Did you know you could promote your art online using social media?
Let’s be real—getting your art seen used to mean hoping for a gallery show or putting up flyers around town.
Not anymore. These days, all it takes is one good post on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest, and boom!
Your art could be in front of thousands of people around the world.
On social media , people are always scrolling, looking for something cool, creative, or meaningful, and your work could be exactly what they need to see.
A lot of folks, especially younger ones, even go to TikTok or Instagram first when they’re searching for art.
Yup, they’re skipping Google! I’m sure you do too. Right?
This article has been dedicated to teaching how these social media platforms can be used wisely in order for artists to get their names out there.
No fluff—just practical tips you can start using today.
My aim is to place your beautifully crafted work of art on a pedestal where everyone can witness its beauty on the internet.
Why is this significant for your art career?
1. You Can Sell Your Art Directly
There is no need for galleries anymore.
Social media platforms provide artists the unique opportunity to sell their work directly without any intermediaries such as other sellers or auctioneers.
The buyer gets a good deal, and the artist earns profit.
2. You’ll Grow a Supportive Community
It’s more than just fans—you’ll find a tribe. Other artists, collectors, and people who love your vibe will show up, support you, and cheer you on as you grow.
3. It Makes You Easier to Find
Sharing your work online makes you easier to find for everyone interested, which increases the traffic to your website or shop—and gets more people to discover you.
4. You’ll Meet Awesome People
Social media is the best informal networking avenue, so you’re bound to meet other creatives and even collaborate on fun projects or get invited to some unexpected events.
5. You’ll Stay Current
With the fast pace of the online world, social media makes it easy to keep up with new trends, tools, solutions, and ideas, which ensures your art (and brand) doesn’t go stale.
6. You’ll Keep Learning and Getting Inspired
Being part of a community where feedback and relevant creation is abundant enables the flow of new ideas and boosts your growth as an artist on a daily basis.
Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms to Promote Your Art
Different social media platforms serve different purposes, and as an artist, recognizing it can result in increased interaction with your work, audience, and even prospective buyers, making the promotion more effective.
Let’s now simplify it to assist you in choosing one or two platforms that go with your strategy and provide you with the desired results.
Popular Platforms for Artists
| Platform | Great For | Why Artists Love It |
| Visual art of all kinds | Clean, visual feed + Reels for process videos. Big art community. Easy to sell directly. | |
| TikTok | Process videos, crafts, fun/quirky content | Short videos with viral potential. Great for storytelling and behind-the-scenes. |
| Crafts, decor, tutorials, prints | Pins last forever. Drives traffic to your website or shop. | |
| Community, older audiences, events | Groups, local events, and direct sales via Marketplace. | |
| YouTube | Tutorials, vlogs, long videos | Perfect for teaching, storytelling, and building trust over time. |
| DeviantArt | Digital, fan art, comics | Tight-knit creative community. Great for feedback and exposure. |
| Professional and commercial art | For networking, commissions, and connecting with industry folks. | |
| Tumblr | Alternative/fan art, storytelling | Super creative space with niche audiences and reblogging magic. |
Quick Tips to Choose What Works Best for You
Know where your people hang out:
Younger fans? Try TikTok or Instagram. Older buyers or local fans? Facebook might be better.
Think about your art style:
If it’s Super polished and highly visual, Instagram and Pinterest would be great.
Enjoy creating content or documenting your work? Try TikTok or YouTube.
Start with just one or two:
You do not have to be everywhere! Select the social media channels that are enjoyable and easy to use for your business.
Experiment and learn what works:
Spend a few weeks engaging with the audience, pay attention to what they respond to positively, and stick to your winning strategy.
Crafting a Great Art Profile
Your social media profile is kind of like your digital art studio.
It’s where people get their first impression of you—and it only takes a few seconds to either grab their attention or lose it.
Let’s ensure that your profile does not put them off by giving them all the highlights while not being too busy or difficult to navigate.
1. Your Bio
Don’t overthink it—just say who you are, what kind of art you create, and maybe a fun fact or two.
Are you a digital illustrator? A painter who adores cats? Say it!
Stay polite, and if there is something like a website or shop that you want to share, inform people of the action they should take.
For instance, “DM me for custom pieces!” or “Latest drop below!”
