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Austinite and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles returns the field for another win with the Chicago Bears.
Quarterback Nick Foles, an Austin native who attended Westlake High School, is making waves again in a relief role for an NFL team.
<p>Foles, who <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/just-game-nick-foles/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">garnered fame in 2018</a> for winning the Super Bowl MVP as the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, entered as a substitute for the Chicago Bears midway through their game Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.</p><p>Down 16 points in the fourth quarter—familiar territory for Foles, who has gained a reputation for come-from-behind wins—the former University of Arizona product helped score 23 unanswered points en route to a victory.</p><p>In addition to his leadership on the field, Foles follows in his family's footsteps as a restaurateur. He co-owns <a href="https://www.atxcocina.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ATX Cocina</a> with his father, Larry Foles, who is part of the restaurant empire <a href="http://www.guyandlarryrestaurants.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guy+Larry Restaurants</a>—the group behind Roaring Fork, Salty Sow, Tumble 22 Hot Chicken, Red Ash Italia and ATX Cocina. Larry also co-founded Eddie V's, which he later sold.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="edd73bf1ce527c6f780baa93d7cebb6b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="4b8ce" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ0NDAyMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjI2MTU1MH0.LCbta8GWXwaloMCHqsUKXcrWMzo0L6PjFSM1URX4J78/img.jpg?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">ATX Cocina is one restaurant Larry Foles, the father of NIck Foles, owns with his son.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Courtesy ATX Cocina)</small></p><p>Larry said he actually predicted his son would make his Chicago debut Sunday based on a change of helmet that mirrored the helmet he used during Super Bowl 52 in 2018.<br/></p><p>"Yesterday I had that one pegged—I told my wife, he's playing tomorrow," Larry said. "She asked, 'How do you know?' and I said it's because he changed helmets."</p><p>But even Nick Foles was ultimately "shocked" to replace Bears starter Mitchell Trubisky, according to his father.</p><p>Foles has already been named the Chicago Bears starter next week, giving the Austin Metro three starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Drew Brees, another Westlake product, has long been the leader of the New Orleans Saints, and Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2018.</p><p>And adding to the intrigue, the Chicago Bears are slated to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 8 as part of Thursday Night Football. If Foles were to start, he would compete against former New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady who he defeated two years ago in the Super Bowl.</p><p>"It'd be Super Bowl 52 revisited—different teams, but it'd be pretty cool," Larry said.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on weekend football:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/photo-essay-westlake-football" target="_self">Photo essay: State champs Westlake High dominates the field despite limited fans in season opener</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ0MTM4OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTU5NDMxM30.DYuZvX4T6XoQ2oiQ7RvHnhxaYO3Unj4HkKockUp4-RU/img.jpg?width=980" id="29b95" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e554c3b0f46c98b6f7185ae93c7ec09f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Westlake football players on the field with Clemens players" />Photo essay: State champs Westlake High dominates the field despite limited fans in season opener(Bob Daemmrich)
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(Photo by Maile Wilson)
Brené Brown is on to her next project, a podcast signed with Spotify.
Author and University of Texas professor Brené Brown signed a deal with Spotify for the platform rights to her new podcast "Dare to Lead," available Oct. 19.
