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May 13, 20224 min read

Growing Together, Step by Step, with Cute Little Friend - "HUUYAOW"

**Interview on 12/05/22



 

Hello! Could you please introduce yourself a bit?

Hello, everyone! I’m Ping – Mantana Lertkornkitja

also known by my pen name HUUYAOW



We’ve always seen HUUYAOW with you. Could you tell us more about HUUYAOW?

HUUYAOW is an imaginary childhood friend of mine. When I was young, I loved rabbits, so I thought if I were to draw myself as a child, I'd give myself bunny ears.


This character stays with me, never growing up, and represents a child's innocent, naive thoughts,


while I, on the other hand, have grown older, faced more challenges, and life has become more complicated.



 


How did you discover NFTs?

I got COVID (laughs).


Being stuck at home, I had some free time and decided to get back into drawing. Around that time, many of my artist friends were getting into NFTs,


So I started researching and sketching. I received guidance from several people and eventually started selling my work on Paras.




Why did you choose Paras?

There are many platforms available, like OpenSea, Foundation, and Paras.


I felt that my work fits the PFP (Profile Picture NFTs) style, and Paras offers lower gas fees, making it easier for people to decide to buy.


Since I’m relatively new to NFTs, Paras has been a great place to practice.



 


HUUYAOW on Paras now has several collections. How do they differ?

Currently, there are 3 collections






#PEOPLEHUUYAOWKNOW is the main collection.


It’s about people I know and want to keep in my memory.


I tend to have trouble remembering people, especially if I haven’t seen them for a while or if they change their hairstyle or color.


There was this one time when my mom came to pick me up from school with a new hairstyle, planning to surprise me—but instead, I surprised her by walking right past without recognizing her! (laughs)


I thought practicing drawing people might help me remember them better (normally, I only draw HUUYAOW).

However, after two months of drawing, it hasn’t really helped much (laughs). In fact, I’ve been mistaking people more frequently.



In the first phase of the collection, I aimed to create 100 portraits, and now I’ve completed that. For the second phase, I’m aiming for 230 pieces.





 


Recently, there was an auction for a Chadchart piece (laughs), where you collaborated with Som Mikan. Tell us about that.

Yes, the Chadchart piece was a collaboration with Som Mikan.

The reason for that was simple—I’m not good at animating!


I had worked with Som Mikan right after I graduated, and She’s an amazing artist. So, I asked her to help bring some intensity to the piece. And that’s how the animated Chadchart flexing his power came about (laughs).


It’s not political; I just really admire him. Since he got number 8 in the election, I gave the piece number 088.





You’ve collaborated with several artists. How does collaborating affect your work?

Honestly, it helps break the monotony. In terms of artistic work, it’s a way to share creative ideas.





 


Do you think building a community of creators or collectors has an impact on your work?

When I first started learning about NFTs,

Bom Banda5000 told me that the art we create is only one part of the NFT space. Community is crucial.


As an artist, it’s important to make the holders of your work feel special and give them more than just a piece of art.


Partnering with real-world businesses can also create fun perks. For example,


HUUYAOW has partnered with Sobta Cafe,

where holders of HUUYAOW NFTs can show them at the cafe for a 10% discount on drinks and snacks.


Another example is a partnership with a printing service for collectors who want to print HUUYAOW pieces on canvas.


Most recently, there’s even a partnership with a barbershop, The Barber’s Tale, where showing a HUUYAOW NFT gets you a 10% discount.



It seems like both you and the collectors support each other in these partnerships.

Yes, it’s similar to other business models, where there’s mutual benefit.


Having a strong community helps keep things moving.


When new members join and have questions, the community often steps in to answer before I even have to.





 


Lastly, do you have any advice for aspiring NFT artists?

The NFT community is still evolving.


To succeed in selling NFTs, it’s not just about skill (though you should have that), but also having a clear plan—know what you’re creating, who it’s for, and what they’ll gain from it.


NFTs are new but not difficult to grasp. You can learn as you go. As I mentioned, Paras has low gas fees and plenty of opportunities. Even though most collectors are Thai, it’s still a great start.



Thanks so much, Ping and HUUYAOW!

Thank you!




 



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