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An Introductory Guide to Creating and Collecting Art on the Avalanche Blockchain

We at Creator Royalties have always advocated exploring and learning about different blockchains. Not only does it further your knowledge and understanding of blockchain technology, it also opens you up to different communities and ecosystems, which could help find new collectors for your art.

Hence, while Ethereum is the most widely adopted blockchain for creating, buying, and selling NFTs, we have introduced you to Tezos, Bitcoin Ordinals, and today - Avalanche.

Read on to learn how you can get started on the latest blockchain on artists and art collectors’ radar.

SPOILER ALERT - Artists, Avalanche Foundation is buying art you mint on Avalanche. Read on for how to be eligible!

What is the Avalanche blockchain?

Avalanche is another blockchain that can execute peer-to-peer transactions and deploy smart contracts, just like Ethereum and Tezos. If there is one thing it is known for however, it is lightning fast, and can accommodate near-instant transactions.

This is because it is powered by a uniquely powerful consensus mechanism. We will spare you with the (rather technical!) details, but if you are interested in learning more, you can check out their documentation here.

Furthermore, AVAX is made up of a network of 3 blockchains, one of which (C-Chain) runs on the Ethereum Virtual Machine(EVM). This means that you can use the same wallet address you use for Ethereum (if you did not want to create a new one), and even continue to use MetaMask.

Other things to note:

• Avalanche runs on the token AVAX, which can be purchased through all major crypto exchanges, such as Coinbase.

• There are 3 blockchains within the AVAX network - when making transfers, make sure to select the correct one (it should usually be C-Chain).

• Avalanche runs on Proof of Stake (PoS), which makes it low-cost and eco-friendly!

Why Avalanche is on our radar

It is clear that the Avalanche team is committed to investing in artists, and building out the creator ecosystem on Avalanche.

First, they rolled out Avaissance, a new initiative created to incubate the next generation of digital artists. The program includes grants for their artists-in-residence, and consists of a roster of 75 prominent rising artists, including Downs & Towns, Emily Lazar, and more.

You can discover Avaissance artists on HUG here.

Avaissance is also making its events and mentoring sessions open to the public. You can register for sessions by Avaissance mentors Dave Krugman, Emonee La Russa, ad Ryan Wen all for free.

That’s not all, digital art gallery and community Superchief announced earlier this year that they will be building their own NFT marketplace on Avalanche, where they will be working to “build a home for creative culture within the Avalanche ecosystem.”

With artists and builders continuing to innovate on Avalanche, the time is now to get ourselves familiarized with their blockchain and ever-growing ecosystem.

How to get started on Avalanche

Getting started on Avalanche is no different from getting started on any other blockchain! It can be a bit intimidating, but the steps are very similar to what you are used to.

Here’s how:

#1: Purchase some AVAX

To start creating and collecting on Avalanche, you’ll need some AVAX! You can easily acquire the AVAX token on your regular crypto exchange, such as Coinbase or Binance, or acquire it via credit card using providers like MoonPay.

#2: Transfer AVAX to your Avalanche wallet

Got your AVAX? Great! You’ll now need to transfer it to a crypto wallet that enables you to buy and store your Avalanche NFTs. You can create a brand new Avalanche wallet through AVAX directly. The video below provides you a detailed walkthrough.

You can also continue to use MetaMask - simply switch from Ethereum Mainnet to the Avalanche Network by navigating to the dropdown in the top left of your MetaMask browser extension.

When transferring your AVAX, remember to always transfer to the “C-Chain” blockchain, or you may risk losing your tokens. It is always worth performing a small test transfer just to be safe!

#3: Browse, mint, and purchase on Avalanche marketplaces

Now that you have AVAX in your wallet, it’s time to explore the leading Avalanche NFT marketplaces!

• Campfire: Campfire is one of the leading art NFT marketplaces on Avalanche. You can browse drops and creators by different art mediums, from AI to poetry to photography, and more.

