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.

10 Must-Read Topics About Art, NFTs, and Web3

We have just hit 20 incredible issues of Creator Royalties! We know Web3 moves fast… so every 10 weeks, we take a breather and look back on everything we’ve covered so that you can get caught up, and better yet dive deeper or revisit the topics that are of interest to you.

To check out the recap of our first 10 issues, check out ICYMI Vol 1 here.

Let’s get started.

#011: Pitch Perfect - The Secret to Selling Your Art and Landing Brand Partnerships

In this issue, we take you through 9 valuable tips and strategies on how to craft a winning pitch as an artist. Pitching effectively and effortlessly is a critical skill to have. Whether you are looking to sell your artwork, land a brand partnership, or seal the deal on a commission request, showcasing your talents and telling your story go a long way in demonstrating that you’re the perfect fit for the job.

We know that putting yourself out there is a daunting task, and even more so when you’re trying to convince someone to do business with you. This issue prepares you for leaving your mark both from an artistic and business standpoint.

#012: Rewarding and Building Collector Loyalty

As an artist, building a loyal following of collectors is crucial to your long-term success. We had previously discussed the importance of getting yourself to 1000 true fans, and nurturing special collector relationships is one of many ways to get yourself there.

This issue unpacks the different types of loyalty strategies you can use to incentivize engagement, how Web3 is supercharging these initiatives, and include a few case studies to help inspire your own practice.

#013: How to Curate Your Very Own Gallery… Virtual or Not

This issue was released the week of NFT NYC, where we at HUG also hosted our debut NFT gallery opening. It felt befitting to put together some tips and tricks for curating and dreaming up your very own art show to reach prospective collectors.

While there is something magical about IRL galleries, the growing list of online gallery tools means that you can dream up spaces without physical constraints to do your work justice. We discuss how to create the right atmosphere, how to write a curatorial statement, as well as recommend some virtual galleries to put your curatorial skills to the test!

#014: An Introduction to Generative Art

Generative art continues to soar in popularity, despite having first emerged in the 1960s. In addition, recent technological advancements have made generative art more accessible than ever. From NFT marketplaces and minting platforms like Art Blocks to AI models like DALL-E and Midjourney, more and more people have been able to experiment with the art of creative coding of late.

This issue does a deep dive into what generative art is and its history, and also provides actionable tools and tips for you to start exploring and experimenting in this innovative field.

#015: How to Write the Perfect Artist Bio

This issue is a must-read for any artist, because an artist bio is one of, if not the most effective marketing tool you have at your disposal. Having a well-written artist bio helps you pitch yourself effectively to collectors, gallerists, brand partners, and more.

Here, we break down different artist bios as case studies, and provide you with tips to make sure you have a winning artist bio that you can use for different purposes, from social media to a personal website.

#016: The Latest in AI Art and Tools You Can Use to Take Your Creativity to the Next Level

This is a follow-up to the first issue on AI in January, as developments in AI have only continued to accelerate. While there has been much discussion around AI's disruptive capabilities, the advancements in AI art tools have continued to spark the most thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be human — in an age where technology is blurring the line between man and machine.

At HUG, we make it a point to keep you up to date on the latest development in AI art tools, and how you can use AI to take your creative work to the next level.

#017: 5 Creator Economy Trends to Supercharge Your Journey as a Creative Entrepreneur

In this issue, we look at the bigger picture of how the creator economy as a whole has evolved. We all know that the creator economy has enabled individuals to leverage their creativity and passion to build businesses and monetize their content online.

By diving deeper into the top trends of 2023, we share how you can leverage them to realize unprecedented opportunities to turn your passions into profitable careers.

#018: Let’s Get Phygital

What is phygital? In this issue, we dive into the intersection of physical and digital experiences, and how both brands and independent creators are leveraging this trend to create one-of-a-kind relationships and connections with their consumers and collectors.

From token-gated shopping experiences to unique physical items, we share case studies and examples to challenge the way we are thinking about how NFTs interact with the real world.

#019: How to Price Your Artwork

We know that pricing is an awkward topic and that many artists struggle with setting a price on their art, especially when art is something that is so deeply personal, and doesn’t usually have a set market value.

In this issue, we discuss a few different strategies for pricing your artwork, and look at the various philosophies different artists and collectors have. While there isn’t necessarily a right or a wrong way to price your work, we hope that this will help guide your own thinking about pricing.

#020: How to Apply for Artist Grants and Residencies

Last but not least, we provide some insight into artist residencies and grants, which are essential catalysts for fueling creativity and promoting artistic growth. In fact, these opportunities often provide artists with the time, space, resources, and financial backing necessary to bring their visions to life.

Learn where to start looking for these opportunities, and how to give yourself the best probability of success when applying for them.

Closing Thoughts

We hope you have enjoyed all of our issues of Creator Royalties so far. Found one that’s particularly useful? Don’t hesitate to forward them to a friend, or invite them to subscribe for themselves.

Alternatively, if you have a suggestion for a topic to cover, please do not hesitate to reply directly to this email to share it with us!