<p>The podcast focuses on the four skill sets of courage outlined in her book by the same name. Beginning January 2021, Spotify will also become home to Brown's popular podcast, "Unlocking Us"—a conversation that unlocks the "deeply human part of who we are."</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b618fc6b113c2f9bc73c6ab2ee337918" id="0f94b"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<p>Brown states on her website that she wanted to "build a podcast home where people could continue to listen for free."<br/></p><p>The podcast acquisition is another in a long line of strategic moves by Spotify-owned Parcast Studios. Spotify recently signed a deal worth more than <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/spotify-strikes-exclusive-podcast-deal-with-joe-rogan-11589913814" target="_blank">$100 million</a> with new Austin resident<a href="https://austonia.com/new-joe-rogan-austin-podcast-studio" target="_self"> Joe Rogan</a>.</p><p>Max Cutler, founder and manager of Parcast, told the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/brene-brown-signs-exclusive-podcast-deal-with-spotify-exclusive" target="_blank">Hollywood Reporter</a> he heard Brown on an episode of "Unlocking Us" and wanted to partner with her because of her charisma and connection with her audience.</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c5705337a631d81a10188c5f874c8aed" id="bf69e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1308800116069785600"><div style="margin:1em 0">We can’t even begin to express how amazing @BreneBrown is and how excited we are to share this podcast news with ev… https://t.co/8drzOVUEQs</div> — Spotify Podcasts 🎙 (@Spotify Podcasts 🎙)<a href="https://twitter.com/spotifypodcasts/statuses/1308800116069785600">1600877238.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Brown will also be releasing curated music playlists on the Spotify, having already taken over the "<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXb3m918yXHxA?si=cdmZgtPMQbeiG7ILL9GTlg" target="_blank">Yacht Rock</a>" playlist with classics by Boz Scaggs and Kenny Loggins.<br/></p><p>Brown's 2010 TEDx talk, "The Power of Vulnerability," is considered one of the most popular of all time with more than 50 million views on the TED platform. She has published seven books, five of which are New York Times bestsellers. A UT alumna, she has gone on to be a visiting management professor in the UT McCombs School of Business since earlier this year.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on podcasts:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/media/austin-podcast" target="_self">12 Austin podcasts you don't want to miss</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM4MjE4Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU0MTQwM30.jPUd2gbrwSPVySq_2P7JMPBH-kSCTtX6lSUuPULDycU/img.jpg?width=980" id="198da" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="564bfe454586b4c537b7a3d4ad3bb88a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />12 Austin podcasts you don't want to miss
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Local entrepreneur Kendra Scott will now be a "Shark" on ABCs Shark Tank's next season.
Kendra Scott, the Austin entrepreneur who owns a billion-dollar jewelry empire, will be the next guest judge on ABC's "Shark Tank" in its newest Las Vegas season.
<p>Scott, along with TOMS shoes owner Blake Mycoskie, will appear on various episodes of the show's 12th season, which airs on Oct. 16. "Shark Tank" judges listen to business pitches from small-time entrepreneurs and assist them in making their companies successful.</p><p>This is Scott's latest endeavor after becoming a professor of practice at The University of Texas at Austin. Her business, Kendra Scott, LLC, was started in 2002 and puts her among only 16 women in the U.S. to carry the title of founder of a company valued at $1 billion.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on Kendra Scott:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/kendra-scott-ut-faculty" target="_self">Austin entrepreneur Kendra Scott joins the University of Texas faculty</a></h2>
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College athletes get a win with Election Day off every year, effort led by local NBA champ Chris Bosh
18 September
In a historic win for college athletes and voter advocates, led by former NBA champion and Austinite Chris Bosh, the NCAA voted this week to require an annual November Election Day "off day" for Division 1 student athletes to vote or volunteer in election activities if they choose.
<p>The "Civil Engagement" resolution, approved this week, gives these athletes the day off of training, practices and games on the first Tuesday following Nov. 1 each year. The new rule starts with this year's Nov. 3 election.</p><p>"Division I student-athletes will not practice and compete, among other countable athletically related activities, on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year, including the upcoming Election Day on Nov. 3," the NCAA announced on its Twitter feed.</p><p>University of Texas-Austin Head Men's Basketball Coach Shaka Smart applauded the resolution's passage.<br/></p><p>"Many of our greatest patriots fought for the right to vote for all, and it's important that we provide maximum flexibility for student-athletes to exercise their right, as we should for all Americans," he said in a statement to Austonia. "UT has done a great job providing resources to enable student-athletes to register to vote and now, on Election Day, they'll definitely have the time to do so."