How to market yourself as an artist (WITHOUT Instagram)

MENTIONED

TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Intro
01:26 - The pros and cons of Instagram for artists (and two reasons NOT to rely too much on it)
04:11 - So what could we do instead??
04:58 - Why you absolutely should have a website.
06:19 - The number one most effective and reliable way to communicate with your audience/fans/clients/collectors.
10:17 - Why the old-school way of meeting new fans/clients/collectors is still superior.
13:14 - How to make Instagram work for you if you still want to.

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Louise: an artist, writer & creative solopreneur from Sweden. As a multi-passionate creative, I have spent my entire adult life avoiding traditional employment and instead making a living off of my art.
On this channel, I talk about everything I've learned along the way: About art making, creativity, mental health, and making a living as a creative. Dealing with perfectionism, fears, and overwhelm. Staying sane and productive among stress and distractions. And much more.

LEARN WITH ME

Portrait Drawing for Beginners -

SHOP MY ART

MUSIC

All music is from Epidemic Sound.

[girlinagale]

As a musician I have lots of artist friends. Trouble is most artists expect you to Like and Share their posts and the deal is they will like and share my posts.
The result is the feeling that we're all doing well but it's just an illusion - a bubble of people congratulating each other without actually reaching the real world outside.

[abraxas]

I am an established artist and I'd like to encourage anyone to get out there into the real world. I have never used social media to build my arts career, because I don't like to spend my time there, instead of creating a new piece of art! Get out there, organize an exhibition, on your own or together with other artists. To see a painting or a sculpture in real, is a completely different experience then seeing a pic of it on instagram. Also potential art buyers love to talk to the artist in person!

[ЮлияЛях-пй]

As a beginner artist who hates social media marketing (I find it fake) I was so relieved watching your video. Thank you so much, feels so nice to hear that I’m not alone. This was a huge struggle for even thinking about art career, but now I know it’s real ❤

[jcaoart]

I loved these opening lines: "This vid is for people who have the gut instinct that there must be other ways than insta” “This video is for those of us who are boring and sensible and do not want to make a living as influencers making reels.” I appreciate the reminder that email newsletters are an option for me as a visual artist, because I actually already subscribe to a few writers who send me something once in every 3 months and I love their content! Even if I encountered them in one medium, it's lovely hearing about what they’re up to, whether it’s a new book or podcast or q&a sessions. I also think the IRL thing and building quality relationships is so true—when I was muraling outdoors in public I met SO many more people than when I was working inside.

[giannabella]

One thing about Instagram is surface pattern designers often have their designs stolen and sold elsewhere particularly in countries where they don't respect our copyright laws but it could be from anywhere. You put your heart and soul into designing hoping to make a few dollars here and there and somebody else rips it off and start selling it it's frustrating to say the least. Thank you for the video

[BobMinelli]

2yrs later and I'm just now seeing this. Beautiful. ✌️👊

[horamigaun]

In the past, Instagram provided users the ability to easily view the latest posts. However, the current algorithm seems more focused on promoting popular and meme-like content, rather than catering to individual user preferences and delivering a smooth browsing experience.

[K_kreates]

Thanks for your honesty, I’m so sick of the gurus that say it’s easy to make a million dollars on the internet with your art.

[scarlettfionareed]

Haven't finished watching this yet but I came here at 13 minutes to say that I am enjoying it and you, and that I felt exactly the same way my entire life. I'm an introvert, I don't enjoy crowds, I just prefer to be at home making my art. However, this year I've changed a lot. I decided it was no longer healthy for me and as an older woman I need other women to talk to. I joined the local art league and made instant friendships and connections with people whose energy matched mine. That's key, if you're spending time with people who are on the same frequency, they don't drain you, they inspire and energize and make you feel more alive. I can't wait to watch your other videos! Thank you.

[melissaoleary]

I am so very grateful I came across this video and your channel. I am currently in the midst of starting an art business as an introvert and an HSP with anxiety issues. The last 8 weeks I have forced myself into the real world and gone to art markets. It has been scary and exhausting and wonderful. Your advice really resonates with me and I'm so relieved because I've now decided not to start an Instagram account. Thank you for saying it's okay to have a website and an email list and be boring. Because that's who I am and I was about to make a mistake and try to be someone I'm not. Much gratitude!

