Are you currently following art-related trends to get noticed on social media? A few years ago, I was doing the same thing, so there’s no judgment here.
My advice: don’t get caught in this endless cycle.
I know many content creators these days will tell you that if you want to sell your work on platforms like Etsy, you have to make art based on what’s trending.
Well, I disagree. Let me explain why.
What’s an art-related trend?
In the context of art, a trend is a specific topic, style, technique, movement or medium that is rapidly gaining in popularity.
Trends are notorious for catching people’s attention fast and getting a conversation going, with both positive and negative attention.
Trends are generally short-lived and will cycle many times throughout the year.
Some past examples of art trends would be acrylic paint pouring, traced or faceless portraits, NFTs, hyperrealism paintings or drawings, pendulum art, miniatures, and many more.
Trends come and go
Every year, new trends appear. They differ from month to month and year to year.
As a visual artist, you might be tempted to participate in some of these trends, especially when you feel like your work isn’t having any sort of meaningful engagement on social media.
But unless a trend is echoing your artistic style and values, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to it.
Why? Because you need to nurture your unique point of view and your overall identity as an artist. Don’t get caught up in creating what you think people want to see from you.
The term “going viral” might sound like a nice long-term goal to have, but unfortunately, there’s a lot of luck involved.
Truth is, there’s never going to be any guarantee that you’ll have success by following trends.
Originality over popularity
Draw or paint what you love instead, it’s as simple as that. Over time, you will find other people who share a similar passion, artists and customers alike. Focusing your time on your creative expression is more important for your growth as an artist.
Being original and unique comes from within. Constantly looking at trends or what other artists are doing may lead you to feel overwhelmed or discouraged in the long run.
I know I did. So much so that I stopped posting entirely. This may be my personal experience, but I felt like I needed a long break in order to find myself as an artist.
I decided to go on a creative journey void of external influences trying to tell me what I should or shouldn’t be making. And I really don’t regret that decision!
Algorithms aren’t worth your time
I was listening to a video by Sketchbook Skool on YouTube the other day and it really resonated with me.
In short, he explains that we waste our valuable time consuming mainstream content which is recommended to us based on what is “popular”, as if it’s dictating what we should and shouldn’t like.
Strive to be imperfect, honest and different. In his words, focus on “creating and less consuming.”
Algorithms are constantly changing and evolving. There’s no guarantee that your platform of choice won’t be irrelevant in a couple of years.
I wish someone could have told me this many years ago. Social media burnout is real and it happens when you put too much of your time into it.
I’m not saying to avoid it completely, just use it as another platform to post your work here and there.
Avoid looking at the number of likes as a way to measure your worth as an artist.
Just treat it as one way for people to find your art online. Snap a cute picture with good lighting, avoid filters, write a short description and post. Simple as that.
Do this instead:
1. Explore different creative avenues
Be bold. Make art that you are passionate about.
And if you’re a new artist and you’re not entirely sure what that entails just yet, well it’s time to explore different creative avenues.
Since this blog mainly focuses on painting and drawing, here are my recommendations:
- Try a variety of visual media like pens, pencils of all types, markers, oil and acrylic paint, watercolour, etc.
- Go to your local library and look at art books.
- Go on an urban sketching adventure.
- Take on a fun hobby like embroidery or sculpture.
- Love collecting stationery? Make the art journal of your dreams filled with stickers, washi tape, handwritten notes and illustrations.
Being creative outside of your preferred medium and style will not only make you grow as an artist, but it will inspire future projects as well. It’s inevitable.
2. Find your community
Don’t worry if what you make doesn’t get much engagement or positive reaction online at the beginning. It’s not a reflection of how good or bad your work is.
You probably just haven’t found your community yet. I’m referring to the people who share a similar passion for the type of art that you make. This can be anything from fanart, manga, comics, portraits, landscapes, abstract art and more.
And if you do get a comment or two on a post (not just an emoji), write back and be genuine. These small interactions with a few individuals may be more impactful in the long run than looking at numbers.
Now let me make an important distinction between following trends for the sake of views, new followers or making a quick buck and participating in a popular online challenge like Inktober, which tends to be really trendy in October.
If you’re unfamiliar with Inktober, it’s a yearly worldwide phenomenon which encourages artists to create daily artwork based on a set of prompts during the entire month of October.
These sorts of challenges are fun to do with the right intentions.
You get to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself to have a daily art practice and feel like you’re part of a fun community of artists who share a similar passion. AND you’re showcasing your own unique style.
3. Write artistic goals
The only thing that you might want to focus on as a beginner is achieving your personal goals. These goals will vary depending on your unique aspirations.
Learning how to write clear goals and track your progress can give you a sense of accomplishment.
Nurture your creative spirit by finding the motivation to keep a consistent practice to achieve these goals.
Key Takeaways
Whether it be in fashion, design or any art-related industry, trends are ephemeral.
If you’re a new artist and you’re wondering how to make money from your art or to increase engagement on your social media, I’d advise against using trends as a way to make art that appeals to the masses.
Instead, you can:
- Explore other creative avenues
- Find your community
- Write artistic goals
Think about this in the long-term, about creating a personal brand that will make a lasting impression based on your values and interests.
