We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dan Oliver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Investing in my brain. I spend a lot of time & money on books, education and healthy foods to nourish my mind & body. For me, education is not a one-time thing but an ongoing project. It’s not always enjoyable, but by pushing myself into new territories, it broadens my understanding of the world, life and my place in it.

Dan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an artist & singer. I spent my twenties acting & improvising in Chicago. When I hit 30, I shifted the focus to Art. And lately, I’ve been making music using my improv skills. I’m 35 years old & have always been interested in entrepreneurialism ever since I learned I could sell lemonade as a kid and make a profit.

I typically just follow the fun in my career, ie where am I inspired to go & what am I inspired to create? That doesn’t mean I haven’t had to buss tables, sling lattes, serve tables, delivery food or drive for Uber, etc. In fact, in my career so far, I’ve probably had over 20 different jobs. I’ve worked on both sides of the table in the film industry and interned in casting before starting to work more independently in the field. I am an author and have a few books on Amazon including “Gay Minimalist” about the transformative power of Minimalism. Minimalism is what enables me to be an artist, it’s about priorities at the end of the day. We all have the same hours in a day and if you invest them well, you can grow your skills to become invaluable.

My oil paintings are collected by people in the creative class as well as more serious Art collectors. I’ve branched into tech and digital art with multiple series. My latest big series was “The Minimalists by Dan Oliver” on Opensea, which is a collection of 150 works of Art that illuminate various gender identities. I had the privilege of showcasing that series in New York City this year in connection with The Canvas Gallery hosted by Opensea.

My music can be found (Dan Oliver) on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes and other places. I think Boy Scouts had a very strong impact on my career because no matter what I do in life or where I go, I am resourceful and prepared. I don’t mind working hard for bigger rewards. Life is like a game, if you’re not having fun with it, what are you even doing here? I am most proud of coming out as gay when I did. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do but I think the choice to live authentically has made the largest impact in my life.

I am very explorative and I want fans to know that they can be as creative as they desire too. Supporting the arts is an act of creativity in itself. Be kind to yourself. Sometimes I struggle with that with depression but I am learning to honor my rest cycles and eat more vegetables etc.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When you see the ripples from the waves you and your friends started years ago.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice

I own over 500. I make them. (Not so much anymore). They are fun but I’m ready to move onto something else. I’d like to see expanded utility across collections. I look forward to greater adoption of digital frames and implementation. I think digital identity is an important part of the world we live in and that balancing tech with grounding down in nature is key. Don’t gamble with it but also stay curious.

NFTs like comic books or physical Art are best when enjoyed. If you’re not enjoying collecting or creating or expecting to make a profit, it’s not the space for you. I’ve had a lot of fun and discovered new Artists and collectors through the medium and it’s always evolving in its’ own ecosystem. It’s a great space for nerds!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: DanOliverEats & DanOliverDesign
• Twitter: DanOliverTweets
• Youtube: DanOliverDesign