How to Make a Platform That Allows You to Post Art
The 12 best social media platforms for artists and designers
If you want to succeed in digital art you need to master more than one social media platform. From TikTok to Twitch these are excellent places to showcase your best work and promote yourself as a artistic.
Your online presence could help you to secure a new chore, proceeds freelance clients or creative collaborators, besides equally build your professional reputation. Artists similar Loish have mastered the art of social media utilize, and you learn from her too, read in her tips for marketing yourself on social media.
But with so many social media platforms to choose from, how do you know which ones to employ? To discover out, we listened to the communication of a range of creative professionals including artists, photographers, designers and filmmakers. We learned what they like nearly each social media platform and why you might detect each one useful for displaying elements of your portfolio (for more portfolio inspiration, encounter our graphic design portfolio post), or maybe something else.
We used their answers to listing the most useful social media platforms for artists and designers correct now. Also check out our guide to how to brand social media work for yous and our ultimate guide to social media for creatives.
01. Discord
Founded in 2015, Discord may not be pinnacle of your listing of obvious social media platforms for artists and creatives, but because this web and mobile app is focused
on enabling specific communities to hang out and connect, rather than merely a ocean of random followers, in the Covid era, it's really taken off.
"I became an avid Discord user once everyone started working from dwelling house," says LA-based concept designer and illustrator Airi Pan. "It offers phonation, text options and streaming options, so it's perfect as a 'virtual hang spot' for friends or coworkers.
"I use it in phonation format, to mimic working alongside them, as nosotros hunch over our tablets cartoon. It'due south like a virtual mutual room! It also acts equally a community hub for events such every bit LightBox Expo, Weekend Warrior Painters, or small groups of artists who are just trying to become amend."
Spiridon Giannakis, a German designer and publisher of art books, recently launched a Discord server to chat near his projects, too as mental health issues (visit Artbook News to learn more). "The environs on Discord is really positive," he enthuses. "With the help of moderators, everything tin be kept very tidy, and conversations are extremely valuable. It'southward a chip like the feel of a forum, with the add-on of newer tech aspects."
He hasn't had a unmarried negative encounter on Discord then far. "Dissimilar most social media, which but makes me wonder every day if I actually need it. It'due south all been positive," he says. "My server now has over a thousand people: I never expected so many. I always thought fine art books are very niche, simply it's shown me that the interest is there."
02. Twitch
If you lot're looking to build a wider audition for your art, and broaden your entreatment, and then Twitch is the social media platform of choice. Launched in 2011, this live-video platform was originally adult for gamers. But artists are as well using it to live-stream their process, brand new contacts and grow their personal brand.
Montreal-based fine art managing director and atomic number 82 concept artist Nicolas Vallet is among them. "Long story short: I wanted to connect," he explains. "Living in China at the time, I was very focused on my mean solar day-to-solar day piece of work, but quite bad at publicising myself. Art streams are a nice style to split the difference. I become to describe and talk to people, at the same time equally practising my technique."
Vallet's Twitch aqueduct stayed modest for a while, but the pandemic meant he had more free time. "Then I added actress days, and my audience began to grow. I'd enquire questions to know people meliorate, and allow them share their ain experiences. I started to attract regular viewers, and some of them are friends now." He has this communication to anyone alive-streaming on Twitch: "People similar energy and passion, then share that first and foremost. And exist consistent: a regular schedule will assistance people to find you."
03. TikTok
Just as Twitch is mainly known for gaming, almost people acquaintance TikTok with lip syncing and daft challenges. Even so the brusque-grade video app, which has almost 700 million active users, is attracting artists as well.
"I was introduced to TikTok by a friend and saw the potential for high exposure," says Ohio-based animator and illustrator Miranda Pavelle (@mirandathehybrid on TikTok). "My first 'viral' video was just a sketch of my Miata, and it received 6,000 likes and 20,000 views in a solar day or two, which is more attention than I'd ever gotten on other social channels."
Miranda now has more than half a 1000000 followers, and likes how the brevity of TikTok videos forces y'all to be snappy and to the indicate. "I love teaching and sharing my knowledge in seize with teeth-sized, light-hearted form," she says. "My art videos are miniature versions of full tutorials, and so if you lot run into something useful, you can become to my YouTube and get the full lesson."
