$1K a day, you say? That gives hope to lots of Artists who struggle day to day. Thank you for interviewing this Artist. All Artists should be supporting each other in their success and levels of skills, etc.
I tell other artist friends Alll the time to hit the streets if you want money, it's only going to happen if you MAKE it happen, I'm a plein Air painter that sells 6x6 wood panel studies for $60 at tourist locations in Maine, im very lucky to do it full-time. But this would never happen if I waited for opportunities to come to me, hit the streets ✌
@@Adamkezer I'm gonna get after it! It's GENIUS going to a landmark and just painting it! Wow I'm glad you shared your experience. I've finally made my jump into oil painting and I knew there was something there.
it's probably 1k on a good day, but sure, get yourself out there. Lots of artists are introverted and shy and get into art because they want to retreat from society. You got to put yourself out there. I'm not even a professional, but when I start drawing in public, quite a few curious onlookers like to approach and chat.
Meanwhile, in my neck of the woods, I try to sell my art prints and people come up and asked me what you do with them and I had to explain you put them on the wall lol
Next time, tell them, “bend over and I’ll show ya!” 🤣 Maybe try and put your art into a different canvas. Maybe, onto something that someone uses everyday. T-shirts, tote-bags, cell phone covers, placemats, etc… Offer your prints as well, different sizes, to bundles of postcard size prints. but, offer other custom items. 🤷🏽 hope this helps!
Zac is the one who recommended this channel to me! We drew each other at the coffee shop I used to work at. I must admit as a fellow artist with a similar background, I think his story is an inspiration. Finding ways to make money just by doing the thing are harder and harder to come by, but he does it, so that's proof it can still happen! (maybe even for me!)
This is legitimately a badass video. Very well made, and really inspirational. This guy just went out there and turned his passion for sketching into a dream job.
This is such a heartwarming video! Love that Zac is surrounded by people in his day-to-day working artists’ life, when often the stereotype of an artist is working alone in a room.
FUUUUCK this makes me excited I like how this guy lives. All this AI talk makes me so damn defeatist and then someone as cool as this gets the Kim Jung Gi vibes I desire and I’m back up jumping up and down heart pumping. Keep being awesome man you’re an inspiration.
Why are you feeling defeated over AI art?! 😂it’s not even the same as a real artist’s artwork so it’s not even comparable and doesn’t carry the same value. Sure, it may be “perfect” but it’s just not the same. It doesn’t have any feeling and emotion behind the process of making it which is why many people make art in the first place. It’s all new, but with all new things, the novelty of it will wear off as well as not being allowing to be accepted in galleries where real artists are to make money off of them. And why would anyone want to pay big money for it if they can just ‘make’ the same art for themselves without needing talent or skill beyond that of knowing how to have a computer system doing it for you?! AI art isn’t even comparable. So don’t lose hope and hone in on your skills and just do what you want as an artist!
@@Lacroix999 it’s because of how much it is and has been in discussion this past year and its developments, as well as other artists online and my own college teachers constantly putting it into discussion. Believe me I am in agreement with you in that I will continue making art for my own sake and will try to make a career out of it regardless. Though in terms of certain positions, college, and discourse around it its sometimes difficult to get away from it or always feel positive. Videos like this are those good reminders to keep going despite it all. But yeah it is weird how teachers are talking about its usage as well as other recruiters for job offers. When in other art forums its about its stealing and usage of people’s art without payment or recognition. Simply I don’t like AI and don’t wanna use it, but its face is everywhere as of right now and its hard to get away from it. Also with art made its becoming more and more difficult to sparse what’s real and what isn’t unless if made physically.
I feel like I've seen him before. I think (not sure) that he did a video with Jess Karp when they went to a garden and drew there. I could be totally wrong but I feel like that was him.
I was thinking the same thing and i came to slews channel from Jess and Ten hundred. They are all connected somehow and i just want to be in this group soo bad. 😂😢
I love this! The point isn't to copy what he does, it's that doing what comes naturally to him forged a path. If you told me an artist could make a good living (and travel all over the world), doing street portraits, I would have thought you were nuts. But here he is, doing just that. Believe in yourself and your art!
