The Community Speaks… Talking PepePaint!
In this new recent series called “The Community Speaks”, we're bringing you another special, interview-style blog posts.
We've reached out to several members of our community to ask them the same set of questions. Our goal is to showcase the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that make our community so unique.
By hearing directly from those who are deeply involved in PepeCoin/BasedAI, we hope to provide you with fresh insights and a deeper understanding of the project's impact.
This article’s theme is PepePaint.
Let’s get into it and paint the town red!
Community Participant Introduction:
Participant #1 :
DiscoFrog -
Been in crypto since 2015. Supporter of the original ethos of crypto and the freedom to transact. Lover of merging art and tech. Future KekDAQ artist.
Participant #2 :
Archaic Machinery - https://x.com/ArchaicMachine
A husband of 15 years to his lovely wife. They have 3 children together. Full time laborer and father, part time artist. “I love art, nature, technology, investing, reading, and of course Pepecoin!”
Participant #3 :
SupLlama - https://x.com/DoodledLlama
Common - Alienverse - and Pepepaint everyday.
Participant #4 :
Markus Manson -
A freelance illustrator from Indonesia. Designing, drawing, and creating everything, particularly enjoys drawing designs with a dark or horror theme. Clients include Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, Trivium, Kreator, ACDC, Scorpions, Venom (Marvel), Deadpool (Marvel), and many more.
PepePaint Gallery profile
https://www.instagram.com/markusmanson
https://www.behance.net/markusmansonart
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Question #1: How would you describe PepePaint to someone who is unfamiliar with it?
Participant #1 : DiscoFrog
PepePaint is old-school Microsoft Paint with the added features of being able to directly mint your creations as NFTs and, most importantly, an amazing community that supports the artists who use it to create a lot of insanely cool Pepecoin-themed art.
Participant #2 : Archaic Machinery
Pepepaint is a heavily modified web version of old school Microsoft Paint from the pre 1999 era. It has the same limited tools that were available to Matt Furie when he created Pepe the Frog. It is a one stop shop to create and mint art to opensea all through one interface.
Participant #3 : SupLlama
It’s like you created art with vintage software where the output of the art is pixelated and it’s freaking fire!
Participant #4 : Markus Manson
It’s a great drawing application for fun and nostalgia. It’s not a very convenient app tbh. But all the lack of tools and features also somehow becomes the charm and challenge to make a great art out of it.
Question #2: What first inspired you to create art through PepePaint?
Participant #1 : DiscoFrog
One of the big things that attracted me to the project in the first place was the idea of a KekDAQ revival. I've been making art in some form for over a decade now, and the idea of being able to share my art on a digital exchange made by and for people who have been in crypto since the beginning and care about the promise of the tech rather than just the financial aspect alone was really enticing. For me, PepePaint seemed like a great stepping stone on the road to KekDAQ and was a total no-brainer.
Participant #2 : Archaic Machinery
I first heard about Pepepaint while the Telegram channel back in December of 2023. I was told it was a platform to draw silly Pepe memes. My inspiration came from an idea to try and do more with it. I wanted to try and create characters and tell a story, not just make silly things.
Participant #3 : SupLlama
I was inspired by Markus! I saw him tweeting about the art he made on PepePaint.
Participant #4 : Markus Manson
I was told by one of the community member, JerTsc, to try draw and mint there. He thought I would do great. And it’s been one of the best decisions of my life.
Question #3: What has been your most memorable experience using PepePaint?
Participant #1 : DiscoFrog
In the early days, there was an almost arms race to push the boundaries of the limited PepePaint toolset. Someone would mint another insanely detailed or interesting piece, I'd be totally blown away, and then I'd feel like nothing I ever created or could create would ever match it. Then I'd try to make something better than what I thought I was capable of anyway. This scenario was happening constantly, and to be honest, people are making such cool stuff now that I still often feel that way. To be part of that process, to push your own boundaries, and to make something that ends up really resonating with people is an incredible and memorable feeling. Also, in the beginning, I did a series of black-and-white Legendary Creature Pepes. The first one, "Phoenix," was the second public (as in not from the devs) mint ever in the PepePaint gallery. So, I guess you could say that I'm kind of a big deal.
Participant #2 : Archaic Machinery
One night while walking my dog, I had this idea to create a landscape with an adventurer in search of the rare PepeCoins. That was the night I began working on “Quest of Kekistan”. The app crashed numerous times. I had to screenshot and reload many times to complete the piece as Paint was still in its infancy and quite buggy at the time. The finished product is something I've never been able to recreate and it changed my life in some ways. The reception of it really made me want to do more and keep pushing PepePaint. I think Kek was guiding my hand on that one.
Participant #3 : SupLlama
First of all, I needed to adapt with PepePaint and, to be honest, it was hard because I've never tried any other software or application to make my art, but that’s where the fun part was! Day by day, using PepePaint, finally I have made and brought my own style to PepePaint, and that’s awesome!
Participant #4 : Markus Manson
Hmm... maybe the one I drew for Father’s Day. The reference was my own picture of me and my kids.
Question #4: Have you sold a PepePaint art piece, and if so, which one was it and how did it feel?
Participant #1 : DiscoFrog
I've sold quite a few now! But the first one I sold was "Philosopher Pepe," which was another piece from the black-and-white series I did when PepePaint started. It was a really great feeling because I hadn't really done this black-and-white line style elsewhere, and I wasn't 100% sure if people would like it or not. When someone enjoys your art enough to spend on it, that always feels amazing.
Participant #2 : Archaic Machinery
Yes, I have sold many pieces and I'm incredibly grateful to the community for supporting it's artists. My first pieces sold were characters I had created when I was first learning the program. Warrior for Kek, Thief of Kekistan, and The Kekromancer. I couldn't believe people liked my artwork enough to purchase it from me. It felt surreal in a lot of ways.
Participant #3 : SupLlama
Yes! My first artwork created on PepePaint called, "Flowers", was sold immediately after I created the artwork on PepePaint.
Participant #4 : Markus Manson
I still remember my very first piece that I minted and unexpectedly got sold only in a minute or so. It’s called, “Pepe on the Storm”. It felt surreal to have an NFT listed and sold in that short of time. I was really having a hard time in NFTs and that made me feel motivated again.
Question #5: What would you say to encourage someone who may be interested but also intimidated by PepePaint?
Participant #1 : DiscoFrog
Just do it! You don't have to be some artistic wizard to make something in PepePaint. Anyone can do it. There are a bunch of mints in the gallery that have a ton of charm without being complicated, and there are so many examples of people's art improving over time. Basically, there's no reason to be afraid!
Participant #2 : Archaic Machinery
I have coerced many people in the TG to just give it a shot and I don't think anyone regretted it. In fact, every person that heeded the call sold a piece. A lot of people think that creativity and the ability to draw is something you're born with. While some people may be more gifted than others, I believe anyone can learn to draw. If you've ever wanted to draw, create an NFT, or even sell an NFT; Pepepaint is an incredible platform to do so and the community is very supportive.
Participant #2 : SupLlama
For other great artists out there, even those who are not on Ethereum like me: If you think that maybe want to try PepePaint, you should try it! It’s fun with the most memorable community I’ve found so far!
Participant #4 : Markus Manson
Just try it out, and I’m sure you will have a hard time at first. But trust me, the more you use it, the more you’ll enjoy it. Also, just ask around if you have any questions. Myself and the other pepepaint artists will be more than happy to help. We’ve been there so we know how confusing it was at first, so we can help guide you.