In 2021, NFTs exploded in popularity with the rise of platforms like Ethereum, Polygon, Solana and more. Artists, musicians, and creatives of all types flocked to the new technology as a way to create unique digital assets that could be sold or traded while being completely owned by the creator.
As the NFT industry continues to grow exponentially, you may wonder how to create an NFT of your own. Becoming an NFT artist is an exciting opportunity. You will be at the forefront of art, technology, and the blockchain in a rapidly evolving sector.
Fortunately, creating NFT art doesn’t require advanced technical knowledge. You can start your journey as an NFT artist with just a few simple steps and learn how to mint NFTs today.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a type of cryptocurrency that represents indivisible, unique digital assets.
From first impression, you may think NFTs are just jpegs but they are often used to represent an array of very interactive and useful items. NFTs can be used for digital art, event passes for metaverse and physical events, memberships, digital IDs, concert tickets, and the list goes on.
Some of the advantages of using NFTs is that they really strengthen the community surrounding brands and the relationship between consumers and products/services. NFTs can offer exclusive offers and insights.
NFTs can help to reduce fraud and counterfeiting. For example, because each NFT is stored on a blockchain, it is impossible to create a fake or duplicate NFT.
This makes them an appealing option for artists and collectors who want to ensure the authenticity of their work. Additionally, NFTs can be bought, sold, or traded like other cryptocurrencies, giving them a level of liquidity that is not always found with physical assets.
As the world of digital art and collectibles continues to grow, NFTs will likely become an increasingly popular way to trade and store these items, and more people will create NFT art.
Creating NFT art is an incredible opportunity for artists. Not only does it provide a way to authenticate your work, but it also allows you to sell or trade your creations in a new and exciting market. Not to mention owning 100% of the proceeds from sales as well as royalties each time the asset is resold.
The biggest challenge for digital artists (e.g., musicians, graphic designers, animators, etc.) is that their work is often copied or counterfeited. Unlike physical art, which can be signed or numbered to prove authenticity, digital files can be duplicated infinitely without losing quality.
This has led to a devaluation of digital art, as there is little to no way for artists to ensure that their work is original and unique. Creating NFTs solves this problem by allowing artists to mint their work onto the blockchain.
Minting is the process of creating an NFT and attaching a unique identifier to whatever the digital file is, which is mostly a automatic process not involving coding.. This identifier is then stored on a blockchain, making it impossible to duplicate or counterfeit.
The process for how to mint NFT artwork isn't as complicated as it sounds—anyone can do it with the help of a minting platform. In fact, you don’t even need to know how to code!
For buyers and artists alike, this is significant and groundbreaking for the art world. Let's take a look at some of the advantages of learning how to make NFT art:
Because each NFT is stored on a blockchain, it can be verified as authentic and belonging to the rightful owner. This is significant for collectors who want to ensure they are buying genuine pieces.
It also provides peace of mind for artists who no longer have to worry about copying or counterfeiting their work.
For this reason, clubs, event companies, and other businesses are beginning to create NFT passes for memberships, event passes, and other items.
This allows them to prove the item's authenticity, track ownership, and transfer information easily.
The purpose of creating NFTs is to introduce digital scarcity and ownership. An NFT can only have one owner at a time. Knowing how to create an NFT from their art gives creators the means to protect and monetize their work more effectively.
Buyers also benefit from NFTs because they become owners of an official, artist-produced collectible representing their art or actual one of one NFT pieces from artists.
There is no middle man when creating NFTs. Artists control the supply, and the buyers’ money goes directly to the artist. Although buyers can resell and trade NFTs, every transaction sends royalties to the original artist, eliminating the need to depend on one-time payments.
When others hear about the CryptoPunk "Covid Alien" NFT selling for $11.7 million, it's easy for them to focus on the clear absurdity of the number and write off NFTs as a passing fad.
Meanwhile, the core idea behind NFTs still stands—those who know how to make an NFT from their art can directly monetize and control the sale of their work in a way that was not possible before.
The blockchain is a distributed ledger that records every transaction made. It constantly grows as "completed" blocks are added with a new set of recordings. Using this technology, participants can confirm transactions without a need for a central clearing authority.
Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Bitcoin's blockchain, for example, contains a record of every Bitcoin transaction made.
When you create an NFT, a similar blockchain stores data about the art piece and its owner. This provides a secure and permanent record that anyone can verify at any time.
This is significant because it eliminates the need for a third party to verify authenticity or track ownership.
It also makes it nearly impossible to lose or destroy an NFT, as the data is stored on a decentralized network of computers worldwide.