2. Profile Photo
People love putting a face to the art.
If you don’t mind, go ahead and use a clear and nice photograph of yourself.
If that isn’t something you’re comfortable with, feel free to use a piece of your art that embodies your style.
Just ensure that it looks professional, neat, and easy to recognize (and try to use the same pic on all your platforms so people don’t get confused).
3. Your Bio Link
As you may know, almost every social media platform gives you only one link to put on your profile page, so use it wisely!
You can work with free resources such as Linktree or Beacons to create a custom page that links to other important pages such as your shop, commissions info, newsletter, and even YouTube.
Now that sounds like one link and many opportunities.
4. Show Off Your Best Work with Highlights and Pinned Posts
Highlights (or your feed)
Treat your feed like a mini-portfolio.
You don’t have to post everything, but try to include your favorite pieces, your most recent work, or anything that feels super ‘you’.
Make it lively! Let your style and personality shine through easily.
Pinned Posts
Some platforms let you “pin” posts at the top of your page. Pin a maximum of three posts that tell people exactly who you are, and what you’re about. For example:
A post that introduces you
One showing your best or most-loved art
One with a current project, shop update, or announcement
Update them now and then to keep your profile fresh!
Want to Share More Links? Here’s How!
Linktree is your new best friend
Since you can only put one link in your bio, Linktree helps you add all your important links in one spot. It’s super easy:
Make a free account
Add your shop, commissions, newsletter, whatever
Choose colors that match your art vibe
Done!
Want more control?
If you have a website, make your own little landing page with all your links. It feels more pro, and you can match it to your branding 100%.
Content That Connects: What to Post
If you want people to love your art online, it’s not just about showing off the final piece. It’s about letting them into your world.
When your followers feel connected to you and your creative process, they’re more likely to support, share, and even buy your work. This is a great way to promote your art on social media.
Here’s how to post content that really connects:
1. Show the Process – Not Just the Product
People love seeing how art comes to life. Share little moments like:
That messy palette or sketchbook you hide.
A clip of you painting/drawing.
A glimpse of your studio or creative space.
Why it works: It allows your followers to feel as if they’re part of your story, and they will anticipate the outcome with enthusiasm.
2. Share Finished Art, Time-Lapses, and Mini Tutorials
Yes, show off your final pieces, but mix it up with fun, useful content too.
Use good lighting and simple backgrounds to really make it shine.
Time-lapse videos are fast and fun. They show your process in seconds, perfect for Instagram Reels or TikTok.
People love learning! So, share something simple you’ve learned or a favorite trick.
Why this works: You’re not just showing your talent, you’re sharing value, and that builds trust.
3. Tell the Story Behind Your Art
Every piece you make has a story. Sharing that story makes your art feel more personal and meaningful.
What inspired this piece?
What were you feeling when you made it?
Was there a challenge you had to overcome?
How to do it: Use captions, stories, or short videos to talk about it in your own words—no need to overthink it. Just be real.
Why it works: People connect to feelings more than just visuals. Your story might be what makes someone fall in love with your work.
4. Write Captions That Start Conversations
Your captions matter! Think of them like mini conversations with your followers.
Ask a question (like “Which color combo do you love most?”)
Share a little insight into your day or process.
Include a gentle call to action (like “Click the link in bio to grab a print!”)
5. Hashtags Help People Find You
Hashtags are like signs that lead new people to your art.
Use a mix: popular ones like #artistsoninstagram, niche ones like #watercolorportraits, and location tags like #londonartist.
Don’t overdo it—10 to 15 solid hashtags are enough.
Change them up sometimes so you reach different people.
Growing Your Audience Organically
If you’re putting your heart into your art, you deserve to have people see it—and love it.
The best way to build that kind of support online and promote your art with social media?
Grow your audience organically—which just means getting followers naturally, without paying for ads.
It takes a bit of time, but trust me, it’s totally worth it.
Here’s how to do it in a way that feels real and actually works.
1. Show Up Consistently (Even If It’s Not Perfect)
You don’t need to post every day or follow a strict calendar.
Just pick a schedule that feels doable—maybe a few times a week—and try to stick to it.
When you show up regularly, people start to look forward to your posts.
Plus, social platforms notice when you’re active and might show your work to more people.
