TikTok for Visual Artists: A Complete Guide to Monetize Your Art

Are you a visual artist wondering if TikTok is worth your time? In this article, I’ll show you why using TikTok for visual artists can be powerful for you. I’ll cover how to use TikTok to share your work, connect with other artists, and even make money from your art.

Why Visual Artists Should Use TikTok?

If you’re looking to get your work seen by potential fans, buyers, or galleries worldwide, TikTok can help you get there! Here are the 3 reasons that I found most important why visual artists should use TikTok to monetize their art:

Access to a Global Art Community

TikTok is more than just a platform for fun videos, it’s a powerful space for artists to get discovered by art lovers all over the world. With millions of users scrolling daily, you’re not just getting likes – your work could catch the eye of art collectors, potential buyers, and even gallery owners. This wide-reaching exposure is crucial for artists who look to expand their reach beyond local art scenes.

Additionally, TikTok’s algorithm is designed to push your content to people who have shown an interest in art, for example, if someone frequently engages with art-related content such as liking painting tutorials or following digital art creators, TikTok is more likely to show them similar videos. This means even niche artists can connect with a wider audience without needing to spend much money on advertising the art.

Building a Community of Art Enthusiasts

If you want to go viral and maintain your reputation on TikTok, it’s necessary to build a community around your art. You can connect with people who truly appreciate your work by sharing your creative process, tips, and personal stories.

For instance, Chloe Rose Art (@chloeroseart), regularly shares her creative process, painting tips, and personal insights, which helps build a community around her work. Her videos often receive thousands of reactions, with some reaching over 100K likes, and her comment section is filled with enthusiastic responses from fans asking for more tips, requesting tutorials, and expressing their admiration.

The rule here is very simple: The more authentic you are, the more your community will grow. When followers see your dedication and passion, they are more likely to become loyal fans who support and promote your work. These followers can then turn into advocates who share your work, provide valuable feedback, and even collaborate with you on future projects. 

Monetization Potential

TikTok not only gives you the chance to reach a global audience but also opens up multiple ways for artists to earn money. Visual artists can effectively use their TikTok presence to direct traffic to their online stores, where they sell prints, originals, custom commissions, etc. On average, artists report earning anywhere from $100 to $1,000 per commission, depending on the complexity and demand for their work.

The platform also offers its Creator Fund, which pays users based on video performance and features like “Gifts,” where fans can financially support artists during live sessions. By using TikTok’s Creator Fund, users earn anywhere from $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views, meaning viral content can generate significant earnings.

Additionally, brands are always on the lookout for unique and engaging content, making TikTok an excellent platform for landing sponsorship deals, which can bring in about $200 to $20,000, depending on the artist’s following and engagement.

How Visual Artists Can Maximize Their Visibility on TikTok

If you’re a visual artist looking to grow your visibility on TikTok, it’s important to understand how to optimize your content strategy. TikTok’s algorithm favors engaging and consistent content, and by using some key techniques, you can boost your visibility and reach a broader audience. Here’s how you can do it effectively:

Post Consistently

Consistency is key to growing your audience on TikTok, and it’s important to post frequently and at the right times. The best strategy is to aim for at least 3-5 posts per week or even once daily to stay visible. TikTok also recommends creators post daily for maximum engagement, with studies showing that creators who post 1-4 times per day see the best results.

As for timing, the best hours to post are typically 6 AM to 10 AM and 7 PM to 11 PM EST, especially on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday when user activity peaks. It is proved that videos posted at optimal times tend to receive 15% higher engagement within the first hour.

With this frequency, you don’t need to share finished masterpieces every time; instead showing sketches, behind-the-scenes shots, or time-lapse videos can keep your audience engaged more with your working process without overwhelming your workflow.

>>> Read more: Mastering TikTok for Artists: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success

Use Trending Content and Add Your Own Creativity

TikTok is all about trends, yet trends come and go quickly. Some trends only last just a few days or weeks, therefore, to keep up, you need to stay engaged with the platform daily by keeping an eye on the “For You” page and trending hashtags to see what’s popular.

However, while jumping on trends can expand your reach, it’s essential to maintain your own creativity. The trick is to blend the trend with your personal style. For example, if there’s a viral challenge or sound, don’t just copy it but adapt it to your art. You can use trending sounds or hashtags to highlight your unique process or artwork, like artist Devon Rodriguez does with his street portraits. 

Engage with the TikTok Art Community

Actively engaging with the TikTok art community not only boosts your visibility but also helps build meaningful connections with other creators. One of the best ways to do this is consistently interacting with other artists’ content by leaving thoughtful comments, liking their posts, and even sharing their work can help get your name noticed.

Joining art-related challenges, like #DrawThisInYourStyle, is another excellent strategy. These challenges invite artists to reinterpret a piece in their own style, encouraging community while allowing them to showcase their creativity. By participating in these challenges, you’re not only engaging with the original artist but also opening up your work to their audience, expanding your reach organically.