As more people create NFTs, there have been many NFT projects with positive environmental impact, including the National Parks NFT community, which includes over 1,800 members who support biodiversity and wildlife by focusing on national park conservation. Holding a National Parks NFT also grants you perks like access to national parks, parking passes and more.
As NFTs become a popular way to socialize and the energy consumption of NFTs themselves comes down, there is potential for NFTs to have a net-positive environmental impact.
Many NFT buyers invest in NFTs because they think the price will go up or they believe in the future of the technology.
Unlike traditional arguments for investing in digital art, such as its rarity or beauty, when it comes to ‘how to sell an NFT,” buyers are drawn to these assets because of their potential to appreciate in value for a profitable future sale. This is because NFTs can be resold or used to create new experiences, such as games or virtual worlds.
Investors are also drawn to NFTs because they are a new asset class that is not with the stock market. This means that NFTs could potentially provide investors with a hedging opportunity against economic downturns.
However, similar to cryptocurrency, the relative age of the NFT market makes it a riskier investment than conventional methods.
As of September 2022, the top five most notable NFT sales are:
If you’re looking to become an NFT artist, you should first understand how the NFT landscape works. Although no advanced technical knowledge is required, knowing a little bit of the ropes can help ensure your success.
Before creating an NFT, decide what the NFT represents. Selecting a digital asset to be turned into an NFT is called tokenization. In essence, you will be minting the digital equivalent of an official challenge coin, a trading card that represents your art or an incredible one of one piece you’ve created.
NFTs can represent any digital asset, including but not limited to:
Another critical point to remember at all times is intellectual property and copyright. While the owner of an NFT does not gain intellectual rights over the asset it represents, you cannot tokenize digital assets you do not legally own. Doing so is an infringement on the IP owner’s rights. Just like trading cards, you own the card, not the art on it.
Knowing how to sell NFTs is largely about knowing where to sell. There are multiple NFT platforms available, each with its own rules and features. Research all available NFT platforms and look for the information most relevant to artists.
When researching NFT platforms, ask yourself the following questions:
Once you create an NFT and select an NFT platform that meets your requirements and preferences, set up an account and connect your crypto wallet so you can start receiving payment. Examples of commonly-used wallets include MetaMask, Fortmatic, and Coinbase Wallet.
After setting up your account and linking your wallet, you’re ready to start uploading your digital files and to mint your NFTs. The exact process for listing and minting an NFT varies depending on the platform you use.
Most offer the possibility of adding multiple NFTs to a set, group, or collection, letting you categorize them under a single umbrella. Like we mentioned earlier, the help of a minting platform removes the need to write even a single line of code.
Some platforms require artists to create NFTs and mint them upon uploading in exchange for a fee. For example, NFT marketplaces using Ethereum require paying a “gas fee.” Others allow you to post a listing without paying minting fees.
The NFT is only minted when a buyer confirms a purchase. Under this principle, the purchase price usually includes minting fees, passing the costs onto the buyer.
Depending on the platform you choose, you may be able to choose how to sell NFTs.
Typical process options include:
While the specifics of how to mint NFTs and sell them may vary from platform to platform, the general idea is always the same: You upload a digital file, mint an NFT for it, and list it on an online marketplace. From there, buyers can purchase your NFT using cryptocurrency.
When someone purchases your NFT, they become the new owner and have full control over it. The NFT is stored in their digital wallet, and they can do with it as they please. They can hold onto it, trade it, or even sell it themselves.
While the cost of creating an NFT can vary widely depending on the blockchain used, the average cost is typically between $0.05 and $150.
The Ethereum blockchain is generally considered the most expensive blockchain for NFT creation, with an average cost of $70. Solana, on the other hand, is typically the cheapest blockchain for NFT creation, costing only $0.01 on average.
In addition to these costs, NFT marketplaces often charge fees ranging from 2.5% to 5% for listing and selling NFTs.
Recently, it’s also become possible to create NFTs with zero gas fees using the Polygon network. OpenSea will also sometimes allow you to create NFTs without any additional fees, but this depends on the type of asset you’re trying to mint.
Not every asset minted on the Polygon network can be sold on any platform. And since requiring potential buyers (many of whom own and transact with Ethereum) to purchase a new currency to buy your NFTs could lead to lower sales, it’s important to consider this when deciding which blockchain to use.
In order to sell with OpenSea, you'll have to initialize your account, which costs money. Sometimes, it can cost as much as $60-$70.
You can also create your own smart contract and sell your NFTs for free, but this is only recommended for experienced developers.