Her advice for launching a TikTok channel is simple. "Be yourself," she stresses. "Trends rack in views, but they somewhen die and brand way for something else. What never dies is people connecting to yous as a person: your quirks, your process, yous getting bubbly over what you're passionate about. Gen Z and millennials are pretty darned tired of beingness advertised to; so don't jump on the app with the
intention of starting a business or getting views, because people will be able to tell."
04. Clubhouse
Clubhouse was launched in 2020 and is a vocalization-based social platform that hosts virtual rooms for live discussions. It'south an iOS and Android app that at time of writing was invite simply. If you want to acquire about Clubhouse, meet our guide, what is Clubhouse?
Existence audio but, you might non call up visual artists would be interested in Clubhouse, but in fact there'southward quite a scrap going on. For instance, LightBox Expo hosts a regular discussion there every Tuesday at 9am PST, with big-proper name creatives such as Karla Ortiz, Brynn Metheney, Lorne Lanning and Elsa Chang taking part. If you're not on Clubhouse, you can listen in in on Discord.
Airi, who's chosen @pix_bun on Clubhouse, recently participated in a LightBox session called 'Imitation information technology till y'all make information technology, but go along information technology genuine'. "It was delightful!" she recalls. "The discussion was well-paced thanks to the moderators such as Bobby Chiu." Commonly though, she uses Clubhouse as more than of a podcast app, as something to listen to while she works.
"You can hear veteran industry professionals speak, and hear smashing tips you lot won't get from a scripted interview," Pan says. "Depending on the talk, it can feel like people conversing correct next to you, which makes working from home a petty less lonely."
05. Dayflash
Never heard of Dayflash? You're not solitary. Only right now, it's rapidly gaining popularity amidst creatives. And that'due south considering the iOS app, launched terminal year, basically works like Instagram used to. In its own words, there'south "no algorithm and no more missing posts from your friends".
Co-founder Rupali Renjen tells us that, in her view, "Photo sharing platforms unfairly use algorithms to dictate which followers get to see a user'south posts. And equally they button users to spend more time on stories from friends, long-course videos and shopping, all so they can brand more money on ads and business organisation accounts, less and less time is being spent on creators, which is taking abroad visibility and opportunity".
You tin mail service full resolution photos, no algorithms, always genuine engagement, no bots
David Castillo
And creatives do indeed seem to exist responding well to the new platform. "I beloved using Dayflash," says New York photographer David Castilllo. "You can postal service full resolution photos, no algorithms, always genuine engagement, no bots. And I love the aesthetics of the interface."
Scott Terry, a Chicago-based creator and administrator for brands, agrees. "Information technology's pretty great because y'all can mail service total frame and high resolution, unlike Instagram," he points out. And in that location'due south video, besides.
"For me personally, I love being able to prove my work as I've made it, rather than being compressed like on Twitter or Instagram," says filmmaker Tyler Palmer. "And even with trivial following, my piece of work still gets seen."
LA-based photographer Torenzo Perry is also a fan. "I personally love the app considering it focuses more on the content, and less on the likes and views," he says. While Greg McMillan, an iPhoneographer and co-host of the Tiny Shutter podcast, admires both the app and the philosophy of its makers. "They have it figured out as to what a social platform should be and how it should work," he enthuses.
And it's not only photographers who are fans. Take Brazilian graphic symbol artist Danielle Pioli, who uses it to share her illustrations and comic strips. "I really like Dayflash," she says. "Since I began using information technology, it has improved a lot. Not but the usability of the app merely also the quality of the content within information technology. I come across this app as a new trend for visual artists of all kinds. It'south like shooting fish in a barrel to employ, pretty straightforward, and fun.
06. ArtStation
Launched in 2014, ArtStation may non accept changed a great deal over the years. Simply it remains the place to mail your contour for professional 2d and 3D artists, peculiarly those working in the games, pic, media and entertainment industries, or those aspiring to do and then.
As nosotros reported in our commodity how to go a job as a video games artist, recruiters nowadays don't simply encourage yous to post your work on ArtStation; they expect it. Some artists even so agree dorsum from doing so, because they don't want to engage in what they see as a popularity contest. Only by and large, recruiters don't actually care how many likes or followers you have; information technology's purely about whether or not they like your fine art, and if it fits what they're looking for.
