10 Ways to Share Your Art on Instagram Without Overwhelm
A stress-free guide to making content creation for social media fun and avoiding burn-out
For artists and creators, Instagram is a powerful tool. If you are not using it to publicise your work properly that you are missing out on showing a massive audience your portfolio and therefore missing out on commissions, exciting opportunities and essentially, from making money from your craft. However, balancing consistent content creation with your main projects can sometimes feel overwhelming, leading to burnout. I often hear Artists complaining about having to do it, wishing social media didn’t exist or how it interferes with the making of their Artwork itself. This is what compelled me to write this blog, as for a while I felt the same, but now I truly enjoy the process and get plenty of work and opportunities from my Instagram posts and have found a way to not let it interfere with my Artwork.
What if creating Instagram content didn’t have to be a chore? What if it became a natural extension of your art? Here, I’ll share how I approach Instagram content with a mindset that prioritizes joy, creativity, and balance.
1. Treat Content as an Art Brief or a Conclusion to your project.
The most important advice I could give, would be to treat making content as an Art brief in itself or to treat it as an extension or the conclusion of your current project. This may sound unhelpful at first but once you start to see it this way it really can help to make it more exciting.
- If you prefer to treat it like its own art brief then attack it like you would your normal work. For example if you are a painter and you like to make paintings of landscapes for example you will be thinking of composition, colours, styles etc. Do the same with your reels. What composition will you use, what styles etc. Once you see it like this you will realise that Instagram is amazingly creative. You are not an artist being distracted from their art but an artist experimenting in making art in a new form.
- If you prefer to see it as an extension or natural conclusion to your work then lets use the example of a Painter again. You do not simply put paint brush to canvas, you probably have some steps before that. You probably do a sketch or design first and pick out your colours or mix pigments. This is probably not boring for you because you see this extra step as ‘creative’. I would suggest that you look at making content as simply another step in the process to fully completing a piece of Artwork. In the same way that you might get excited about trying a different size of canvas or mixing a new colour or sketching a new subject matter, you can also get excited about trying a new creative way of capturing your work for content such as trying a new camera angle, editing it in a different new way or adding music to accentuate your piece.
If these techniques are not quite getting you enthralled about making content yet then don’t worry, its just something to keep in the back of your mind. They may just naturally start to make more sense as you start to create more content.
Save a File of Music You Love
Nothing quite gets you hyped up like a song that you love so create a playlist or a folder of music that inspires you. Having this ready can help set the tone for your content and avoid that last minute scramble for something to fit your work. Shazam is a great app for catching songs when you are out and about and hear something that sparks an idea. I also like to save songs in Instagram in the saved audio area so if I’m stuck I can scroll through there for inspiration and see what suits the footage I have captured. A few things to note would be to have a range of different genres so you can suit it to the project. Sometimes I need a more professional song for artworks that also represent other clients and sometimes I like songs with a bit of comedy and other times I just crave a song from my past that I know will motivate me if there is going to be a bit of editing involved.
However one technique I would suggest before choosing a song is to listen to silence and then suddenly play the song full blast. If you jump its probably not best to use it because this is how people experience it when scrolling and if it comes across as intense they will probably keep scrolling. If this isn’t a concern for you, then use whatever music makes you feel good.
In case anyone is wondering I don’t always use the same process. Sometimes as I am working the perfect song will pop into my head, other times I will know the song before I make a video and so I roughly know what I need to film to fill the time in the song. Most of the time I get lucky and I just go through songs I like in my folder afterwards and they weirdly link up as if the whole thing had been meticulously planned. This is why I think a lot of people get overwhelmed by content; they think everything has to be planned to the ninth degree when actually a little editing here and there makes everything somehow come together. Which is why my next point is…
Don’t Over-Worry About Planning
At the end of the day, you are looking to make the content making process more fun, so you need to let go of perfectionism. This doesn’t mean that you won’t make great content because this will naturally have a knock on effect. As you worry less, making content will become less cumbersome, which means you will feel happier and more creatively minded and so this will only improve the final result. Soon capturing your art and showing your portfolio online will be second nature and not interfere with the actual making of the Artwork itself. Instead of fixating on everything being perfectly planned and filmed, focus on capturing what you can and you will find with a bit of fun music and some editing it will all come together in the end. The process is often more spontaneous and enjoyable than you might expect.
Use Versatile Equipment
If you are just starting out I would urge you not to over think your equipment. It really doesn’t take much to get a good result. I managed very well with just an Iphone and a gorilla pod attached to different surfaces to capture everything I needed for most of my videos. Start off as simply as possible and then only add on if you know something is really going to make it easier to film or more enjoyable for you. Gorilla pods can also be very handy when making art outside of the studio. Fling it in a bad with your phone and your art kit and you are good to go without stressing about any sort of plan to film. Then when you are ready to start your filming you can hook it up to any surface and then forget about it and start focussing on your art. My approach to a lot of my videos has been to turn off my notifications and have my phone charged or plugged in and then clipped somewhere so the scene I want is lined up and then to film in time lapse. If I feel really fancy I then might do a few close up shots as and when I feel like it and or perhaps change where I clip my phone so its not all shot from one angle. I then shove all the footage in the Inshot app on my phone, add a song and cut out the boring parts or line up certain parts the beat or just play it over the top of my time lapse footage. It’s pretty easy and looks professional enough for my socials. I do this for every few projects rather than every time. For other jobs I just take a final photo. This also spreads the load and means I don’t have to edit every job I do and mixes it up for my Instagram wall which I think is nice for viewers too. I don’t think they want every thing to be a reel either; they are happy enough just looking at cool photos.
