Six Unexpected Benefits of Posting Art on Instagram

The first time I used Instagram was when I set up my artist account. I didn’t have a personal profile, and had no clue how the app worked. All I knew was that I wanted to start sharing my artwork, so it seemed like a good thing to do.

I was a bit nervous though, because...well, quite frankly, I don’t like social media. I am not only introverted, but also incredibly shy. I have always a hard time interacting with people via apps that focus on quick, succinct, and often superficial responses - it just isn’t my communication style. I dabbled in various platforms as friends and family tried to get me back on the grid, but mostly just felt like a failure of a millennial as I struggled to figure out the most basic of apps (to this day I still don’t get Snapchat - it’s rough). 

So, I was truly surprised when I discovered that posting on Instagram was actually a positive and beneficial experience for me - both as an artist and as a person. I have been posting my art on Instagram for almost a year now (May 4 will be my first Instagram anniversary!), so I wanted to share some of the unexpected things I’ve gained from posting on the platform.

#1 - Accountability

This one’s pretty straightforward. When I wasn’t sharing my artwork, no one knew if I didn’t make anything. It was just between me, myself, and I - and I’m pretty bad at holding myself accountable. The result: very little art was made.

With Instagram, I felt compelled to continue making artwork for those who had seen something in my work and decided to follow me. They liked what they saw, and this motivated me to not let them down. I felt the urge to create more!

#2 - Consistency

Hinging on accountability is consistency. Once I got it through my head that people were counting on my artwork, I had to adapt to create more regularly. No longer was art just something I could keep on the back burner and only pull out when I “felt like it” (in other words, almost never). 

I set a posting schedule, and created a routine in my life to accommodate it. This gave me a purpose, and grounded art from the abstract “oh, I’ll make it when inspiration strikes” to the very concrete “it’s time to create.” This made all the difference for me.

Also, the famed Instagram algorithm favors consistency. Inactivity on your Instagram account can lead to unfollows and poor engagement. It’s a double-edged sword to be sure, but for me it helped light a very reasonable fire under my butt. Just remember that there needs to be a healthy balance to this: Instagram metrics are not an indicator of your worth, and pushing yourself toward burnout is never worth it!

#3 - Deadlines

With a consistent schedule established, this meant I had deadlines for when I needed to finish and post artwork.

Scary, right? We all hate deadlines.

But this was a blessing in disguise in many ways. I am a person who will not do anything without the pressure of a deadline. I’m a procrastinator through and through - but I’ve come to realize that this doesn’t have to be an inherently bad thing. It just means that I have to optimize my work style to take advantage of that trait, even if that translates to holding myself to a deadline.

Having a time limit also means that at some point, you have to call a piece finished. When there is no pressure to get a painting done, you can work on it indefinitely. You can tell yourself you’ll tweak this later, finalize this at some point...until the painting sits abandoned for months and you groan every time you look at it. Posting on Instagram forced me to call a piece done - and that’s a good thing! It means you can move on to the next thing. If you get stuck in a loop of hyper-focusing one piece, you’re never going to continue to grow and explore.

#4 - Inspiration & Learning

Up until this point, the pros have focused inward. But, Instagram forces you to look outward too. And when you do, you quickly realize: there are so many other artists out there, and they’re freaking amazing! 

On IG you can follow many other talented people who make incredible artwork. They can inspire you to keep creating, and by surrounding yourself with other art and creative individuals it helps you keep your own ideas flowing.

Plus, with everyone’s style and approach to art being slightly different, you are constantly exposed to new techniques and ideas. You might learn something new just from looking at a different artist’s painting, or studying their reels. Additionally, many people (who deserve all the universe’s blessings upon them) post quick tutorials or infographics on their profiles, which makes for nice bite-sized learning opportunities!

#5 - Art Challenges

A concise embodiment of all the above points are the many awesome art challenges that constantly circulate around IG. They are often open for anyone to join, and include popular internet-wide events like Inktober and Mermay. But some people host smaller ones throughout the year, with weekly prompts or daily prompts for a short period of time. The ever-popular DTIYS (Draw This In Your Style) challenges are always happening too!

These challenges inspire you with prompts, hold you accountable to post the challenge within the prescribed deadlines, and help you meet and engage with other artists - what more could you ask for?

#6 - Community

I saved this one for last because it’s undoubtedly the best. Instagram is, at its core, social media. And while this scared my poor little introvert heart at the beginning, I quickly realized that it’s what makes creating all worthwhile. You get to know fellow artists who are going through many of the same struggles (and triumphs!) as you. You share in the art journey together, learning and growing and cheering each other on.

You also quickly find your niche within the art community, and get to nerd out and share your passions with those who have similar interests. I love fantasy art and Dungeons & Dragons, and get to surround myself in my Instagram space with others who are just as geeked about those things as I am! It makes you (and them) feel happy and accepted - win-wins all around.

I know many people fear negativity when making their art public, but in my experience I have never received any hate or toxicity. Granted, my account is still pretty small, and I’m not so naive to claim that it never happens. But the majority of your community will be kind and supportive.

And that wraps up my surprising discoveries of posting art on Instagram! In short, I’m so glad I began to share my artwork there. It’s of course not all fun and games, and brings its own set of challenges and struggles as well. But on the whole, it has been so helpful for me and my art journey. Just remember to approach it responsibly - take care of yourself first, and be cognizant not to get caught up in the “algorithm” and numbers game. With the right mindset, it can be a very positive experience!