Judging from the number of attractive ladies lining up to be drawn, his looks definitely help . Ive seen Chinese artists with really impressive drawing skills, charge the same or even lower, and no one lines up for them. That's not to say he doesn't work hard, obviously he does. But hard work alone seldom leads to success. There are always other factors at play.
Yeah, the drawing of that first girl sitting crossed legged looked nothing like her, and all the other drawings were pretty average even if he is a quick sketcher. Credit to him for making the most of an at best mid level talent.
Marketing. That's what it comes down to. He has an Instagram account and does a lot of collaboration work with stores and brands. That puts him above a lot of other very talented artists.
but now the math doesn't add up though. 1k a day doing $25 drawings .... maybe he can get those 40 people for 6 hours straight in summer but I doubt he can do that in winter
A lot of people in this comments section don't understand that he is selling his art in the physical world. 98% of artists try to sell online on the internet, an over-saturated internet glob that has been ripped apart by search engines. He is attractive, and he is well focused, and he lives in the wealthiest by most populated city on the planet. People assume that because he is so successful, that they can somehow apply that same mentality to the internet, the internet is as I said heavily over saturated with stimulation.
it's always so nice to see an artist succeed in his craft.. i am a parsons' graduate from way back , and i actually felt , back then, that they were really good at helping me get my portfolio and mindset ready for the real world.. unfortunately back then , my heart wasn't really in it, so i put my art life on hold for awhile .. anyway congrats to zach , and to you ,, for finding your own ways to make this work for you.. Norakag, here ( full time artist 👍👍)
Good job, guys. I'm a painter and drawer and moved to NYC a few years ago for art and it's really a weird/risky path. Good luck to the artists out there. The world needs creativity and it's a talent you should put to use and share even if you can't pay the bills that way (yet!).
4:20 that's the kind of dedication you need. Just yesterday I drew about 75 people (from reference, not life), and even then, you still only see progress weeks of that later, and sometimes even months
@@rockon8174 True, though Loomis is known for beginners getting stuck and giving up. I did 3 times. I only returned to Loomis years later after studying Proko's figure and anatomy courses amongst other things. Doing something like Bridgeman anatomy can show improvement after say 8 hours of studying, but when you're in this deep you have to do your own studies too. Breaking down references and other artists work alike to study design, and studying from life. I don't get to study from life often because of health issues, but either way, when you're in this deep, 8 hours is nothing. Unfortunately, the more advanced you get, the more time it takes for even the smallest incremental improvement. We're talking weeks, months, years
Now, thats the life. Im a 54 year old grandma so im stuck in my tiny southern town with no prospects like this. Ive been drawing and painting since age 3. I worked in the printing industry designing prints and logos for rugs, clothing, any printable item, even poker machines. But 10 years ago i became a full time painter on my own so I could finally build a body of work. There are not any museums or evenrs here to show my work so im hoping to show it online. Any suggestions would be more than appreciated.
I love that when looking at Zac’s sketchbook that he has white space. I feel that there can be the pressure to fill up the page which ends up with me leaving the whole sketchbook blank.
I regret spending so much time on things that didn't further my art skill development like video games, watching anime, politics, and maybe too much time in the gym. I'm more than half a century old but it's not too late and Zac's example helps to rekindle that fire.
@@te9591 true but I would rather have been more efficient with my time over the years and have developed my art skills to a professionally proficient level. The gym really did take up a lot of time and here I am, still not doing art professionally.
I feel you. My body is 50 years young, with a wife and 2 kids, and always worked art related jobs but never was full-time in my own art since it took time to make and had to pay the bills with other gigs & 9-5 (which I’m trying my best not to go back to). For me personally if I ever let go of my dreams, I’d die. So I’m just restarting again.. I’m taking my artwork seriously no matter what. Even while having other work. And sketching is at the foundation. I share this to encourage you to hold onto your dreams and take steps towards it even if it’s baby steps..
I gotta get over my social anxiety and go ride the damn train by my house… it’s basically my subway. I just keep avoiding it cuz people make me nervous… but… this video is motivating
9:31 - Does anyone know if an animation has ever been done using drawings from different people in a circle like that? Like a matrix affect but all slightly different looking drawings? I'd really love to see something like that.
