How to find an NFT artist (+7 Important Questions to Consider)

Finding an NFT artist is easily one of the most important steps of your entire NFT launch strategy. 

Why?

Because when you find the right NFT artist, it means that your art will look amazing, tell the story of your brand, and enhance the growth of your project – all without ever breaking the bank.

But finding an NFT artist isn’t as easy as it sounds… 

You see, the NFT industry is still in its earliest stages, so to navigate the waters, you need to know exactly what to look for and exactly what to ask. 

In this insider guide, we’ll take you step-by-step through everything you need to know about finding an NFT artist, so you can launch a project that is built for explosive growth  

Why you need a professional NFT artist

Truth be told, in the super early stages of NFTs, you probably could have gotten away with good-to-average artwork. 

After all, NFTs were so new back then. There wasn’t a lot of competition out there and no one really knew what they were doing. 

But in the past year, this has completely changed. The market has matured exponentially. 

Now, if you want your NFT project to blow up, your art needs to look legit. 

This means that not only does the art need to be professional, but it needs to be aligned with your goals. It needs to communicate the story of your brand and create a genuine emotional connection with your community. 

That’s why finding a professional NFT artist for your project isn’t optional – it’s mandatory. 

Freelance NFT artist vs. in-house

When looking for an NFT artist, you might be wondering if you should work with a freelancer, or if you should hire someone full-time. 

Well, the truth is, that for most projects, a freelancer is absolutely the best way to go.

Here’s why…

While having a full-time NFT artist on your team has its advantages, the fact is that once your project launches, you might not need the artist for much more additional work. 

That’s why the majority of NFT projects choose to hire a freelancer. It’s significantly more cost-effective and efficient for the project as a whole. 

What if you already have an in-house graphic designer?

Your business might already have a design team which pumps out creatives daily – can they handle your NFT project?

Well, this depends on the graphic designer and their experience – not only with NFTs, but with your community and brand as a whole.

If your graphic designer has experience creating NFTs, or they are extremely passionate about learning, then keeping your NFT art in-house is a great option! In-house typically means better oversight and communication for your project as a whole.

But if your graphic designer isn’t confident in their ability to create NFT art, or they don’t seem really motivated to learn how to do it, it’s probably best to hire someone else. 

How to find an NFT artist

When looking for an NFT artist, there are four platforms that we recommend. 

The best NFT artist platforms

• Dribbble
• Behance
• Fiverr
• Upwork

All of these sites are fairly similar. They are platforms that connect business owners with freelancers. Whether you are looking for a freelance writer, coder, or graphic designer, these platforms will have you covered.

We recommend starting your search with Dribbble – it’s become sort of the de facto marketplace for NFT artists. 

But having said that, Behance, Fiverr, and Upwork are also loaded with extremely talented NFT artists. Simply search for ‘NFT artist’ and start browsing through the profiles to find an artist that you like!

You can also set up an ‘ad’ on each platform which means the artists will pitch you as to why they are the best fit for your project. Beware though, doing this means that you might be overwhelmed with a ton of lower-quality artists spamming you for work. 

Honorary mention for Twitter & IG

Twitter and IG are best known as social media platforms. They each have decent search options that can help you find a great NFT artist.

To get started, open either app and simply type ‘NFT artist’ in the search bar. 

The platform will then show you a list of people that have ‘NFT artist’ in their profile name. 

It should be noted that the platforms will start by giving you the most popular results for a given search – this means NFT artists that have higher follower counts. Higher follower counts most likely mean higher prices and limited availability. But if you want the best, this can be a great way to find some impressive talent. 

What to look for in an NFT artist

Finding an NFT artist is basically the same process as looking for a freelance graphic designer.

You want to find someone who has the right style, experience, availability, and passion, while making sure that their rates are on par with your budget. 

Let’s break down some of the most important questions to ask yourself when looking for an NFT artist. 

#1 – Do you like their style?

Most artists have their own styles that they excel in. But it’s important to remember that outside of their particular niche, their talents might not be as strong.

For example, Andy Warhol is a legendary artist that revolutionized 20th-century pop art, but you wouldn’t have hired him to paint an ultra-realistic landscape picture, would you?

Similarly, your NFT artist needs to match the style that you are going for.

The easiest way to do this is to know what you are looking for. What style are you going for with your NFT art? What is the vibe of your current brand? Are there other NFT projects that have similar styles that interest you? 

Once you know what you want, it will be easier to identify an artist that can help you. 

#2 – Is their style unique?

Liking the artists’ style is not enough – you have to also make sure that their style is unique.

For example, it’s common in the NFT world to see projects launching that are basically carbon copies of previously successful launches. 

That’s why you see so many ‘pixelated’ profile projects (inspired by Crypto Punks) and ‘ape’ themed projects (inspired by BAYC). Everyone is just trying to ride the wave.

But those days are ending quickly. To truly stand out, you don’t want to ride off another project. You want to bring something unique to the table that will truly resonate with your audience. 

#3 – Are they in your budget?

Like just about anything when it comes to freelancing (especially with graphic design) you will see that there is an enormous disparity in the rates that NFT artists charge. 

You will find some artists who charge next to nothing (~$10 for a project), other artists who charge expensive hourly rates ($200USD+ per hour), and everything in between. 

Like most things in life, when it comes to an NFT artist, you typically get what you pay for. 

This is why many of the most in-demand NFT artists charge so much – because the big NFT brands are willing to spend whatever it takes for great artwork. 

Having said that, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg if you can’t afford it. Since the space is so new, some new artists have little experience and are looking for their first gig. If these artists have a decent portfolio of graphic design work and they are excited about getting hired for an NFT project, they might be worth rolling the dice on. 

#4 – Have they done previous work with NFTs?

It’s important to remember that while deals are to be found with new artists, the best-case scenario is to find an artist who has experience working with NFT jobs before yours.

#5 – How is their communication?

So once you’ve identified a few potential artists, it’s time to reach out to them. 

This part is crucial.

Why?

Because it doesn’t matter how great of an artist they are – if their communication isn’t great, the project will be a nightmare. 

So take the time to speak with the artists. How engaged are they? How good is their communication? Do they seem interested in the project?

The more enthusiasm they have, the more value they will bring to your NFT project. 

#6 – What are their revision policies?

When it comes to revisions, different artists will have different policies. 

In an ideal world, you would have unlimited revisions and edits. 

But this isn’t usually the case.

Make sure that the artist clearly communicates their revision policies with you and that the same policies are included in the contract. 

#7 – What is their workflow like?

While a smooth workflow isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it’s extremely nice to have. 

Ask them what their workflow is like and what the project timeline will look like. The more detailed their answer, the better their workflow probably is. 

If they don’t have a defined workflow, don’t panic. Yes, it’s a bit of a red flag, but this can be overcome. Simply make sure to establish a workflow with them. When will the first draft be due? How will the creatives be delivered? How long do you have to give the artist revision requests? 

Final thoughts on how to find an NFT artist

Finding the perfect NFT artist for your project might be time-consuming, but the juice is totally worth the squeeze. By following our step by step guide, you’ll be able to find an NFT artist that can create an amazing aesthetic for your campaign, without ever breaking the bank.

If you are considering launching an NFT project of your own, be sure to reach out to First Page today and also check out our NFT marketing services. The call is totally free, and we’ll show you how we’ll take your project to the top of your industry.