Value of Art from a JPEG and NFT Artist with Jeremy Cowart
Episode Summary
Welcome to the Summer Series of Culture Factor. I’m Holly Shannon.
When I spoke at this year’s NFTNYC, I used my down time to interview the experts about their engagement in the Web3 space. We’ve talked on Culture Factor a lot about *what* Web3 is and *how* it’s being used, but I wanted to try and understand *why*.
Almost every person I spoke to had a similar reason for being part of Web3. They all wanted to help fulfill our most basic, fundamental, evolutionary need: connection.
This is unsurprising. Connection has always been at the core of the web itself. The difference between web 1, 2, and 3 are the methods used, and tech available, to generate connection.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to explore the methods that artists, collectors, and businesses use to bring about connection. .
I'll break down the whys, not just the whats, of this new digital space we find ourselves in.
Season 4 of Culture Factor is produced by Avery Rogers' Paleblue Studios
Jeremy Cowart Website
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Season 4 producer Avery Rogers (Paleblue Studios)
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Transcript
Holly Shannon 0:02
Welcome to the summer series of Culture Factor. I'm Holly Shannon. When I spoke at this year's NFT NYC, I used my downtime to interview the experts about their engagement in the web three space. We've talked on Culture Factor a lot about what web three is and how it's being used. But I wanted to try and understand why. Almost every person I spoke to had a similar reason for being part of web three. They all wanted to help fulfill our most basic fundamental, evolutionary need connection. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to explore the methods that artists collectors and businesses use to bring about connection. I'll break down the whys not just the watts of this new digital space we find ourselves in. Hello Culture Factor family. In life, I've learned that you meet the coolest people backstage. And if Tmic the most amazing photographer and NFT artist was taking portraits at the famous town hall. I had been following him on Instagram and messaged him. Jeremy coward invited me to come to town hall. And yes, backstage. So I'm having this epic moment with Jeremy coward. I just watched him photograph and watched his creative process with an artist here at NYC and ft. NYC. And when I walked in the room, one of the first things he said is that today seems to be the most magical for him. And so I'm gonna start, I'm going to pick up there before I dive into his process a little bit. So hello, and you want to share why that is the case?
Jeremy Cowart 1:43
Yeah, today is just been. I don't know, if you have so much gear and sometimes like, everything just clicks like Sir, something going kolaks into place. And you're like, Oh, this is what I was trying striving for. And today feels like that moment where a lot of things are clicking.
Holly Shannon 2:01
I love that. So let me go into your process. So you were a photographer first. And I have combed through your Instagram. I encourage everybody to go check that out. When was that moment? Like? I know a lot of people transfer jpeg to NF T. But was there a catalyst or like a specific moment where you're like, This is what I need to be doing?
Jeremy Cowart 2:26
Yeah, so it was December when I heard the term generative word that got my attention. And I dove in and decided to create a project generatively called Block queens and that has turned my life upside down because now I do NF T's full time for living and Salah do and now I'm, you know shooting all this portraits of the other artists and creators in the NFT space. And so um, yeah, that was December 2021. So just about six months ago, and I've been in love ever since
Holly Shannon 3:00
I would assume the process is a lot different because like, from my very tiny actions in procreate that you're creating layers versus finding capturing that one moment on film. Has that evolved your work being able to create layers?
Jeremy Cowart 3:20
Well, I have been a Photoshop user for 20 years, I've always layered stuff. But yeah, now with NF T's can just bring that history into NF T's and create AR so augmented reality or, and whether it's prints or in real life, I'm messing a lot with AR But yeah, and then in photography, it can also, I'm also doing some interesting layered stuff with that as well. So yeah, and then I still love the flat art as well, like portraits and my favorite portraits probably ever have been created today. And so yeah, it's just whatever the project requires is where I go.
Holly Shannon 4:01
You know, I always talk about the intrinsic value for the collector and for the artists, which maybe is a little bit different. When you produce a piece of art, what does that feel like for you when it when it lands like when it's exactly what you want it to be? And what is that feeling? When somebody collects it and puts it on their wall?
Jeremy Cowart 4:23
It's indescribable. I mean, it's literally my childhood dreams. I've always just wanted to be an artist and somehow got caught up in the commercial photography space, which I did for 15 years. That was never my passion. So now to make art and for collectors to collect it. I mean, it's just like, just like some kids wanted to be an astronaut. Some kids wanted to be in the NFL like I just wanted to make art and sell it and so yeah for people to buy that just means everything.
Holly Shannon 4:55
When you were talking about creating like the layers and the AI can you explain To me where that AI comes in, in the process,
Jeremy Cowart 5:03
yeah amusing a couple apps RTV, which when the app recognizes the image, then all the layers 13 layers come off the print or off the image of the screen. And so and then they use Adobe arrow, which can like place my entities anywhere in real life. And you can set them on a bar top or a field or a beach, like wherever you are, you can build your NFT 3d model in real life. And so, yeah, I love exploring all things, AR.
Holly Shannon 5:37
I have seen physical pieces where the layers are all put like, say, in a clear box, and you can walk around it. So like from the front, it looks one way and then as you start to go around, so when you say physical like that, in real life, is that what you mean?
