The Owls NFT collection, launched in late March on Ethereum, consists of 9,999 owls crafted in a minimalist ASCII style, each distinguished by its unique shape and color.
Two variations of Owls NFT. Source: Official OpenSea website.
What is ASCII?
ASCII, or the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a set of decimal digits, Latin alphabet characters, punctuation marks, and other symbols. Art based on ASCII has grown significantly in popularity recently and is classified into several major styles:
- Linear: This style is used for simple drawings, defining only the silhouette of the subject using dots or lines;
- Solid: Using the ASCII codes, a complete image is crafted, which works especially well for larger and complex designs;
- Shades of gray: Similar to solid, but certain areas change the color of symbols to create a shadow effect. This style is considered one of the most challenging.
There are a multitude of alternative forms of ASCII art available, although most of them are derived from combinations of aforementioned designs. Despite the complexity involved, you can try generating ASCII art automatically using specialized software or create it manually using any text editor of your choice. Many artists explore and expand the boundaries of ASCII art by incorporating additional symbols and RGB colors to achieve enhanced outcomes.
Owls NFT
The project team deliberately chose ASCII for its simplicity and aesthetic appeal. Each NFT is generated from over 90 million combinations. The collection is available for purchase on OpenSea or their own marketplace. As of the time of writing, the average price is 0.01 ETH ($17).
Owls NFT on the OpenSea marketplace. Source: Official OpenSea website
Currently, owning such an NFT only offers the benefits of collecting, influencing the project's direction, and interacting with a community that supports the use of technology for creating a better Web3. In the near future, the team plans to launch various initiatives aimed at increasing the utility of their NFTs. For instance, they are developing their own Web3 launchpad where owl owners will have exclusive access to artworks minting.
The developers portray themselves as an open community of enthusiasts from different countries (Switzerland, Lithuania, the UK, and even India) involved in anonymous and uncensored creativity. Together, they aim to promote Web3 and rekindle people's affection for ASCII art.
