>>JOIN<< The BITCOIN FORUM METAVERSE Art Project with BTC Artist 1Dq

[1Dq]

WELCOME TO THE BITCOIN FORUM “METAVERSE” ARTWORK THREAD!

________________________________


Hello.

I'm 1Dq, this forum’s dedicated Bitcoin artist that made these:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5216743.0

Besides creating quality Bitcoin-related art I also like working with different kinds of people.
In 2019 I started the first BTCtalk’s collective project in which we put our minds and efforts together and
(continuing in 2024) created Bitcollector.
It was all about gathering Bitcoin physical artifacts and artworks and about the person collecting them.



 

The project culminated in a canvas painting and 21 prints.
They were all well accepted and successfully auctioned.
Our first project Bitcollector showed us that we can cooperate and have fun discussions that produce a quality product.
Today, we begin our second and bigger project to go a step or two further.


________________________________


I INVITE YOU TO JOIN

Bitcoin forum’s 2nd collective artwork (work)titled

BITCOIN FORUM METAVERSE


22nd November 2024 is Bitcoin forum’s 15th Anniversary.

This board has not gotten enough credit for all it has contributed, developed, researched, educated and otherwise done for everybody it connects.
I propose to make a visual representation of everything it means to us in the form of a big, detailed painting.
It will serve as a monument in this time and can help people identify, glorify, connect and celebrate this place we are all co-creating every day.
This artwork can be used for any of BTCtalk’s 15th anniversary events!

For basis, we can use my digital artwork, I created for BTCtalk’s 10th anniversary artwork competition:

10 Years of Constructing the Future, 2019, Photoshop, max res 3000x4000pix





I painted the Bitcoin forum as a futuristic world that is under permanent construction.
In the background is the huge tower that stretches towards the skies and has a big BTC on its side.
Below it are the (robot) inhabitants, doing their forumy things, from trading, discussing, educating, collecting… In the bottom right is Theymos, overlooking things.

It was a fun and successful image (second in the contest if I remember correctly), but would need to be redone and updated.
As far as materials go, I’d paint our motif with acrylics on a comfortable-sized canvas (maybe around 60x80cm, 22,6″x31,4″).

Besides the canvas and ideally more important would be the prints, that would be affordable to everyone.
Bitcollector gave a good example of how to do them, so I’d go with that only on a larger scale!

Conceptually, above artwork is just a starting point.
With everybody’s ideas and knowledge it can be completely redone and that’s where the fun begins!


________________________________


WHAT IS OUR TASK?

We need to rebuild my 5 year old artwork from ground up into an updated, more relevant, bigger and better painting.

Ideas should be freely discussed, combined and incorporated into our soon to be living concept.

My job will be to first curate the discussion and then visualize what we have brainstormed.
Can’t wait to do it too.  

To begin, I suggest everybody ask themselves questions such as:

What got me on this board and why I stayed here?
What do I love most about it?
What have I learned here?
How do I visualize my existence here?
What does this forum remind me of?
What are the most meaningful facts about BTCtalk?
Is there anything I don’t like here and what is it?
What question do I want to ask everybody here?

Most importantly, fire away and comment, share and ask whatever you want!


________________________________


HOW AND WHEN ARE WE DOING THIS?

I propose to track the project (again) in 5 phases:

PHASE 1 (July, August): Brainstorming all kinds of different ideas, from conceptual, to details, promotion, title, style...

PHASE 2 (August, September): I start visualizing our rough concept through one or more digital sketches.
We evaluate these together until we come to a consensus for how we'd like the finished artwork to appear.
We also determine in what way my work and the effort of all included will be rewarded and how the artwork and prints will be sold.

PHASE 3 (September, October): I work on the actual artwork, updating you regularly. We promote the project to all interested, especially on Btctalk.
Changes might still be made to final artwork.

PHASE 4 (October, November): The finished artwork and prints are put on sale/auctions/raffles and/or other means of distribution for compensation.

PHASE 5 (November, December): Final act of the project when we evaluate it and debate developing future projects.

