Professional Practice

Dear Reader

While I’ve currently decided not to create a website at this moment, I’ve been keenly observing other artists’ websites as a source of inspiration for future endeavors. A recurring trend I’ve noticed is the prevalent use of minimalist design principles, aiming to achieve a clean and professional appearance that emulates the ambiance of an art gallery. This conscious emulation of a gallery setting serves to effectively underscore the primary objective of an artist’s website: showcasing their artwork.

Among the various artist websites I’ve explored, I found Banksy’s website particularly captivating. The homepage immediately captures attention by featuring a brief five-minute video tour of their ongoing exhibition, “Cut & Run” in Glasgow. This multimedia presentation is complemented by a link to the exhibition’s dedicated website. This approach offers an engaging and dynamic introduction, instantly immersing visitors while simultaneously promoting the artist’s latest project. 

The website goes on to feature an image gallery showcasing a repertoire of previous works, accompanied by a dedicated section with contact information for inquiries. This minimalist yet purposeful structure enhances the website’s clarity and efficiency. By refraining from unnecessary clutter, Banksy’s website maintains a succinct and engaging presentation.

As I contemplate my own future website, Banksy’s digital platform stands out as an exemplary source of inspiration. Its clever use of multimedia, focused content presentation, and uncluttered design aligns seamlessly with my aspirations. When the time comes to develop my own website, I fully intend to draw from the aesthetics and functionality of Banksy’s website as a blueprint, channeling its essence to create a compelling and impactful online showcase for my artistic journey.

Dear Reader

In my pursuit of refining my own social media presence as an emerging artist, I’ve extensively analyzed various artists’ strategies. Lately, I’ve concentrated my attention on a select group of prominent figures on Instagram, namely Takashi Murakami (Takashipom) boasting 2.5 million followers, Brian Donnelly (Kaws) with an impressive 4.4 million followers, and the enigmatic Banksy (Banksy) commanding a substantial 12.1 million followers.

A striking commonality among these artists is their concise and direct artist bios, uniformly comprising their names and a link to their official websites. This minimalistic approach ensures that their bios deliver pertinent information succinctly, enabling viewers to readily access key details. Moreover, the trio employs a dynamic content strategy encompassing both traditional image posts and engaging reels. This multifaceted approach caters to a wider audience, effectively catering to the diverse usage patterns of the platform’s users.

Another noteworthy facet shared among these artists is their willingness to diversify their content beyond their artworks. I observed a plethora of posts highlighting collaborations with fellow creatives or brands, promotions for upcoming gallery exhibitions, merchandise launches, and glimpses into their personal lives that have influenced their artistic journeys. This diverse content mix underscores the artists’ adeptness at engaging their followers on multiple fronts, not just through their creative output. This holistic approach appears to contribute to the cultivation of a more vibrant and engaged audience.

A valuable takeaway from studying these profiles is the significance of crafting a varied content palette, fostering deeper connections with one’s audience. Moreover, leveraging the platform for marketing endeavors, be it cross-promotions, gallery show promotions, or personal insights, serves as a strategic means to extend one’s reach and achieve broader success beyond Instagram. As I continue on my artistic journey, I intend to build upon these insights, especially as I move forward with the development of a dedicated website. This digital showcase will evolve into a comprehensive portfolio, effectively bolstering my online presence and facilitating a more immersive engagement with my art.

Dear Reader

Upon completing my university studies, I intend to embark on a journey as an independent artist, and a pivotal strategy in realizing this goal is to enhance my online presence. While I am cognizant of my current shortcoming of infrequent posting, this issue has arisen due to the demands of my ongoing university deadlines, leaving me with limited time to dedicate to my artistic creations. However, I am utilizing this juncture to meticulously plan my post-graduation trajectory, with a specific focus on cultivating my brand.

In light of this, I have taken the initiative to delve into the mechanics of Instagram’s algorithm, aiming to comprehend its intricacies and optimize my posts for optimal success. Three salient insights have emerged from my research concerning the functioning of Instagram’s algorithm:

1. **Creator-Viewer Relationship**: An inherent facet of the algorithm centers around the rapport between the content creator and the viewer. Should a user consistently engage with a creator’s content, exemplified by actions like ‘liking’ or ‘commenting’, the algorithm is primed to prioritize showcasing that creator’s posts on the user’s feed.

2. **Interest Alignment**: The algorithm is notably influenced by user interests. In instances where a user habitually consumes a specific genre of content, such as art-related material, the algorithm is predisposed to curate similar posts for their feed, fostering a tailored and engaging experience.

3. **Relevance and Timeliness**: The concept of relevance guides the algorithm’s curation process. Content is evaluated in terms of its alignment with ongoing trends and contemporary discussions. Moreover, the algorithm gravitates towards favoring newer posts over older ones, enhancing the currency and timeliness of the content presented.

As I embark on my post-university artistic endeavors, I am poised to integrate these insights into my approach, thereby crafting content that resonates deeply with my audience, aligns with their interests, and remains attuned to current discourse. This strategic amalgamation is anticipated to galvanize the growth of my online presence, fostering meaningful connections and propelling my artistic brand forward.

Dear Reader,

Recognizing the pivotal role that hashtags play in influencing the visibility of my artistic endeavors, I began to research the most effective hashtags for maximizing viewer engagement. Since hashtags become hyperlinks, social-media users can use them as a search tool. After conducting thorough investigations across several websites, I discerned that certain hashtags, such as “art,” “artist,” “art of the day,” “artwork,” and “painting,” are most popular and effective. The adoption of these hashtags emerged as a critical component for achieving success, given their extensive reach and substantial audience engagement.

However, it is worth noting that while these hashtags wield immense potential, their widespread utilization also renders them susceptible to becoming obscured beneath an influx of other content. This realization prompted me to formulate a strategic approach: a fusion of these prevalent hashtags with more nuanced or specialized counterparts that directly align with my artistic portfolio. By employing this dual-pronged tactic, my intention is to cast a wide net that encompasses both a broader audience and a niche segment, with the ultimate aim of fostering meaningful engagement and fostering an organic growth in my follower base.

Dear Reader,

During the preceding quarter, I have made 16 posts on my profile, amassing a total of 59 new followers, while following 53 other accounts. This period of time has been marked by a significant exploration phase for me, as I have not traditionally identified as technologically adept. Navigating the realm of analytics and trends has proven to be a challenging endeavor. Throughout this period, I have experimented with various posting schedules, diverse sets of hashtags, and even ventured into multimedia content such as videos accompanied by music.

Post engagement has varied post by post. This may be due to inconsistency in hashtags used, small following, the algorithm or a combination of these factors. However, when considering the entirety of my 16 posts, the average number of likes per upload stands at 18. A screenshot extracted from my account insights, dated May 15th, provides a visual representation of the engagement metrics over the past 30 days. This snapshot displays the overall engagement metrics, as well as the demographic breakdown of those who have viewed my content. Furthermore, the chart highlights the distinction between my followers and non-followers among the viewers.

Consequently, it is evident that my work has captured the attention of a diverse array of 96 distinct accounts during this period, with 65 of those accounts being individuals who are not part of my follower base. This analysis allows me to deduce that only 30 of my followers have been actively consuming my content. Additionally, this observation underscores the substantial impact that correct use of hashtags can have on amplifying the visibility of one’s work.