work?
The Art Blocks platform hosts a series of projects whose outputs are easy to verify and reproduce. Each project is accompanied by a generative script, stored immutably on the Ethereum blockchain.
When a user wants to purchase an iteration of their project hosted on the platform, they purchase an ERC721 compliant “non-fungible” token—also stored on Ethereum’s blockchain—which contains unique variables controlled by a provably unique “seed”.
These variables control the way that output appears and operates. The possibilities are endless!
Meet the Art Blocks Engine
Art Blocks Engine is Art Blocks’ partnerships product, which provides white-labeled generative technology to brands and organizations. It allows the artists at Art Blocks—who are experts in generating NFTs (non-fungible tokens)—to make their minting process available to other companies who use it as an internal or public tool.
Partners can use Engine’s existing smart contracts and rendering infrastructure to create turnkey, branded generative projects. When they do this, partners own the resulting output—the smart contract itself—and can release as many such projects as they like.
Engine Flex allows Art Blocks generative systems to reference off-chain assets on IPFS or arweave. This means that scripts running on our partners’ sites can use photography, AI tech, audio and video – all data types impractical for storage directly on Ethereum blockchain.
Art Blocks Curated Works
Art Blocks established a curation board to carefully select projects for inclusion in their Curated Collection—a group of works that push the boundaries of Generative Art.
Curated Project
Art Blocks is meant to be a platform for the creation and sale of generative artwork. The Curated Collection, released on a regular schedule, represents Art Blocks’ vision as such—it’s where you’ll find projects grouped in quarterly series so that collectors can build up their collection from world-class creative coders over time.
Playground Project
The artists who have been included in the Curated Collection are allowed to deploy subsequent projects within the Playground. Like all Art Blocks releases, these works must meet a quality standard of some kind; but experimentation is encouraged here.
Factory Project
Art Blocks Factory provides a low-risk, fast route to the art world for artists who don’t want to wait or be chosen by the curation board. Art Blocks allows creative coders to develop a project and release it as part of their community, where world-class generative artists show off the latest in digital art.
While the requirements are more relaxed than those of the Curated Collection, Factory projects still reflect and celebrate Art Block’s commitment to innovation, creativity and artistic beauty.
Look out for an Art Blocks NFT Series Drop
It’s definitely worth your time to get in on an Art Blocks NFT. Not only will you learn more about this fascinating form of generative art, but you could also strike it rich—as many people have.The problem is that Art Blocks are incredibly competitive and, in the end, all about knowing when a NFT series drops and having enough funds available to cover high gas fees.
To get information about the next NFT series drop, follow Art Blocks on Twitter and join the Discord server. Besides these basic steps for keeping up with Art Blocks, following generative artists on Twitter and Instagram helps you stay abreast of trends in their field.
The idea behind Art Blocks is to give users an inside look into the creative process of their favorite generative artists, and to give each user a record of ownership (NFT) through their Blockchain transaction.
It’s a fascinating project that has the potential to reshape the contemporary art market.