1/1 Artist Spotlight: YAGAMIII

ONE37pm's 1/1 Artist Spotlight is a series that focuses on giving love to 1 of 1 NFT Artists. Whether they're from the traditional art world or just got started in art through web3, we want to highlight and help you get to know those who are up and coming.

A 1/1 NFT is a unique, one-of-a-kind digital collectible where no other exists other than the piece itself. We hope to introduce you to talented and incredible people in the NFT space and the reasons they love doing what they do.

Yagamiii, also known as Juan Rosiles, is a Las Vegas based artist best known for his multitude of styles, techniques and applications. He believes in storytelling through art and bringing viewers into the worlds he creates. ONE37pm had the pleasure of asking Yagamiii about his inspirations, goals for the future, and much more.

His work is currently available on Opensea and Foundation.

How has your artist journey changed since joining NFTs? How did you start? 

Joining WEB3 in general has been one of the most pivotal points in my art career so far. I’ve been practicing art for almost a decade now and I never felt like a “professional” artist to an extent. I was creating and selling work through websites and social media but joining WEB3/ NFT’s taught me so much about artist rights, provenance and sovereignty. I now manage my work on a higher level. I know my rights to my creations on a more serious level and I’m able to log my process more efficiently. 

It’s my first year in NFT’s and I've learned so much about crypto. I was introduced to the space by other artists through Twitter when it was trending around social media in the summer of 2021. Thereafter, I began researching the market and meeting tons of people involved in the markets. I learned about minting, and what that meant for the longevity of my work and how the blockchain can help me track my career. The new technology and concepts enticed me to make it my focus since October 2021. I now focus on digital creations and work primarily through crypto currencies. 

Do you prefer physical or digital? 

As of now, I prefer to work digitally. Mainly because of efficiency. I just need my laptop and my iPad and I can access every corner of the internet and my imagination. These tools enable me to work whenever, however, and on whatever I want. I don’t have to be limited by a lack of materials, or a lack of a proper work environment. Most of my recent work has been done on my iPad and I can take that anywhere. I’ve even minted work on a flight. I don’t even have to worry about mistakes when I make digital work since most of the time, I can simply undo. Although I’ve only worked digitally for a short amount of time, the benefits and accessibility to creating are much more beneficial to physical works. I will say that physical works will always have a place in my heart, something about tangible art is unmatched. 

How would you describe your art style? 

Describing my art style is never easy. If someone looks at my overall portfolio, they would see the multitude of styles, techniques and applications I’ve experimented with. I tend to have a different “style” per type of medium. My drawings look different from my paintings, as do my digital illustrations, and my 3D work. I like to constantly try out new ideas, new executions and concepts. Lately I’ve been on an illustrative run combining classical art concepts with modern applications. Like a juxtaposition of traditional and modern art. I do realism, I do illustrations, graphical work, 3d digital modeling and more. I really just love to make what I want. I want to check off as many boxes as I can, and then break those boundaries. 

Who or what are some of your biggest inspirations? 

Truly, some of my biggest inspirations are my friends and mutuals I see online. WEB3 introduced me to some of the most amazing talents I’ve witnessed in my life. I do credit all the masters and big art figures in motivating me to create, but my peers are my biggest inspirations. I get to actively see them grow and improve and that pushes me to keep trying out things. I’m introduced to new ideas, new concepts, new perspectives and new stories every single day. It would be unfair to not recognize those around me as my biggest inspirations. I thank those people for helping me grow. 

What is your favorite piece? 

Funny enough, I very often say “this is one of my favorites” whenever I finish a new piece. I’m honestly always proud of everything I do because I have clear intentions when I make art. There are plenty of pieces that are my favorite for particular reasons. If I had to choose ONE, it would be "...anything to stay here longer." It’s a self portrait dealing with facing adversity, something close to heart. 

What do you hope to accomplish in the next year? 

Something I’ve always wanted to do was curate a gallery or a show. I share art online every day and I see so many amazing artists. I would love to set up a gallery space of my favorites. Besides that, I just hope I can keep making art. That has always been my main goal. Just keep creating and sharing art. 

When do you feel most inspired to create? 

24/7. 

I am literally consumed by art. I wake up and sleep thinking about art. I often draw in my mind when I’m not actually working. I always want to make art. Always. 

Who are 3 artists you have your eyes on at the moment? 

@ Mediolanum666 

@ TerrellJones 

@vangoliathe 

All incredible artists and great friends.

What advice would you give to an artist starting in the space right now? 

Do what you love with purpose and make genuine friendships. You want to be a movement and not a trend. Things move fast in WEB3, do something that will solidify your image for the long run. Try to be present online, talk to people and build each other up. In reality, not many of us can make it alone, take on the journey with your heart. Put in the work. Not everything will be a success, but keep trying and adjusting. It may get hard, but keep trying and keep your heart in it. The day will come. 

Would you rather be relatable or aspirational to your audience? 

I would much rather be relatable to people. I tell my stories through my work. My goal has always been to create something that resonates with people. Expressing something that can be hard to describe. I want people to feel seen. I want to offer people the ability to connect to my art on a personal level.