The world of social media is dynamic and often unpredictable, but one platform in particular has gained importance in recent years: TikTok . What originally began as an app for dance videos and short sketches has evolved into a powerful tool for artists to present their work to a wide audience.
If you have hesitated to use the app so far, now is the perfect time to delve deeper into the topic and find out how TikTok can revolutionize your creative work.
TikTok has over a billion active users worldwide and is constantly growing. This platform is not only a playground for viral videos, but also offers artists unique opportunities to showcase their work and build a connection with new and existing fans.
TikTok's algorithms are particularly adept at promoting content that engages and fascinates.
The power of the algorithm
A remarkable aspect of TikTok is the For You feed , curated by a sophisticated algorithm . It shows users content based on their behavior and interests. This means that even artists with a small following have a chance of being discovered.
The platform rewards creative and unique content, making it ideal for artists looking for new ways to showcase their work.
TikTok as a marketing tool for artists
TikTok is a powerful marketing tool for artists. Photo by Olivier Bergeron @obergeron, via Unsplash
Think of TikTok as your digital gallery , where you can not only showcase your work but also document the creative process. Users are often fascinated by the stories behind the artwork.
Show how you create a new work, share your inspirations, and let your followers participate in moments of failure and success. This creates a sense of connection and authenticity.
Creative content that performs well on TikTok
TikTok has established itself as one of the most dynamic platforms in the creative industry. But what kind of content performs particularly well , and how can you, as an artist, benefit from it?
Let our list inspire you and discover how you can use TikTok to bring your creative ideas to life.
01 Behind-the-Scenes Insights
One of the best ways to captivate your audience is to give them insight into the creative process behind your artwork . People love to see how a piece of art comes together, from the initial idea to the finished product.
Videos that show your work steps not only offer interesting content, but also build a personal connection with your followers.
02 Timelapse Videos
Time-lapse videos are perfectly suited to compress long creative processes and make them quickly understandable.
Whether it's painting, sculpture, or graphic design – the accelerated format allows viewers to experience the often lengthy creative process in just a few seconds. A well-made timelapse video can work wonders and make your content significantly more appealing.
03 Before-and-after comparisons
You can achieve an impressive effect on TikTok with before-and-after videos . Whether it's a blank canvas transformed into a masterpiece or an old sculpture restored – such transformations exert an immense attraction.
The transformation of a simple material into a work of art never fails to amaze audiences.
04 Artistic Challenges
TikTok is notorious for its challenges , which can go viral within days. Start your own challenge or participate in existing ones. A creative task that your audience can recreate will generate interaction and get your art into the feeds of many users.
Examples of topics could be: “Draw a self-portrait in 10 minutes” or “Create a work of art using only one color” .
5 Tutorials and Instructions
Educational content is highly valued on TikTok. Share your knowledge through short tutorials and how-to guides. Showcase specific techniques or tools you use.
It doesn't always have to be complicated instructions; even simple tips and tricks, such as "How to set shadows correctly," can be valuable content that will delight your audience.
06 Insights into Art History
Art enthusiasts appreciate it when artists share their knowledge of art history and different styles. Short clips in which they explain and perhaps even recreate famous artworks or techniques can be very popular.
Such content not only offers educational value, but also positions you as a knowledgeable artist.
07 Using Trends and Music
A key feature of TikTok is its trends and viral sounds. Use these to make your content more relevant. A popular option is to creatively integrate current trends into your artwork or create artwork to popular sounds.
This will increase the likelihood that your video will be seen by many users.
08 Collaborations with other artists
Collaborations are very common on TikTok. Work together with other creators – whether through joint videos, duets, or creative competitions.
Such collaborations can significantly increase the reach of your profile and attract new followers.
09 Interactive content and Q&A sessions
Engage your audience by inviting them to ask questions and creating videos that answer those questions. This not only encourages interaction but also strengthens your connection with your followers.
Furthermore, interactive content such as surveys or games related to your artwork can generate excellent engagement.
10 live sessions
live feature lets you interact directly with your audience. Organize live painting sessions, Q&A sessions, or mini-workshops where you demonstrate techniques and answer questions.
This offers an excellent opportunity to build a closer relationship with your followers while simultaneously increasing your visibility.
11 Creative Transitions
The platform offers a variety of tools and effects that allow you to create creative transitions between scenes or shots.
These visual tricks can make your videos more dynamic and exciting. Experiment with these techniques to make your content even more impressive.
12 Humor and Entertainment
Don't forget to incorporate a touch of humor and entertainment into your videos.
Funny sketches, parodic moments, or unexpected twists stick in the viewers' minds and encourage them to share your content.
13 Personal experiences and emotions
Let your audience share in your emotional highs and lows. An authentic video that shows how art helps you get through tough times or how proud you are of a completed work can build a strong connection with your followers.
New TikTok features for artists
TikTok is continuously committed to improvements and new features to enhance the user experience. We've compiled the most important points for visual artists.
Since summer 2023: “Work With Artists” feature
Since summer 2023, TikTok has offered a feature that allows users to create monetized campaigns together with their favorite artists. This tool, called "Work With Artists," follows an appealing basic idea: artists and labels can set a budget to motivate TikTok creators to showcase their music on the platform and create creative content for selected songs.
