How to use Instagram for artists: From A to Z

Instagram is booming every minute, thanks to its visual appeal. That’s why it’s a hot spot for artists of all kinds to showcase their talents as well as turn their passion into money!

 But, here’s the question: How can you make the most of Instagram for artists? And how long does it take to become one of the best painters on Instagram? Let’s dive into this blog to get your answers. 

What Are the Benefits of Instagram for Artists?

With over 2.35 billion users worldwide, it’s no secret that Instagram has become a go-to platform for people from all walks of life. What about artists? Is Instagram good for artists, and how can they benefit from it? Let’s find out.

1. Instagram could be a vast and free market to showcase artworks. In addition, artists can connect with other artists, improve their works, and learn from their peers.
2. The most important advantage of Instagram for artists [2023] is that they can find their ideal audience sitting at home, without spending a penny.
3. Instagram also allows artists to directly engage with their audience, receive feedback, and build their own community.
4. Using Instagram shops, artist Instagram users could sell their artwork. 
5. Besides, Instagram is a great platform for beginner artists to grow their work. 

How to Use Instagram for Artists: Dos and Don’ts

Thankfully, Instagram has many useful, creative features that make it the best platform for artists. However, it’s important to know how to promote your art on your Instagram account. Here, we’ll walk you through all the steps. 

Generate an attractive profile

First and foremost, you need a captivating profile to make the first impression. A compelling username, a high-quality profile image, and a unique bio could do magic. 

Note: if you have a private page, switch it to a professional or business page immediately. 

How should Instagram usernames for artists be?

Instagram names for artists need to reflect their artistic identity. It also should be searchable and easy to remember.

You’d better add your title to your username, like painter, musician, and more. If possible, it’s recommended to include relevant keywords in your username.

Need some inspiration to trigger your creativity? check out the ideas below:

20 unique Instagram usernames for artists

• Vibrant Visions
• Artful Whispers
• Painted Paradise
• Artistic Vibes
• Greek Drawings
• Inno Art
• Bloom in paint
• The raw canvas
• Abstract Wonders
• Colorful Expressions
• Artistic Essence
• Sky of colors
• Difficult nature
• Artful imagination
• Brush & ink
• Inked Imagery
• palette perfection
• Tasteful art
• Fashion Voice
• Immerse in art

Key features of Instagram Bio for artists

When writing a bio for your Instagram account, state what you’re doing. Since Instagram doesn’t allow more than 150 characters, introduce your work within your bio. Note that your art Instagram bio should be engaging enough. 

You can also list your other Instagram accounts in your bio plus your main website link- if you have one. Let’s learn more tips to make your artistic Instagram bio stand out:

• Add a call to action to your bio
• Use emojis
• Add your contact info
• Add your location

Here, you can discover more artists bio examples on Instagram.

Top Instagram bio ideas for artists

We shared some of the Instagram artists bios above. If you want to go beyond simple bios and create unique ones, you can draw inspiration from the following ideas:

• An artistic approach to you
• Find the art in your heart
• Share my passion
• Create a visual symphony of colors and shapes
• To be great, art has to point somewhere
• Express my inner world through art
• Inspire minds through the power of artistic expression
• Simplicity is an art
• A way of perfection
• From bleak to chic
• Embrace the freedom of creativity on every canvas

Share high-quality visual content

As an artist, you’re expected to share super high-quality images on your IG page. This is a basic rule on Instagram for artists to pay close attention to their content. 

We’ve already created a post on Instagram post sizes in 2023. You can go to this blog to learn about Instagram standards for image and video dimensions. 

For now, keep in mind that pictures with a 1:1 ratio look more fantastic. Also, keep your image resolution at 1080 px on the shortest side to ensure your image won’t be pixelated. 

Moreover, don’t ignore the composition, lighting, cropping, and more. if you’re going to use filters and effects, select them very carefully. Consider these tools to edit your Instagram posts:

• Canva
• Image Size
• Photo Crop
• Snapseed 
• Adobe Lightroom
• VSCO

Instagram for artists: what content to share?

Your artworks are what your followers are eager to see on your Instagram page. But sometimes, they want a sneak peek behind the scenes, like while you’re creating new artwork or preparing for an exhibition.

You can also include yourself in some of the images. By that, we don’t mean sharing what you’re eating or where you’re going. We’re talking about showing yourself next to your painting or artwork. It will give a personal touch to your work.

Whether you’re a tattoo artist, a nail artist, or a painter, don’t forget to tag people and other artists who inspire you.

How to use hashtags on Instagram for artists?

Now, everybody knows the importance of hashtags. But first, you need to learn how to use hashtags to grow your Instagram account. So, use the correct and relevant hashtags for your work. When applying hashtags, keep these points in mind:

#1. If you have a small account, avoid large hashtags

When searching for a hashtag, there’s a number next to it. As the number goes up, the chances of someone seeing your post will be decreased.

The best thing you can do is to mix popular hashtags (fewer posts) with general hashtags (more posts). Let’s give an example to make this clear:

For example, if you’re posting a picture of your graffiti, some of the relevant hashtags could be as below:

Here, you can combine popular tags with more general ones like #graffitigram, and #graffitilovers.