</p><p><span></span>Pushing for the resolution, Bosh took to <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/chris-bosh-college-basketball-voting" target="_blank">The Players Tribune</a> to write to colleges around the country and to the NCAA, making the case for student-athletes to have Election Day off—not just this year, but every year, so students could be given the chance to vote as well as volunteer in the communities they live in. </p><p>Bosh's editorial, titled "Let them vote," described a time when his parents took him to Selma, Alabama where civil-rights leaders marched for equal rights and social justice, "all so people like me, and my children, and my children's children would have the opportunity to vote in elections." </p><p>The schedule of a student-athlete, Bosh wrote, is a topic that many fans are quick to brush off. The schedule for the majority of student-athletes consist of hours of weight training, film study and practice—on top of the hours of classes and study sessions. </p><p>"You're basically working two full-time jobs. And with respect to both of them, you're being held to the highest of standards," he wrote. "There's no margin for error. It's not like you can just be like, 'Hey Coach, you know what? I'd love to join you guys at this practice … but I gotta run out and vote for the county commissioner right now.'" </p><p>The point Bosh makes in the piece is one that many politicians and election advocates have been making for some time. Former democratic candidate Andrew Yang made headlines by pushing for <a href="https://www.yang2020.com/policies/election-day-holiday/" target="_blank">Election Day to be a national holiday</a>, which he said would give lower-income people a chance to make their voice heard.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f1934c0fc5bf3d84b1d3d93b3d5b7934" id="4948c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306357931525505034"><div style="margin:1em 0">Division I student-athletes will not practice and compete, among other countable athletically related activities, o… https://t.co/csbq4IgyGV</div> — NCAA (@NCAA)<a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA/statuses/1306357931525505034">1600294976.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The former Miami Heat player received praise and support for his part in the historic win on social media with the hashtag #MakeHistoryWithAVote.<br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0de2c7fccda8eb1d762e0ee58b7dd1c1" id="74d5f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306266793481310211"><div style="margin:1em 0">College student-athletes across the country are motivated to have their voices heard in this year's election and ar… https://t.co/htQQ5z8yVG</div> — Miami HEAT (@Miami HEAT)<a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/statuses/1306266793481310211">1600273247.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="062bb04df3745fca7e4e094e291658e1" id="afac2"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306406347345330178"><div style="margin:1em 0">Yesssssssssss!!! https://t.co/edKKRw0LkO</div> — Gabrielle Union (@Gabrielle Union)<a href="https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/statuses/1306406347345330178">1600306519.0</a></blockquote></div>
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(Andrew Dismukes/Instagram)
Andrew Dismukes, UT alum, goes from SNL screen writer to cast member this season.
The Saturday Night Live cast is getting a little bit of Texas flair with its new addition, UT Austin alumnus Andrew Dismukes.
Dismukes is entering his fourth year as a writer for the show and will now be featured as a cast member for season 46, along with new cast members Lauren Holt and Punkie Johnson, SNL announced on social media.
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</div></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><p>A Port Neches native, Dismukes started his comedy career at an East Austin coffee shop Cenote. He performed his first set as a freshman and went on to host the weekly "Chortle Portal" comedy showcase in the Taos co-op. He was also the runner-up for Cap City Comedy's Funniest Person in Austin in 2016.</p><p>He performed around Austin until his last semester of college when he traveled to Los Angeles with the <a href="https://moody.utexas.edu/academics/travel-programs/utla" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wofford Denius UTLA Center for Media and Entertainment Studies</a>. </p><p>Dismukes, a 2017 radio-television-film graduate, was discovered by his manager while performing a set at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. After he was signed as a client, Dismukes continued to work various standup jobs in California until he got a call from his manager asking him to fly to New York.</p><p>Then, he found himself standing on a stage in front of famous SNL producer Lorne Michaels.</p><p>"It's intimidating," Dismukes said. "You can hear the lack of laughter in your head."</p><p>But Michaels, among others in the room, must've found Dismukes funny because after a second audition, he was offered a contract from September to May on the show.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on comedy:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/cap-city-comedy-closes" target="_self">Austin's Cap City Comedy closes its doors for good in the wake of the pandemic</a></h2>
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(Hartmann Studios)
Michael Dell remains the wealthiest man in Austin.
The Forbes 400 is out and once again, Austin boasts a considerable amount of America's richest with eight local residents—five of which have jumped to higher spots on the list. Combined, the eight self-made billionaires enjoy a staggering $58.9 billion.