"We're interested in artists who produce the sort of work that we tin can use; that's it," says Kevin McDowell, fine art director for Creative Assembly's Total War series. "So make sure it'south visible to us, and don't worry most the numbers."
07. DeviantArt
Launched in 2000, DeviantArt has more than of an amateur, hobbyist feel to it than ArtStation. And so while you're less probable to get commissions directly through it, it'southward a better platform for putting your art in front of your peers and getting feedback.
People tend to come and go from DeviantArt over time, and author and illustrator Katy L Wood is no exception. "DeviantArt was the start social media site I joined, about 13 years ago, when I was a teenager," she recalls. "It was a huge role of my growth as an artist, due to all the amazing free resources information technology had, from tutorials to brushes to stock. Plus, back so, DeviantArt had a groovy community. People really talked and interacted and had fun."
Somewhen, though, she felt the community had started to wane and turned her attentions elsewhere. "However, in the last year I've been working my way back into using DeviantArt, specially with its delightful rebrand," she says. "I came back primarily considering DeviantArt is straightforward. At that place are no algorithms to game, information technology'southward well organised, and it'due south supportive of every blazon of art and writing I practise."
08. The Dots
Launched in 2014, The Dots is an online professional network that aims to be "LinkedIn for creatives". And it'southward had a off-white corporeality of success in doing and so, attracting companies such as Google, Burberry, Sony Pictures, Viacom, M&C Saatchi, Warner Music, Tate, Discovery Networks and VICE to utilize it every bit a recruiting tool.
At that place are lot of other things you can practice on the platform also just waiting to be offered a job, though. These include connecting with other creatives in your field, checking out people's side hustles, responding to requests for collaborations, keeping upwards to the latest events and more.
Information technology'due south very much a case, then, of what getting out what you put in. And unlike LinkedIn, every page you interact with is beautifully designed.
Currently, most creatives seem to employ The Dots as part of a self-promo mix, rather than focusing on information technology exclusively. Yorkshire-based freelancer Joanna Kosinska, for example, says: "I volition mail service my work pretty much anywhere where I tin proceeds traction, including The Dots, Behance, Dribbble, and Creativepool.
"As a graphic designer and photographer, I have to put my name out there. And so whatsoever platform that makes it easier to find my piece of work is my friend, and I'll gladly invest fourth dimension to create a profile and share projects."
09. Dribbble
Launched in 2009 by Dan Cederholm and Rich Thornett, Dribbble was never intended to exist a straightforward portfolio site similar Behance. Its specific angle was well-nigh teasing out small glimpses of what y'all were working on, when you were unable to share the whole project.
Dribbble has since evolved beyond spider web and mobile app pattern to take in icon design, branding, animations, prototypes, illustrations, graphic art and other disciplines. Merely there'due south all the same a focus on informally sharing pocket-sized screengrabs (known as 'Shots'), rather than setting out big and detailed images in an organised and advisedly annotated way. As Albuquerque-based web designer Jack Harner puts it: "Dribbble feels more similar a community than a portfolio site."
That doesn't mean it's only designers talking to designers, though. The platform now actively helps companies such as Apple, Airbnb, Facebook, Google, Dropbox and Slack to hire designers, and many clients use it to discover people to committee.
"Dribbble has been a not bad platform for us to generate new business concern especially within the tech industry," says PJ Richardson, partner at Los Angeles blueprint studio Laundry. "Very graphic and illustrated work seems to play the best, but we've as well gotten new clients because of what we mail in that location also."
For others like Nicola Jones, aka Hello I'one thousand Nik Design, Dribbble is a identify for posting work that doesn't fit in your main portfolio. "This is where I put my personal projection illustrations, which is something I'd like to do more, so if I always get any analogy enquiries I point them there. Illustration is more of a side thing for me, as I practice brand and marketing design earlier all that for clients."
10. Behance
Behance is the closest matter on this list to a pure portfolio platform, but with a social aspect plugged in. Founded by Matias Corea and Scott Belsky in November 2005, the visitor was acquired by Adobe in 2012, and its reach has since become enormous.
Different, say, Dribbble or Instagram, Behance offers a mode to show more of your work than just a single, eye-grabbing image. Equally motion designer and 3D generalist Jesus Suarez explains: "Behance is bang-up for sharing the making of and behind the scenes aspects. Information technology allows for more than complete await at the project."
