Your weekly newsletter for Web3(-curious) creators! Looking to further your creative practice as a creator in Web3? You’re in the right place. Here’s a weekly rundown of information curated for creators, by creators.

Revolutionizing Your Art Through Dynamic NFTs

As the crypto art scene continues to evolve, a new trend has emerged that is captivating both collectors and creators alike: Dynamic NFTs. This week, we explore what Dynamic NFTs are, explain how they work, and provide you with some recommended tools and case studies to hopefully inspire your next artistic endeavor.

Let’s dive in.

What are Dynamic NFTs?

Dynamic NFTs go beyond static images or files. Unlike most NFTs which are static and unchanging, Dynamic NFTs incorporate elements of interactivity, programmability, or real-time data feeds. These unique features make Dynamic NFTs highly engaging and unlock new possibilities for creators and collectors to interact with digital art.

This table summarizes the difference between static and Dynamic NFTs.

How do Dynamic NFTs work?

Once an NFT is created, while certain elements are immutable (i.e. cannot be changed), its metadata can continue to be modified. In a Dynamic NFT, the metadata is constantly changing. This could involve updating the image with new versions or altering the image’s appearance based on external data - such as weather, time, number of mints, or even the price of Ethereum!

For the elements to change, smart contracts pull in external data through what is known as “blockchain oracles”. Blockchain oracles are essentially a third-party service that connects smart contracts with the outside world, pulling in real-time information from various sources, which can then be used to update the smart contract.

In other words, blockchain oracles enable the smart contract to listen for these triggers and update the NFT accordingly, creating what is called a Dynamic NFT, which then provides an ever-evolving and unique user experience.

No-code tools for you to create your own Dynamic NFT

As you can imagine, Dynamic NFTs present unique challenges that make them difficult to create at this time without a comprehensive knowledge of code. Thankfully, there are a wide ranging number of no-code resources available to make experimenting with Dynamic NFTs easier.

#1: Async

For innovative artists and musicians, Async allows you to experiment with interactivity through elements such as time and evolving collections.

#2: The Lab by Transient Labs

Currently in beta, The Lab is a no-code builder for Dynamic, interactive or API-connected NFTs. Sign up for early access here.

#3: Manifold

Already a popular no-code minting tool for creators, you can also update your metadata manually through Manifold Studio. Learn more here.

Advanced resources

Want to take it a step further? The following resources provide guidance around more advanced applications of Dynamic NFTs.

• Want to learn how to build your own Oracle? Check out this article on Chainlink to begin the process.

• How to build Dynamic NFTs on Polygon

• Create Dynamic NFTs on Manifold by minting a HTML page

Case Studies: How artists are using Dynamic NFTs to revolutionize their work

At HUG, we believe one of the best ways to learn is to get inspired by other artists in the space. As a result, we have curated some inspiring examples from leading artists in the space who have been experimenting with Dynamic NFTs by allowing their artwork to evolve through external factors such as time, weather, and even actions taken by their collectors!

#1: Dynamic NFTs that change according to the weather

These artists have created artwork that evolves based on the weather:

• Zenavi’s Weather Jar is a Dynamic NFT where the music and artwork change according to the weather in Jakarta, Indonesia.

• DirtyRobots’ The Art of Seasons (TAOS) is a complete collection of dynamic illustrations featuring the four seasons. Each TAOS piece cycles from day to night based on the local time of the device you are viewing it on.

#2: Dynamic NFTs that change according to time

Similar to the change in weather, these artists have created artwork that evolves based on time:

• Ben Strauss, photographer and founder of Transient Labs created The Sentinel, which tracks the lunar calendar, and evolves through a 24 hour cycle.

• Toppy Eton’s Fade into You updates four times per day based on sunrise / day / sunset / night cycles.

#3: Dynamic NFTs that change through actions

Weather and time are elements that are outside our control. What if we could directly impact what happens to the metadata in a dynamic NFT?

These artists have gone on to create artwork that evolve based on actions taken by their collectors.

• MeldaVNH’s Contemplation was a time-limited open edition that evolved over 35 days, as the artist progressively added to the artwork based on her response to time, collector comments, market conditions, and more.

• LITWTF created Lit Project in collaboration with Transient Labs, where the ever evolving facial expression of Robert DeNiro reflected the price fluctuation of Ethereum.

• Shavonne Wong’s Weight of the World was a timed open edition that transformed as more people minted it. Depicting a woman struggling under the weight of a heavy load, the load becomes lighter as more people purchase the piece.

Closing Thoughts

Through Dynamic NFTs, the possibilities are now endless for both digital art as a medium and for collector engagement as a whole. The level of interactivity brought to a once static piece of artwork can also spark additional conversation and meaning to an artist’s unique point of view.

Interested in adding Dynamic NFTs to your practice? Join us on Twitter Spaces this Thursday at 4:30PM ET, where we will be hosting the team from Transient Labs, their founder (and photographer!) Ben Strauss and fellow photographer Robert LeBlanc to share more about how they are using Dynamic NFTs to push the boundaries of what’s possible with their work.

P.S. Stay tuned for some exciting alpha coming that day too!

