The Art of Sharing

How to Showcase Your Completed Pieces and Works in Progress, and Discover Other Artists’ Creations

Introduction

In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of art, sharing your work—whether it’s a polished masterpiece or a work in progress—has become an essential part of the creative process. Gone are the days when artists toiled in solitude, revealing their creations only in galleries or exhibitions. Today, the digital age has transformed how art is shared, discovered, and appreciated. Social media platforms, online portfolios, and digital communities have created a vast and vibrant ecosystem where artists can connect, inspire, and be inspired.

This article delves into the multifaceted world of sharing artwork, offering insights and practical tips on how to present your completed pieces and works in progress, and how to engage with other artists’ creations. Whether you are a seasoned artist or just starting, understanding the nuances of sharing your art can help you grow as a creator, build a supportive community, and reach a wider audience.

Sharing your artwork is more than just a way to gain visibility; it’s an opportunity to engage with others, receive feedback, and inspire creativity in others. Here’s why sharing matters:

Building a Community: Sharing your work can attract like-minded individuals who appreciate your style and vision. This can lead to collaborations, friendships, and a supportive network that encourages your growth as an artist.
Receiving Feedback: Constructive criticism is invaluable for an artist’s development. By sharing your work, you open yourself up to feedback that can help refine your technique and ideas.
Inspiring Others: Your work can serve as a source of inspiration for other artists. By sharing, you contribute to the collective creativity of the artistic community.
Documenting Your Journey: Sharing works in progress allows you to document your creative process. This can be beneficial for reflecting on your growth and for others to see how your work evolves over time.

Many artists struggle with the fear of sharing their work, whether due to fear of criticism, self-doubt, or the feeling that their work isn’t “good enough.” Here are some strategies to overcome these fears:

Embrace Vulnerability: Understand that sharing your art is an act of vulnerability, but it is also an opportunity to connect with others on a deeper level. Vulnerability can be a strength, not a weakness.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Accept that your work doesn’t have to be perfect to be shared. Sharing works in progress can be just as valuable, if not more so, than sharing completed pieces.
Start Small: If the idea of sharing publicly is daunting, start by sharing your work with a small, trusted group of friends or fellow artists. Gradually expand your audience as you become more comfortable.
Celebrate Small Wins: Every piece of art you share, no matter how small or incomplete, is a step forward in your artistic journey. Celebrate these moments of courage.

Choosing the Right Platform

The platform you choose to share your artwork can significantly impact how your work is received and who sees it. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular platforms:

Instagram: Instagram is a visual-centric platform that is ideal for sharing finished pieces. Its hashtag system allows you to reach a broader audience, and its focus on imagery makes it a natural fit for artists.
Behance: Behance is a platform specifically designed for creatives. It allows you to showcase your portfolio in a professional manner and connect with other artists, potential clients, and galleries.
DeviantArt: DeviantArt is one of the largest online communities for artists, offering a platform to share your work, get feedback, and participate in art challenges.
Pinterest: Pinterest is a great platform for artists who create visually stunning work. It allows users to save and share your artwork, increasing the chances of it being discovered by others.
Your Own Website: Creating a personal website or portfolio gives you complete control over how your work is presented. It’s an essential tool for building a professional presence online.

Crafting the Perfect Post

When sharing your completed artwork, how you present it can make a significant difference in its impact. Here’s how to craft a post that grabs attention:

High-Quality Images: Ensure that the images you share are of high quality. This means good lighting, proper framing, and clear focus. Consider investing in a good camera or learning basic photography skills.
Engaging Captions: Your caption should tell the story of your artwork. Explain your inspiration, the process behind the piece, or what it means to you. This adds depth and context to your work, making it more engaging for viewers.
Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your post. Research popular hashtags within your niche and include a mix of broad and specific ones.
Consistency: Maintain a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged. Whether it’s weekly or monthly, regular posts help build a loyal following.

Showcasing Your Work in Different Formats

Different types of artwork may require different presentation formats. Here’s how to showcase various kinds of work:

Traditional Art: For paintings, drawings, or sculptures, focus on capturing the texture and details of your work. Multiple angles or close-ups can help showcase the intricacy of your pieces.
Digital Art: High-resolution screenshots are crucial for digital art. If your work involves motion, such as animation or video art, consider creating short clips or GIFs to showcase it.
Installation Art: For installations or large-scale works, include photos of the piece in its environment. Context is key, so show how the work interacts with its surroundings.
Process Shots: If you want to share your journey, include photos or videos of your work at various stages. This can be especially engaging for your audience as it shows the evolution of your piece.