Once the videos are published, the creators receive payment that depends directly on the video's performance – the more successful the video is on the platform, the higher the earnings! Additionally, rewards are given to creators who make it into the top ten.
Since December 2023: Artist Day / Artist Account and Profile Adjustment
To boost your follower growth, TikTok introduced the Artist account at the end of last year. This special account for artists includes a variety of features and promotional opportunities. All you need are at least four pieces of content that you have previously uploaded to TikTok.
The artist account provides a variety of features designed to make it easier for artists to navigate the platform and to further develop their profile with fans.
Artist Day : to identify oneself as an artist and to inform the community about it.
New Release : To highlight a recent release, artists have the option to feature a track for a period of six weeks: up to 14 days before and up to 30 days after its release. The new version will also be displayed on the discovery pages.
Filter by artist : to pin a message to the discovery page, regardless of whether it's your own track or a trending video.
Behind a Song : to reveal stories or sources of inspiration.
Musictab : to compile the artist's entire catalog, allowing fans to familiarize themselves with the artist's world. This feature is automatically updated as new tracks are made available on the platform.
Fan Spotlight: to highlight the bestUGC contentin the Music tab. UGC stands for user-generated content, created by users themselves. As a UGC creator , it is your responsibility to produce content for companies, primarily for use in advertisements, but also in the companies' social media posts.
The artist account feature gives creatives the opportunity to add an "artist" tag , distinguishing them from ordinary users.
This tag will appear under your account name and signals to the TikTok community and potential new fans that you are an artist. Regarding posting, this specific tool helps you maximize your reach and the impact of your new release.
Musicians are especially encouraged to highlight their upcoming release under that day for 14 days before and 30 days after its release date. This way, the upcoming release will automatically be featured on the catalog's discovery pages.
This represents a key area on the platform for maximizing visibility. While this feature was primarily designed for performing artists such as singers and bands, it can also be used by visual artists.
How much can you earn with TikTok?
TikTok is a platform with well over 1 billion users, offering numerous opportunities to monetize creative content. Creators' earning potential varies greatly and depends on factors such as the number of followers, engagement, and the chosen monetization strategy.
With increasing investment by brands in TikTok content, it is becoming easier for creators to generate revenue, especially in the DACH countries, where the influencer marketing market continues to grow.
Tell stories with your videos. Take your viewers on a journey – from the initial concept to the finished product. Use TikTok's short video format to generate excitement and interest.
Tip 2:Use hashtags
Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your videos. Hashtags like #Art, #ArtistOnTikTok, and more specific tags like #WatercolorArtists or #SculptureArtists help make your content stand out in the flood of videos.
Tip 03:Network
Interact with other artists and participate in challenges. Collaborations and duets with other TikTok artists can help you expand your reach and gain new fans.
Tip 4:Creative Challenges
Start your own challenges and let other artists participate in your creative process. This can increase interaction and engagement with your followers.
Tip 5:The right equipment
It doesn't always have to be expensive equipment. A good smartphone, a small tripod, and decent lighting can be enough.
Apps like FilmoraGo or InShot help you edit your videos professionally.
Tip 06:Overcoming Challenges
Of course, there are also challenges. The algorithm can be unpredictable, and not every video goes viral.
Consistency and authenticity are key here. Stay true to your style and don't get discouraged.
Success stories – artists on TikTok
Here is a list of some popular TikTok artists who have built a considerable fan base through their creative work and dedication:
Devon Rodriguez (@devonrodriguezart)
Devon is known for his lively “Subway Sketches” , in which he portrays passengers on the New York subway and captures their surprised reactions.
His authentic and moving content has earned him millions of followers.
Canadian artist Matt Chessco combines music and art on his channel, which boasts 2.7 million subscribers and 58.5 million likes. Matt primarily focuses on painting portraits of celebrities and also has a large following on Instagram and YouTube. He resides in Montreal and has a significant US audience.
Armanee Sinaga, a 20-year-old artist from Arizona, has an impressive following of 505,000 on TikTok and has garnered 14.5 million likes. A committed vegan, Armanee dedicates herself to precise sketches and black-and-white drawings with pen and pencil, inspired by mythical motifs. Her engagement rate on Instagram is a remarkable 13.75%, significantly exceeding the average.
American installation artist Alexa Meade has made a name for herself, particularly through portraits applied directly to human skin, creating a fascinating fusion of three-dimensional and two-dimensional art. With 232,000 followers and 3.3 million likes on TikTok, Alexa was featured in VICE on behalf of Apple and holds the title of Google Artist in Residence.
Morgan Gray, a painter living in New Orleans, has been working as an artist since graduating from university in 2017. Much of the content Gray shares on TikTok shows close-ups of specific details of her paintings (usually while she's adding the finishing touches) before she steps back to view the artwork as a whole.
Gray uses her presence on TikTok to highlight the intricate details of her artwork, characterized by vibrant colors and abstract patterns . With videos that analyze the application of fluid lines and the construction of forms, Gray captivates her audience and sparks curiosity about how each of her artworks will ultimately look.