You may know how to mint NFTs and how to sell them, but knowing the best marketplaces to sell your digital art is also important. The best NFT marketplace for you will depend on your goals, preferences, and the type of content you create. Here are some well-known NFT marketplaces to get you started:
OpenSea is one of the most popular NFT marketplaces today and the first choice of most new NFT artists. Its easy-to-use interface and large selection of assets make it a great option for buying and selling NFTs.
OpenSea is responsible for the majority of NFT sales and offers the most diverse selection of digital assets. Additionally, it enables users to create NFTs on the platform. If you don't know how to make an NFT or don't know where to start in the space, OpenSea is definitely the best place to start.
If you plan to sell your NFTs on OpenSea, the primary currencies used on this platform are Ethereum (ETH) and two coins pegged on the U.S. Dollar: USD Coin (USDC) and DAI. OpenSea charges a 2.5% minting fee for every NFT you create on the platform and takes 2.5% on the final sale or auction price.
The platform’s terms of services on how to sell an NFT are relatively permissive, with no limit on the number of NFT collections or items per collection a user can list.
The online store for video game Axie Infinity is called Axie Marketplace. Axies are fictitious creatures derived from the axolotl, a cute and funny-looking salamander.
They can be raised in the game by players.
In addition to buying, selling, and breeding Axies, the marketplace also sells digital art and other NFTs. This includes land and other components used in the game.
Axie Shards (the Axie Infinity cryptocurrency) are built on the Ethereum blockchain and can be bought and sold on various NFT marketplaces, as well as some crypto exchanges, including Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN).
Larva Labs is famous for creating some of the earliest and most iconic NFTs, such as the CryptoPunk and Dragon series. This marketplace focuses on digital art, selling both new creations and works by well-known artists in the space.
Although many of its projects are sold out, a few are worth keeping tabs in, including Meebits, a group of 20,000 3D characters that can be bought, sold, and traded with zero fees.
In terms of how to sell NFT art that you've created, you can't. But Larva Labs is a great place to explore and find new projects from one of the most prolific players in the NFT space.
Nifty Gateway is one of the most user-friendly NFT marketplaces and was created by brothers Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster, popularly known as the Winklevoss twins. It's also one of the first marketplaces to offer direct buying and selling of NFTs with U.S. dollars.
Nifty Gateway's focus is on digital art and collectibles. The platform only supports a few cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and USD Coin (USDC). It also has a more restrictive policy on what can be sold on the marketplace.
Some well-known NFT artists, including Beeple and Pak, have sold their work on Nifty Gateway.
The site has a processing fee of 5% + 30¢ of each transaction to cover the cost of credit card processing, which is expensive. However, Nifty Gateway also supports USD fiat currency, making it much more convenient for those who want to create NFT art or sell NFT products without a clear understanding of how cryptocurrencies work.
Rarible is an NFT marketplace similar to OpenSea but with a few key differences. One is that it allows users to set their own prices and fees for minting and selling NFTs. It also focuses on digital art and supports a wide range of file types, including GIFs, JPGs, MPGs, and WAVs.
In terms of how to sell NFTs on the site, Rarible takes a small commission compared to other marketplaces. On the buyer and seller side, Rarible only takes a 1% fee, meaning that bigger drops or rarer items are more profitable for artists to sell on the site.
Rarible also doesn't have as many restrictions on what can be sold, making it a great option for those who want to experiment with different types of NFTs.
Foundation.app is a bidding marketplace for digital art that sells using Ethereum. It was launched in early 2021 and has since sold more than $100 million of NFTs.
If you're wondering how to sell NFT art on Foundation's marketplace, it's simple. The Foundation community invites artists who create NFTs to its platform, and all buyers need is a connected crypto wallet to make purchases.
If you're hoping to dive right into the world of NFTs by creating your own, Foundation might not be the best starting point. Since it is invite-only, it requires some networking and experience in the NFT space to garner attention. However, it does have a user-friendly interface with plenty of artwork to browse through.
Although the sales and payment processes vary depending on the marketplace you’ve selected, following these basic steps should help you create NFT art and start your career.
Making and selling NFT art is easy and increasingly popular, and many artists have found significant success choosing NFTs and the blockchain. Once your NFTs are ready to be displayed, head over to Spatial to create your own virtual art gallery where you ca cultivate a community around your work. This often leads to more sales and exposure for your art as people gain familiarity with your pieces.
VR art galleries offer you plenty of room to make the perfect space for your works or collection. Spatial is also accessible from web and your mobile phone making it extremely accessible for other creators and collectors to interact with your art. It’s as easy as choosing what template you’d like to use in Spatial and selecting pieces you’d want to be featured in the gallery. You can also connect your MetaMask wallet and automatically place your images anywhere in the virtual room. Customize your space and invite people into your incredible world of NFT art!