• OpenSea: Yes - OpenSea supports Avalanche NFTs as well! Click here to navigate to the top traded collections on Avalanche.

• Joepegs: One of the more popular Avalanche NFT marketplaces, Joepegs offers low transaction fees, and also has an NFT launchpad that is capable of minting large NFT collections, while hosting a range of pricing models (e.g. Dutch auctions) for artists.

• Kalao: Kalao leverages virtual reality so that users can create, trade, and experience NFTs in an immersive virtual world, and aims to bridge the gap between digital and physical realms in the NFT space.

Get involved with Avalanche through HUG

We are excited to be teaming up with the team at Avaissance to introduce the Avalanche blockchain to more artists, while also spotlighting some of their top creators.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Follow all Avaissance artists on HUG: Avaissance is now a verified community on HUG, and interested collectors can now follow all artists in one click, while staying in the loop with their latest updates.

• Mint your art on Avalanche, and get your work purchased by the Avalanche Foundation by participating in the weekly art challenge! HUG selected this week’s theme of Travel. Learn more and participate in the challenge here.

• Stay tuned for our upcoming Open Call: Art on Avax and working together to showcase digital artists at Korea Blockchain Week in September. Follow @ArtonAvax and thehugxyz and stay tuned for updates!

Closing Thoughts

Getting onboarded to a new blockchain can seem like a tedious and daunting process. That said, with so many great innovations happening on different blockchains, you could be selling yourself short by not exploring what they all have to offer. We hope that this has been a useful guide, and we can’t wait to see you on Avalanche.

Want to learn more? Join us in conversation with the Art on Avax team and a number of their Avaissance artists this Thursday at 5PM ET.

In the News

Industry News

• Auction house Christie’s and luxury fashion brand Gucci are teaming up on an auction titled Future Frequencies: Explorations in Art and Fashion, which features 21 NFTs from renowned artists including Claire Silver, Emi Kusano, Emily Xie, and more.

• We all know the NFT market looks different today as it did 2 years ago. Read about how the NFT market is maturing and how Web3-native businesses need to respond and adapt accordingly.

• Sound, a music NFT discovery and direct-to-community monetization platform has raised $20M in a Series A funding round, with the mission of creating a world where artists can make a living off their music alone, regardless of who they know in the music industry.

• The Google Play Store has changed its policy to allow NFTs in apps and games, as long as developers maintain transparency and adhere to other rules.

Tools and Resources

• Meta shared that it’s been working on CM3leon, a more efficient, state-of-the-art generative model for text and images. Learn about the model here.

• Using Midjourney for character art? Here’s a guide on how to create consistent characters on Midjourney v5.2.

• Stability AI has rolled out a new sketch-to-image AI tool, to allow anyone with basic drawing skills and online access to generate high-quality original images.

Notable Creators

• Musician and producer Pharrell Williams is also a non-traditional creative director for fashion brand Louis Vuitton. Learn about how he is paving the way for the future in fashion, and how that future includes NFTs.

• Seedphrase, a DJ known for spinning while wearing a helmet based on his rare CryptoPunks NFT, announced that he has signed to talent agency WME with plans to release original music later this year.

Artist Grants and Opportunities

• Calling all HUG animators! Get your work displayed in Digital Dreams in Kansas City, MO, while also getting your work produced as customizable video sculptures in partnership with Infinite Objects. Winning artists earn 90% of sales less production costs. Learn more and apply here by July 23rd.

• HUG is offering $500 USD grants to two artists each month in exchange for unminted artwork to raffle off to our community. Meet our latest HUG Visionary, Mariela Di Nardo, and become a HUG Visionary here.

• Want to get an all-expenses paid trip to Kyoto, Japan and spend 3 months exploring your creative practice while you’re there? Learn more and apply to be a part of Kyoto Art Center’s Artist-in-Residence program here by July 31st.

• WJH is looking for an indigenous artist for a children’s book she is publishing. Learn more and respond to her open call here!

This Week’s Art Drops

Did you know that these are just 8 of 300+ art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.