22 Reels and TikTok ideas for artists in 2022
I still staunchly stand by what I wrote in a previous All She Makes magazine print article. You do not ever need to make a video of your art to be successful or achieve your goals as an artist. Full stop. Having said that, I do want to bring one recent statistic to your attention. According to data from web security and performance company Cloudflare, in 2021, TikTok surpassed Google as the most visited website. Whoa.
So how does this relate to you & your marketing efforts? Well, it’s clear that TikTok is able to both draw and engage its users. Does that mean you should definitely be on it if you’re not already or use it more frequently if you are? It depends. I always recommend thinking about your ideal customer first. If they’re likely to be active on this platform, then the answer might be yes! Otherwise, be very strategic when considering whether this will be worth the effort.
If you’re aiming to continue to grow your audience on Instagram, then adding Reels to your content repertoire is probably a good idea. Again, nobody says you have to (including me). What a Reel can do, however, is potentially reach a wider audience than what your posts are currently being shown to and add a new dimension to how people interact with and experience your work via social media. But I completely understand that your biggest concern is likely the time they take to create. Therefore, try reframing it as another way you get to show your creativity instead of another grueling task to ‘keep up’ with the IG machine. Thinking like this, you’ll be bored or overwhelmed in no time.
So let’s avoid that with the following ideas to get you going this year:
1. Record a timelapse.
This is one the most commonly used video ideas for artists, but it’s because it often works and garners tons of views! People just love to watch the progression of how a piece comes together, especially when it’s sped up into a quick and entertaining video.
2. Stitch together still photos.
If you’re simply not a fan of recording yourself or your work isn’t suited to making video content, have no fear. You can still make great Reels or TikToks by stitching together a series of still images. This works quite well when you time the photo transitions to the music.
3. Zoom in for a closeup.
Show us the details! Do you use tiny brushstrokes, thick gobs of paint, specks of glitter, layers of goldleaf, or shiny resin? Whatever it is that adds a unique quality to your work, show it off. That said, I suggest still including a few seconds that reveal the entire piece either at the beginning or at the end to give your details context.
4. Follow a trend.
Check out what other artists are posting and what got them the most views. Is there a way you can recreate one of their Reels or TikToks in your own style? Also pay attention to what’s currently popular in terms of the music to play in the background as this can help your content gain traction.
5. Embrace humor.
Make a video that shares something funny about being an artist. This can end up reaching a wide audience because it’s relatable and others who have experienced the same thing will engage with you.
6. Give a peek into your process.
No need to overthink this one. Simply show a bit of how you create your art!
7. Teach a technique.
Take the previous idea one step further by creating a short tutorial on one technique you use. Remember, you don’t have to be an expert. If you’ve learned something interesting that might help another artist, don’t be shy about sharing it!
8. Provide a tip or resource.
Along the same lines, you can also talk about professional resources or tools that you’ve found or consistently use in your art business.
9. Throw it back to an older work.
While it’s not common to see #tbt or #fbf anymore, that doesn’t mean you must limit yourself to your newest and in-progress work. How exhausting! Go back and repost works that performed well in the past or simply the works that you love. You may even consider doing a comparison from when you started to the work you make now.
10. Share your inspirations.
Which artists do you most enjoy from history or who are working today? Give them a shout-out along with anything else that influences why or how you create your art.
11. Show a work on display.
For online sales, it can make a huge difference for a client to see how a piece looks hanging on a wall or actually sitting in a space rather than just cropped to the edges in a photo.
12. Walk-through a show.
Sadly, not everyone in your audience will be able to come to your in-person events. Help them avoid FOMO by recording a short video of your work displayed at the gallery, art fair, craft market, etc.
13. Compare framed vs. unframed.
This is another way of enticing potential collectors and demonstrating how your work looks when it’s fully ready to hang. If you don’t create 2-D work, find other ways to show comparison. For example, a sculpture displayed on a coffee table versus a bookshelf, or your newly-finished mural during the daytime versus at night.
14. Create interior mockups.
Use an app or Photoshop to put together a digital rendering of what your art would look like displayed in a contemporary, interior space. I’ve used ArtRooms and the Smartist app (no relation to my book, but I approve of their choice of name!) for this service, but there are many other options.
15. Explain how to purchase or commission art from you.
Since your audience is likely growing periodically, it’s a good idea to remind people exactly how they can collect your work or commission you. Direct them to your website or email. Bonus if you suggest joining your email newsletter!
16. Host a mini studio tour.
Let others take a look at your creative space. Hint, it definitely does not have to be perfect and you shouldn’t feel the need to clean up a bunch beforehand or artfully arrange your supplies. Keep it real, people want to see your authentic self.
17. Answer questions from your audience.
Post a questions box in your Instagram stories and use the responses to guide what you’ll answer in your AMA video.
18. Do an interesting transition to go from clean slate to finished artwork.
Maybe it’s a blank wall that cuts to your completed mural or a crisp, white sheet of paper you tap to reveal the final collage. There are now so many ways to do a snappy transition, which gives you endless possibilities to work with. You can come back to this format time and time again and your videos will still look different every time.
19. Share a work displayed in a client’s home.
You’ve probably built great relationships with a number of your clients. Ask one or a few if they’d be willing to let you share a short clip of your work in their space. If you don’t live near them, have them take a video and send it to you. Bonus tip: add this to your website testimonials page too.
20. List your favorite tools or materials.
What can’t you live without in your studio? Do you have a favorite shade of gouache, a tried and true ink roller, or an obscure sculpting tool? Show how you use it or where it ‘lives’ in your creative space.
21. Show how you pack a piece for shipment.
This can be such a fun one since it gives you a chance to show off your personality and how you thank your collectors. I love seeing artists who wrap their paintings with ribbons, add a hand-written note, or throw in extra goodies like postcards and stickers.
22. Introduce yourself!
Even if you’re shy, I encourage you to step in front of the camera to say hello to your followers. That said, if you don’t feel comfortable, then use still images or videos of your work and ad voiceover or text overlay (stick to short phrases so it’s not difficult to read) to tell your audience more about you.
I reel-y appreciate you reading this first article of the year! If you can stand bad puns and are looking forward to more art business and career content, I’ll see you in February ;)
Cheers,
Alicia
Find more of my writing as well as professional services and tools for artists at www.aliciapuig.com. My gallery, PxP Contemporary, will also be launching our first show of the year next month so stay tuned for the official announcement. If you’d like to stay updated with the gallery, I invite you to join our mailing list.