The moment this thread was posted, we have started PHASE 1!


________________________________


HOW DOES ONE JOIN THE PROJECT AND WHAT DOES JOINING MEAN?

You join simply by contributing something useful in this thread (or if you wish privately via DM).
It can be through ideas, technical tips or some other help about the concept, the execution, this thread or anything you feel like commenting.
 
Anyone that will contribute a useful post will be granted some merit (usually 1-3)
and might get some sort of a bonus in the end like free shipping for a print they buy.

Top contributors will get their nicknames incorporated into the artwork’s unique visual code,
that you can check on Bitcollectors bottom left corner (more about the code later).


________________________________



PROMOTION

To make this project big and artwork truly epic, I think we should invite everybody from all parts of this forum to come join,
or at least take a peek at what we are developing.
I wouldn’t limit this to members of this forum, this can be a good opportunity to draft new people here,
especially since this artwork will embody this forum’s greatness!

And I’d also ask our admins for help.
It would be awesome if we could get a shoutout on the news bracket!
If anyone can help with that, please let us know.


________________________________


TLDR;

I'm painting a new artwork and you are invited to join in its brainstorming.
We will redo my 5 year old digital artwork (scroll above) into a new acrylics on canvas.
We are visualizing this forum as a futuristic world with a lot of flavorful detail.
You participate by sharing ideas on what exactly to visualize from the overall atmosphere to details.
By 22th November, the canvas and prints will be sold and we will celebrate BTCtalk's 15th anniversary.

Cheers!

[tweetious]

Let me kick-off this topic by sharing my thoughts. Since this is an evolving artwork, and the scope is to update it to depict the "Bitcoin forum’s 15th Anniversary", my opinion is not to permanently remove things, but rather to evolve them to represent the current status. (ok sometimes you/we might need to remove items to add new ones since the artwork space/area is limited)

Let me provide an example of the coldkeys/Yogg situation. In the other topic, we slightly discussed this, and I clearly understand the Krog's point of view, to remove all references to Yogg from the artwork. My opinion is that Yogg was (and still is) part of the forum history and -somehow- should still be included in the artwork. Hence instead of totally removing it, we should adapt it to the current situation.

Suggestion: At the part where it is written "Coldkeys", we should cross with an "X" (graffiti style) the word "Coldkeys" (the word should be still readable afterward), and replace it with "Icarus" (also graffiti style). Like someone went there with a graffiti can, crossed the "coldkeys" sign & wrote "Icarus" on the side (probably on top, inside the square to the left of the "collectibles" sign?).

Also, concerning the robot with the "Y" on the head (next to Krog robot), we could totally remove it from there and do the following: you can create a rubbish dump/rusty robot parts landfill and among some rusty robots spare parts laying around (hands, feet etc.) there would also be a robot head (with the "Y" mark)

Tl;dr:  We should evolve the artwork, by still preserving the past (since the past is still part of the history)

[krogoth]

Let me kick-off this topic by sharing my thoughts. Since this is an evolving artwork, and the scope is to update it to depict the "Bitcoin forum’s 15th Anniversary", my opinion is not to permanently remove things, but rather to evolve them to represent the current status. (ok sometimes you/we might need to remove items to add new ones since the artwork space/area is limited)

Let me provide an example of the coldkeys/Yogg situation. In the other topic, we slightly discussed this, and I clearly understand the Krog's point of view, to remove all references to Yogg from the artwork. My opinion is that Yogg was (and still is) part of the forum history and -somehow- should still be included in the artwork. Hence instead of totally removing it, we should adapt it to the current situation.

Suggestion: At the part where it is written "Coldkeys", we should cross with an "X" (graffiti style) the word "Coldkeys" (the word should be still readable afterward), and replace it with "Icarus" (also graffiti style). Like someone went there with a graffiti can, crossed the "coldkeys" sign & wrote "Icarus" on the side (probably on top, inside the square to the left of the "collectibles" sign?).