Of course, you could do all that on your ain website, simply the social aspects of Behance means that it'due south worth posting stuff in that location too, if fifty-fifty yous're just duplicating the aforementioned content.
It is an platonic place for usa to share the backside-the-scenes and case study aspects of our projects
PJ Richardson
And that's exactly the approach Laundry takes, says Richardson. "Our Behance basically mirrors our company site," he explains, "merely because it is so shareable and other creatives get to Behance for artistic inspiration, information technology is an ideal identify for us to share the backside-the-scenes and case study aspects of our projects."
London-based illustrator, designer & photographer Tim Easley takes a like view. "I utilise Behance for full projects alongside my website, because there'south a decent run a risk of being featured there, which brings in a lot of views," he says. While Cliff Nowicki, a web designer based in Michigan, Us says. "I use Behance considering it's super easy to just put something up online."
xi. Instagram
The rise of Dayflash (number i on our listing) is a sign that a few people's honey thing with Instagram is waning. But overall, Instagram remains far and away the nigh popular visuals-based social media platform today, and for most creatives, a presence of some sort on the image sharing platform remains a must.
"While, Behance is great for sharing and getting your piece of work in front of professional eyes, I tend to use Instagram more often than not," says George Kofi Prah, designer at New York and LA branding bureau loyalkaspar. "It'southward the perfect tool for creatives in the way that Spotify is for musicians.
"It provides access to a much wider audience than whatever other platform and allows me to engage with literally anyone. Using hashtags makes existence discovered and finding new and interesting things a lot easier."
Ease of use is also an important factor for many. "I utilise Instagram, followed by The Dots, because these platforms are easier and more attainable in terms of commitment per postal service," says Welsh/Sri Lankan artist Murugiah. "Behance has too many fields to fill in per post!"
Nosotros need to promote our work where our audience lives
Amy Kilner
For Amy Kilner, freelance designer and founder of inspiration web log The Design Fix, using Instagram is a no-brainer. "Y'all have to remember we're designing for our clients' objectives, not other creatives," she points out. "So nosotros demand to promote our work where our audience lives. Don't get me wrong, I love creative sites – I run my own, afterwards all - but it'due south not where my clients are!"
Laundry follows the same logic, says Richardson. "Artists and clients akin all seem to go to Instagram for pattern and blitheness inspiration, which is why we utilise it," he reasons. "We've even landed projects from it and clients increasingly ask to rail our work there. It's also the easiest to share and e'er has been. Additionally, it is easy to schedule posts without formatting problems."
Luke Manning, creative director of Pencil Studio, is primarily interested in getting work shared amongst the creative community, and for that information technology's been Instagram and Twitter that accept been the about constructive, he says. "Our own posts accept been picked up shared by popular pattern weblog sites and we've even had straight contact past make owners via sharing our latest projects," he explains. "I like Behance and how it works, but for us information technology is however to be fruitful beyond having a place to store projects."
And if you're wondering how to be successful on Instagram, we've got a piece on how to change the font in your Instagram bio plus a guide packed full of pro tips on how to increase Instagram engagement.
12. LinkedIn
Fifty-fifty though it's had a full rebrand, LinkedIn doesn't immediately grab you lot as existence a useful social platform for creatives. But art, pattern and filmmaking are businesses like whatever other, and many creative pros say they're making good utilise of LinkedIn regardless of what it looks like.
Take Frank Suyker, aka Mr Sugar, an fine art director based in the Netherlands. "I utilise LinkedIn to get recurring revenue out of my existing clients," he explains. "Past posting my weblog posts on LinkedIn, I'm kept superlative of mind. And when they do have piece of work that needs to be washed, they come to me."
Laundry has also made a shift to LinkedIn recently, which it has been actively using for the past year. "Facebook used to be a great place to share work but it became chaotic with ads and non design-focused posts," says Richardson. "in contrast, the very work-focused and curated nature of LinkedIn has made it a forum to share blueprint, animation, and backside-the-scenes content, which has garnered a lot of great attending for us."
Read more:
- Social media tips: unmissable advice for artists
- How to make social media work for you
- Instagram Reels vs TikTok: Which should you lot be using?
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Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/features/social-media-for-artists
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