<p>Coming in with over half of the Austin billionaires' share, Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, <a href="https://austonia.com/Trending/the-new-list-of-austin-billionaires-and-the-impact-of-coronavirus" target="_blank">still tops the list</a> for the richest man in Austin at $35.6 billion. Overall, he is ranked 18th richest in the country and has amassed $12.7 billion since March.<br/></p><p>Robert F. Smith, co-founder, chairman and CEO of private equity and venture capital firm Vista Equity Partners, came in at 125th place overall with $5.2 billion to his name. Smith is the first Black man to sign a Giving Pledge, a campaign that encourages the ultra-rich to pledge the majority of their money to philanthropic causes. He is also reportedly under a <a href="https://austonia.com/robert-f-smith-tax-crimes" target="_blank">federal tax investigation</a>.</p><p>Bert "Tito" Beveridge, founder of the popular Tito's Handmade Vodka, is worth $4.6 billion and ranks 154th overall. The Tito's founder started the business in 1997 with 19 credit cards, which gave him $90,000, and slept on couches and floors in the process. </p><p>At 268th place on the list, Thai Lee, CEO of IT provider SHI International, is worth $3.1 billion and is the only Austin woman on the list. Lee was born in Bangkok but lived in South Korea until high school, when she moved to the U.S. Lee also ranked #5 on Forbes' <a href="https://www.forbes.com/self-made-women/#7125cb496d96" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">America's Self-Made Women</a> list in 2019.</p><p>Joseph Liemandt, founder of investment firm ESW Capital, came in 278th on the list with $3 billion to his name. Liemandt is no stranger to The Forbes 400, as he was the youngest self-made member of the list in 1996 with just $500 million to his name.</p><p>John Paul DeJoria, founder of tequila company Patrón Spirits Co and co-founder of hair care brand John Paul Mitchell Systems, currently ranks 319th on the list. DeJoria is worth $2.7 billion, which is $400 million less than last year, but about the same as his value in 2018.</p><p>At 353rd place, Jim Breyer, founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, made much of his $2.4 billion fortune by being one of the early venture investors in Facebook. Breyer has invested in over 40 successful companies, including Etsy and Marvel Entertainment but is down from his $2.5 billion spot on the list last year. </p><p>Finally, ranked 359th, Brian Sheth, the other co-founder of Vista Equity Partners, is worth $2.3 billion. Sheth has had relatively steady growth of his fortune, only breaking $2 billion total since March 2018. Sheth is chairman of Global Wildlife Conservation, an environmental foundation based in Austin.</p><p>Despite the pandemic, many of America's richest have benefitted from the volatility of the stock market. In fact, these 400 billionaires have <a href="https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top" target="_blank">increased their total net worth</a> by $240 billion from last year, totaling a record $3.2 trillion.</p><p>The annual Forbes 400 list calculates net worths using stock prices from July 24, 2020.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/elon-musk-3rd-richest-in-world" target="_self">Tesla's Elon Musk becomes 3rd richest person in the world</a></h2>
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- Former Austin wealth manager strikes plea deal, avoids jail in ... ›
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- Round Rock Dell jobs could be in jeopardy as layoffs happen company wide - austonia ›
- Round Rock Dell jobs could be in jeopardy as layoffs happen company wide - austonia ›
- Local billionaire Kendra Scott takes seat on ABC Shark Tank - austonia ›
- Local billionaire Kendra Scott takes seat on ABC Shark Tank - austonia ›
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(ABC)
Emergency Call, a documentary drama series from ABC, premieres Sept. 28.
Emergency Call, a documentary drama series showcasing 911 operators from five cities—including Austin—will premiere on the ABC Network on Sept. 28.
