Sketching a Following: Tim Smith’s Daily Art Giveaway Prepares Him for a Good Cause
Local artist Tim Smith is using the power of social media to create something tangible and meaningful. Smith has launched a captivating daily art giveaway on his Instagram, where he sketches a portrait of a follower every day until he reaches 20,000 followers. This unique initiative, dubbed the “20K Challenge,” serves a dual purpose: to hone his craft and to prepare for a major fundraising event benefiting the Ocean City Arts Center.
Smith, a full-time artist based in Southern New Jersey, is no stranger to the creative process. His passion for drawing and painting is deeply rooted in his family. “ I am lucky to come from a creative family,” says Smith. “My parents always were encouraging us to craft, draw, paint, carve, etc… My older brother is a great artist, and as a kid, I would watch him draw and then try to do what he was doing.” Smith also credits his uncle, well-known South Jersey artist Mike Bell, for helping to guide him on his journey. “To have him as a teacher and mentor has been amazing.”
The “20K Challenge” was born out of a very practical need. Smith was asked to do live portrait sketching at the Ocean City Arts Center’s annual fall cocktail reception fundraiser. The event is set for Friday, October 17th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Adelene’s in the Port-O-Call Hotel. The Ocean City Arts Center, located upstairs in the Ocean City Community Center, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching lives through the visual and performing arts here in Ocean City and the surrounding South Jersey communities. Ticket’s for the event can be purchased online. The reception, priced at $50 per person, will feature hors d’oeuvres, signature drinks, and a tribute to the old boardwalk tradition of sketch artists. Guests can sign up for a live portrait for an additional $20 fee, with Tim Smith and fellow artist Tony Troy providing sketches.
“I needed a way to make sure I was getting some consistent practice that I felt would help me sharpen my skills in a timely manner,” Smith says of the giveaway’s inspiration. He’s aiming to complete each portrait sketch in under 20 minutes, a goal that presents a significant challenge. “If you sketch an animal or an object and your measurements or scale are off a bit, there’s a good chance no one will notice. But with a person’s face, if you are 1/8th of an inch off in the placement of their eye, or nose, or any other facial feature, then it looks like someone completely different.”
The daily practice has already paid off. In over 70 days, Smith has gained more than 1,300 new followers, with his videos and profile views seeing a significant boost. The challenge has also led to new commission requests for his work. For Smith, the focus is less on the final number and more on the process itself. “This process of drawing someone every day for practice and connecting with my audience is what is important. It helps build a bit of an art community around my work and here in South Jersey.”
When he takes to the stage at the Ocean City Arts Center fundraiser this October, Smith will be sketching in front of a crowd for the first time. To follow Tim Smith’s artistic journey and see his daily sketches, you can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @timsmithart. His full portfolio is available on his website, www.theartworkoftimsmith.com.