Chris Irvan NFT Artist Interview | NFT Culture | NFT and Crypto Art Interviews and more
What is your display name?
Chris Irvan
where are you from (Provide a little bit of your background, have you moved etc.)
I am originally from Detroit, Michigan. My family moved to the Bay Area just south of San Francisco when I was 4 years old. I grew up there and then moved to Los Angeles when I was 18. I moved a few years between San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, but then finally settled in Los Angeles. I have been around for 20 years now.
Can you tell us about your background and what led you to become an artist and eventually experiment with NFTs?
It’s a long story, but here’s a brief summary….
I started drawing at the age of 3 and playing the guitar at the age of 5. Although I loved to draw, around age 10, the idea of becoming a rock guitarist took precedence over my love of visual art. I made my way to Los Angeles at 18 and played lead guitar in a few bands and had some early success. I then became really interested in music production which took me in a slightly different direction.
By 25, I had produced some major label albums, but unfortunately I started going down a dark path with drugs and alcohol at the same time. Over the years, I’ve really struggled and to say it’s bad is an understatement. I finally got sober after a few years and am still thankful I’m still sober.
I wasn’t sure where life would lead me to break out of it, but then I fell into music for high-end advertising which started for me. I had a pretty good run with it for about 10 years and was involved in several feature films. At that time I started licensing my music for a lot of film and television. Things were going pretty well, but somewhere along the line I lost my connection as an artist. A lot of what I was doing was for someone else, it was much more service oriented and what I really wanted to do creatively.
Around 2017, when I was starting to hone my skill set with orchestral composing for feature films and trailers, I suddenly had a hearing problem. To make a long story short, I thought it was ‘game over’ with the song for me. After a few months of processing this, I decided that life had to move on and moved to visual art as my main creative focus for the foreseeable future. During this period I developed my own style of painting, digital art and experimenting with the latest motion and graphics.
My hearing fortunately recovered after a few years and then I discovered myself with both of these sides of me as an artist. I discovered NFT at Clubhouse in early 2021 and was immediately impressed. I wanted to learn everything I could and feel like we were still at the very beginning!
When did you mint your first NFT? Which platform did you choose and why?
I minted the first NFT on OpenSea in April 2021. I think OpenSea is a good place to start. It’s all an ongoing experiment for me and different platforms seem to have some strengths and weaknesses. The two platforms I am not yet on and would like to get a chance to work on are Nifty Gateway and SuperRare.
How did you hear about Crypt Gallery?
I heard about the Crypt Gallery at the Dream Hotel in Los Angeles earlier this year. I can’t remember how, but it was probably on Twitter or through a friend. I wanted to go to a party you had there, but I got the wrong date and went the next day by mistake. Vasya was still there and working in the lobby. I noticed that he has NFT related stickers on his laptop I asked if she knew about Crypt Gallery and that’s how we met!
Why do you think that space IRL is so important?
All we had in the early days in the clubhouse during Covid was a virtual connection. The friendships I’ve made are some of the most satisfying in my life and seeing it come to life in real life over the past year at conferences and galleries popping up more and more reinforces that NFTs are here to stay. We are finding each other and it also strengthens those relationships as artists and collectors are able to meet in person. While everything behind NFT exists in the digital world, we are human and nothing can replace an IRL experience.
Can you tell us one thing you can’t live without? (and why)
I would say the one thing I can’t live without is music, but I did for a few years after my hearing went away, so I guess I can live without it, but man it’s the thing that makes life worth living for me. … and art is the same.
Who is your favorite artist(s) (NFT)? What about their style resonates with you?
Olafur Eliasson. It may sound strange, but his installations have always inspired me. Especially with my music. I feel like I’ve been lucky to pursue some of the same ways I present my music and art IRL. It is my dream to have the resources to pursue it.
Who is your favorite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique?
I have many but, if I had to pick one, it would be ThankyouX. I would love to score music on his pieces and think the combination of our work together would be truly epic. I also love Parin Headery’s work with Christian Burns.
What made you pursue the NFT industry?
I’ve created a lot of work over the last 10 to 15 years, but I haven’t published much of it. There are a few different reasons for this, but the main one is that especially when it comes to music, I absolutely hate the paradigm we find ourselves in. I didn’t even really want to be a part of it, so I basically worked on my craft for years on my own. I became obsessed with perfecting every aspect of my work, from the visual side to the musical side including production, engineering, mixing and mastering. NFTs actually renewed my interest in putting my work out there. I started with my visual artwork last year and will move further into music and a combination of the two later this year.
What is an NFT you want to buy but miss out on?
Bored Apes. I sat there and watched them the night they went down. I didn’t get it…lol. Well good!
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? Why this position?
Greece. My family has a place on Loutraki beach and I have not been there for many years. I want to go next year 
What are your other passions besides art? Why?
Hmmm…well I try to take care of myself so working and eating are the right main interests for me. I’m also fascinated by quantum physics and love listening to Lex Friedman’s podcast when I have time!
Do you create other forms of art?
I make music and visual art… There are many subcategories of art under these two headings. Music production and engineering are also forms of art. I am also attracted to high tech stuff. I think I like to engage both hemispheres of the brain.
Are you self-taught or trained?
I’m self-taught, but I’ve learned a lot from some amazing mentors with both art and music.
How do you come up with your specific style?
Short answer: by process of elimination and failure. Trying things and deciding what I didn’t like or what didn’t work led me to really find and stick with things that resonated with me.
I think with both music and art, I like rough edges and look for beauty in accidents and combinations.
How has your style evolved over the years?
Both the music and my artwork developed differently and I think the visual side was a bit behind. I think it’s catching on now and they’re becoming more defined and integrated. I really want my work to be recognized immediately and at various times over the last few years I think I’ve sometimes gone off track with experimentation.
What is coming in the near future?
In the near future, I’m going to be more involved in my music with my own NFT and as a collaboration.
I have a partnership and ongoing collaboration with my friend Chris Cafaro. We will be dropping many more pieces in the coming months: https://ift.tt/5dnsU9T
Also, I have already finished a collaboration with Freddy Morales: https://ift.tt/3fG1M5x
And I’m working on some collaborations with Parin: https://ift.tt/FWJEyZs
I would love to do some larger gallery exhibitions and parties later this fall perhaps with Cuffaro and his photography.
If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be? (and why)
If I had to pick one it would be ThankyouX. I would love to score music on his pieces and think the combination of our work together would be truly epic.
What was your biggest failure and what did you learn from it?
I’ve had a lot of them. Rough seas make great sailors. I wouldn’t be as strong as I am without them. I think my biggest failure was probably my addiction to drugs many years ago. I have a pretty low-key experience, but that experience has given me a unique ability and perspective to help others. I also learned that sometimes you just have to surrender and through that there is a power that is bigger than me.
I’ve built in one form or another all my life and hit many roadblocks. I’m never sure where the drive comes from but it’s always there regardless of external influences. I have been through many ups and downs in my life and money has never been the driving factor. I see failure as a very important part of creating art or starting any kind of business.
What is your biggest selling piece?
Oddly enough it was a 0N1 force derivative.
How much was sold for?
That piece sold for 3 ETH in August last year. My second largest piece was Mohawk Red. I have it listed as version 10 on OpenSea. I sold 8 of them for .6 ETH.H.
Do you have any upcoming drops?
Yes, this week and I am so excited and grateful to be showing my new work at Crypt Gallery here in LA!
Website link
Chris Irvan – Artist | the composer
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https://ift.tt/qMT48RC
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