How to Make Your Own NFT Art: A Step-by-Step Guide

CEO & Founder at RetroStyle Games | Aug 25, 2023

The first NFT project was launched in 2015, almost a decade ago, but the market is still new and obscure for most people. So, it’s not a surprise that many people are curious about how to make their own NFT art or how to become an NFT artist and enter the exciting realm of blockchain-based art.

To answer these questions, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide that outlines the steps, platforms, and strategies to kickstart your journey in the NFT art scene. Also, we will give you a step-by-step explanation of how to create and sell NFT art creation services. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Understanding NFTs and NFT Art

NFTs are digital assets that represent ownership or proof of authenticity of a unique item or piece of content using blockchain technology. To understand the definition better, let’s puzzle it out word by word. First, let’s focus on the word fungible, which has a very precise definition of the economy. Fungible means replaceable. It’s anything that another one can replace with the same value. However, NFTs are Non-Fungible Tokens, so each NFT is a unique digital asset and cannot be replaced with another NFT on a one-to-one basis. Actually, this makes NFTs the opposite of cryptocurrencies.

Second, the word token. Token means a tradable asset that resides on a blockchain. A blockchain is a public-distributed digital ledger that has records of all the transactions. The information stored in the blockchain is set in stone and cannot be hacked, changed, or deleted.

NFTs are typically built on blockchain platforms such as Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, or others, which ensure their scarcity, provenance, and immutability. This makes NFTs particularly well-suited for representing digital art, collectibles, music, videos, virtual real estate, and other digital creations.

Some companies even segment NFTs for video games, so we have prepared an article on “NFT Meaning in Video Games” topic.

We often receive the question “Could you please explain how do I create my own NFT art?” and we want to provide a comprehensive answer.

Good NFT art has gained significant attention and popularity in recent years, with both established artists and emerging creators participating in this new digital art ecosystem. However, it’s important to note that while NFTs offer unique opportunities, they also come with considerations such as environmental impact, copyright issues, and market fluctuations.

Getting Started with NFT Art Creation

Anyone who wants to share their creation with the world can create an NFT. It’s a pretty simple process called NFT minting. When you mint an NFT, you create your ownership certificate and upload it to the blockchain.

Nevertheless, you should put a great level of creativity into your NFT art. Since NFTs are usually perceived as collectibles, their rate depends on their significance and the idea behind them. Having a clear goal in mind will help in creating good NFT artwork and its promotion, and, potentially, will bring more earnings. Or maybe you already have a huge fan base waiting for you to roll out new digital art. In both cases, NFT is worth trying.

To catch some inspiration, you can discover stunning examples of NFT art that showcase the diversity and creativity within the NFT space. Then, to make it easier for you to understand how to build NFT art, or even how to create your own NFT art, we will delve into all the details of creating and selling NFTs with you.

You can trust us in this case: RetroStyle Games has its own NFT project, so we went through all the steps of the NFT creation process ourselves and are happy to share our knowledge with you.

1. CHOOSING YOUR NFT ART CREATION SERVICES

Before searching for services, clarify your NFT vision. What type of artwork do you want to create? What style, theme, or medium are you interested in? Does it have to be NFT characters?

It can be a collectible or part of a charity campaign, it can give access to a private club with some benefits, or it can be made just for fun. Look for NFT art creation services that align with your vision. Research online, check reviews, and explore their portfolios to see if their previous work matches your artistic preferences.

Creating NFT art also involves technical aspects, such as blockchain interaction and metadata management. Make sure the service understands these technical requirements. Finding the right NFT art creation services may take time, but it’s worth investing effort to bring your artistic vision to life in the digital realm. Interested in how to make your own NFT art to sell? You can start by producing unique digital artwork, selecting a suitable NFT marketplace, and following our guidelines to list your creations for sale.

2. TOOLS AND SOFTWARE

Custom NFT tools and technologies play a significant role in the creation of NFTs, providing artists and creators with the necessary resources to bring their digital artworks to the blockchain.

In our studio, we use creative software like Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Blender, and others to enable our artists to design and produce their digital artwork.

These tools allow for precise control over visual elements, from illustrations to animations. NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, Rarible, and Mintable provide platforms to showcase, create and sell NFTs. They offer visibility to your creations and allow potential buyers to discover and acquire them. However, ensure that each single NFT is one of a kind and that you own the right to the media you’re using. For example, OpenSea admits at least 80% of NFTs hosted on its platform are plagiarized or knock-offs. So, be very careful before showcasing your NFTs on NFT marketplaces.

