During the COVID-19 crisis, artists have had to think outside the box to continue making a living bringing their work to the community.
The same goes for parents, as they pull double duty at work and with their kids.
Uncle Nate is San Francisco hip hop and graffiti artist Nathan Tan, who decided to start an online art class for kids as the Bay Area's lockdown went on. "At the beginning of the pandemic, I felt really bad for parents stuck at home with their kids and didn’t know how to teach them or give them creative activities," he said.
That includes activities like writing their name in bubble letters.
Tan posted videos on social media for just that - and they were a huge hit.
It wasn't long before they turned into a regular series on SFGovTV.
The show has not only helped kids flex their creative muscles at home, it's also helped Tan's primary business, his New Skool clothing line.
"I would say my web sales are definitely up from last year," he told KCBS Radio.
As for showing young people how to draw graffiti, it's all a learning exercise.
"Of course, I’m not teaching young children to go out and paint on other people’s property, I’m teaching them the skill of drawing, color...through the medium of letters," Tan explained.
Tan said his pandemic pupils should draw their letters on things they own, not spaces owned by others.
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