Additionally, live streams are an effective way for real-time interaction with your audience and other creators. Whether it’s a casual Q&A about your process or a live drawing session, these streams give viewers a chance to connect with you on a more personal level.

Collaborate with Other Artists

Collaborating with other artists on TikTok is a fantastic way to reach new audiences and boost your visibility. By working with fellow creators, you can introduce your art to their followers and vice versa, which helps both of you grow your audience and increase engagement.

Devon Rodriguez (@devonrodriguezart), a popular artist on TikTok known for his realistic subway sketches, collaborated with fellow artists on TikTok through duet videos and challenges. Devon has partnered with other creators like makeup artist Abby Roberts (@abbyroberts) and combined their skills in art and makeup for creative challenges. The video gained over a million views and 70,000 likes, significantly boosting both artists’ follower counts. Devon Rodriguez also saw a 30% increase in his followers and a notable rise in engagement on his other posts.

Leveraging TikTok Ads

If you want to grow faster or promote a specific artwork without spending too much, TikTok ads can help! Here are 3 ad types that I found most effective to boost your art:

• In-Feed Ads: These ads appear in users’ “For You Feed“, blending in with regular content, so you can use this ad format to feature your art, promote your portfolio, or direct viewers to your online store. Adding a call-to-action (CTA) like “Shop Now” or “Learn More” can turn your viewers into potential buyers.
• Brand Hashtag Challenges: This is a fun way to get people involved with your art. You can create a challenge around your artwork and invite users to participate. For example, you could ask users to recreate your style or add their spin to one of your pieces. The more people join, the more your challenge spreads and the more chance to go viral.
• Branded Effects: You can design custom effects, like filters or stickers, that users can add to their own TikToks. For visual artists, this is a creative way to spread your art while engaging users. When people use your effects, they’re indirectly sharing your work with their followers, helping you grow your audience.

To begin, you can start with a modest budget to test the waters. TikTok allows you to run campaigns starting at $50 per day, so you can experiment with different ad types and targeting options to see what works best. Initially, it’s a good idea to focus on In-Feed Ads since they are cost-effective, then monitor your ad performance regularly.

It’s also important to keep an eye on key metrics like click-through rates (CTR) and engagement to understand what resonates with your audience. If you notice an ad isn’t performing as expected, make adjustments to your targeting or content until you find a formula that works. With consistent monitoring and optimization, even a small budget can go a long way in boosting your visibility and growing your audience over time.

>>> Read more: What is TikTok Agency Account? Should We Need One to Get More Followers?

5 Video Ideas to Promote Your Art on TikTok

With TikTok, visual artists can take an amazing opportunity to showcase their creativity and connect with a broad audience. In this part, I will recommend 5 video ideas to help you effectively promote your art on TikTok:

Time-Lapse of an Artwork

Time-lapse videos are a simple yet engaging way to give your audience a sped-up view of your artistic process, showing them how your work comes together in a dynamic and visually appealing way. These videos are best for demonstrating the complexity and skill behind your work, showing each step from start to finish in a visually engaging format. They also keep viewers’ attention as they can see the progression of the artwork in just a few minutes, which is perfect for TikTok’s short-form video style.

This type of video best fits your piece of art that involves several stages, such as sketching, layering colors, and adding intricate details. It allows viewers to see the complete transformation from start to finish without spending too much time.

In addition, Since time-lapse videos are fast-paced and full of visual changes, choosing upbeat music that matches the quick rhythm of the video with be your go-to choice. And, to make your time-lapse even more captivating, use smooth transitions such as fading and zoom-in effects between different stages of the artwork to highlight your progression.

Studio Tours or Workspace Setup

Studio tours or workspace setup videos let your audience get a personal glimpse into your creative environment, making them feel more connected to you and your art. These videos are particularly effective for showcasing the unique tools, materials, and inspirations that influence your work. They can help humanize your brand, showing that there’s a real person behind the artwork.

To make your studio tour touch, you can focus on unique aspects of your workspace, such as a wall of inspiring sketches, a neatly organized paint station, or a cozy corner filled with reference books and art supplies with your personal touches like favorite mugs or quirky decor to give viewers a sense of your artistic personality. 

Before and After Videos

Art enthusiasts love seeing the creative journey from start to finish, especially when there’s a noticeable difference between the two stages. Therefore, before and after videos are a great way to capture attention by showcasing the complete transformation of your artwork. These videos are especially impactful for artworks with significant progressions, like taking a rough sketch and turning it into a highly detailed character design, a vibrant landscape, or a realistic portrait.

The key to a compelling before and after video is to choose artworks that undergo significant changes during the creation process, such as detailed character designs, landscapes, or portrait paintings. Showing these transformations can help viewers understand and appreciate the effort and skill that go into creating each piece.