Also, concerning the robot with the "Y" on the head (next to Krog robot), we could totally remove it from there and do the following: you can create a rubbish dump/rusty robot parts landfill and among some rusty robots spare parts laying around (hands, feet etc.) there would also be a robot head (with the "Y" mark)

Tl;dr:  We should evolve the artwork, by still preserving the past (since the past is still part of the history)

  I like your ideas very much...yes please throw Yogg on that garbage pile and do cross out coldkey with Icarus.

   Like the way this is already heading....we need some more good ideas.

[cygan]

i also think the ideas put forward by my greek buddy tweetious are very good
maybe you could get the robot dog (which is at the bottom center) to do its 'business' for a moment and then write yogg on the dog poop symbol.
another idea would be to add this year's #1 bitcointalk pizza day contest from Ale88 to the pizza (bottom left)

[1Dq]

Let me kick-off this topic by sharing my thoughts. Since this is an evolving artwork, and the scope is to update it to depict the "Bitcoin forum’s 15th Anniversary", my opinion is not to permanently remove things, but rather to evolve them to represent the current status. (ok sometimes you/we might need to remove items to add new ones since the artwork space/area is limited)

Let me provide an example of the coldkeys/Yogg situation. In the other topic, we slightly discussed this, and I clearly understand the Krog's point of view, to remove all references to Yogg from the artwork. My opinion is that Yogg was (and still is) part of the forum history and -somehow- should still be included in the artwork. Hence instead of totally removing it, we should adapt it to the current situation.

Suggestion: At the part where it is written "Coldkeys", we should cross with an "X" (graffiti style) the word "Coldkeys" (the word should be still readable afterward), and replace it with "Icarus" (also graffiti style). Like someone went there with a graffiti can, crossed the "coldkeys" sign & wrote "Icarus" on the side (probably on top, inside the square to the left of the "collectibles" sign?).

Also, concerning the robot with the "Y" on the head (next to Krog robot), we could totally remove it from there and do the following: you can create a rubbish dump/rusty robot parts landfill and among some rusty robots spare parts laying around (hands, feet etc.) there would also be a robot head (with the "Y" mark)

Tl;dr:  We should evolve the artwork, by still preserving the past (since the past is still part of the history)

Those are some good ideas to start from!
We'll see how this idea evolves, if it goes into a completely different direction, we could integrate the old artwork as a thumbnail someplace (the way I put the Pie contest painting into Bitcollector on top of the monitor on the left.

Graffittying over seems like a fun idea, might be needed for something else as well, we'll see.

I love the idea of a rubbish pile for the yogg wreckage.

...

 
I like your ideas very much...yes please throw Yogg on that garbage pile and do cross out coldkey with Icarus.

   Like the way this is already heading....we need some more good ideas.

Definitely excited to get more ideas from everywhere!

i also think the ideas put forward by my greek buddy tweetious are very good
maybe you could get the robot dog (which is at the bottom center) to do its 'business' for a moment and then write yogg on the dog poop symbol.
another idea would be to add this year's #1 bitcointalk pizza day contest from Ale88 to the pizza (bottom left)

Robot dog having a job is great!

But what I really love is the Pizza contest involvement.
The more things and people we can invite and incorporate, the better.
Like the Bitcoin Pie contest...

Anyone know about any other activities and contests and other events that we can include?

[cygan]

✂️
Anyone know about any other activities and contests and other events that we can include?

in addition to the two competitions we mentioned (Bitcointalk pizza day contest & Bitcoin pie contest), there is also the Bitcoin pumpkin carving contest - which unfortunately did not take place last year...
everything else are contests like various football pools or poker tournaments

[1Dq]

✂️
Anyone know about any other activities and contests and other events that we can include?

in addition to the two competitions we mentioned (Bitcointalk pizza day contest & Bitcoin pie contest), there is also the Bitcoin pumpkin carving contest - which unfortunately did not take place last year...
everything else are contests like various football pools or poker tournaments

Ok, that could become one part of the composition - these three tournaments.
Maybe there could be like an amusement park or carnival in there somewhere in the middle.


What about the overall style and atmosphere of our Bitcoin forum world/metaverse?

