We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karla Grzymala. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karla below.

Karla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have worked on is starting my foundation this year. I wanted to create something that could help young artists, give back to the community, and would inspire others in a positive way. The Be A Good Human Education Foundation was created at the beginning of this year and has been a passion project for me. As an art student and teacher, I know that there is a need for scholarships and grants for artists who want to continue enriching their lives through the arts. I wanted to have a way to give back to my students and help other members of the community by providing financial assistance. I was having a conversation with Matt and Deanna Wursta from WRST Collabs and they mentioned giving back through NFTs, that there was a possibility to sell my photographs and give a percentage back to my students. So in December, I attended Art Basel Miami to learn more about NFTs and how other artists were making the switch from the physical world to this Web3 space. I had many conversations with artists, developers, and trendsetters throughout the week that got all the gears in my brain moving. I kept asking myself how I could transition into this space and what I could make with the thousands of photographs I have sitting on my hard drives at home. I started putting together my ideas for my NFTs and pulling my favorite photographs and blending them together to create new images. I did not put my iPad down for the next two months. I created 144 NFTs for the Be A Good Human Collection and also founded the non-profit. I wanted to make sure that we had a way to collect donations and be able to provide scholarships. When I was coming up with the name for the foundation I had to use ‘Be A Good Human!’ I have said that phrase to my students every day for the last few years as they walk out of the room. If they learned nothing else from me in art, they would learn that being a good human is a great way to approach life. I want my kids to remember me as a positive influence in their lives and that I made a small difference in their day.

I launched the Foundation this past June at The WRST NFT Gallery in Austin and it was a fun event. They were celebrating the grand opening of the first permanent NFT gallery in the Austin area. I was fortunate to be able to speak about the foundation and my NFT collection at the event and connect with other Web3 professionals. I still can not believe how one conversation launched me into this amazing project that I am so excited about.

Karla, 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 so excited to share a little about myself with you guys. My name is Karla and I have been a creative brain since childhood and love all things art. I have always been an art kid since I can remember. My dad had a dark room in our NY apartment when I was 4-5 yrs old and I would help him develop his photographs, then in college, I began my career as a film photographer. I loved film photography and being in the dark room, it was so meditative and relaxing. In 2008 I switched to digital photography and have been loving it ever since. In 2014, I got certified to be an art teacher and found a place where I really could make a difference in people’s lives. What sets me apart from other photographers, artists, and teachers is that I really try to practice what I preach and treat others with kindness, and respect, and am a good human.

I currently work freelance gigs in Austin, TX as a photographer and social media manager. I can do a little bit of everything but focus on lifestyle, food, and, family photography. Through my foundation, I hope to start selling my NFTs and be able to start fundraising for scholarships to be awarded in the 2023 school year. I will continue to build awareness for the Be A Good Human brand and hopefully encourage more people to support us.

I am married to an amazing human, Andy, and he has been such a huge support in launching the foundation. Having a partner that supports my dreams and encourages me to continue to grow in my art has been such a blessing. He is also creative at heart and is constantly helping me be able to do what I love.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFTs are so interesting and I had to learn more about them this year. Last fall I was having lunch with friends in the Web3 space and they were telling me to sell my photography through NFTs. I was like “what are NFTs?” I had no idea what they were, why they were so valuable, or how to even get started in the space. I started researching, going to events, and doing everything I could to learn more. What I found was a huge community of artists that were helping each other and collaborating to grow in the space. I have never seen such a helpful community from all over the world. In the photography industry, things are a little more secretive, everyone wants that special location or new editing effect they created. So I was not used to having others tell me exactly how they made their art. I have made a community of friends in the NFT space that have helped me learn so much and feel more confident teaching others about it. Everyone wants the other person to be successful because it only helps the world learn and understand the NFT space even more. I love the idea of artists supporting artists and creating art for a cause. My collection of NFTs will donate 20% of sales to the Be A Good Human Ed Foundation once we sell out. I would love to help newbies learn more about the space.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is allowing others to view the world the way I see it through my lens. Art is the soul of life, you can create anything and share it with the people you love, and it is so fulfilling. You do not have to be a master artist to enjoy the act of being creative. Allowing yourself to think outside of the box is what will help creativity grow. Being a photographer has been a passion of mine that I get to live every day. I can capture a moment in time that will mark a point in our timeline on this earth. I believe that art saved my life and made me the best version of myself that I could be.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beagoodhumanef.org
• Instagram: @Atxphoto_karla
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kraphailphoto/
• Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/KarlaGrzymala
• Twitter: KarlaGrzNFT
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcfmIZ9bSJ4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGtnmsVWhTM
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=cvKFPapa7RoTxL4puKzZDA
• Other: www.karlaraphail.com

Image Credits
Karla Grzymala WRST Collabs Andy Grzymala