Let love fill the entire subway
May love be everywhere present in the world of humanity.
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May love be everywhere present in the world of humanity.
Have you often encountered a young artist on TikTok or YouTube who draws portraits for strangers on the subway?
That artist is Devon Rodriguez.
You can follow him on YouTube or TikTok by searching “Devon Rodriguez”
A brush, a blank piece of paper, a smartphone, and a stranger on the subway are the elements that make up most of Devon Rodriguez’s TikTok videos.
This young artist has brought surprises to unsuspecting commuters and has also gained over 33 million followers on TikTok, and 11.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
He recently held his first solo exhibition in New York.
You can visit his website: https://www.devonrodriguezart.com/
In a video posted in 2021, a woman, moved to tears upon receiving her portrait, said she had been having the worst day of her life, but Rodriguez’s drawing brought her surprise and warmth.
In the video, she asked Rodriguez if she could have a hug.
Rodriguez’s painting and his embrace became the brightest spot in that lady’s otherwise terrible day.
In 2010, when his art teacher asked him to draw strangers on the subway to practice portraiture, Rodriguez could never have imagined that a decade later, he would be beloved by millions of fans for his realistic portraits on TikTok.
“I feel very fortunate to have used the resources at hand, namely social media, to achieve this,” Rodriguez said with emotion when looking back on his successful journey.
“I’ve shared my story with many people about how to take control of one’s life through social media.”
Rodriguez has shown an interest in painting since he was a child and has always dreamed of becoming a painter.
Starting at the age of 8, he began learning to paint, and after graduating from an art program in high school, he practiced portrait drawing intensively for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
His passion for painting was so intense that it almost became an obsession.
In June 2020, Rodriguez posted his first video on TikTok and then began sharing the creative process of his subway portraits without revealing the artwork to the subjects.
The profound skill and lifelike quality of his work in the videos quickly attracted the attention of many TikTok users.
Fans strongly encouraged Rodriguez to present his artwork to the subjects and to capture their reactions upon receiving the portraits.
“I didn’t expect that this interactive approach would truly open up a new world for me, and more and more people began to understand my work,” said Rodriguez, whose videos were unexpectedly well-received and became his personal trademark.
One can often find many heartwarming messages in the comments section of Rodriguez’s Youtube. “You truly are gifted when you can make someone who is having the worst day ever and bring a smile to their face and tears of joy.”
Rodriguez uses his art to convey kindness and forge emotional connections with strangers, and the kindness and emotions between people are then passed on to more people through TikTok.
Now, Rodriguez has become one of the most followed visual artists on social media, having created portraits for notable figures such as President Joe Biden and actor Jared Leto.
He has launched his own online portrait course and recently held a successful solo exhibition.
However, in his spare time, Rodriguez is still willing to step into the subway and pick up a brush.
He has realized his dreams through TikTok and is willing to continue sharing the touching and beautiful moments he encounters on the platform.
May love be everywhere present in the world of humanity.
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