Ah Instagram. For many of us as artists, it can be a tumultuous relationship.

Whether it’s trying to do all the ‘supposed tos’, wondering whether it’s worth the time and effort, or the frustrations of low engagement and getting sucked into the algorithm, Instagram can be quite challenging for many of us.

It has its pluses too, of course, like anything; connection being one of the big ones.

But if you struggle with knowing what to post, today I’m sharing eight instagram captions for artists to use, based on what I’ve found can work well.

And when I say ‘work well’, I mean that these ideas are:

• good at generating engagement {which helps your account grow and can lead to things like new friends, collectors, collaborations etc}
• relatively quick and easy to do
• repeatable.

So they can work well for you as the artist, and for making the most of the platform.

Ok, so here are your eight Instagram caption ideas, with examples, of course. 😊

1. Share a story or experience from your life as an artist

This can include sharing your inspiration.

Seaweed plays a big role in my inspiration, and I love to share some of my underwater photos from sea swims.

I’ve found when I do this as a carousel, not only does it generate engagement by swiping through to see them all, but people love them!

{I confess this surprises me a bit – I know not everyone is as passionate about seaweed as I am!}

Sharing stories, experiences, or your inspiration as an artist {and these can often overlap} gives people context for your work, and a chance to get to know you better and even find points of connection.

2. Share an insight you’ve learned about making art

As artists, we notice things. It’s part of the job description.

No doubt you’ve made discoveries in the studio, whether it’s to do with using a certain material in a certain way, or a lesson you’ve learned from being an artist that you’ve found also works outside the studio, for example.

This is another of those posts that invites people to get to know you as the artist and human behind the art.

We all want to feel connected, and inviting people into your artist world – which is a huge mystery and very intriguing for many people – helps create relationship and that all important connection and trust.

I share lots of my own insights and discoveries about art and being an artist on my teaching account.

This is also a good post to pair with photos of your studio, or you at work in it.

Even just including your hand drawing, for example, brings more of you into it.

3. Share a quirk or experience and invite people to share theirs

Another great connection post – we all have little quirks, or specific tiny experiences, that we think are ‘just us’, or that we don’t necessarily talk about.

This could be a ‘ten things about me’ post, sharing some significant life events or milestones, your idiosyncrasies, your likes and dislikes.

4. Talk about your favourite tools, materials, or artwork

Or art books, or artists, or anything you like that relates to your work.

Talk about why you love it, how you first found it, how you use it.

You could include any studio companions in this one. 😉

5. Talk about an exhibition you visited

When I visit local galleries, I sometimes like to take pictures so I can share them later.

I tend to share them in my stories, but you could equally do a post, perhaps a carousel or a reel, about a show you went to.

For bonus points, tag the gallery or fair or event, so they can share your post too if they’d like to. A little bit of mutual support can go a long way. 😊

Here’s one of my paintings in local interior design and coastal lifestyle store, Tin Coast Design, taken on a visit.

6. Share an interesting fact about your subject

When I learned that limpets make tracks on their chosen rock that’s called a ‘home scar’, so they can always find their way home, I knew I had to share it in a post.

I even made a painting about it:

Home Scar by Tara Leaver

7. Answer common questions you receive

Probably my most commonly asked question – from other artists – is ‘do you prime your wood panels?’ {I don’t, FYI.}

Depending on who you’re speaking to – collectors or fellow artists – you’ll likely have received different questions about your art.

Keep a running list of questions in your phone or somewhere you’ll find them easily.

You can answer them in a simple image + caption post, a carousel, or in a story or reel; if you’re comfortable with that you can do a little face to camera chat about it!

8. Share an artwork for sale!

This one depends of course on what you’re using Instagram for.

If it’s part of marketing your work, then you absolutely need to be sharing what you have available!

You can use any of the other other caption ideas if selling feels uncomfortable for you, or if you’d like to include a bit of story telling, although making it clear when work is available is essential if you want to actually sell it!

So don’t forget to include details about the artwork itself, and where and how people can buy it.

Keep it simple with a photo of the artwork either hanging on a wall or cropped just to show the work itself.

Bonus tips:

• Share every post to your stories. Some people only look at stories, and this creates an extra chance for them to click through and see your other posts. Repurpose wherever possible!
• Save posts by other artists – and anyone you follow who isn’t an artist but who shares a post that inspires you or gives you ideas – inside Instagram {it’s the flag icon in the bottom right of a post}.
• Canva is a fantastic, user friendly, free tool for creating different types of Instagram posts – just pick your template for a post, reel, or story, and drag and drop some text or other elements. Or you can keep it even simpler, and just post straight to Instagram from your phone. Do what has the least barriers to entry for you!

If you found these tips helpful, you might like to check out the Instagram Playbook for Artists.

I put it together when I noticed how much artists were struggling with using Instagram. It’s full of tips, suggestions, prompts, ideas, and shows you how to get clear on why and how you want to use Instagram. {Clarity makes a big difference!}

The focus is on making it easier and more comfortable and fun, rather than trying to follow rules and ‘beat the algorithm’. {Shudder.}

Find out more and get it for just £6 here.

Do you have some post ideas to share? How do you use Instagram as an artist? Share your experience and wisdom in the comments!

PS. You might also like this Q&A video I made for the Happy Artist Studio members, talking about Instagram and mental health.