multi-edition NFT (≥955 editions), traditional artwork gone digital, created from an acrylic painting with oil chalks, felt pens, napkins, transparent paper, orig 15.0x10.0cm, , this NFT is a complimentary airdrop on my 5th NFT anniversary for the lovely collectors and friends in Web3 I have grown to love and respect in this space.

Dear friends,

five years ago today, I minted my first 'fine art' NFT, "Gentle Flower", on OpenSea. Not with a big plan, but simply because I wanted to try out this "new NFT thing" I had discovered in 2021.

I had always been making things with my hands: painting, knitting, crocheting, baking, decorating cakes with fondant, and probably many other little creative projects along the way. Creating was never new to me, but sharing my work with a wider audience was something I had never really imagined for myself.
Then came the blockchain, a small leap of faith, and a journey I could never have predicted.

I started, like so many of us did, on OpenSea's shared contract. In 2022, I made sure to have all my Ethereum-based mints on my own Manifold contracts, became more open about the person behind the work, and found my way through different platforms and chapters. Some places that were once central to my journey now feel quieter (like Foundation and KnownOrigin), while newer works have found their homes on SuperRare and Objkt - and possibly TransientLabs, soon.

But the heart of it has never been only the platforms or the contracts. It has been the people.

Thank YOU for collecting, supporting, encouraging, sharing, and simply being part of these five years. I hope you will find (and perhaps even unhide) this small token of gratitude.

With lots of love,
Monika

P.S.: you can find my current works https://superrare.com/monika and https://objkt.com/@monikasart (all Ethereum NFTs are minted on Manifold since 2022). If we're not already connected on Twitter or Warpcast yet, come find me @MonikaNFT, and visit my LynkFire at https://lynkfire.com/monika