Mel Hearts

Before we dive into what you do and why tell me a little about yourself

My name is Mel Hearts! I am a creative polymath, and when my birthday comes in February, I will be “The Answer To Everything” years old! (If you get this reference, we can most definitely be friends!) I am an avid reader. I LOVE nature, kindness, and all the beautiful, tiny, miracles abound in the world we live in! I live in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with my husband, our nine dogs, two very loving turkeys, a flock of generous, egg-giving chickens, and a rescue cat who thinks he is a dog! The turkeys love their hugs. The dogs love everything. The cat loves food. And the chickens, well they just like to escape and wander the neighborhood! I love people and animals alike!

I love bringing light to others’ lives, so one of my first jobs was as a Certified Nurse’s Aide, in a nursing home facility. The stories, friends, and lessons I received there have lasted me a lifetime! I ruptured a disc in my spine lifting on a patient there, so then I altered my career plans and became a tattoo artist for about 14 years. Fibromyalgia and shaking hands brought a quiet end to my ability to give meaningful skin art to others so I retired from that, and picked up Photography, which led me right to digital art, NFTs, and all of the amazing people in web3. Role

Creator

Location

Behind the Camera

Links

• Website

As an artist, Founder, Author and Ambassador what attracted you to the art world?

I have always been attracted to the art world. As a lover of knowledge and learning, I truly enjoy getting glimpses of how others view the world. You can get a feel for this through their art, or stories. Everyone processes information and stimuli differently, so I think it is a special gift to be able to share your innermost responses to these things in a visual, auditory, or physical way. Art is also very therapeutic. Sometimes it is easier to “vent out” your feelings and frustrations through creating, when you can't seem to find the appropriate words.

There are many interpretations as to what an NFT is, some of these may be confusing to the non-technical consumer, how do you describe them to a prospective collector?

Great question! I start by explaining what the difference is between fungible, and non-fungible. Fungible basically means interchangeable. So a good example of this would be a dollar bill. One dollar bill is worth exactly as much as another dollar bill. On the other side, Non-fungible means that something is unique, and its value cant be exchanged for something similar. A great example of this can be made using baseball cards. A Babe Ruth rookie card is not worth the same thing as a Derek Jeter Rookie card, so they are not interchangeable. When it comes to NFTs. I explain that once they are yours, they are yours forever and your “receipt” of purchase is forever on the blockchain. You can’t lose it, or misplace it. I also convey my love for the fact that you can attach all kinds of neat digital perks and rewards to the NFTs for the holders, like access to special events, or downloads.

When you create digital art whats your “trigger” what inspires you to create?

Oh man…. EVERYTHING!! I am like a sponge. I take everything in and use it to fuel my creative output! I have gotten into the habit of keeping my art laptop close by me at all times. For me, the trigger I think is just being able to stop and create whenever it suits me. I get such joy from creating, and then sharing that it seems like a beautiful endless circle of inspiration!

From your website I can see that you offer digital art, physical prints and animated displays which of these product types do you find sell the best and do you offer them as unlockable content when you sell an NFT?

I have had the highest response so far to digital art that includes the ability to download the NFT art and any digital extras. I try to ALWAYS offer a download of at the least, the NFT art, (Which if it’s animated, is always a 30 second or longer MP4 file) so that the purchaser can truly have possession of

the art that they connected with. This way too, if the holder of the NFT wants a framed print, they have the ability to take the file and print it as they wish.

Having had the benefit of reading one of you pdf books “Hope’s Genesis Voyage” and seeing some characters from the book appearing as NFTs on Voice can you tell me did the story inspire the characters or did the creation of the artwork inspire the story?

I LOVE that you read my book! (Its also available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, or Kindle!) The story inspired the creation of the artwork at first, and then as I created more characters for the book and its upcoming sequel, I noticed that it became reciprocal. The images I create help me to better describe in detail what I am imagining!

As an experienced AI artist what attracted you to start using AI tools and which ones are your favorites?

Another amazing question! So, as I said, I am an avid reader. I like words. There are so many! What drew me to AI assisted art creation was the fact that I could use my extensive vocabulary to create

art. ART WITH WORDS?! Yes please!

I love that even changing one word in a sentence will totally change the kind of image produced. I also love that I can describe a concept or an emotion and from that, these beautiful images are born! It is exciting watching the images take shape, and every completed generation is like a Christmas present for me! My current favorite AI tool right now is Midjourney.

Do you have any tips relating to creating digital art that may inspire others to pick up the digital pen and start making artwork?

There are so many “Pros” to digital art! I love that it is mess-free.

The tools available mimic the output of real art tools so well now! I can paint with watercolor, then move to oils, or charcoal, without smudging my surface or having to spend hours picking up and putting away tools.

Another fantastic point is that the stability tools can smooth out lines for people like me with shaky hands, making clean concise drawing a possibility. I have a really neat digital pen that I use and it is really like I am drawing on paper when I use it. It behaves the same way with pressure and tilt sensitivity.

File storage is yet one more plus to digital art. I don't have to worry about my creations getting lost, bent, ripped, dirty, misplaced, or destroyed.

