Jonathan Winbush is a multi-award-winning motion graphics artist with over 15 years of experience working in a wide range of mediums from television and movies, to virtual and augmented reality. Over his career, Winbush has done work for Epic Games, Marvel, Netflix, DC, Warner Bros, and Happy Madison, to name a few. Notable works include Iron Man, Lego Batman 2, Lego Harry Potter, Transformers, NFL on FOX, Power Rangers, Fantastic Four, Deadliest Catch, and My Little Pony.
Winbush is also a pioneer in the world of NFTs, being one of the first artists to ever sell NFTs in China, selling out his series there and being collected by top collectors around the world. In the education space, Winbush creates tutorials weekly through YouTube as well as speaks at conferences around the world for shows such as Adobe Max, Siggraph, UnrealFest, and NAB. You can find more information about Winbush at JonathanWinbush.com
In this interview, Winbush shares his background and the path that led him to become an artist and experiment with NFTs. He also talks about his first NFT, minted on SuperRare in March 2021, and the reasons behind his choice of platform. Winbush also shares his thoughts on family, his favorite non-NFT and NFT artists, and what made him pursue NFT art.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA but have been living in Southern California for well over a decade and a half now.
Can you tell us about your background and what lead you down the path to becoming an artist and ultimately experimenting with NFTs?
I started off as a motion graphics artist doing a lot of CG and Main title work for various feature films and television shows as well as worked on a few gaming properties as well. I think what really got me to take a serious look into NFTs is talking to Beeple pre NFT and then seeing how fast he was able to adapt to the space that really opened my eyes to the potential to use my skills in this new medium.
When did you mint your first NFT? What platform did you choose and why?
I minted my first ever NFT on SuperRare March 1st 2021 [https://superrare.com/winbush] I chose SuperRare because at the time it was where all the 1 of 1 NFT artist strived to be and I’m the type that always strives to aim for the top so I put in my application and with a push of the community behind me I was accepted the same day I applied.
What up what up 🤙🏾
So your boy just applied at @SuperRare
If you can help me build some hype so I can get into the crypto art game I'd be forever grateful 🙏🏾#SuperRare #WhatUpWhatUp @SuperRareJohn @SuperRareRoses pic.twitter.com/VMumxZeRU4— Winbush (@JonathanWinbush) February 10, 2021
Can you tell us one thing you cannot live without?
Pretty obvious it’s my family they are my backbone and why I go so hard in aiming to succeed in everything I go out for. My wife and kids put their complete trust in me no matter when I left my job at Warner Bros to start my own business and even decided to jump into the NFT space they cheered me 100%.
Who is your favorite artist(s) (Non NFT)?
What about their style resonates with you? It will probably have to be Dan Pierse he’s one of my early mentors that helped me navigate the Hollywood motion graphics scene when I was just an intern and I learned a lot just studying under him https://www.behance.net/danpierse
Who is your favorite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique?:
I’ll have to say EJ aka Eyedesyn he does really cool character animations all by hand https://www.superrare.com/eyedesyn
What made you pursue NFT art?
Honestly, in those early days, I liked discovering artists I never knew existed outside of my motion graphics bubble it seemed like I was meeting new artists daily with various styles and that was really exciting. Without NFTs I probably wouldn’t have been introduced to most of the artist in the space.