Is the futuristic, robot-populated cyber-punky style as it is now alright with you?
I know I'd prefer to go a bit deeper into textures and realism on the canvas. Not too far, just to not have it look as cartoony as it is now.

Btw, is "metaverse" too close to Zuckerberg's product?
I googled the word and it is pretty dynamic, but I wouldn't want people in anyway connecting our project with that one.

[elianite]

Btw, is "metaverse" too close to Zuckerberg's product?
I googled the word and it is pretty dynamic, but I wouldn't want people in anyway connecting our project with that one.

By avoiding the word because of its association with a specific person/product, we give that person/product power, legitimacy, and ownership of the word. I believe we should use it as we choose to define it.

[Eclipse33]

Make sure to include some famous advertising like foxpup merit cycling, chipmixer / blender advertisments.

LEALANA branding / Casascius branding / Kialara branding.

Go for a dark, moody underground black-market (Disclaimer*** I do not condone trade in illicit goods) atmosphere and vibe.

Think like dark, moody, futuristic hacker type stuff. Greens, blues, reds, computer monitors, hooded figures.

Bitcoin swap service advertisements, some tiny exchange advertisements, maybe gambling platforms.  

[elianite]

Bitcoin swap service advertisements, some tiny exchange advertisements, maybe gambling platforms.  

I'm really feeling the 'cyberpunk 90's grungy Hong Kong' vibe- small billboards everywhere, just like every other user had ads on their signatures. some 'Mos Eisley cantina' energy where there is something of a rough underbelly, but also space for philosophers and aristocrats - a space for strange beings and robots from across the galaxy to gather.

[aoluain]

Make sure to include some famous advertising like foxpup merit cycling, chipmixer / blender advertisments.

LEALANA branding / Casascius branding / Kialara branding.

Go for a dark, moody underground black-market (Disclaimer*** I do not condone trade in illicit goods) atmosphere and vibe.

Think like dark, moody, futuristic hacker type stuff. Greens, blues, reds, computer monitors, hooded figures.

Bitcoin swap service advertisements, some tiny exchange advertisements, maybe gambling platforms.  

And what about listing some OG names outside the collectibles like, theymos,
Welsh, mprep, philipma1957 and gmaxwell for example.

Also those who are not here and were very well renowned, Lauda, o_e_l_e_o and Zepher ...

[1Dq]

By avoiding the word because of its association with a specific person/product, we give that person/product power, legitimacy, and ownership of the word. I believe we should use it as we choose to define it.

Good point. I also stuck with it because it suited this image more than others like Bitcoin "world", "planet", "universe", "metropolis" or similar.

Make sure to include some famous advertising like foxpup merit cycling, chipmixer / blender advertisments.

LEALANA branding / Casascius branding / Kialara branding.

Go for a dark, moody underground black-market (Disclaimer*** I do not condone trade in illicit goods) atmosphere and vibe.

Think like dark, moody, futuristic hacker type stuff. Greens, blues, reds, computer monitors, hooded figures.

Bitcoin swap service advertisements, some tiny exchange advertisements, maybe gambling platforms.   

Will certainly add those, we just need to find proper places for them.
I guess this will be one of my first tasks when sketching a new version!

I'm really feeling the 'cyberpunk 90's grungy Hong Kong' vibe- small billboards everywhere, just like every other user had ads on their signatures. some 'Mos Eisley cantina' energy where there is something of a rough underbelly, but also space for philosophers and aristocrats - a space for strange beings and robots from across the galaxy to gather.

Yes yes, a bit of this and a bit of Blade Runner and some of our own atmosphere and we're there!

And what about listing some OG names outside the collectibles like, theymos,
Welsh, mprep, philipma1957 and gmaxwell for example.

Also those who are not here and were very well renowned, Lauda, o_e_l_e_o and Zepher ...

I feel that this is very important and the more I think about this the more space I'd give it.
This forum and it's fruits is all thanks to the effort of certain individuals starting it all.
Later on it created communities and attracted more and more people.

