Your art benefits from writing and some text

People don't write much about the art they share online these days, especially when they share their art on social media.

People who don't write about their art are missing out because there are actually many benefits to adding some text, context and stories to your art.

Why don't people write about their art?

Let's look at why people don't write about their art.

This reply on Reddit mentioned a good reason:

Well, you know... Why put in the effort to include all of that when 99% or the viewers aren't going to read it because they're only going to look at your art for 2.3 seconds and then move on to the next image in their feeds?

It's true that most people will just scroll past your art so quick that they can barely read what you have written.

The other reason is people are too lazy to write, or maybe just can't be bothered to write. And you don't have to write. People can just look at your art and that's all you need. Sometimes the art can speak for itself. Sure. The art can speak more if you write.

Here are some benefits to talking more about your art.

Advantages to writing about your art

It helps you remember
I can't tell you how many times I had to look at my old work in hopes that I've written something to help me remember some stuff. I've also had companies or people who have contacted me after a Google search because they found out I've written about them.

Memory is fleeting. Some of the things you don't write about will be lost forever.

By writing, it can help you remember the tools you use, the places you've visited, your creative process, or your day. If what you write doesn't benefit anyone, it will most certainly benefit you.

It helps people relate to you
When you write about your struggles, people who are facing the same challenges can relate to you. When you ask for help, people may reply.

Take this sketch of Flinders Street Railway Station that I shared on Instagram.

First notice the earlier sentence when I mentioned the name of the building. That's to help me search for this sketch in the future. That name will also help people find this sketch when searching for "flinders st railway station sketch" or "flinders street station art" on Google.

That sketch reminded me of my 2015 vacation with my wife in Australia. We drove on the Great Ocean Road which was so beautiful. Unfortunately we didn't stay long in Melbourne so we missed out on visiting the Flinders Street Railway Station. I remember eating some delicious mussels at this stall called The Mussel Pot located at Queen Victoria Market on a cold and rainy day.

You may say there are so many comments because I have 26,000 Instagram followers. You won't say the same thing if you only have 100 followers. I don't look at how many followers I have before I decide to write.

I just write because I feel like it, that and I know the benefits of the extra text. I would be perfectly fine if no one commented or liked the post, or sketch. When I share my art online, I don't attach an expectation.

People who are disappointed with their art are those who expect likes and returns whenever they share something on social media. Those are the same people who will stop writing because they don't get any response. They stop making art because they don't the magical number of likes they are looking for.

It's true many don't read. However, just because people don't comment doesn't mean what you've written is not being read. And remember the first benefit I mentioned earlier: you're writing for yourself too.

By the way, many of the internet marketing articles that I spend hours to write have no comments. Am I disappointed? No. Even if I have helped a single person, that's good enough for me.

What can you write about?

Writing about the tools and supplies you use is easiest, and people are always interested in what other artists use. The paint, ink, paper, software, brushes, etc. I've countless comments about the tools I use whenever I forget to mention them.

It's even better when you give context, a story or share your creative process. When you share a bit of yourself, you also create a personality for yourself. Followers love this kind of thing.

You can also share some WIP pieces to show others the projects you're working on. These are the update posts.

You don't really have to overthink what to write. Just write whatever that comes to mind. Quickly jot down keywords and expand on them later. That's what I do with my blog posts.