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4b5dc84b57643adc19c0f186552ba37f" id="7b0c1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1301600340991590401"><div style="margin:1em 0">Real calls. Real heroes. Hosted by Luke Wilson, Emergency Call is a new series where you meet the people who are th… https://t.co/EJxmVi7ERm</div> — Emergency Call (@Emergency Call)<a href="https://twitter.com/EmergCallABC/statuses/1301600340991590401">1599160678.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Communications personnel from the Austin Police Department and Austin-Travis County EMS will be featured on the show.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3acdc321058cf958b348d2b161e40f0f" id="574e5"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1301652887857246213"><div style="margin:1em 0">.@ABCNetwork has officially announced the premiere of the docuseries @EmergCallABC that will showcase communication… https://t.co/IzCsbZKLTn</div> — Austin Police Department (@Austin Police Department)<a href="https://twitter.com/Austin_Police/statuses/1301652887857246213">1599173206.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Host and actor Luke Wilson <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abc-orders-911-unscripted-series-emergency-call" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>told The Hollywood Reporter</u></a> that he has been drawn to helpers since he was a child. "When you're younger, you might be drawn toward superheroes or fictional characters, but as you get older you come to realize that people who help, real-life heroes, are just regular people who do extraordinary things," he told the magazine. "911 call takers don't just save people; they calm and console people until they are safe." </p><p>In July, after months of protests against police brutality, the Austin City Council <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-budget" target="_self"><u>approved a budget</u></a> that included an immediate $20 million cut to APD funding as well as plans to remove certain functions—such as the 911 call center—from the department's control. </p><p>In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Thursday that he is considering a legislative proposal that, if passed, would put the control of APD under state authority.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1b2164285a7fa4684e57dc3cb832c867" id="6ffd8"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1301634569775456256"><div style="margin:1em 0">This proposal for the state to takeover the Austin Police Department is one strategy I'm looking at.
We can't let… https://t.co/N0ZEUeH384</div> — Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott)<a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/statuses/1301634569775456256">1599168839.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The state legislature reconvenes in January. </p>
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(Courtesy of Federico Portalupi)
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Austinite Federico Portalupi has gone viral on TikTok for his art work.
When Federico Portalupi started posting to TikTok in May, he never imagined he would go viral. But his artwork—composed of acrylics, powders, glass, inks and other materials—has since been viewed and liked by millions on the app.
<p>It took one particular video for Portalupi's art to really take off on the video sharing platform. A time lapse of him working on an ocean shore art piece has since been viewed over <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@artbyfed/video/6828188843510942981?_d=secCgsIARCbDRgBIAIoARI%2BCjwmkTu1LSkOD6TpyiX0KmMpasHE%2FvNvNfKuffWDqrt0%2BBmagA0K7Qg0FhsDVUzBKSjYp0wX3e66ZnqX4lMaAA%3D%3D&language=en&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAwd_YWB5_XqX_Ftw2a4NoVaqjDi8DvV3TZgxVNrpdQVbg8XQacjn6MlMY-Tnd2M0J&share_item_id=6828188843510942981&share_link_id=AC8E804F-DFE4-45B3-9A9E-D23CD176A1F7&timestamp=1599072310&tt_from=sms&u_code=d7f1lhj3gef0e4&user_id=6720247869813654533&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=sms&source=h5_m" target="_blank">2 million times</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-proxy-image">
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@artbyfed/video/6828188843510942981" target="_blank"><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dabff9b79ee7a5eaaf609642ec8d2948" id="87c50" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGb2JqJTJGdG9zLW1hbGl2YS1wLTAwNjglMkYwNTk2NWQ5OGM4ZTNlNGMzNGRjZGRkMTQzZjk1M2E1ZSUzRngtZXhwaXJlcyUzRDE1OTkzMTQ0MDAlMjZ4LXNpZ25hdHVyZSUzRDF5Z2pIYXlTVUg4Uk5KUEs0T1Z5aEVwSUJDOCUzRCZobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnAxNi1zaWduLXZhLnRpa3Rva2Nkbi5jb20mcz0zNDMmaD00NGQ0ZTVmNjVlMjc1NWNkNzRmMTI0ZTYxOTc3OWNhNDE3ZmU2NWYyMjNmNDVlMmYyN2Q3N2E3ZTJhN2U5M2JjJnNpemU9OTgweCZjPTEzODY5OTA3MzQiLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjUzNTk3MDY1fQ.iH2y2nru3pBHD93FeCm9aN6WYecscSjlRXnHNBCBurw/img.jpg"/></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">View video <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@artbyfed/video/6828188843510942981" target="_blank">here</a>.</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@artbyfed/video/6828188843510942981" target="_blank">www.tiktok.com</a>
</small>