In the News

Industry News

• Luxury brand Louis Vuitton has released a new physical-linked NFT collection called Via Treasure Trunks. Costing $39,500, these NFTs are soul-bound (i.e. cannot be transferred), and will provide access to exclusive members-only products and experiences.

• Japan is taking an early stance with regards to AI, declaring that using datasets for training AI models does not violate copyright law.

• More regulatory uncertainty ensues over crypto, as the SEC sues Coinbase over its exchange and staking programs, after already filing a lawsuit against Binance last week.

• AI remains a hot-button topic, and industry observers are taking a closer look at how it can hurt, or hopefully help, the music industry.

• OKX is bringing Web3 and AI to the Tribeca Film Festival, where festival-goers can experiment with minting their own AI-generated NFTs, and also purchase snacks and beverages from a vending machine that accepts crypto payments

Tools and Resources

• HUG rolled out the beta of a new Artist Updates feature, which allows collectors to get updates directly from their favorite artists. Learn more about the feature here, and get access by applying for a HUG Artist Profile.

• Foundation has launched Dynamic Pricing, a new, automated feature on the platform meant to simplify pricing for creators. Leveraging a Rebate Dutch Auction mechanism, creators can list their NFTs at a higher starting price that gradually decreases over time, while collectors can opt to purchase at any point, whenever they find the price most reasonable.

• Interested in how to price your work? We wrote extensively about it a couple of weeks ago, but artist Amber Vittoria shares more insight on how she prices work for clients in her YouTube video.

• Crypto exchange Kraken has officially launched a NFT marketplace which supports 250 NFT collections across different blockchains. Learn more here.

• Looking to generate incredible images on Midjourney? Here are 17 different types of shots you can generate.

Notable Creators

• How are other brands and creators leveraging the power of interactive artwork? Learn how artists like Jen Stark and Claire Silver are incorporating interactivity into their artistic vision.

• Multimedia performance artist Foodmasku opens up about why and how he is using NFTs to safeguard his work and explore the intersection of technology and humanity.

• Jack Butcher made headlines when he launched his Checks collection earlier this year. Dive deeper into Opepen, another Web3 experiment of his inspired by the Pepe the Frog meme.

• Wonder how AI artist Claire Silver started making a name for herself? Dive into this thread that talks about how Claire got her career going in Web3.

Artist Grants and Opportunities

• Earn a $500 USD grant for your art, while also growing your collector base. Learn more about HUG’s Visionary program, and apply to become a Visionary here.

• No-code platform Bueno is offering three artists $1000 each and access to Bueno Tools to kickstart their creative journey. Learn more and apply here by June 30th.

• Want your work transformed into a digital wearable and earn royalties from its sale on Decentraland, DressX, Upland, and more? Participate in Mavion’s community design challenge. Learn more and enter by June 30th.

• Online contemporary art gallery Royal Blue Gallery is hosting an open call for all visual artists to submit their work to their upcoming show, ‘Contrasts’. Chosen artists will have the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work through Royal Blue and participate in exhibit-related promotions. Learn more and apply by June 30th.

• The Adobe Creative Residency program supports creators of visual digital work, offering grants of $500–$5,000 for either a portfolio project or a paid Adobe project commission. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, learn about the program and application process here.

This Week’s Art Drops

• Building by Amber Vittoria (Timed Open Edition, Free): A free mint gifted by Amber to celebrate her 33rd birthday, and a reminder to keep creating, even if you’re unsure where to lay the next brick.

• Quiana by Ramon Gahzang (Limited Edition, 5/5, 5 tez): An AI-generated model that is draped in a beautiful mesmerizing purple skirt, and affirms beauty, strength, and limitless imagination.

• Look inside your body by Loverosiee (1/1, 0.03 ETH): Inspired by this quote from E.E. Cummings, “The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.”

• Denial by Margaux (1/1, 0.15 ETH): Part of Margaux’s Black Box collection, which is a collection of tormented versions of one’s self, and a representation of where we push our darkest thoughts into hiding.

• Day 16,969 by Aqueous (Timed Open Edition, 3 tez): Glitch self-portrait representing one who’s been on this earth for 16,969 days.

• NEXUS by Farrah Carbonell (Limited Edition, 3/3, 0.25 ETH): AI Photorealistic Fusion: Blending Realism and AI Ingenuity" redefines artistic boundaries by seamlessly merging the power of AI technology with the quest for realism.

• Distant Whisper by Javier Tomeo (Limited Edition, 25/25, 0.0134 ETH)

• ENIGMA by Gora (Collection of 8, 0.15 ETH): 8 unique pieces inspired by sculptures and enigmas, details, subtleties, and a thousand shades.

Creator Spotlight: Zenavi

Zenavi is a self-taught artist with a background in illustration and 2D animation. She creates intricate kaleidoscope patterns and colorful worlds that transport viewers to other dimensions.

By day, Zenavi is a lecturer in communication and public relations, but at night, she lets her creativity run wild as an NFT artist, exploring new frontiers and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of digital art, especially through AI and Dynamic NFTs.

Zenavi is also an admin and team lead for NFT Asia, where she is dedicated to uplifting Asian artists in the NFT space and giving them a platform to showcase their work.

Learn more about Zenavi & follow her through her HUG Artist Profile.