Sharing works in progress (WIP) offers several advantages, both for you and your audience:

Engagement: Sharing your process invites your audience into your creative journey. It fosters a deeper connection with your work as they can see the thought and effort behind the final piece.
Feedback: WIP posts can be a great way to gather feedback. If you’re unsure about a particular aspect of your work, your audience can offer suggestions or insights that you might not have considered.
Motivation: Regularly sharing your progress can keep you motivated. Knowing that others are following your journey can encourage you to continue working and refining your art.
Educational Value: Sharing your process can also be educational for other artists. It can offer insights into your techniques and inspire others to experiment with new methods.

When sharing your WIP, consider the following tips to make your posts engaging and informative:

Be Transparent: Don’t be afraid to show the messy or imperfect stages of your work. This authenticity can be incredibly relatable for other artists.
Explain Your Process: Use captions or video commentary to explain what you’re doing and why. This adds value to your post by providing educational content.
Ask for Feedback: Encourage your audience to share their thoughts. Phrasing your caption as a question, such as “What do you think of this color choice?” can prompt engagement.
Use Video: Videos are an excellent way to share your process in real-time. Time-lapse videos, for instance, can condense hours of work into a few minutes, providing an engaging overview of your process.
Tag Other Artists: If your work is inspired by or related to another artist’s work, tag them in your post. This can help build connections and start conversations within the community.

Various tools can enhance how you share your works in progress:

Time-Lapse Apps: Apps like Procreate, Photoshop, or even smartphone apps can create time-lapse videos of your process, which are great for sharing on social media.
Screen Recording: If you’re a digital artist, screen recording your process can offer a detailed look at your workflow. Many programs have built-in recording features, or you can use third-party software.
Photo Editing Apps: Use photo editing apps to adjust the brightness, contrast, and color of your WIP photos, ensuring they look their best before posting.
Sketchbook Scans: For traditional artists, scanning your sketchbook pages can provide a clean and professional look to your WIP posts.

Discovering Other Artists’ Creations

Why Discovering Other Artists Is Important

Engaging with other artists’ work is crucial for your development as an artist. Here’s why:

Inspiration: Discovering new artists can spark fresh ideas and inspire you to experiment with new styles, mediums, or concepts.
Networking: Connecting with other artists can lead to collaborations, exhibitions, or even friendships. The art world thrives on connections, and engaging with others’ work is a great way to start.
Learning: Observing how other artists solve creative problems or use certain techniques can offer valuable learning opportunities. It’s a chance to expand your skill set and improve your own work.
Support: Just as you seek support from the artistic community, offering support to others by appreciating and sharing their work fosters a positive and collaborative environment.

Platforms for Discovering Art

Here are some platforms where you can discover new artists and their creations:

Instagram: The Explore page on Instagram is tailored to your interests, making it a great place to discover new artists. Following hashtags related to your niche can also introduce you to artists with similar styles.
Pinterest: Pinterest’s algorithm curates content based on your pins and interests, making it a goldmine for discovering new art and artists.
ArtStation: ArtStation is a platform dedicated to digital art and is particularly popular among concept artists, illustrators, and game designers. It’s a great place to discover high-quality work and follow professionals in the industry.
DeviantArt: With millions of users, DeviantArt is one of the largest online art communities. It offers endless possibilities for discovering new artists across various genres and styles.
Behance: Behance allows you to explore projects by different artists. It’s particularly useful for discovering professional work in graphic design, photography, illustration, and other creative fields.

Engaging with Other Artists’ Work

Engaging with other artists’ work is about more than just liking a post; it’s about meaningful interaction. Here’s how to do it:

Leave Thoughtful Comments: Instead of generic comments, try to leave something meaningful. Mention what you like about the piece, how it inspires you, or ask a question about their process.
Share Their Work: If you come across artwork that resonates with you, share it on your platform (with proper credit, of course). This not only supports the artist but also introduces your followers to new talent.
Join Art Challenges: Participating in art challenges or collaborations can be a fun way to engage with other artists. These challenges often have themes or prompts that encourage creativity and community involvement.
Attend Virtual Art Events: Many artists and galleries host virtual events, such as live painting sessions, webinars, or exhibitions. Attending these events is a great way to discover new artists and interact with them in real time.
Direct Messages: If you admire an artist’s work, don’t hesitate to send them a direct message. A simple compliment or a question about their work can start a meaningful conversation.

Building a Collaborative Art Community

The Value of Community in Art

Art is often seen as a solitary pursuit, but building a community around your work can have profound benefits. Here’s why a collaborative art community is valuable:

Support and Encouragement: A community offers emotional support and encouragement, which can be crucial in overcoming creative blocks or self-doubt.
Diverse Perspectives: Engaging with a community exposes you to different perspectives and ideas, which can broaden your artistic horizons and inspire new approaches.
Opportunities for Collaboration: Collaboration can lead to unique and innovative projects that you might not be able to accomplish alone. It’s also a great way to learn from others.
Shared Resources: Within a community, artists often share resources, such as tutorials, materials, and tools, which can be beneficial for everyone involved.
Exposure: Being part of a community can increase your exposure, as members often promote each other’s work, leading to a broader audience.