</p><p>Portalupi, 36, didn't always know he was an artist. He moved with his family to Florida from Argentina in 2004 and often walked into an art gallery next door to his family's gelato shop. Eventually, a local artist who taught classes at the gallery told him, "Dude, I see you every single week. You obviously like art. Buy a damn canvas."<br/></p><p>These were words he would never forget.</p><p>Portalupi bought paints and a canvas shortly after and started painting for the first time—but not for long. He was poised for a business career and stopped painting for about 10 years, during which time he ended up in Austin working in a sales position.</p><p>In 2018, he decided to start painting again. He found a passion for resin art. A lot of his pieces showcase oceans, galaxies or abstract art with bold colors.</p><p>As part of this "turnaround" process, Portalupi also made his social media debuts—previously not having any social media accounts—on Instagram and Facebook. While he showcased his work in art shows, it was TikTok that launched his business to new, unexpected heights earlier this year. </p><p>"I have two passions in life—deep sea fishing and painting. And to be able to think about the possibility of one of those things being my livelihood, while I share what I do and getting the response that I'm currently getting from people without marketing myself, putting myself out there on just one app, it's overwhelming," Portalupi said.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6f623283ec9c952d8cff01db6335a658" id="fd2d6"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBbugRaHIIe/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Login • Instagram</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>After only four months on the platform, Portalupi has accumulated 1.7 million likes and almost 180,000 followers. He attributes 90% of his art sales to TikTok now. His customers come from all over the globe, including the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. <br/></p><p>TikTok has <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/09/pandemic-tiktok-critics-washington-354467" target="_blank">grown increasingly popular</a> since the pandemic began, in part because of the platform's community of users. Portalupi said the TikTok world has become like a family to him. There's a lot of support and interaction with users on the app; Portalupi has actually met and become friends with some of his followers. </p><p>After posting a heart design he created, inspired by his friend, he began receiving requests for similar designs from people who shared their own heartfelt stories, including one about suicide. </p><p>It's a level of trust Portalupi doesn't take lightly. Next month, he will be working on a piece made from the ashes of a client's family member. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="56e536b2dc622ea6525afa7743825b83" id="0be30"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDfWpiGniXa/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Login • Instagram</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>Because of Portalupi's growing platform on TikTok, he soon needed to source more materials. The search that led him to meet a fellow fluid artist, Victorian Wynn, who runs Wynn Modern Art out of Utah. Their working relationship has since blossomed into a friendship, another perk of his newfound TikTok fame. </p><p>Portalupi is now a brand ambassador for Wynn Modern Art, meaning he mentions when he uses Wynn Modern Art products in his videos and is sent products to try. </p><p>The two have found a safe space with each other to talk about their art and encourage one another. They understand each other's "flow state," where nothing else matters but painting.</p><p>"At this point, I'm sending product because I like [him] as a human. We're way beyond brand ambassador," Wynn said. "Both he and I, we have a lot of trust and mutual respect for one another."</p><p><span></span>Meeting in the shadow of a pandemic and living in different states, the two have never met face to face. But they perform business meetings over Zoom and check up on each other over the phone. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f2027e0f613d4779a1a2880c456f52ae" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="9a880" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYxMDQ4Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTM0NTg0NX0.nUJg96TmVYTOiKZESAG8jkQJu6tI428WD05R0jYwb6Y/img.jpg?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Federico Portalupi meets with Victoria Wynn over video.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Courtesy of Victoria Wynn)</small></p><p>Portalupi hopes to build on his career as an artist, one that he believes can grow even more thanks to TikTok and its community of users. </p><p>"I feel like I've identified an opportunity, one that I'm willing to take a risk on and go after," he said.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More Viral TikTok Content:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://austonia.com/austin-cake-meme-sideserf" target="_blank">Austin baker Natalie Sideserf takes the hyperrealistic cake with viral videos</a></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYxMzExOS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTEzNDc4Mn0.oUCS_pLfP9zv2MIvIqdk_0zss5QpMx10CsHUxV-l3Wk/img.png?width=980" id="fd2ee" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dd4065c2b3cb77eb50ff58a02512b637" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
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