Can we incorporate these personas into the metaverse to show that they were/are fundamental for its existance?
Maybe in the form of some sort of pillars with characters or statues or something.
Though I wouldn't want it to look old fashioned, like a statue in a park, but rather make it obvious they are still relevant and here.

Also Satoshi.

[krogoth]

 Yes that blade runner vibe is exactly what I would want to see.

  And place twats like Yogg and scammers behind bars in a booth

[raghavsood]

Personally, I think we need an equal parts of "these guys failed us" and "these guys hold the torch high and bright".

The forum has been instrumental to the consistent appreciation of collections like Casascius, BTCC, BitBills, and many other creators who were honest and gave us nice pieces.

At the same time, it's been a venue for Yogg, and other scammers like Coinographic, to chase returns.

If scammers are burning/behind bars/piles of excrement, then we should be putting the honest creators high up as well - A Cas tower (if we're doing the Blade Runner theme), or a BTCC mine, or a BitBills bearer back alley deal would be good to see.

Of course, the presentation can vary - I'm not married to any of these ideas - but I do think that creators who have delivered high quality, secure work should act as a contrast to those who failed us.

[1Dq]

Personally, I think we need an equal parts of "these guys failed us" and "these guys hold the torch high and bright".

The forum has been instrumental to the consistent appreciation of collections like Casascius, BTCC, BitBills, and many other creators who were honest and gave us nice pieces.

At the same time, it's been a venue for Yogg, and other scammers like Coinographic, to chase returns.

If scammers are burning/behind bars/piles of excrement, then we should be putting the honest creators high up as well - A Cas tower (if we're doing the Blade Runner theme), or a BTCC mine, or a BitBills bearer back alley deal would be good to see.

Of course, the presentation can vary - I'm not married to any of these ideas - but I do think that creators who have delivered high quality, secure work should act as a contrast to those who failed us.

This is a nice, positive approach to present this segment of Bitcoin (forum).

Shall we make a list of top brands and persons to include? Including the good, the bad and the ugly! 

[1Dq]

To sum it up so far:

* Yogg becomes a pile of debris with robo dog peeing on it, Coldscam is replaced or sprayed over and Icarus replaces it.

* Metaverse stays in the title.

* There is equal part of "these guys failed us" and "these guys hold the torch high and bright".

* Add contests of Bitcoin Pizza, Pie and Pumpkin carving contests in form of amusement or carnival area.

* Include famous advertising like foxpup merit cycling, chipmixer / blender advertisments, LEALANA branding / Casascius branding / Kialara branding.

* Expose OG names outside the collectibles like, theymos, Welsh, mprep, philipma1957 and gmaxwell for example.
Also those who are not here and were very well renowned, Lauda, o_e_l_e_o and Zepher ...

Thoughts on atmosphere and places:

Emphasis on dark, moody underground black-market, futuristic hacker type stuff.

We could imagine greens, blues, reds, computer monitors, hooded figures, Bitcoin swap service advertisements,
some tiny exchange advertisements, maybe gambling platforms.

Also Cyberpunk 90's grungy Hong Kong' vibe- small billboards everywhere, just like every other user had ads on their signatures
like the SW cantina with different characters gathering, some dark, but also philosophers and aristocrats


There’s still a lot of ground to cover, like:

•   What would the shape of the main structure in the back look like?

•   Are there any completely new objects, characters or places to add?

•   Do we stick with this color pallette?

•   Should all main subboards of the forum be presented and to what detail?

•   How to visualize developing of Bitcoin and new cores?

•   Do we present various nationalities?

•   What are some interesting or important threads and projects on the forum we should include?

•   Any plain fun ideas you have?


I'll wait for a bit more material and then start sketching!

Cheers!

[1Dq]

It's about time I provided some visual material to help boost our brainstorming morale.


VISUAL UPDATE #1


My fellow robots and cyborgs, this is where we begin:




**All points below are open for discussion so you can freely comment on anything! **

* Using the original artwork, I reconfigured the composition to give us a bit more space for extra forum's content.