Next week, we will be covering the exciting topic of Dynamic NFTs, so stay tuned to learn more.

In the News

Industry News

• More regulatory uncertainty emerges, as the SEC has just charged popular crypto exchange Binance with 13 counts of securities law violations. Read up on this breaking development here.

• Apple unveiled its new augmented reality (AR) headset, Apple Vision Pro. While early days, it could be transformative for the way we interact and consume content.

• Good news for both artists and collectors minting and collecting on ETH! Ethereum gas fees are trending towards a 2 month low, now that the memecoin trading frenzy has appeared to die down.

• Dew Drops, a new text-based collecting platform powered by Recur, has announced its inaugural artist lineup for June, which includes some of our favorite HUG artists like Mumbot and Jaime Derringer.

• NFT project Doodles is teaming up with Camp to launch a unique experience that combines retail and play at their physical locations across the U.S. Read more about the partnership here.

• Nike will be incorporating its digital collectibles into EA Sports video games to unlock new experiences for their .SWOOSH community and EA Sports fan base.

Tools & Resources

• Curious about how Instagram’s algorithm works? Instagram’s CEO Adam Mosseri recently came out to share how the algorithm ranks content throughout the app. Check out this thread breaking it all down below.

• HUG has rolled out a beta of its Artist Updates feature, which allows artists to share important updates about new drops, announcements, etc. directly to their collectors. Apply for a HUG Artist Profile to get access to the feature.

Notable Creators

• Artist FEWOCiOUS unveiled a new 20K NFT collection, featuring numerous hand drawn individual traits, which are transformed into 3D components with the liberal application of technology.

• Dmitri Cherniak’s Ringers #879 (often referred to as “The Goose”) will be auctioned by Sotheby’s as part of the collection of NFTs seized from bankrupt crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC).

• Entrepreneur and television personality Mark Cuban will be releasing his book “How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It” as an NFT on Polygon. Learn more about how he’s teaming up with Book.io to launch books as assets on the blockchain.

Artist Grants & Opportunities

• Be a part of HUG Visionaries - our new program that supports emerging artists with a $500 USD grant and opportunities to grow your personal collector network. Learn more about and apply for the program here.

• Sign up for MakersPlace Artist Launchpad Program by June 9th. Every month, MakersPlace launches a new challenge with prizes like free minting credits, features on MP platforms, and exhibit opportunities. Learn more and apply here.

• Be a part of the 3rd issue of ART SHARE: Gallery Magazine. Learn more and submit your work to be featured here.

• Get featured in the Daily Ralpha, a Web3 newsletter with a daily circulation of 75K. All you have to do is apply for your own HUG artist profile, and submit your interest here.

This Week’s Art Drops

• HIM by Juu Juu Mama (Collection, Limited Edition 5/5, 3 tez): A collection of crystal-inspired photorealistic AI portraits.

• Rainbow Critters by Aoife O’Dwyer (Timed Open Edition, 0.01 ETH): A celebration of Pride Month, Rainbow Critters represents all the beauty, joy, and color wobbling around the ether, just outside the bounds of what our senses can perceive.

• Resolve / Falter by Shakti Gómez (Limited Edition, 5/5, 0.05 ETH): An artwork that can be rotated to see a different version of the same character, which each edition coming with a physical hand-printed copy.

• Hidden Colors by Cacaboom (1/1, 0.17 ETH): Hidden Colors is inspired by the many misunderstandings about mental illness, and aims to help more people understand it, as well as to respect and support those experiencing it.

• This Is Forward by Habiba Green (Limited Edition, 25/25, 0.08 ETH): A piece inspired by the poem, “No one will fill the glass that’s left with tears to dry. Without forgetting the past, I move forward to be who I was.”

• Hola Dolls Frida by Anna Dart (Timed Open Edition, 0.02 ETH): A special edition created for the Superchief AI Surrealism Show, inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

• Alternate Reality Video by Joelle LB (Limited Edition, 69/69, 0.069 ETH): A video made with 1325 photos shot in California over 6.5 hours. Joelle has always been drawn to astrophotography, and in particular startrails since the final result is akin to an alternative reality we can only access through a series of digital manipulation tasks.

• Kitsune - 狐 by Sarisa Kojima (1/1, 0.25 ETH): This piece melds digital artistry and Japanese folklore, as the elusive Kitsune, a fox spirit of myth and legend, comes alive in vibrant colors.

Creator Spotlight: Sarana Haeata

Sarana Haeata is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Australia’s central desert region. Her work spans across painting, digital media and ceramics through which she explores the beauty and nuances held in shared stories, collective and individual identity and the female experience.

Her work has been commissioned by The Boston Globe, The Gardener Museum, Founders of PayPal, Milan luxury sneaker brand Hidnander, Peju Winery in Napa valley and Australian sustainable clothing label Kristin Magrit. Her work was also showcased on the billboards of Times Square in 2022.

Sarana is HUG’s very first Visionary artist. Learn more about her from her HUG Artist Profile, or follow her directly on Twitter.