3. CREATING YOUR FIRST NFT WITH NFT DESIGN STUDIO

Select an NFT design studio that suits your needs and artistic style. Look for platforms that offer user-friendly interfaces and the features you require. Depending on the platform, you might have the option to customize properties like royalties. This determines the percentage you receive when your NFT is resold in the future.

Engage with the NFT community, join relevant forums, and promote your NFT to gain visibility and potential buyers. Actually, there are several ways to increase the demand and raise the chances of selling NFTs. Build community and an NFT brand, promoting your artwork on social media and collaborating with other NFT creators.

Looking for professional NFT design services to bring your digital creations to life on the blockchain? Our team specializes in transforming your artwork into captivating NFTs that stand out in the world of crypto collectibles.

4. Preparing Your Art for NFT Minting

Preparing your art for NFT minting is a crucial step in the process of creating NFT art and selling digital art on blockchain platforms. NFTs are unique digital assets that represent ownership or provenance of a specific piece of digital content. So, minting an NFT involves creating a digital token on a blockchain that is linked to your artwork. If you’re looking for how to make your own NFT art for free, there are websites and tools available that offer no-cost options for minting and listing your digital creations as NFTs.

Also, before you can mint and sell an NFT, you’ll need to set up a cryptocurrency wallet. A wallet provides access to the NFTs held on the blockchain. It also lets you spend your cryptocurrencies, and pay fees and will allow you to transact on NFT payment platforms. For example, OpenSea usually recommends using the browser extension of the MetaMask cryptocurrency wallet. It adds a wallet icon to your extension bar and is used for accessing Ethereum-enabled distributed applications. MetaMask wallet is free and one of the most popular crypto wallets.

If you’re going to store your NFT at the Ethereum blockchain, you will need ether crypto accordingly. However, you can choose any other blockchain supporting NFTs. For example, MetaMask wallet can be used to store Ether only.

When choosing a blockchain type you should consider its transaction speed, security of the technology, functionality, and transaction costs.

UNDERSTANDING NFT MARKETPLACES

NFT marketplaces play a pivotal role in the creation, buying, and selling of NFTs. They provide a platform for artists to mint their digital creations as NFTs and for collectors to purchase and trade these unique digital assets. When choosing an NFT marketplace, consider factors such as:

Platform’s reputation.
User interface.
Fees.
Target audience.
Community engagement.

Each marketplace offers a unique set of features that cater to different types of artists and collectors. It’s also important to stay informed about new marketplaces and developments in the NFT ecosystem as the space continues to evolve. Here are some examples of popular NFT auction platforms where you can sell your NFT:

OpenSea – the largest NFT market with the widest supply. The top choice to sell NFT art.
NFT Showroom – the marketplace based on fast and feeless HIVE-blockchain. An option to sell an NFT without paying any fees.
Nifty Gateway – the platform is hosting the most expensive and exclusive NFT sales, focusing on artwork from celebrities and top artists.
Binance – offers the typical digital assets found on other major platforms while charging very low transaction fees.

METADATA AND TOKENIZATION

Metadata and tokenization play crucial roles in the world of NFTs, which have gained significant popularity as a way to represent ownership and authenticity of digital assets, including digital art, music, videos, virtual real estate, and more.

Let’s explore the importance of metadata and tokenization in NFTs and how they enhance the value of digital art. The importance of metadata lies in its ability to offer potential buyers and collectors a deeper understanding of your own NFT art. It helps establish a connection between the creator and the audience, allowing them to learn about the artist’s inspiration, intentions, and creative process.

Metadata adds a layer of context to the digital asset, making it more than just a visual representation. In the context of NFTs, tokenization means representing digital art or other creative works as unique tokens on a blockchain, usually the Ethereum blockchain. Each NFT is distinct and can’t be replicated, making it a unique digital asset with verifiable ownership and provenance.

5. Minting Your Own NFT Artwork

Minting your NFT artwork is the process of creating a unique digital token on a blockchain that represents your original work of art. This process involves uploading the digital file of your creation, creating metadata (such as title, description, and artist’s name), and recording this information on the blockchain. Also, this makes your creation digitally verifiable and unique, with the NFT serving as a sort of “certificate of authenticity” for your digital artwork.