Jeremy Cowart 5:55
Yes, exactly. That is exactly votec can show you for what. So like this piece behind you, has the same thing that's possible. So for skin that drip behind you.
Holly Shannon 6:11
And I'm going to put a copy of this in the in the show notes so that people can see like the imagery of what you're doing right, this very,
Jeremy Cowart 6:20
here are the AR layers. And then yeah, they all come off the print thing see in real life.
Holly Shannon 6:30
This is amazing. So I'm seeing layers, and they're like shifting and moving. So I'm totally, I'm totally gonna have to include this in the show notes for everybody's to get it. So he has a line of people who are behind me that he's going to photograph. So hopefully he doesn't mind if I stay and watch a little more. And one last one last question for you. Where are you from?
Jeremy Cowart 6:50
Nashville, Tennessee.
Holly Shannon 6:52
I was trying to figure out the accent. Thank you. Thank you, Jeremy. Absolutely. And I'll tell you watching Jeremy in his element, shooting portraits was an experience I won't soon forget, he even asked me to jump behind his camera to capture him. Let's listen in as we explore what it feels like for him to be both the artist and the collector. So I have another question for Jeremy coward. Are you a collector
Jeremy Cowart 7:17
as well, very much I love to collect.
Holly Shannon 7:21
Are there any artists or type of art that really sends you?
Jeremy Cowart 7:26
Yeah, I mean, gosh, I got to photograph rific thing in it on today. And he's my favorite artist on the planet. I wish I could afford to collect his art. But I can't. But I love what quantum art is doing there, the photography platform. So have a just in our salon or piece that I've collected. And I have a lot of historical that I think are historic pieces, like what Time Magazine is doing. I think some of their collections are really cool. I'm honored actually, to recently be one of their artists. But I love moonbird I have my members and probably own about AD projects. And so I have a lot of projects that I that I collect. And you know, my fellow photographers, I love collecting their work when they can see Yeah, I actually enjoy the collecting just as much as I do the creating. Holly Shannon 8:20 And how do you feature the NFT? Art? Do you put it physically on your walls? Or is it just for again, that intrinsic value that you have it?
Jeremy Cowart 8:33
Yeah, great question. I would love to eventually have them on my wall right now. They're just in my wallet. And I love that. It's funny, because when I first came in NFTS I never thought that would be a thing. Like, don't you want to showcase and don't want to. But then you realize that you just love owning the NFT. Like, that's enough for me. It's crazy.
Holly Shannon 8:53
So you'll probably never flip that art because it's so special to you that you're just keeping it like in your wallet.
Jeremy Cowart 9:01
I mean, there's definitely some stuff that I've flipped, I'm not a flipper, but occasionally you know, you you will take the profits on something but the most I would say 9% of my projects have kept Holly Shannon 9:15 you know, I don't think flipping is bad because sometimes I think if you buy it and you flip it with the intention of elevating the artists to the next level like you were watching them build themselves and then you probably will go back and buy more art. So I think it's actually like moving them through the system a little like I don't think it has to be a negative.
Jeremy Cowart 9:38
Right. I would agree. Yeah, it's just part of the game and part of the process and everybody you know, there's nothing wrong with taking profits everybody does when they need to and I've certainly done that but I do love trying to hold on to things as long as I can.
Holly Shannon 9:54
I've heard and I do believe this that we will have multiple wallets where We collect art. And each of our wallets will represent our personality or different parts of us kind of like social media like you show one person, one part of yourself on LinkedIn and maybe a different one on Instagram. What do you think?
Jeremy Cowart 10:14
I haven't heard that but I cannot agree more. And that gets see myself doing that my PFP wallet, my photography, wallet, my phone or wallet. Yeah, I mean, totally. It's a great thought. And I could see that being the feature where that's how we, you know, choose to show who we are.
Holly Shannon 10:32
Yeah, we'll be defined by that very long code. 0x two did it.
Jeremy Cowart 10:38
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. No doubt.
Holly Shannon 10:42
So what is the next project you're going to work on after NFT? NYC? Where are you headed next?
Jeremy Cowart 10:48
Yeah, so more one on ones coming on. Superrare. I'm doing a Gosh, a huge collaboration with Boston Globe. I don't know that I can say that yet. But it just did. Another project dropped coming on quantum fashion drum and so a couple other celebrity projects after that, so a lot.
Holly Shannon 11:09
Very impressive. I love that and you heard it here first Boston Globe Sheesh. Well, this is releasing over the summer, so maybe it'll be old news by the time
Jeremy Cowart 11:18
we'll see. Thank you.
Holly Shannon 11:20
Thank you. It'll be exciting to see how our future digital wallets define our personalities and our interests. I love that that resonated with Jeremy I have two wallets How about you? Please share with me on social if you have more than one and why? Hey, Culture Factor family I have been enjoying rosé over this very hot summer and Harmony Wine has been my newest addiction. My friend Matt Harmon has not only created this delicious rose from Provence, but it has these beautiful notes of strawberry and floral and it's dry and super yummy. And he put it in the prettiest of cans that you can take to your picnic or a barbecue Matt and I agree that the best rose comes from the south of France. That's probably why we're friends and he is going to be giving you my Culture Factor family 20% off your Harmony Wine link is in the show notes. Season Four of Culture Factor is produced by Paleblue studios.