For those who prefer prints to paintings, Brooklyn-based artist Tabitha Whitley offers a remarkable portfolio that her followers can view on her TikTok account. While Whitley has videos showcasing her paintings and drawings, her prints are particularly striking for depicting the different stages that lead to the creation of her artwork.
From sketching and carving to printing, Whitley's printmaking process is shown clearly and comprehensibly, making it engaging enough for the audience to follow. It is also advantageous that the resulting prints are of great beauty.
For fans of photographers like Rankin, advertising and fashion photographer Derrick Freske has created an impressive TikTok portfolio documenting his work on various shoots. By showcasing his projects with magazines, brands, and celebrities, Freske aims to promote his photography and offer advice to his audience on how to create their own high-quality portraits.
The excellent quality of his videos ensures that Freske's photos add a touch of elegance to your TikTok feed, while the behind-the-scenes footage offers a glimpse into his creative process and work environment. Viewers might initially be drawn to Freske for the appealing aesthetics of his feed, but ultimately, they stay to watch him capture the perfect shot.
Artist and content creator Perry Picasshoe showcases and sells his work through social media. Perry is fluent in all pronouns and has 170,500 followers and 8 million likes on TikTok. He offers prints, clothing, and accessories for sale on his website. Perry is perceived as bold and engaging.
The internet wouldn't be what it is without its more peculiar aspects, and ceramic artist Tatiana Cardona creates works that fall into this category. Art in general can be whimsical and humorous (think Jeff Koons), and Cardona embraces this theme by incorporating an exaggerated pair of lips into all her ceramic pieces.
The lip motif was inspired by feminist movements of the mid-20th century, when bright red lipstick became a visual symbol of resistance for many women. By incorporating this element into her artwork, Cardona creates ceramic pieces that are playful and extravagant enough to capture the attention of any follower of the girl power movement.
Alpay Efe, a 34-year-old German photorealist artist, is currently in residence in the Netherlands. On his TikTok channel, which boasts 31,600 followers and 339,000 likes, he shares time-lapse videos documenting his creative process from sketch to finished artwork. He also has a following in the Philippines and Brazil.
Rudy has made a name for himself through his art of paper cutting. In his roles as a social media marketing expert, copywriter, street artist, photographer, video producer, DJ, music producer, and product designer, his work has garnered attention on platforms such as ESPN, Buzzfeed, NBC, and Reddit. He boasts 4.5 million followers on TikTok and 136 million likes.
Sophie McPike is a Melbourne-based artist and illustrator who creates vibrant prints using watercolors, ink, and acrylics. Similar to many artists on TikTok, McPike chooses the format of process videos, documenting the development of one of her artworks from the initial sketch to completion.
McPike's videos belong to the category of relaxing process videos, with the artist often accompanying her work with calm or jazzy background music. These videos create a soothing atmosphere that further emphasizes the already gentle aesthetic of McPike's illustrations.
New York-based abstract artist and social media influencer Taylor Quintara is passionate about fashion. With 217,900 followers and 11.2 million likes on TikTok, Taylor runs a fashion blog as well as separate Instagram accounts for her art . She also supported Afterpay USA during New York Fashion Week.
Award-winning artist Sara creates dreamy glitter artworks and gained attention when she highlighted women's stretch marks with glitter. With one million followers on Instagram, she also has a relatively new TikTok account. Her main audience consists primarily of women in the US and UK.
These artists offer a wide range of creative content and inspiration. They demonstrate that TikTok is a great platform for artistic expression and innovation. You could check out these artists to find ideas and motivation for your own projects.
Nice to know – Interesting facts about TikTok
Did you know that TikTok was originally an app called Douyin , launched in China in 2016? TikTok is the international version of that app and has developed rapidly ever since.
Furthermore, TikTok doesn't just have young users : The 30 to 49 age group is growing steadily and now makes up a significant part of the user base.
Concluding thoughts
Using TikTok requires courage and creativity , but the rewards can be immense. For artists, it's a promising opportunity to reach a much larger audience, engage in genuine interactions, and take their artistic career to the next level.
However, you should also consider how much time and effort you want to invest in this marketing channel. It's worth a try in most cases, but the platform makes it all too easy to spend countless hours on it. Therefore, always keep the cost-benefit ratio in mind.
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
A fundamental need for every artistically creative person is likely to be the ability to live off their art.
In order to secure your own existence, it is essential to make money with art . In fact, contrary to the majority perception, many artists can live well from their creative work these days. Nevertheless, a vast majority of all freelance artists are dependent on further sources of income (e.g. giving courses, order work, part -time jobs, etc.).
Recognition as an artist often does not bring immediate financial security. Therefore, artists are often also life artists.
The opportunities to make a living from one's own art have, however, grown significantly due to the internet and social media. As an artist, however, you must be versatile and flexible to succeed. A certain degree of perseverance is also essential.
Customer care and self -marketing are also important pillars for success as an artist .
In this section, we compile numerous articles, information, tips, and advice to help you make a living from your art.
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