So, once you’ve set up your wallet, stored cryptocurrency in it, and connected the wallet to a marketplace, it’s time to upload your NFT art. OpenSea has one of the simplest upload processes. Just click the “Create” button, upload a supported file, and fill out a short digital form. Keep in mind that blockchain charges a fee for minting an NFT. However, there are several ways to avoid or lower the fees. We will talk about it further.

As you can see, everything is very simple: prepare your artwork, then prepare metadata for your NFT, and choose the marketplace or minting platform for the list we shared with you earlier.

TOKEN CREATION AND SMART CONTRACTS

To learn how to create your own NFT art, you can explore online tutorials and platforms that guide you through the entire process.

But smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. In the context of NFTs, smart contracts play a pivotal role in defining and enforcing the uniqueness, ownership, and transferability of digital assets. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are fungible and interchangeable, NFTs are unique and indivisible, making them suitable for representing ownership of digital collectibles, art, music, virtual real estate, and more.

You’ll typically create NFT artwork, a minting function that generates new NFTs and assigns them to specific addresses. This function ensures the creation of new tokens according to the contract’s logic. If you’re new to blockchain development or smart contracts, it’s understandable that the process might seem daunting. But our team can assist you with minting and contract creation.

6. Promoting and Selling Your NFT Art

In the rapidly evolving world of digital art, NFTs have emerged as a revolutionary way for artists to showcase and monetize their creations. However, in an increasingly competitive marketplace, effective promotion, sales, and marketing strategies are crucial to stand out and maximize the value of your NFT art. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the intricacies of NFT art promotion, sales, and marketing. Utilize platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to showcase previews, behind-the-scenes insights, and the story behind your NFT art.

For better NFT art sales you need to research and select a reputable NFT marketplace that aligns with your artistic style and target audience.

Popular platforms include OpenSea, Rarible, and Foundation. A marketplace will allow you to choose how to sell your artwork. The listing type can either be an auction or a fixed price. With a fixed price option, you can set a price and sell your NFT instantly. The auction option will allow people to make bids until you accept one of them.

NFT art marketing is also an important step. Craft engaging and descriptive narratives for your NFT art. Share the inspiration, creative process, and symbolism behind each piece. A compelling story can enhance the emotional connection with potential buyers. Curious about the process how to make NFT art? Research various platforms that facilitate the creation of NFTs, where you can transform your digital art into blockchain-backed assets.

BUILDING YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

Building an engaging artist profile, creating an impressive portfolio, and leveraging social media platforms are pivotal steps toward expanding your reach and making a lasting impact. Share a mix of content, including finished artwork, work-in-progress shots, studio snapshots, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Engaging content fosters a stronger connection with your audience. Building your online presence is an ongoing process. It requires dedication, authenticity, and a willingness to adapt to new trends and platforms.

NFT ART PROMOTION STRATEGIES

Establish a consistent presence of your NFTs and gaming projects on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Share your creative process, and behind-the-scenes content, and engage with your audience regularly. Use relevant hashtags and interact with other artists and collectors in the NFT community. Demonstrate how your NFT art can be integrated into the physical world.

For example, you could showcase your digital art on virtual galleries, augmented reality (AR) platforms, or even display your art in virtual reality (VR) environments. Remember that building a strong online presence and establishing a personal connection with your audience are key factors in promoting your NFT art successfully.

LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN NFT ART

The rise of NFTs has brought about a range of legal and ethical considerations, particularly in the realm of NFT art. As the NFT market continues to grow, artists, collectors, platforms, and enthusiasts need to be aware of these considerations to ensure a fair and responsible ecosystem.

Artists who tokenize their work as NFTs need to ensure they have the necessary rights to do so. If an artist doesn’t own the full rights to the artwork they’re tokenizing (due to licensing agreements or collaborations, for example), legal issues could arise. Artists should clarify ownership and licensing terms before minting NFTs. The act of minting your own NFT art does not automatically transfer copyright ownership. Artists should be cautious when tokenizing fan art, derivative works, or copyrighted materials without proper permission.

COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

You need to know that copyright plays a critical role when we speak about NFT. Why? Because it makes sense for NFT to be unique and non-fungible. So you can not just copy any picture from the internet or somewhere else and sell them.

