Ernst Blaad

Yes, it’s true—since April 1, 2022, Ernst Blaad has released one 1-of-1 NFT every single day.

Who is Ernst Blaad?

Ernst Blaad is a fictional persona – an artistic figure created to produce distinctive artworks in total freedom. The person behind Ernst Blaad exists in a world shaped by art and aesthetics, but Ernst was meant to operate untouched by external influences. No criticism, no trends – just pure expression.
Ernst Blaad doesn’t Google. Ernst Blaad paints!

Where does Ernst Blaad come from?

Since childhood, Ernst has been a passionate drawer – his doodles adorned cookbooks and school notebooks alike, much to the dismay of those around him. But it was this love for spontaneous drawing that eventually led him to study MultiMediaArt at FH Salzburg. Even then, he questioned concepts and norms, developing an affinity for radical constructivism and the Dada movement. While his fellow students worked on conventional concepts, Ernst took unconventional visual paths.

The Crypto Journey

In 2021, Ernst Blaad stumbled upon NFTs. Initially skeptical, he soon recognized the potential to present his countless sketches as digital works. Using Procreate on his iPad, he found the ideal tool to digitize his sketches. In September 2021, the moment came: Ernst minted his first NFT on the Cardano blockchain. Starting April 1, 2022, he began releasing a unique 1-of-1 NFT daily. The booming NFT community quickly took notice, and until September 2023, all of his works had been successfully auctioned on a daily basis. But then came the crypto winter: From February 2024 onwards, sales drastically declined, and many supporters left the NFT market – waiting for the next bull run.

The Concept

Before Ernst Blaad was born, I was a creative mind – in real life, I work as a concept developer for a wholesale food company. In that role, problems are analyzed and solved creatively, though always within the framework of management and trends. Ernst Blaad, however, is entirely different. His artworks are created spontaneously, without concept or plan. Every line is the beginning of a new artwork, which through improvisation, evolves into an expressive portrait or body. These drawings can happen anywhere – on parking lots, during meetings, or at home on the couch. For me, it’s pure relaxation, a pleasure that continuously challenges me.

Tools & Style

Ernst Blaad’s preferred tools: unlined paper and a Pilot V-Ball pen. Inspired by the Dada movement and radical constructivism, he turns a random line into art – Ernst recognizes people and moments from his life in the lines and gives the sketch a name. Once the work receives a name, it gains the right to exist. Anatomy and reality don’t matter; instead, the harmony of the entire artwork takes precedence. And when the work reaches that magical point – the „Blaad-Moment“ – it is complete.

Where can you find Ernst Blaad's artworks

XRP Ledger

In February, Mfer.Sicko, reached out to chat about the XRP Ledger and mentioned that he’d love to see my artworks there. Some old friends of mine, Zach and Poe, were already active on the platform as well. So I'm dropping since February 2025 on xrp.cafe.

Inspired by this, I decided to create a special collection titled Ultramarine Blaad.

And mint my every day drop of the "Never Ending Drop" (Every day on 1/1 NFT since the first of April 2022) also on xrp.cafe.

Please check out @ErnstBlaad on X for the daily drops.

Cardano

Ernst Blaad initially launched his NFT journey on Cardano with this Policy ID. You can explore his first collection here.

Recognizing his vision of creating unique 1-of-1 NFT mints, Ernst decided to embark on a new chapter with a fresh Policy ID. Discover the new collection here.

Check some 1 of 1 NFTs on Kreate.art

Base

During the depths of the bear market, Ernst made a bold move in the summer of 2024 by transitioning to the Base blockchain. From that point on, he released his artworks daily on Base, continuing until December 2024.

However, missing the vibrant Cardano community deeply, Ernst decided to return to Cardano in December 2024. (Special thanks to Breathebold!)

You can explore my minted artworks on the Base blockchain here.