Heya SLEW! Excellent video very enjoyable gives me the old podcast vibe yet a quick short format! I do wonder if you will ever get back to doing the podcast? I know it’s an art form in and of its self! I hope you can find time for it in the future, if not your oil paintings coming along wonderfully and that is a noble pursuit as well, good luck! With all of your endeavors I think you’re doing great!
Instant subscribe, seems like RU-vid recommendation algorithm is on the road to recovery, because this wasn’t something I would’ve look up, nor expect to pop out, since I am mostly a handcrafter in this era of my life, but I absolutely love with all of my lifeforce., VERY inspiring .❣️ thank you both for doing what you do
I can concur on the art school. I dropped out of FIT after a year and a half because I wasn't thrilled with the prep for the "real world". Loved this interview would love more artist interviews.
Draw me jealous, draw me head over heels. Zac is a dayumm fine artist and illustrator. Jealous my path in art hasn't led me to such freedoms. Maybe someday I can get rid of my diffident nature and be spectacular.
I really do not like any competition of the Money between the Artists , but I like the Free ideas of the ARTS for any Artist in this World just like Kim Jung Gi (1975-2022) did that !!! Free World for any Great Artist in this World in the 21 century !!!
ARTS is nothing to do with the Money and Competition , because Vincent VanGogh prove that If you really love the Art , you don't care about the Money and Competition just like Vincent prove that Free World for any Great Artist in this World in the 21 century !!!
My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Zac in Washington Sq Park. It was great seeing him in person grinding doing what he loves. We wanted to ask him so many questions but didn't want to bother him. It's inspirational to see ppl doing what they love and not afraid to walk that path. Thank you for introducing him to me Slew and I hope everyone has the courage to pursue life like Zac and Slew. It's not as easy as you think to follow your dreams. But trust your gut and go for it!
Zac (who is practically my neighbor) has a keen ability to quickly capture a charming likeness in his subjects. He is also just a really nice guy. If you want to support a living nyc artist, go find Zac in Washington Square Park!
It amazes me the success some artists’ niches have verses other artists like myself. Proves people really only like to buy cheap stuff. My art work I could never get done in minutes.
He's successful because he's tapped into two of people's biggest tendencies - that they are cheap and that they are all about themselves. I wouldnt give up on your art, yes it takes longer, but if someone has an emotional connection to it they will compensate you fairly.
Professional caricature artist here in Houston, I believe when he says he makes that much. People pay about $50 for a double color pic that takes 15-20 minutes to make.
Dude your comment and this video might just make me try it soon. I know your art and this guys art are great, but it seems one really doesn't have to go too crazy in detail for most people. Just them having an impression of themselves or something they like seems to do it.
@@c3ramics I tell artists all the time, there is no reason you can't go bar hopping selling or doing art and make NYC rent in a night. It just takes figuring out who you are and coming out of your shell, which most artists struggle with. No reason as an artist to have a day job to support your "hobby". Fine Art is a 63.8 Billion dollar a year industry. There is plenty of money in it and a very legitimate career choice with less than 1/2 percent of artists who actually starve making less than $40k a year. Do it brother.
@@LK_35 OK, here's a hard truth.... You start by leaving your house, lol. I personally started by going out with a pad of paper and go bar hopping hustling for tips. Cool part about drunk folks is they love everything, yet can be very honest about how you can improve. After a few weeks if it has not clicked, go get a day job... JK, rinse and repeat.
@@lewisone You're right there mate 😂, actual honest critique can be a pain to come by though so I'll definitely keep that in mind, thanks. People like you are so inspiring to aspiring artists, hopefully I'll be there too soon enough 😉.
i know people do draw portraits for people in the bigger cities, like Glasgow or Edinburgh, but its way too cold and rainy here in scotland to do it most days unless i want pneumonia lol
Good to see people being out there and being productive and enjoying their life. Food for thought. A highly skilled artist. $25 a drawing in 15 minutes. $100 hr. so drawing non stop 8hours with no breaks for $800. 5 days a week $4000. 50 working weeks in a year $200,000. Really shows how hard a person would have to work. And some how people think making six figures is normal.