OWNERSHIP AND LICENSING

Based on our experience, when it comes to NFTs, ownership rights and licensing terms play a crucial role in clarifying the relationship between the creator of the digital artwork and the buyer of the NFT. NFT ownership often implies exclusive ownership of the associated digital content.

This exclusivity can be an attractive feature for collectors and buyers. Licensing terms can address whether the buyer has the right to create NFT artwork derivative works based on the original NFT. This might include adaptations, modifications, or remixes of the content.

It’s important for both creators and buyers to carefully read and understand the ownership and licensing terms associated with an NFT. This ensures transparency and helps prevent misunderstandings in the future. When selling or buying NFTs, being aware of these aspects contributes to a fair and satisfactory NFT transaction.

CAN YOU CREATE NFT ART WITHOUT CODING?

You may need or may not need coding to create NFT art, depending on the route you choose. Coding NFT from scratch is a complicated process that varies from one blockchain to another. When you mint NFTs you create smart contracts that outline NFT parameters such as the NFT ownership, the ability to transfer it, having a token ID, and getting paid for it. The token standard and coding language will differ depending on the blockchain technology you decide to use.

Fortunately, as NFTs have grown in popularity, lots of no-code NFT collection generators have emerged. They simplify the process of making NFTs and don’t require any coding knowledge. Most NFT marketplaces even provide a step-by-step guide on how to use the NFT platform and set everything up. One of the largest and oldest NFT marketplaces – OpenSea – allows you to sell NFTs and collect them just after connecting your crypto wallet to the NFT platform.

Having launched in 2017, OpenSea now has over 121 million people visiting the website per month. No-coding NFT platforms made the process of creating NFT art more convenient for a regular user.

However, when choosing a non-coding approach, you should consider marketplaces typically charging a commission from each NFT sale. Typically, the transaction fee is around 2-5%. For instance, the OpenSea NFT marketplace charges 2.5% of the sale price.

Are NFTs worth it?

Before making NFT art, you’d likely want to know if it is even worth it.

First, let’s take a look at the benefits of creating and selling NFTs.

Royalty payments. Artists always struggled to find fair compensation. Once the intellectual property is sold, the artist loses all the right to get the downstream payments. Royalties were designed to solve this problem. Royalties are the percentage NFT artists collect on secondary NFT sales. This percentage is designated by the creator at the time of NFT minting. Typically, it’s around 6%. OpenSea offers to set the royalty payout from 3% to 6%. Unlike parameters like ownership or token ID, royalties are not implemented into a smart contract. Instead, NFT marketplaces, where contracts are minted, took the responsibility for automating the payments.

The potential of the NFT market. The NFT market is growing rapidly and is estimated to climb from the $11.3 billion market cap to $231 billion by 2030. OpenSea, one of the largest NFT marketplaces, has more than 1 million registered users in 2022. The number of potential buyers grows simultaneously with the number of people interested in NFTs.

Reselling. You can trade NFTs, buying them for one price and selling NFTs again when they rise in value. To make a profit, buy NFTs you see potential in. Reselling is a benefit both for traders and the creator since the artist earns royalties on each secondary sale.

Market transparency and encryption. The Ethereum blockchain is encrypted. Meaning it’s securing data, systems, and networks, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to gain access. Blockchain records all the transactions, providing proof of ownership. Thus, NFTs are easy to authenticate and verify. The market is transparent for all parties, since the creator, subsequent NFT owners, purchase price, and acquisition prices are all visible and are connected to the artwork.

Potential Risks and Drawbacks

Marketing dependence. The NFT market is overflowing with art, and it can be much harder to sell your NFT than to make it. NFT sells quickly if it’s well-marketed. Thus, it’s better to already have a fanbase and fame or to make a significant promotion campaign.

Market volatility. The fluctuation and the trend dependence of the NFT market don’t make it a place for safe investments.

High gas fees. The fees you pay to the blockchain for processing the transaction have grown rapidly over the past years. Some artists have already reached cost-prohibitive levels.

Theft. Although the blockchain attached to digital assets is unique and encrypted, the images themselves can still be copied.

Bad ecological impact. The Ethereum-based platform is notorious for consuming energy. It excesses carbon and wastes non-renewable sources. However, there are energy-efficient blockchains on which NFTs can be built.

Most Popular NFT Examples

These digital arts have become so popular, that you’ve seen at least some of them, even if you know nothing about NFT. Here are the most popular NFT samples on the market.