5. Set Realistic Expectations
You don’t have to post every day or chase viral trends. Quality and authenticity resonate more with audiences than sheer quantity. Find a rhythm that works for you, even if it’s a post a month. Everyone always says consistency is key and there is a reason for it. It’s just a gentle reminder to your viewers, once a month that you exist, are still working and make great work; and that will bring commissions and sales to you. Make 12 pieces of content, post once a month and you’re set for the year. Start small and don’t give up. If you use the technique mentioned in the last point that means you are only editing 4 videos a year and 8 photos. It’s much more manageable than the schedules that people suggest online such as once a day or once a week which immediately overwhelms newbies. Once a month is enough to be successful and to build up the routine without it feeling like a drag. Once you have this routine down and start to enjoy sharing your work you can increase the amount of posts as and when feels good to you.
6. Build a Community
Chat to some like-minded artists and support each other online. Building a community of people is a great way to help you stay on track. I have met some incredible artists through Instagram. We often hype each other up when we post something and talk to each other when we are struggling with certain aspects of being an artist or content creation. Again this is great for consistency, reducing the need for perfectionism and fighting back against imposter syndrome (feeling like you or your art is sub-par or not worthy of being shown to anyone).
7. Batch Content Creation
On days when I feel inspired, I’ll create multiple pieces of content in one sitting. For example a time lapse of me making my art for a reel, a quick video of the mess my studio has become whilst making my art, for a laid back, laugh at myself Instagram story and then a photo of the finished work for a post. That way I have created three different forms of content with a minimal invasion on my art and my time. Later on when I’m doom scrolling or watching tv I can throw up a bit of content, and again posting has become something quick and not a bore.
8. Celebrate Small Wins
It can be easy to put yourself down for not achieving what you expected on social media so here are some ways to change your focus and get enjoyment from posting
- Engagement metrics can be a double-edged sword. I would highly recommend not obsessing over likes or views. You are unlikely to get the likes or views you want, especially when starting out and this can lead you to feel like you are not a good enough artist and that you work doesn’t hold up to other work you might see online. Likes and views are not a good representation of talent. Instead focus on the joy of sharing your work and building an online portfolio to show clients. Treat it like your photos on your phone. Its just a collection of artwork to show others when you need to.
- Celebrate the connections you make and the creative process itself. I have found some genuine bonds with people through sharing my art. In turn it has helped reassure me as an Artist. Many creatives suffer with imposter syndrome and thinking their work is not good enough. A message from a stranger saying they love your work, can be extremely helpful for giving you a confidence boost to fuel your next piece.
- If you are just starting out it may be inconceivable that something like Instagram can bring you money and you may not be approaching it in the right way. I’m not talking about influencers, PR packages and flights to Bora Bora (sorry) but I promise with only a small amount of effort you will find people contacting you for commissions and opportunities. Once this does start to happen this can also boost your drive to make content and make it feel less mundane.
9. Ask for Help
I actually quite like editing my videos; check out Inshot on IOS, its insanely easy to use and has a surprising amount of options for editing on a phone. As I said before it kind of feels like a fun art project in itself. However there have been quite a few times when I get overwhelmed because I’m busy with my Artwork and then the negative cycle of begins….
Too Busy - Don’t Post for ages - Feel Bad – Get out of the habit – Lose enjoyment – Give up
So…. Ask for help. Find someone to help you edit. Editing is the most time consuming part of the whole process. Pointing a camera takes 3 seconds but editing can be time consuming and feel like chore when you’re busy, so find a friend willing to help or find an editor that won’t break the bank to help for the odd post and break the cycle of content procrastination. And on that note… thank you to the most amazing friend and editor Zaid Alkayat for helping me with my videos and meltdowns and for producing such awesome videos in what seems like a blink of an eye. He is a naturally gifted editor, so if you want to borrow him for a day to edit your video then here are his details, just make sure you don’t hire him too often because he is needed for more of mine 😊 … @zaid.filmaker or www.londonfilmeditor.com
10. Take Breaks
If Instagram starts to feel overwhelming, it’s okay to step back. Your well-being is more important than maintaining a constant online presence. Taking breaks can recharge your inspiration and prevent burnout. One person I have met through mutual appreciation of our art has often messaged saying they feel overwhelmed by the need to post. I always encourage them to enjoy their time off, get into nature and only come back when they feel ready to share their awesome drawings. I think this, combined with the positive comments they get when they do post has actually recently inspired them to be more consistent, I notice now they don’t get so burnt out and thrive on sharing what they have been drawing during the break. It seems to have helped them enormously and now I notice they are getting tons of commissions and create cool merch that sells well.
Transforming the Pressure into Play
At its best, Instagram should feel like a space where you can experiment, connect, and share your vision with others. By treating content creation as an extension of your art and focusing on what brings you joy, you can transform it into a fulfilling part of your creative practice. Remember, there’s no “right” way to do it—only the way that works for you.
Next time you create a reel or post, think of it as a chance to explore, express, and have fun. When you embrace the process with curiosity and playfulness, it stops being a burden and becomes an opportunity to celebrate your creativity.