Common fears to sharing your art online
One of my real passions is to help emerging artists start sharing their work online.
It’s a topic that often comes up when I teach in-person workshops and also in the discussions with other artists and makers.
I’ve noticed that there’s a common reason that so many creatives avoid “going public” with their art and that’s FEAR.
Fear caused by the overwhelm of not knowing where to start.
Fear around not being a “real” artist.
Fear of negative judgement or mean comments.
Fear that you’ll never be able to stand out.
I’m not belittling those fears. I deal with fear myself so I know first hand what it feels like. These fears are very real and very common. However, there are ways that you can overcome them so that you can start sharing your creative passions online, without worry.
Let’s start from the top…
I don’t know where to get started.
There are so many ways to start sharing your artwork. You could set up an Etsy shop. You could start blogging. You could share on Instagram. You could become a Youtuber.
Thinking about all of these things at once is what leads to overwhelm, which in turn gets in the way of you sharing your stuff. Try picking one platform to get started on - only once you are comfortable on that medium should you think of adding something else to the mix. It is easy to think you have to be "everywhere" when you don't. What do you love and where do like-minded people hang out? Start there!
I’m not a “real” artist.
One of the things I love about the internet is that you have access to so many wonderful artists. The flip side of that, is that you have access to so many wonderful artists. Nothing quite inspires impostor syndrome like seeing the amazing work other people are doing.
If this sounds like you, I’d encourage you to limit the time you spend scrolling through Pinterest or watching art videos… at least until you get more comfortable sharing your own creations. And in the interest of "keepin' it real" I also feel like a poser more times than I care to admit. Oh, I just did! I shake it off and keep on keepin' on! Sometimes it involves a good pity party, but I am the guest of honor, so there is that!
I also want you to remember that if you make art, any kind of art, you are a real artist.
Everyone will hate me!
I’m not going to lie to you - the internet can be a negative place. I’ve noticed this on Youtube in particular. Some of the comments people leave can quite unkind.
However, I want you to know that whatever trolls say about you or your artwork has nothing to do with you. It’s more of a reflection of the kind of person they are.
Think of it this way - if you let the potential for negativity prevent you from sharing your art online, you’re not hurting those people. You’re hurting the people you could be inspiring.
“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations.”
There are too many people out there doing the same thing
We all interpret ideas and inspiration in a different way. Each of us favors different supplies, different colors, different techniques… the marks you make are unique to you, so don’t worry about blending into the background.
The more you share online, the more people will come to love your style. Be bold and stand out - show who you are and stay true to yourself.
Like I said, all of these fears are very normal. I’ve felt each of them at some time or another, but the lesson here is to not let that define what you do next. To put it simply, if you want to share your artwork online, go do it!
Blessings,