Have you heard of a generative art NFT? One of the most exciting things about NFT art is that it is (usually) fully digital. And digital art can do things that traditional art simply can’t. One of these attributes is that it can change and surprise. 

Generative art NFT projects are designed to take full advantage of this unique aspect of digital art. Let’s take a quick look at what they are, and how you can go about creating your first generative art NFT.

What is generative art?

Generative art is an artistic style that was developed to take advantage of computer algorithms, in order to create randomized pictures. As Decrypt explains it: “Developed in 1965 by German philosopher Max Bense, generative art arises from algorithms programmed to specific parameters by engineer-artists. The artist defines the general process—what colors, or geometry, might be used, for instance—then feeds into the algorithm random quantities; whatever comes out is the generative artwork.”

Within those predetermined parameters, a generative art project could make hundreds of entirely unique works of art. It’s the scarcity and uniqueness of this type of art that caught the attention of NFT creators and turned some of them into generative artists.

‍

‍

Why generative art NFTs?

Much of the appeal, and value, of an NFT is rooted in its scarcity. That is to say, the rarer an NFT is, the more potential value it has. So imagine the possibilities of an NFT art generator. 

If a single artist can create an image and dozens of options (hats, accessories, colors, etc.) then it can permit buyers to get their hands on a truly unique NFT. And more, some generative art NFTs are tied directly to blockchain technology in ways that buyers find particularly intriguing. 

Perhaps the most visible form of generative art NFT are the profile pictures created by Bored Ape Yacht Club, CryptoPunks, and others. NFTNow tells us “Generative avatars, often called PFPs, are a unique facet of the NFT space. While most independent artists tend to focus on 1/1 pieces and limited edition collections, PFPs are generally conceived by groups of artists/developers and are released as a collection of thousands of individual tokens.”

While generated art profile pictures are increasingly popular, other types of NFT projects are gaining traction as well. Art Blocks’ Fidenza collection, which is a prime example, generates fine art NFTs that are directly impacted by the hash number created at the time the NFT is purchased. As Decrypt puts it, “the Fidenza smart contract would feed the string of digits and numbers into the Fidenza algorithm, producing something surprising and unique.”

According to Art Blocks’ website, “You pick a style that you like, pay for the work, and a randomly generated version of the content is created by an algorithm and sent to your Ethereum account. The resulting piece might be a static image, 3D model, or an interactive experience. Each output is different and there are endless possibilities for the types of content that can be created on the platform.”

How do you create a generative art NFT?

Generally speaking, the process of generating NFT art looks a bit like this:

• An artist creates a base image
• The artist creates the layers for a series of attributes
• The artist creates the artistic traits for each attribute class
• With a developer (or a specialized platform), the artist sets the rules that govern each attribute and programs the algorithm.
• All of this information is attached to the NFT smart contract. 

It’s not uncommon for NFT generator art projects to be managed by a team of people that may include digital artists, computer programmers, and others.

Generative art NFTs are fascinating examples of the NFT roadmaps that we’ve discussed elsewhere in our blog. They are a way to keep your audience engaged, intrigued, and supportive of your brand. 

To learn more about NFTs and how they can work for you, join our NFT Masterclass!