* The huge Bitcoin tower in the background stands for the forum's mass and value.  
   It now has the big symbolic BTC powered with light energy that runs through its entire height.
   This energy represents the Bitcoin core (blockchain) and I'd use the hue of that energy to power everything else going on.
   Top of the tower is crowned with lightning bolts, representing the electricity needed for Bitcoin's functioning.
   Below the BTC is a vertical text "15 years", for our anniversary celebration.

* I photobashed the motif with sf images for inspiration and atmosphere.

* In the left is the "Economy tower", so far the most exposed board tree and in it's bottom is our collectibles place.
  Not many details in so far, but you might already find something entertaining.

* In the bottom middle are some members doing random stuff.
   I expect this part to be very lively in the end.

* In the right there's only a board with our three contests marked on it with a lot of free space around.
  Bottom right is a newbie, lurking and checking out the scene.

* I also tried the motif in two color variants:





I'm interested in your thoughts on all points above as well as fresh ideas!

I'll continue working on new concept art and will be back asap.

Cheers.

[aoluain]

* Using the original artwork, I reconfigured the composition to give us a bit more space for extra forum's content.

Yes, in relation to members names I think they could go on the left along the tower and this will
balance the forums menus which you have on the left.

* The huge Bitcoin tower in the background stands for the forum's mass and value.  
   It now has the big symbolic BTC powered with light energy that runs through its entire height.
   This energy represents the Bitcoin core (blockchain) and I'd use the hue of that energy to power everything else going on.
   Top of the tower is crowned with lightning bolts, representing the electricity needed for Bitcoin's functioning.
   Below the BTC is a vertical text "15 years", for our anniversary celebration.

Maybe add BCT on the tower, its obvious to us what the project is about but to others it might not
_{some people refer to the forum as BTT, there was a discussion about that somewhere a few weeks ago}

* In the left is the "Economy tower", so far the most exposed board tree and in it's bottom is our collectibles place.
  Not many details in so far, but you might already find something entertaining.

Definitely add Satori, BTCC, Polymerbit and Icarus

* I also tried the motif in two color variants:

I personally like the Blue, its more lively which should reflect the forum, it also hints to the
lightning network if thats relevant IDK. I think I would like to see hints of Orange ^{or is that too obvious?}

[1Dq]

* Using the original artwork, I reconfigured the composition to give us a bit more space for extra forum's content.

Yes, in relation to members names I think they could go on the left along the tower and this will
balance the forums menus which you have on the left.

Will try incorporating this so that it's both visually interesting and obvious who it's about.
Maybe transforming or melding the nicknames with architectural elements.

* The huge Bitcoin tower in the background stands for the forum's mass and value. 
   It now has the big symbolic BTC powered with light energy that runs through its entire height.
   This energy represents the Bitcoin core (blockchain) and I'd use the hue of that energy to power everything else going on.
   Top of the tower is crowned with lightning bolts, representing the electricity needed for Bitcoin's functioning.
   Below the BTC is a vertical text "15 years", for our anniversary celebration.

Maybe add BCT on the tower, its obvious to us what the project is about but to others it might not
_{some people refer to the forum as BTT, there was a discussion about that somewhere a few weeks ago}

Damn I feel a bit ashamed I don't know about those, is it an older thing?
Maybe have BCT and BTT around the huge BTC sign?

* In the left is the "Economy tower", so far the most exposed board tree and in it's bottom is our collectibles place.
  Not many details in so far, but you might already find something entertaining.

Definitely add Satori, BTCC, Polymerbit and Icarus

I will absolutely add these, it's neat they mostly have recognizable logos I can paint in.

* I also tried the motif in two color variants:

I personally like the Blue, its more lively which should reflect the forum, it also hints to the
lightning network if thats relevant IDK. I think I would like to see hints of Orange ^{or is that too obvious?}

I thought blue was more natural for the cool digital world we reside in! 

Thank you for your valuable comments aoluain, they'll visually manifest soon!


Everyone, looking forward to read your thoughts.
Critique is also welcomed - anything to make this artwork properly glorious!

Cheers.