What started as a COVID hobby has turned into a viral moment for one Toronto artist who\u2019s drawing cute portraits of people in a downtown park and charging them only one dollar.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three years ago, Jasmine Boyd, who goes by Jas, noticed artists making on-the-spot, quick and affordable portraits in Boston\u2019s streets. After holding onto that idea for quite some time, the artist decided to bring the idea to Toronto, setting up a table at Trinity Bellwoods Park in the city\u2019s west end and drawing people for just one dollar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But what started as a side hobby, soon went to a different level when she posted videos of the initiative on TikTok.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe very first day I went out, it was really chill. I just had my lawn chair set up. I had a little sign. And on that day, I drew maybe about 20 people. Like, it wasn\u2019t busy. I kind of had to draw people in, like, \u2018Hey, would you like a portrait?\u2019 And then I posted a TikTok that very same day, and that was like, I think what really upped the traction,\u201d she told Now Toronto on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
@jasboydd<\/a> $1 portraits in trinity bellwoods today here til 6 \ud83d\ude42 #drawing<\/a> #art<\/a> #portraits<\/a> #toronto<\/a> #fyp<\/a> \u266c DAISIES \u2013 Justin Bieber<\/a> <\/p>\n The video, posted less than two weeks ago, soon went viral, with almost 200,000 views, over 20 thousand likes and hundreds of supportive comments.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOmg I love the idea!!! Please do more of these! I live in the neighbourhood \ud83d\ude2d,\u201d one TikToker said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re selling yourself short. \ud83d\ude2dGo for $2 at least, these are too good!,\u201d another user said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI want my portrait doneee, you\u2019re so talented!! :),\u201d a different user added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boyd\u2019s initiative ended up being shared by various media outlets, including one Instagram post which received a like from Toronto\u2019s very own favourite rapper Drake.\u00a0<\/p>\n @jasboydd<\/a> wait for it \ud83d\udc40 i\u2019ve been a fan since the degrassi days this is literally the best day of my life drake knows who i am \ud83d\ude06\ud83d\ude06\ud83d\ude06\ud83d\ude06 $1 portraits are officially drizzled drake approved so i better see all your beautiful faces outside this week!!!! \u2b50\ufe0f dates and times announced via my recent post \ud83d\udc8b #toronto<\/a> #drake<\/a> #torontolife<\/a> #drakelyrics<\/a> #art<\/a> #portrait<\/a> #fyp<\/a> \u266c NOKIA \u2013 Drake<\/a> <\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n After the viral success, Boyd says she started receiving dozens of people who now line up for her one-dollar portraits, and that she now draws nearly 70 faces a day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNow, I have lineups and stuff, which is just so cool. Like, people really travel from all over. I\u2019ve drawn people from Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and I meet the coolest people. So, it\u2019s been really fun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The artist\u2019s favourite part of the initiative is the community connection. She says that while drawing the portraits she gets to hear all kinds of stories, and people in line also get to connect with each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, at first, it really was about the art of it, like just kind of practicing some skills, maybe trying out some new styles\u2026but now it really is about the conversations, the community, the people I meet, the people that are just engaging with each other,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Her portraits have become such a success, that multiple people are speculating she\u2019ll start to charge more for the job. Some users said she should charge around $2-$5, while one person even said they would pay up to $20 for one.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Boyd remains firm in maintaining the affordable fee.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cInflation has gotten to everything in this world. Like, inflation will not get me, and that is my one promise to everybody\u2026Times are tough for everybody, and so just having that little something that can brighten your day, and you don\u2019t have to invest a lot of money into it\u2026can just really brighten people\u2019s days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Although she guarantees that she isn\u2019t making the portraits for the money, she says that with more people coming in for her drawings, she has managed to make some profit. In addition to the $1 fee, Boyd also receives generous tips as well as coffees and treats from some clients.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to being a talented artist, Boyd is a recent Queen\u2019s University graduate with a degree in biology. She says she\u2019s now trying to figure out her next steps while drawing portraits on the side, a passion that first started when she was a child.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been drawing basically my whole life, especially over COVID. I think I really picked it up again. I would just be in my basement painting, drawing every single day. And then with university, obviously, that gets hard again. So, I always really use the summers as a way to reconnect with the artistic side of things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n But for now she plans on continuing with the initiative, even considering expanding it to different kinds of arts or beyond the summertime for the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe bringing $1 portraits to different parts of the world, who knows? But we\u2019ll have to see what happens.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Boyd will be drawing portraits at Trinity Bellwoods again on Thursday, July 30 and possibly on Aug. 9 and 10. But the best way to know when she\u2019s in the park is to view her TikTok updates, where she usually announces her portrait dates.\u00a0<\/p>\n