CryptoPunks. CryptoPunks first launched in 2017 and are profile picture art and one of the highest-valued NFT collectibles after gaining mainstream recognition. Basically, they have algorithmically generated 24×24 pixel art images. The CryptoPunk token #5822 is one of the most expensive NFTs ever sold. This token is a part of the series’ rarest alien edition, of which only 9 exist out of the 10,000 punks available. In 2022 its price reached $23.7 million. Generally, 6 out of 10 most expensive NFTs are CryptoPunk tokens. Thus, we can say that CryptoPunk is the most popular and expensive NFT collection.

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). BAYC launched in April 2021 with a collection of 10,000 digital tokens. Apes are made using the same NFT creation principles as for CryptoPunks. Each ape has a unique generated look, randomized from 170 possible traits. The most expensive token #8817 has been sold for $3.4 million. The ownership of an ape token offers not only the image itself but a Yacht Club membership card and provides member-only benefits, including access to a virtual, collaborative graffiti board.

FAQ

CAN I CREATE NFT ART FOR FREE?

Yes, you can create NFT artwork for free. Various platforms allow artists to mint NFTs without any upfront cost. Some popular NFT marketplaces that offer free minting include OpenSea, Rarible, Mintable, and more. Keep in mind that while the minting process itself might be free, there could be gas fees associated with blockchain transactions, especially if you’re using a network like Ethereum. These fees cover the cost of processing and validating transactions on the blockchain.

WHAT ARE GAS FEES?

Some digital artists join the NFT movement only to be hit with unexpected bills in the form of gas fees. We want you to be aware of the extra charges, so there will be no unpleasant surprises for you in the future.

A gas fee is a transaction fee specific to the Ethereum blockchain network. These gas fees are the fuel that allows the Ethereum network to operate, in the same way, that a car needs gasoline to run. Basically, NFT gas fees are the money paid to the blockchain for processing the transaction. Blockchain miners use powerful computers to manage the network and verify transactions (such as when an NFT is minted or sold). To reimburse the energy these computers are using, gas fees are charged whenever a transaction is requested. Gas is the fluctuating price charged straight by the blockchain, so the NFT marketplace does not receive them.

HOW TO AVOID GAS FEES?

Gas fees have reached cost-prohibitive levels for many artists. Fortunately, there are several ways to lower or even avoid gas fees. Ethereum is the most popular blockchain for NFT transactions, but it’s quite expensive for most artists. Alternatively, try other blockchain networks like Solana that tout lower fees. Another way to avoid paying the gas fee for minting NFTs is by using “lazy minting”. Using this method, the NFT isn’t transferred on-chain until the first purchase or transfer is made. Once a purchase is accepted, the gas fee is paid and included in the sale price. Meaning, that you’re paying only one fee instead of two (one for minting and one for transaction).

The next way to lower the fees is to list multiple NFTs as a collection. You can combine multiple NFTs as one transaction and sell an NFT package to a buyer to lower the amount of gas used on the Ethereum network. But the most effective way to avoid the fees is by using a sidechain network. A sidechain is a separate blockchain that runs independently of a parent blockchain but is connected to the parent. Many sidechains like Polygon allow for faster and cheaper transactions than the primary Ethereum network. The Polygon sidechain is supported by OpenSea and some other marketplaces and has no gas fees.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN NFT ART TO SELL?

Creating your own NFT art to sell involves several steps. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Create NFT artwork
Choose an NFT marketplace
Set up a wallet
Mint your NFT
List and sell your NFT

Remember that the success of selling NFT art depends on factors such as the quality and uniqueness of your artwork, your marketing efforts, and the demand within the NFT community. Be sure to do your research, understand the platform’s terms and fees, and stay informed about the latest trends in the NFT space.

HOW TO DETERMINE AN NFT PRICE?

Deciding the value of an NFT is very similar to selling art in the real world. Like any tangible asset, NFT has its own pricing factors working for it. The main price of NFTs originates from the popularity of the respective asset. Before you sell an NFT, research the market to find the average price for these kinds of digital assets. Take this information to determine the initial price of your NFT art. From that point, observe the demand, as it’s the primary factor behind deciding the value of the digital asset. That is where the interest of potential buyers drives the value of an NFT art. Overall, the prices of digital art depend on hype, demand, and popularity, and it can get a bit complicated to determine who decides the price of NFTs. But the longer you are on the market, the more common an NFT valuation will be to you.