[Sirenia]

Haven’t finished watching yet, but before I forget: yes please, do some videos about creating a mailing list! I don’t know where to start 😅

[rafriedman]

The fruitful things have always been for me making live connections- doing the art outside, presentations and talking to people.

[maahuz]

Your video opened my eyes.
I'm still very young, I haven't even finished school yet, but I always thought that the only way to make a living as an artist was becoming famous on social media as soon as possible.
That was making me feel really anxious and overwhelmed since I don't really like posting on Instagram, but now I see that I shouldn't be worrying that much about it at all
Thank you 💕

[marie]

I published 20 meditations on YouTube, and things were going slow but quite well. After the 20 meditations, YouTube decided to put advertisements in the middle of my meditations. What sense does this make!? I had no control over it, as I was not a YouTube partner then. I did not have enough watch time nor subscribers for this. I was shocked and after this happened to me, and I got very cautious with social media. Just imagine they close down your account after you put in many many years of hard work, and you rely on it, because it generates business for you. I think this can really ruin you, not only money wise, but also psychologically. I too am still trying out how to best use social media for me, for my personality. I don’t think I will ever become a big influencer and I don’t want to, for the very reasons that you quoted in this video. I am currently building my own website. It is quite an effort, but nothing is easy in life and at least it is mine. I will take the decisions what will be published on it. It is mine and I think this is the best thing about it! I love your video. Thank you very much for it.❤😊

[zoewong]

I’m a shy introvert too. I have the same thinking like hiding myself at home. I used to create videos on YouTube every week. My problem wasn’t facing the camera (I found it better than facing real people lol), instead it was pushing myself to publish regularly so that my channel could better match the algorithm’s taste. This have burned me out and I no longer want to be in that life again. Totally agreed that being a social media content creator is exhausting and has to commit to a certain schedule, which I hate. Glad to get your video recommended by YouTube algorithm lol. Thanks for making this video and giving these advices! It helps a lot for me.

[Sirenia]

I very much agree with all you’ve been saying. What I’ve noticed is that (in my opinion) some types of art perform better on Instagram than others. Since Instagram is very much focused on faces I feel like artists that draw people and characters have an easier time getting an audience. However, there’s been an influx of artists since the iPad got so popular for drawing, so again I feel like it’s getting harder for them as well to spark people’s interest, since it’s not as special as it used to be.

It’s a weird love hate relationship with Instagram and social media. On the one hand becoming an artist is way easier than it used to, but at the same time it poses so many challenges that can harm people’s mental health (defining one’s worth through likes etc.). What I’m trying to remind myself is that in the end what’s most important is that I invest most of my time getting better and improving and not being a slave to the algorithm. So even if Instagram is being taken down tomorrow, what remains are my skills and if they are convincing enough I will find work elsewhere. Unless the internet goes down forever.. then I’m screwed as a digital artist ^^

Also, often the people who commission you are the ones that are actively looking for artists and not just consuming social media mindlessly. So even if your audience is small, if your art has great quality you will be found by the right people eventually 🙂

[peteburkeet]

This is literally the sanest most concise and sense making statement about this topic ever. As someone absorbing the toxicity of nft twitter for the past year and a half I feel saner having watched this. Thank you.

[tcartist_studio]

IG is terrible, they copy your idea and engagement etc. Website is best. Email is top niche, but no these days, ppl are selfish. We need Artist to stand up and fight for rights on Social media to stop influencers educating etc even they majority cut the details, they should be stopped, because ruined our business our lifetime and studied art's we need to be appreciate for our talents not everyone can be talented. Great video

[trahapace]

I loved this...im an artist but also work a full time job so when i see art instagram tips saying you need to post 3-5 times a day plus reels...im like i dont have time for all that.

[bijouxartjewelleryundkunst]

15:00 following your video with timestamps...that what you said is 100% correct. Any account like that can go down anytime and all that work and effort results or no results all these months of hard work or years of hard work can all of a sudden be gone. And there is nothing you can do. No appeal. No customer service. No explanation. It could be a bot that did it. It could be someone siding with someone's report or even false report and your account can all of a sudden dispappear.