Omentejovem: Artistic Freedom, Art Market & The Power of Listening

Who is Omentejovem?

Thales Machado, also known as Omentejovem, is a Brazilian digital artist telling his story and visions via his artworks.

Born in 2001, Omentejovem is best known for his use of color and shapes to create primitive and evocative pieces full of emotion and personal works.

Widely regarded as a Brazilian pioneer in the NFT ecosystem, Omentejovem’s artwork has been shown worldwide, is owned by some of the world’s foremost crypto art collectors, and has been sold in the most important auction houses of the world, such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

What is something you wish someone had told you before becoming an artist?

That you can create whatever you want, with the aesthetics you want, and you can show people what they didn’t know they wanted to see and support.

And equally importantly as well, that you can find a way to live as an artist!

What does your creating process look like?

It’s messy, as I create random lines to find something I want to detail further, in a composition that I find interesting at first.

It is mostly a battle between the mystery of error, spontaneity, and intention.

Who are 2-3 artists you admire or respect that you think deserve (even) more recognition?

I’ll mention three:

I admire the resilience and hard work of Grant Yun.
I love Vidal Herrera’s aesthetics, textures, colors, and detailing work.
I think Aleqth deserves more recognition. I think many artists in fact deserve more recognition, but I love how Aleqth isn’t scared of new things and keeps creating new stuff, new visions, keeps building what they love/are, and DGAF.

What do you do when you are trying to enhance your creativity?

I enjoy connecting with nature – beaches, taking a little nap there, diving into the sea, and visiting waterfalls… Previously, I would have mentioned smoking weed as it was quite helpful, but that's not the case anymore.

I believe these activities are great for recharging energy, but creativity inevitably involves work, whether we want it to or not.

What do you benefit the most when working with NFTs and the blockchain?

Selling my digital artworks has become simpler, without the need for complex logistics, boring stuff, or concerns about people taking advantage of me. This has allowed me to connect with numerous collectors worldwide. I have the freedom to create digital art for its own sake, without needing to tie it to utilitarian purposes like cover art. It's pure art, and collectors can buy it simply because they love it. I love this and am deeply thankful for the technology that has enabled me to be a 'real artist'.

Before NFTs, I was unaware of the art market and wouldn't have been able to join it, as no one in my circle was part of this industry. While the art market isn't necessary to be an artist, I am grateful to have this as my job and make a living by creating my digital crafts.

Long live the internet, blockchain, and NFTs.

***Within Reach*** *by Omentejovem & Aleqth*

What is one thing you think artists should focus more on, and why?

Their passion, creation, aesthetics, storytelling, connections, and sales are crucial. I believe that to make a living from your art, you must consider the market, how to sell, how to negotiate, and understand what works. It's essential to ask the right questions and reflect on them.

I believe that art should come first and the market second, not the other way around; otherwise, there's a high risk that your artwork will become compromised and not true to yourself.

What’s the hardest part of being an artist?

I don’t believe being an artist is hard; in fact, it's really cool. The hard parts lie in the process, where we must challenge ourselves to create new and meaningful work for ourselves.

However, the difficult part of participating in the art market involves aligning our passion with its rules. Its philosophical nature and the multiple paths available can sometimes divert my focus from simply engaging in my work.

***Something About Duality*** *by Omentejovem*

What skill should anyone harvest early in their career that will pay off massively for years?

Not sure! I'm still learning to be honest, but let's venture an answer here…

I believe the skill to critically reflect on one's process, to question oneself, and to challenge self-imposed rules to innovatively use the past, is critical.

I'm still on a journey of discovery, but what has benefited me is being open to others' ideas. Not everything, of course, but listening to those with greater knowledge in areas unfamiliar to me and having the humility to admit ignorance has been invaluable for growth in art, the market, and life.

Why do you create art?

I love documenting my feelings, desires, and life—it comes naturally. I always look to merge my creations with my thoughts so they feel real to both myself and the audience. I’m just committed to creating works that are a true reflection of me.

Above all, I prioritize creating captivating aesthetics, not merely documenting, but weaving beauty with narrative. Of course, beauty is subjective! What my art may not offer, other art forms can beautifully fill. My art may not even fulfill me, but I think that’s a good thing!

***Id, Ego and Superego*** *by Omentejovem*

What’s a book or an article that has greatly influenced your life?

Although I don’t read as much as I'd like, 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' has significantly influenced many aspects of my life. My father often discussed this book to help me avoid the mistakes he made. I'm cautious with my expenses and emotions to ensure freedom and peace in my life and art. This way, I avoid selling myself for it or risking negative consequences for my career and personal life. Having experienced financial hardship, I want to prevent such suffering for myself and my future children.

I'm also grateful for an article by Loopify, my first in English, on creating NFTs and understanding their significance.

What habit or practice has changed your life the most?

A good practice is undoubtedly to listen more than we speak, hear both sides of the story, and always think critically. I learned this invaluable lesson from my father, whom I am more than grateful to have in my life.

I love him so much. I believe he's the quietest person I've ever met. While his silence sometimes frustrates me because I wish to hear more from him, I recognize a wisdom in it that I'm still coming to understand—whether I fully grasp it yet or not.

What is your favorite failure?

I don’t like failures, but I'm learning to embrace them as a natural and beneficial aspect of life, recognizing that everyone fails and that there is value in it. In fact, I’m glad that I ‘failed’ as a Cover Art designer.

What are you willing to struggle for?

I'm willing to struggle to find my own voice, to take it easy, to make my mistakes, to grow as a person, and to focus on positivity over pessimism.

What does success look like to you?

Success to me is about being happy with family and friends, doing good things for loved ones, and not overly worrying about money or material possessions. In today’s society, it's challenging, but essential, to prioritize and fight for what truly matters to us, which is certainly not money or fame for me.

Career success, for me, means continuing to create work I love, staying true to myself, and earning the appreciation and trust of those who enjoy what create.

What single question can you ask yourself daily to guide you closer to success?

Are you having fun?

What is one strong opinion you have?

I will be one of the greatest digital abstract artists of our era.

What lessons from the past do you still carry with you today?

As I've mentioned before, I believe the art market is 50% art and 50% market, and my dad was a key figure in teaching me about markets and negotiations. At the time, I felt listening to him was wasting my time and boring as fuck, but now I find myself applying his lessons almost daily to my passion.

Listening to experienced individuals and critically reflecting on their advice has definitely made things easier for me.

***Two Pills And My Favorite Sins*** *by Omentejovem*

Learn more from Omentejovem

Something to read:

Abstract Visuals, Concrete Truths: Exploring Omentejovem’s Poignant Perspective

Something to watch:

I have to follow my own path." | Omentejovem in Grails V

Get in Touch with Omentejovem

The best way to get in touch with Omentejovem is via Twitter.

Omentejovem: Artistic Freedom, Art Market & The Power of Listening (Interview)