Artist Tips: A Crash Course on Social Media for Artists

"Social media for artists isn't about gaming algorithms or chasing viral moments. It's constantly evolving, but at its core, social media is a place to build genuine connections with the people who love your work. Whether you're just starting out or refining your online presence, here's how to present yourself authentically and expand your audience. We've put together your guide to social media today."

"All social media thrive on personality-based content, allowing users to adapt their real-life selves online. Art critic John Berger preached the notion that the true value of art is inextricably tied to the artist's activity, the moments when an idea is shaped into a physical object. In other words, show us your process! Your process encompasses the spectrum of your creative life, the moments before and after a piece is finished."

"Process Content: Document your work as it evolves. When someone watches a painting develop over weeks of posts, they're emotionally invested before it's even listed. Process content creates narrative and memory. Time-lapse videos of a painting coming to life (15-60 seconds works best) Progress check-ins: "Week 1 vs. Week 3" side-by-side comparisons Problem-solving moments: "I painted over this entire section three times before it felt right" Technical close-ups: show brush strokes, texture, the physical quality of your materials"

Social media for artists functions as a platform to build genuine connections with people who love the work. Authentic, personality-based content performs best, especially material that reveals the artist's creative activity and decisions. Sharing process content—time-lapses, weekly progress comparisons, problem-solving moments, and technical close-ups—creates narrative, emotional investment, and memorable engagement. Overlaying text or audio humanizes posts. Photo-dump carousels on platforms like Instagram and TikTok foster engagement by offering multiple perspectives of a piece, including the final work, extreme details, shots of the artist working, and mid-process images. Consistent process documentation helps grow and retain an audience.

Read at SaatchiArt