1,000 Instagram Posts
In July 2020, I sat at the kitchen counter and nervously posted to my new Instagram page.
One of the three gelli plate monoprints I posted. I was making these on my kitchen table. This one is more than a little creepy!
My 1,000 post was this 24” by 36” collage created in my studio.
One thousand posts means that I have spent hours on Instagram. Was this worth my time? I think so. All this content creation means that I am making art ALL THE TIME. My work improved and I kept posting and the opportunities started to arrive. While many of these things might have happened without social media, I’m convinced things happened more quickly because of what I was doing online.
I made myself a list of all that’s happened since that first post that I could tie back to my online presence. These are in no particular order because I can’t decide which is the most significant.
I learned so much about art
I left my full-time teaching job and became a full-time artist
Learned how to run a small business
Became part of the online art community
Created a website and a blog
Write a newsletter
Gallery representation and a group show
Teaching opportunities
Interviewed for blogs
Licensed my art as print collections
Accepted to juried shows
I had my art published in several online magazines
Licensed my work to appear in a commercial
Sold my work to international collectors
A few tips for Instagram success:
Post regularly and at the same time (it doesn't have to be every day)
Research hashtags by looking at what your favorite artists are using
Use all the IG features: posts, stories, and reels
Take good photographs or scan your art
Write thoughtful captions that readers can respond to
Respond to valid direct messages and comments
Create a community by interacting with other artists
Only keep this up if you enjoy it. Otherwise, find something else!
Let me know in the comment about your relationship to social media.