In the early days, my workspace at an animation studio consisted of designing settings like living rooms, highways, and doctor offices. Positioned in a dark windowless corner of the studio, the environment drained my creativity and inspiration. I endured this for two years, during which a repetitive strain injury in my arm became a symbol of the painful grind.
Desperate for an escape, I turned to art influenced by vaporwave, seeking peace in the nostalgiathat contrasted with my monotonous day job. This exploration led to the start of Dutchtide. Initially, I tried to launch a clothing line but soon realized the costs were too much. Pivoting to a more reasonable product, I began creating prints. My designs, shared on Reddit, quickly got thousands of upvotes and hundreds of requests, signaling that I had tapped into a community that resonated with my vision.
Despite the popularity and the initial interest online, the reality of entrepreneurship hit hard. By the end of the year, I had only managed to sell five prints and had a pretty big burnout. However, this challenged me hard. It drove me deeper into the vaporwave community, where the quality of my work gained recognition. This niche not only helped me stand out but set the stage for the most significant leap in my career.
In September 2020, I found cryptoartstep. The challenge was immense, the grind even larger. But the innovation pushed me and creativity was flowing out of me.
Maintaining relevance was a daily battle against obscurity. Recognizing the need to adapt once more, I launched Midnight Breeze. This latest pivot wasn't just another change; it was the beginning of a history I would continue to write, one brushstroke at a time.
And now we are here.
Ready to once more, challenge and change the game.