How to Build and Nurture a Community

Building a community takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. Here’s how to start:

Engage Regularly: Consistent interaction is key to building relationships within a community. Comment on posts, respond to messages, and participate in discussions.
Be Genuine: Authenticity goes a long way in building trust and meaningful connections. Be yourself, share your experiences, and be honest in your interactions.
Host Collaborations: Organize collaborative projects, such as group exhibitions, joint artworks, or themed challenges. This not only strengthens community bonds but also creates opportunities for everyone involved.
Provide Value: Share your knowledge, resources, or insights with the community. Whether it’s through tutorials, tips, or advice, providing value helps establish you as a supportive and valuable member of the community.
Celebrate Others’ Success: A healthy community is one where members celebrate each other’s achievements. Acknowledge and promote the successes of others, and they will likely do the same for you.

Respecting Intellectual Property

As an artist, it’s crucial to respect the intellectual property of others when sharing or discovering art. Here’s how:

Credit the Artist: Always credit the original artist when sharing their work. This includes tagging them in social media posts and mentioning their name in captions or descriptions.
Ask for Permission: If you want to use someone else’s artwork for anything other than sharing (e.g., in a project, as part of your own work), ask for permission first. This shows respect for the artist’s rights.
Avoid Plagiarism: Plagiarism is not only unethical but also illegal. Always create original work and give credit where it’s due.
Be Mindful of Reposting: If you’re sharing someone else’s work on a platform that’s not their own, ensure you have permission and give full credit. Some artists prefer not to have their work reposted without their consent.

Handling Your Own Copyrights

Protecting your own work is just as important. Here’s how to handle your copyrights:

Watermark Your Work: Adding a watermark to your images can help prevent unauthorized use of your artwork. Make sure the watermark is visible but not overly intrusive.
Use Copyright Notices: Include a copyright notice in your posts or on your website to inform others that your work is protected.
Understand Fair Use: Familiarize yourself with the concept of fair use, which allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions, such as commentary, criticism, or parody.
Legal Recourse: If you discover that your work has been used without your permission, consider seeking legal advice. Copyright infringement can be pursued in court if necessary.

The landscape of art sharing is continuously evolving. Here are some emerging trends to watch out for:

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): NFTs have revolutionized how digital art is sold and shared. They offer a way for artists to monetize their work and establish ownership in the digital realm.
Virtual and Augmented Reality: VR and AR are becoming increasingly popular in the art world, offering new ways to experience and share art. Artists are exploring these technologies to create immersive experiences.
Live Streaming: Live streaming art sessions is becoming more popular, allowing artists to share their process in real-time and engage with their audience in a more personal way.
AI and Art: Artificial intelligence is being used to create art and assist in the creative process. This intersection of technology and art opens up new possibilities for sharing and discovery.

Preparing for the Future

As the art world continues to change, here’s how you can prepare for the future of art sharing and discovery:

Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest trends and technologies in the art world. This will help you stay relevant and take advantage of new opportunities.
Experiment with New Mediums: Don’t be afraid to experiment with new mediums or platforms. Whether it’s digital art, VR, or NFTs, exploring new areas can open up new creative avenues.
Adaptability: Be adaptable and open to change. The art world is constantly evolving, and being flexible will help you navigate these changes successfully.
Build a Strong Online Presence: As the digital world continues to grow, having a strong online presence is crucial. This includes maintaining a professional website, being active on social media, and engaging with online communities.

Sharing your artwork—whether it’s a completed piece or a work in progress—is a powerful way to connect with others, receive feedback, and inspire creativity. The act of sharing, combined with the discovery of other artists’ creations, enriches the artistic community and fosters a collaborative environment where everyone can grow.

As you navigate the world of art sharing, remember to stay true to your creative vision, respect the work of others, and embrace the opportunities that come your way. Whether you’re posting on social media, engaging in art communities, or exploring new technologies, the journey of sharing your art is as rewarding as the creation itself.

Art is a universal language, and by sharing your work, you contribute to a global conversation that transcends boundaries and inspires creativity in countless ways. So, don’t hesitate—share your art, discover new artists, and be part of the vibrant and ever-evolving world of art.

Lumlux Art

The Art of Sharing

How to Showcase Your Completed Pieces and Works in Progress, and Discover Other Artists’ Creations