Don’t stress about making every post perfect.
It’s okay to share the messy middle of your process.
People love seeing the real stuff—unfinished pieces, your workspace, even your mistakes.
That’s what makes you relatable.
2. Use the Fun Stuff: Stories, Reels and Lives
Social media has so many cool tools to help you connect.
Here’s how to use them without overthinking it:
Stories are great for casual updates—like what you’re working on today, a quick poll, or a “this or that” question.
Reels (or TikToks), on the other hand, are amazing for showing your process in action—painting, drawing, packing orders… whatever! Keep it short, fun, or helpful.
Live videos let you hang out with your followers in real time. You could do a live painting session, a Q&A, or just chat while you sketch.
You don’t need to be fancy; just be yourself. People connect with you, not just your art.
3. Actually Talk to People
This part is easy to forget, but it’s so important: engage with your audience like they’re your people, because they are.
Reply to comments. Even a quick “thank you!” or emoji goes a long way.
Ask questions in your captions or Stories to spark conversations.
Use polls and stickers in Stories to get people involved (and have some fun).
Share their posts if someone tags you or shares your art—give them a little love back!
The more you talk with your followers, the more connected they’ll feel—and the more they’ll cheer you on.
4. Team Up with Other Creatives
Collaborating is one of the fastest (and most fun) ways to reach new people. You don’t have to be a “big name” to work with others, just be genuine.
Ideas to try:
Do a joint art challenge or prompt list
Host a giveaway together
Go live and paint or chat about your process
Give each other shoutouts on Stories or posts
Just find someone whose vibe matches yours, and send a kind message. Most creatives are super open to collaborating if you keep it friendly and simple.
Tools to Help You Promote Art on Social Media
Posting your art online, replying to comments, writing captions, and figuring out what works can feel like a full-time job.
But good news? There are some awesome tools out there that can make your life so much easier to promote your art on social media.
If you’re trying to stay consistent, reach more people, or just get a little help with what to post, here are some tools worth checking out.
1. Planning and Scheduling Tools
These help you plan your posts ahead of time so you’re not scrambling last minute.
Buffer – Super simple. You can plan and schedule posts across all your accounts—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, you name it. It even tells you when your followers are most active.
Later – Perfect for visual thinkers. You can drag and drop your posts to see how they’ll look on your feed, and it even gives you hashtag ideas.
Pallyy – Built with creatives in mind. You get a clean visual planner, post suggestions, and tips on the best times to post. Plus, it’s super affordable.
Planable – Great if you’re working with others or want everything organized in one place. It even has AI to help write your captions.
Metricool – Another solid option that also lets you respond to comments and DMs from one dashboard.
2. Analytics Tools
Not sure what’s connecting with your followers? These tools show you.
Instagram/Facebook/Pinterest Insights – These are built into the apps and totally free. You’ll see what posts are doing well, who’s engaging, and when.
Buffer Analytics – Shows you your best posts, follower growth, and the best times to post.
Later and Pallyy – Both have easy-to-understand dashboards that help you track your content’s performance.
Metricool – Offers colorful, clear reports to help you quickly spot what’s working (and what’s not).
3. Create Better Content
These tools are like little creative assistants when you need a hand with captions, designs, or ideas.
Canva – A must-have. Create beautiful graphics, promos, and posts without needing a design degree. It also has an AI tool called Magic Design that suggests layouts for you.
ChatGPT – Yep, that’s me! I can help you write captions, come up with fun post ideas, create hashtag lists, or even help you reply to DMs.
Planable’s AI – Helps rewrite your captions and suggests new content ideas based on your previous posts.
Later’s AI Tools – Includes a caption generator and design tools to help your content look polished and professional.
Adobe Express – Like Canva but with more creative freedom. Great for animation, reels, or branded art promos.
Lumen5 – Want to turn a blog post or an art tip into a short video? This one’s a lifesaver.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, to promote your art on social media, just show up and share what you love.
It’s a chance to let people see your process, your passion, and the heart behind your work—right from your own space.
You don’t need to be perfect or have it all figured out.
The more real and consistent you are, the more people will start to notice and connect with your art.
Social media can be more than just a place to sell—it can be your art’s stage, gallery, and community all in one.
Start where you are. Share what you love. And let your art do the talking.