I suggest you focus on creating a smooth and visually striking transition between the stages by using a swipe or quick cut that seamlessly connects the “before” and “after” shots, which makes the change feel dramatic and satisfying for the viewer. It’s also helpful to keep the video short, ideally under 15 seconds, to maintain viewer attention. You can also zoom in on key details of your artwork during the “after” phase to highlight intricate changes.

Art Challenges and Trends

Joining art challenges and trends on TikTok is a great way to boost your visibility and connect with a larger audience. By participating in these popular challenges, you’re engaging with conversations that already have a big following. To make the most of it, choose challenges that match your style and add your own unique touch, allowing your creativity to shine and helping you stand out in a crowded space.

For instance, if you’re into portrait art, you could join the #DrawThisInYourStyle challenge, where you can recreate a character with your unique touch, like your special way of shading or color use. Similarly, If you prefer abstract art, a challenge like #DreamcoreArt might be a great fit, giving you the chance to show off your creativity with bold shapes and imaginative designs.

Besides, choosing the right music when joining in an art challenge is also important. You need to determine which type of music matches your challenge and your art style. For instance, calming acoustic or classical music pairs well with delicate watercolor paintings or nature-inspired sketches. On the other hand, upbeat electronic tracks or indie pop could enhance time-lapse videos of digital art, adding energy to the creation process. For more abstract or experimental art, ambient or instrumental music will help create a more immersive and captivating viewing experience.

Art Tutorials

Art tutorials are a great way to establish yourself as an expert while attracting followers eager to learn new techniques. These videos are perfect for artists who want to share their knowledge and offer educational value to their audience. You can create tutorials on a variety of topics, from simple basics like shading and color mixing to more advanced skills such as drawing perspective or adding digital effects.

To ensure your tutorial is effective, it’s important to keep your instructions simple and easy to follow. I suggest that you use captions or voiceovers to guide viewers step-by-step to make it even easier for them to understand and learn from your content.

Let’s see how artist @samdoesarts shares bite-sized tutorials on his digital illustration. He breaks down complex concepts, like drawing realistic facial expressions, into short, easy-to-digest steps, using captions and voiceovers to walk viewers through each phase. For instance, in one of his videos, he explains how to map out proportions using basic shapes before moving on to adding finer details. As a result, his videos often received over 5,000 likes and hundreds of comments from viewers sharing their progress or asking questions.

TikTok Success Stories from Visual Artists

Now let’s take a look at some inspiring success stories of visual artists who have made a name for themselves on TikTok by using the app’s unique features.

Miranda the Hybrid

Miranda the Hybrid (@mirandathehybrid) is an illustrator, author, and art teacher from Pittsburgh. She has accumulated over 511.4K followers and more than 14.4M likes on TikTok by sharing tips for artists, art critiques, and personal insights, making her page a valuable resource for aspiring artists.

Her success is rooted in her ability to connect with her audience on a personal level. Miranda encourages artists to embrace their true selves when using TikTok, whether it’s their humor, quirks, or everyday struggles. When Miranda started showing her face, personality, and the behind-the-scenes of her creative process, her engagement soared.

Miranda also noted that once she became more relatable, her views increased, and people started interacting with her content more, turning her into more than just an artist – she became a person her audience could connect.

McMonster

McMonster (@mc_monster), a Portland-based artist, has gained more than 71.5K followers and over 545.5K likes on TikTok, thanks to his captivating time-lapse videos that showcase his detailed ink and watercolor paintings. He condenses his 8-hour creative process into 60-second clips, offering viewers an inside look at how his intricate works are created.

McMonster’s authenticity is a huge part of his appeal. From showing his tattoos to using moody, lesser-known music in his videos, his raw, unfiltered approach resonates with his audience. His followers appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at his work, and his authenticity has helped him gain a supportive and engaged community on TikTok.

Mary Clare Teller

Digital illustrator Mary Clare Teller (@mcteller_art) has built a following of over 30.1K fans and garnered over 575.5K likes by using TikTok’s collaborative features, such as duets and challenges, to promote her colorful portraits. By pairing her artwork with popular sounds and engaging in trends, she’s managed to grow her reach and attract a larger audience.

Mary highlights that TikTok offers more tools than other platforms to help artists boost their content. From using trending sounds to participating in popular challenges, she effectively taps into these features to gain visibility. Her use of TikTok’s special functions has allowed her to expand her audience beyond her original following, turning her into a famous artist on this platform.

Wrap-up

As we’ve seen, TikTok isn’t just a stage for your art – it’s a community studio where creativity thrives. You can curate your own digital gallery by sharing your unique style, embracing challenges, and connecting with other artists. Remember, your next creation could be the one that resonates with thousands. So, pick up your tools right now and let your art shine.