And last but not least.. OPTIONS! There are so many! If you can imagine it, there is a place for it in the digital art world. I think that this is prolific for sustaining and encouraging imagination.

As a successful NFT artist, what guidance would you offer a new or emerging artist looking to break into NFT sales and which platforms would you recommend?

The number one piece of advice I give is to follow your passion! Create what makes you happy. Create art that makes YOU smile. Then share it! Connect with the people who also smile because of it. Take your time and build your personal community of like minded peers. Art that comes from your heart and soul WILL speak to others!

Don't let Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) drive you to waste your time creating art that is part of a fad because the feeling of the art won’t be there for people to connect with.

Be patient. Art is not going anywhere. Your niche will find you and success will follow.

I started on Opensea. If you have some experience with Crypto currency, Opensea is a good starting point.

There is a platform called Voice that I feel is a great in between step for people who have no NFT experience. You can mint your art on the blockchain, and others have the option to purchase with a credit card, instead of just with crypto currency.

I think it is important to note anyone wanting to get into creating NFTs should do a good amount of research into crypto currency, digital wallets, wallet security practices, and gas (transaction)fees, before just jumping right in.

Have a beautiful day, and stay creative!

Own a copy of Mels Book

You can own a copy of Mels book either by buying on of the NFTs that include a pdf copy or by visiting Amazon (click here: https://amzn.to/3UKxjrA) and purchasing a physical copy of the book.

Authenticity and authority are two important qualities that can help an artist to build a successful career and a loyal following for their art. Authenticity refers to being genuine and true to oneself, while authority refers to having a deep understanding and knowledge of one's craft. In the world of art, where there is a vast amount of competition and many different styles and forms of expression, it is crucial for an artist to differentiate themselves and stand out from the crowd. Demonstrating authenticity and authority can help to do this by building trust, credibility, and emotional connections with their audience.

One of the key reasons why authenticity is important for an artist is that it helps to create a strong emotional connection with their audience. When an artist is being genuine and true to themselves in their art, it allows their audience to see a piece of themselves in the art. This can create a sense of familiarity and connection, which can be crucial for building a loyal following. For example, if an artist is creating art that is inspired by their personal experiences and emotions, it can allow their audience to relate to the art on a deeper level. This can help to create a sense of shared humanity and understanding, which can be a powerful way to connect with others.

In a world where there is a vast amount of competition and many different styles and forms of art, it can be challenging for an artist to stand out from the crowd. By being authentic and true to themselves in their art, an artist can create a unique and original style that is unlike anything else. This can help to make the artist's work more distinctive and memorable, which can be crucial for building a successful career.

Another important quality for an artist to demonstrate is authority. This refers to having a deep understanding and knowledge of one's craft, which can help to establish the artist as an expert in their field. It means that they are confident in their abilities and have a strong grasp of the technical aspects of their art. This can be particularly important for artists who are trying to build a reputation as a professional in their field. For example, if an artist is creating art that requires a high level of technical skill, such as digital painting

or 3d digital sculpture, demonstrating authority can help to show that they are capable of creating high-quality work.

In addition to establishing credibility and expertise, demonstrating authority can also help an artist to educate and inspire their audience. When an artist has a deep understanding of their craft, they can share this knowledge with their audience in a way that is engaging and informative. This can be particularly important for artists who are working in more specialized fields, such as art history or conservation. By sharing their knowledge and expertise with their audience, an artist can help to inspire others to learn more about their craft and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of their art.

Overall, authenticity and authority are important for an artist because they can help to build trust, credibility, and emotional connections with their audience. These qualities can be particularly important for artists who are trying to build a successful career and a loyal following for their art. By demonstrating authenticity and authority, an artist can differentiate themselves from others, establish themselves as experts in their field, and inspire and educate their audience.

How do you demonstrate this?

The few simple ways to get started are:

1. Have a landing page, blog, portfolio page where you can publish your story and achievements, i.e. an artists Bio and CV. This is where people can find out more about you and link to your community

2. Post updates about your artwork and creatives process on social media and if you have one on Discord. This is where people learn more about the real you and find out about your 3. Take part in groups about art, but be specific and ensure the audience in that group matches your niche. After all there's no point joining a group of car photographers if you create generative art! Don't spam the group with sales posts, offer help on technical questions and how tos. People are naturally inquisitive and will view your profile and any links.

4. Make it easy for people to find you and your work. Its surprising how many artist social media profiles don't have links to websites or

Bio Pages. If you are using social media make sure your posts relate to your artwork and creative processes not the last party you went to or a funny or political meme. You have one chance to make first impression.

5. DONT flood social media with sales posts share the background creative process and ensure that your links page, website or social media pages have links to your sales site or chosen sales platform.

6. Try to encourage people to either sign up to a mailing list or discord server. Separate them away from the distractions that are on social media and sales platforms. Then engage them with fun, educational posts and activities.

No one is saying its easy, becoming a full time artist is hard work, it takes effort and commitment. Building a business and showing Authenticity & Authority are simply one of the stepping stones in that journey. Each artist featured in this magazine have demonstrated both these in abundance and can now add to the fact they are a published artist to their CV.