it's time to clarify a few things. onchain gaias started over a year ago, supported by a small group of enthusiasts, myself included.
the original idea came from ciniz. it's important to make clear that i wasn't hired as an artist in the traditional sense. my role wasn’t to simply follow a brief, churn out assets, run them through a script, and produce another batch of forgettable art. from the beginning, it was much deeper than that.
for over a year now, ciniz and i have been carefully building the concept, aesthetics, and lore behind the gaias universe. onchain gaias is a deeply layered, richly detailed world that gradually reveals itself piece by piece, batch by batch.
but before continuing, let me share some quick background on the ciniz x anton history.
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i'm a professional illustrator and have worked full-time as an artist since 2009. i entered web3 around the end of 2021. i didn't send videos to super rare, i didn't message collectors for their support before dropping my first nfts. instead, i remembered i had twitter, found an invite to foundation (yes, back then you needed invites), and minted my first work on blockchain.
luckily, siinamota noticed my work, my genesis sold, and that's how my web3 journey started. by that time, ciniz had already been collecting art onchain. eventually, she placed a bid on one of my pieces.
it’s important to mention that there are two types of art appreciators. there are those who buy art, enjoy it briefly, and then move on. and then there are those who view art as a reflection of their vision, taste, and identity. ciniz is definitely the second type.
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antonmarrast
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after acquiring a few of my works, ciniz reached out directly, asking me to create some pieces specifically for her. that's how our collaboration began. over time, the artworks evolved, intertwining with ciniz persona, gradually forming a consistent visual language. our conversations became regular. whenever she reached out with ideas, i was happy to help because i knew it would be something interesting, meaningful, full of references and details.
eventually, ciniz had a vision for something ambitious and truly special: onchain gaias. at first, it was just an idea. but both of us are stubborn optimists who believe a worthy idea deserves all the time and effort required to bring it to life, no matter how long or challenging.
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there are countless ways to realize a project. some teams rely on big companies, major investments, large budgets, and established developers. others start small, in garages or home offices, driven purely by passion. the group behind onchain gaias definitely belongs in the latter category.
for over a year, we've poured careful attention into creating a layered, diverse, and deeply detailed universe. authentic characters, factions, groups, cities, and planets. all of this takes tremendous time and effort to bring to life properly.
gaias had to start somewhere. that’s how the “if you’re here, you’re based and early” series was born, leading to over 50,000 mints. this series celebrated the essence of a specific community within web3. it led to the free mint of the iconic degen golden tickets, the memorable click, click, click tickets, cherished deeply by collectors. eventually, these tickets evolved into the beautiful sun dawn, a vast ocean shore, the ultimate waiting room for what's to come.
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onchain gaias isn't just hand-drawn art. it's not random traits, costumes, or backgrounds assembled carelessly. ciniz and i are committed to thoughtfully crafting every single detail. this dedication is why, after over a year, we’re still at only 20% reveal. the visuals you currently see are merely the tip of the iceberg.
but the pace accelerates with each reveal. the art is becoming increasingly sophisticated and detailed, with plenty of room still left for growth. those who appreciate art beyond price truly understand this.
to those who connect with gaias and support what we’re building, i appreciate you holding patiently, no matter how long it takes. my heart genuinely leaps whenever i spot a gaias pfp on my timeline. knowing our work resonates deeply with some of you means everything.
gaias forever.
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