Meet John Martinez | Artist and content creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
Starting a new chapter in my life has been a big deal. After working in retail for 15 years and enjoying art as a side hobby, the pandemic made me think about where I was headed. My job, doing the same thing over and over, made me feel like my life was stuck on repeat, and I began to question if it was the right path for me.

I really wanted something different, something I loved, but I hesitated to make a change. Seeing how happy people were when they saw their portraits inspired me to explore and share this joy with others. In my free time, I practiced my portrait skills on Omegle, a site where you can talk to strangers from all over the world on video. I offered to draw their pictures, and their smiles when they saw the sketches brought me so much joy.

Encouragement from friends made me think about sharing these moments on TikTok, a platform I thought was just for kids dancing. During the lockdown in 2020, I started recording and posting my portrait reactions, and unexpectedly, things took off. People commented, saying my videos brightened their days and made them smile.

In October 2021, with a mix of fear and excitement, I took a big step—I quit my job to focus on my art full-time. It was a scary decision, but the positive impact I was having on others pushed me to embrace this new chapter in my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Getting to where I am today has been quite a journey—a journey that, in my opinion, took a bit too long. Like many, I took a job to pay the bills, and before I knew it, I was stuck in the daily routine. However, my heart has always been in art and making people smile. For almost twenty years, I’ve dedicated myself to creating thousands of portraits, from simple sketches to paintings.

Things took a turn when I decided to share my art on TikTok. Since that first video, I’ve had the joy of drawing hundreds of faces and bringing smiles to my viewers. It’s incredibly fulfilling. Despite the successes, I still struggle with impostor syndrome, something many creative people can relate to.

I have a saying I keep in mind when I create a portrait: “If they’re not crying, I’m not trying.” Of course, I mean tears of joy. My aim is to make each portrait unique and personal, capturing the essence of the people I draw.

Taking the leap to quit my day job was a big moment. Since then, exciting projects have been in the works. I’m working on my first children’s book, set to come out in early 2024—a dream becoming a reality. I take portrait commissions and I’m also expanding to YouTube, hoping to grow my community and share my passion with young artists. My message to anyone with a passion is simple: go for it. You’ll never know what could happen until you try.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a big thanks to my awesome family, both in person and online. They’ve always been there for me, cheering me on and encouraging me to do my best. Their strong support has been the foundation of my journey, motivating me to keep getting better.

And to everyone in my streaming and social community, I appreciate you all so much. Your positive vibes and excitement have turned my online space into a lively and friendly place. Every time we chat or share something, it shows how amazing our community is. It’s not just about streaming or hanging out; it’s about making a positive space where everyone adds to the fun. Cheers to the fantastic people who make every online experience happy and uplifting!

Website: http://www.johnmartinezart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmartinezart/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnmartinezart/featured

Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmartinezart?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc