Are you an artist or illustrator who would love some help growing your creative business? Maybe you’re feeling exhausted and frustrated and crave something that feels simple and easy? Perhaps you’re tired of all the trends and everyones content looking the same? I know exactly how that feels!
I’ve shared a list of content ideas below that can be interpreted for however feels best for you, and so you can put your own wonderfully unique stamp on them. Plus, they can be repurposed into lots more amazing pieces of content.
They’re not just for social media either, they can be used in your blog, newsletter, Youtube channel, Substack publication and more.
Sometimes a little inspiration and encouragement is just what you need.
I’m all for adding some extra cosiness, so feel free to light a candle, make yourself a comforting drink (and a delicious snack), grab a notebook and pen, and as you make your way through each content idea, begin to write down anything that comes to mind.
This beautiful hanging robin is by Kate Slater
Do you have a favourite piece of art? Share it’s story
I love discovering the story behind a piece of art.
It could be a specific place that inspired your art, the reason behind some fun little details that you added in, how it made you feel, the messy process of how you created it or the exact tools and materials that you used. Maybe it’s been featured in a book?
It begins to create a really wonderful storytelling aspect that you can share with your community, while bringing much more meaning. And just like the examples above, it doesn’t have to be complicated, but it can completely transform the way someone connects with your art and how it speaks to them.
Being totally honest, a story is always one of the main reasons I’ll tap ‘add to basket’.
Where do you create your art?
Sharing where you create your art is brilliant for some behind-the-scenes moments. It’s also a really great way for creating engagement, humanising your art (which is very important in an online world full of AI) and can inspire others. It’s a lovely way for your community to get a little look at where you create the art that they love.
You could even share some of the little things on your workspace that you like to keep close, which creates uniqueness - I really enjoy little glimpses of quirky things around a workspace!
Do you sketch it out first or dive straight it?
Again, this is a fun way to share some of those behind-the-scenes glimpses of your art and your process, and for your community (and potential customers) to discover exactly how a piece began.
It may be that you share the journey as a series, showing how you started it, how it’s going and the finished piece.
But what I really love about this one, is that it’s also a great way to connect and engage with other artists. You may find that someone can relate, or perhaps you might inspire them to try something new and different.
I commissioned Little Lodge Art to paint one of my pigeon friends
Which artists do you admire?
Have you thought about sharing who your favourite artists are? It may just light up a conversation, connect you to others who love those artists too, and share an insight into who inspires you and your own creations.
It could become a mini series. You could share a piece of art that you made that was inspired by someone you admire. It’s also an ideal opportunity to tag some of your favourite artists.
Maybe you’re fascinated by the way they paint? Were they the reason you became an artist?
Here’s a couple of blog posts I really enjoyed reading…
My Top 5 Favorite Artists and How They Inspire My Work
20 Artists Who Inspire Me
Have you always wanted to be an artist?
When I was little I wanted to become a postwoman, a policewoman, a singer, a vet and probably many more. Even as I got older, not once did it cross my mind that I would one day have my own digital marketing business.
But as my life took on different paths, each one bringing me to where I am today, my journey is something that has resonated with so many other people, it’s what has connected me to many of my amazing clients.
I’m probably getting quite deep with this one, but our journey and story brings trust, it brings human experience, it adds a personal touch and that’s what creates uniqueness. Simply adding this to your content begins to let your community get to know you better. It’s an invitation into your world - and so many incredible things can come from that.
Which materials can’t you live without?
I love how content can come from the simplest of things - and sometimes that creates the most impactful pieces of content.
You know I love a good story, and that paintbrush you always love and have to use, the app you’ve been using for years, the same sketchbook you always buy, the certain brand of pencils you’ve stocked up with, the same colours of paint you use each time, the type of fabric that you love to work with, there’s a story in all of those just waiting to be shared.
It inspires, helps fellow creators, shares recommendations, creates conversation and engaging content, and again, just like sharing the artists you admire, it’s a great opportunity to tag those brands.
If you could paint anywhere, where would it be?
Is there a place that you dream of going to paint? Where would you go and why is that?
You may have already had the amazing opportunity to do just that, and you can share that story and painting.
Add this question at the end of your content, it opens up an invitation for others to share their answers too.
One of my favourite prints by Angela Harding called October Owl
What are you most enjoying creating at the moment?
This is a perfect opportunity to let your community know what you’re currently working on and give them a sneak peek.
It may be that you’re trying something different and would love to know their thoughts. Or you might be using some new tools or materials and they’re making a big positive difference to how you create. Perhaps the current season is influencing you?
I feel this question is great for those in-between moments when your not quite sure what to post. You can simply share a little snippet from your day. And it doesn’t have to be something different each time, you could share an update on how it’s progressing.
Which artistic skills might you like to develop in the future?
Perhaps there’s something you really want to try learning or improve on, a different technique maybe, or using another type of paint such as oil, watercolour or acrylic. Or it could be that you really want to learn how to use a tool like Procreate and learn how to illustrate digitally?
I actually purchased Procreate many years ago, I dabbled a little with it, and the other day I happened to come across a simple illustration of a flower that I did, and although I thought it was rubbish at the time, I actually quite like it. It’s inspired me to have a go again!
…BTW, this becomes a great conversation starter, and a way of learning from others and asking for recommendations, also connecting with those who want to develop the same skills. It’s a little personal insight that brings people further into your creative world.
Did a piece of art go wrong? How did you fix it?
As I mentioned further up, humanising your content in an online world filled with AI, is so important. It creates trust and brings connection, while being relatable and encouraging.
Answering this question yourself may inspire and help someone who is struggling with something similar. You could share some of the lessons you’ve learned from that one mistake. It might be that a mistake you made actually turned into something even more amazing.
Have you found these helpful? If they’ve inspired a piece of content, I’d love to see it!
If you’re still feeling extra cosy, come see what books are on my autumn reading list. I’ve also shared some cosy actions for your small business. And here are some tips for where to find inspiration in the little things around you.
I’d love to invite you into my cosy corner of Substack, Journal of Soulful Reflections, where each entry is a little invitation to notice the beauty of the world around us, enjoy simple pleasures and sometimes curl up with a good book.