Or add items like location (#mexico, #london, etc.), Style (#Tagging, #Blockbuster, etc.), and medium (#Spray, #Marker, etc.) to the hashtag and make another hashtag like #graffitilondon, for instance. 

#3. Where is the best place to include hashtags on Instagram for artists?

You can bring hashtags in your caption, but if you think they might corrupt the look of your post, put them in comments, instead. 

#4. How many hashtags can you use in your post?

Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags at once, but it’s too many. Almost 10 hashtags would be sufficient. 

How to Write a Good Caption on Instagram for Artists?

When it comes to captions, go beyond just providing context for your images. Let your creativity flow and tell a story in line with your artwork. Instead of simply describing your process or art, take your audience on a journey. 

We’ve previously provided you with a post about how to write art Instagram captions. But briefly, it’s important to make the first words impressive. In other words, the shorter your caption is, the more successful it’s to attract people.

Use Stories to Improve Your Artistic Instagram Account

Fortunately, Instagram has lots of features that could be handy for artists. Instagram stories, for instance, are the most interactive features you can use to both present your artwork and engage your followers. Let’s find more ideas about how to grow an art Instagram account using stories. 

1. Use Instagram polls to gather feedback from your audience;
2. Ask open-ended questions related to your art;
3. For example, you can share a photo of your work in progress and ask your audience to help you with color choices;
4. One of the most brilliant Instagram drawing ideas is to share behind the scenes. Believe it or not, snippets of your workspace, materials, or tools you’re using could excite your followers;
5. IG stories are the best fit to announce upcoming events or projects. You’re opening a gallery or an exhibition? What’s better than insta stories to inform your followers or share the preparations? 
6. And finally, categorize all your projects and put them in story highlights.

Read this to draw more inspiration: 30 captivating Instagram story ideas.

Live Videos: A Gift from Instagram for Artists

You can use IG Live videos in the most effective ways, like:

1. Studio Tours: take your followers on a virtual tour of your studio, and let them see your working area, art supplies, and so on.
2. Art Demonstrations: Use live videos to demonstrate your artistic process in real time. For example, if you’re a painter, show the steps involved in creating a specific artwork, from sketching to adding layers of paint.
3. Q&A Sessions: Host live Q&A sessions every often to engage with your followers.
4. Art talks or Workshops: You can also choose specific topics and provide valuable tips and practical advice about them.
5.  Live Performance: Instagram for music artists could be the best opportunity, as well. If you’re one, you can have Live performances and let your fans enjoy your music in real-time.
6. Collaborative Projects: It would be so interesting if you could invite other artists and have a constructive conversation over art-related topics.

Tips to Engage Your Followers on Instagram Art Accounts

Engagement is the key to growth on Instagram for artists. We’ve already shared how to get more followers on Instagram for artists. Besides following the steps mentioned above, it’s helpful to take these additional tips:

1. People love challenges. Sometimes, you need to run art contests that encourage your followers to create and share their own artwork. 
2. Don’t forget your fans, and appreciate them occasionally. 
3. Respond to DMs as much as you can. Try to actively engage in conversations, and make them feel valued. 
4. Make use of Instagram management tools like AiGrow to get data-driven analytics of your account performance.  

Collaborate With Other Artists to Build a Network on Instagram

Thankfully, you can reach who you want on Instagram just in a few minutes. If you’d like to find your peers all over the world, you can follow these simple steps:

• Notable art communities and organizations have official pages on Instagram. You can reach out, comment on their posts, and even send DMs to them.
• Participate in art-related events or workshops. You can get informed of these events through Instagram art communities. 
• Find potential buyers, galleries, or art lovers. Firstly, build relationships with them, and then start conversations about how to collaborate. 

Read how to grow your lash business on Instagram. 

FAQs About Instagram for Artists

Here are a few questions people may ask about using Instagram for artists. 

Q1: What are popular hashtags for artists on Instagram?

The most popular hashtags on Instagram for artists include:

1. #artlovers
2. #artistsoninstagram
3. #artoftheday
4. #instaart
5. #creativecommunity 
6. #artlife
7. #painting
8. #drawing
9. #digitalar
10. #arttherapy

Q2: who are the best drawing artists on Instagram in 2023?

While the number of drawing artists on Instagram is growing every day, some of the most approved accounts include:

1. @owlright_

2. @thaimainhard

3. @Heath_wae

4. @jeanpauldonadini

5. @liz.giles.art

Q3: Can I Sell My Artwork on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram lets you set up your own Instagram shop and sell everything from clothes to artwork. Also, find out how to sell art on Instagram.

You can learn to set up an Instagram shop, but keep in mind that to launch an Instagram shop, you’ll need the followings:

1. A business or professional account;
2. A Facebook page;
3. Complying with Instagram commerce eligibility requirements;
4. Product catalog. 

Q4: How Often Should I Post on Instagram as an Artist?

When you’re still not on the list of best painting Instagram accounts, you need to be regular. Nobody knows you and you might have to post even several times a week. It’s essential to create a posting plan and stick to it.