End The Fed
Remember, Remember, the 5th of November - and to "End The Fed". The story of the "Gunpowder Plot" and Guy Fawkes is endlessly interesting, serving as an inspiration for countless protest movements. I was particularly inspired to create this artwork after seeing a striking post on Twitter/X: "Imagine working 9-5 for 50 years, only for The Fed to print 40% of the total money supply, inflating away 20 years of your hard-earned savings." The phrase "End The Fed" often cited in similar contexts, likely originates from Ron Paul's 2009 book by the same name, which critiques central banking and advocates for financial reform.
"Beneath this mask, there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask, there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof." - V
Bitcoin is this idea that will bring us freedom.
"End The Fed"
Thriving
surf culture
El Salvador holds a special place in my heart. It's a remarkable example of how Bitcoin can drive positive change. Under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele, the country has undergone a dramatic transformation—from being one of the most dangerous nations in the world to becoming one of the most inspiring economic success stories in the Western Hemisphere, all in a remarkably short period.
During my visit to El Salvador, I was captivated by the sheer number of surf spots along its stunning coastline. The ocean, with its beautiful beaches and thriving surf culture, is deeply ingrained in the nation's identity, holding a cherished place in its traditions and everyday life.
01
Sketching the Bitcoin ‘B’ into an organic form
Before I began the artwork, I experimented with the shape of the Bitcoin “B.” My goal was to create a form that felt beautiful, organic, and dynamic, seamlessly blending the "B" into the wave. I wanted the wave itself to shape the "B," rather than simply overlaying it onto the design. I had previously designed the Bitcoin ‘B’ in another piece, titled Maquilinushat
02
Pencil drawing
After countless sketches, I finally reached a point of satisfaction and created a rough pencil drawing, as I do with all my artwork.
The Bitcoin "B" is intentionally subtle, which adds a layer of intrigue and keeps the artwork from being too overt. I prioritized preserving the design's dynamic energy rather than making the "B" more immediately recognizable.
03
Frist marks on paper
The first strokes are crucial, as they largely shape how the final artwork will turn out. With ballpoint pen drawings, the real challenge lies in capturing that transition from sketch to the first marks on paper perfectly.
04
Well-structured paper
Through this artwork, I realized how essential well-structured paper is for ballpoint pen drawings. A smooth, even grain allows for better detail work and more refined gradients.
05
Wave fractal form
The wave form is beautifully represented through fractals, which are among the most fascinating geometric shapes. The most famous example is the Mandelbrot set, whose fractal formula was published in 1980 by French mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot. Fractals are characterized by their characteristics of self-similarity, where patterns repeat at every scale.
06
Your unique bitcoin wave
Surfing is deeply ingrained in El Salvador's culture, making it the perfect motif for the El Salvador Series. The surfer in the image symbolizes all of us — each person riding their own unique Bitcoin wave, charting their own path to success.
07
Flowing Strokes
I completed the piece in my signature wavy style, using dynamic, flowing strokes. Capturing movement in my drawing/painting is something I truly love.
08
Black, Grey, White and Cadmium Orange
As with all my pictures, I like to use the cadmium orange color as Bitcoin's brand color. I love this combination. In this case, I covered the entire background, the sky with gouache color. I use the combination of the colors cadmium red, cadmium orange and fluorescent orange. Gouache paints give a bold, opaque look to the color which I really like.
09
High-quality paper
I used exceptionally high-quality paper for this artwork—FABRIANO® ‘Artistico’, a natural white, handmade watercolor paper—and I absolutely love it. The gouache colors appear vibrant, with the pigments absorbing beautifully into the paper, allowing the hues to truly shine. Additionally, drawing with a ballpoint pen on this surface is a delight, as its soft, even texture offers the perfect balance of roughness and grain, making the experience incredibly smooth.
10
The final artwork
I think it's nice that there is now also a beautiful “wave picture” like The Great Wave off Kanagawa in the Bitcoin universe. The final picture is 45x60 cm in size and I will create a larger version of it one day.
El Salvador's cultural symbols within the world of Bitcoin
In collaboration with Mrs. Universe and Mrs. El Salvador, Alejandra Guajardo, I launched the El Salvador Series —a project highlighting the country's national symbols in connection with its adoption of Bitcoin.
An overview of the entire drawing process
The Great Bitcoin Wave
Bitcoin is the wave of our time. The wave, a powerful and majestic symbol, represents Bitcoin's growing dominance over the outdated financial system. The first wave has already hit, but a much larger one is still on the horizon. As Bitcoin evolves into the global standard, its blockchain will become the foundation for all digital information. The waves of adaptation are inevitable. I am certain of this.
This artwork draws inspiration from the iconic engraving, The Great Wave off Kanagawa (神奈川沖浪裏, Kanagawa oki nami ura), by the renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.