5 Ways To “Tell Your Story” As An Artist
We all have a story. And while some might think it’s not very interesting, I guarantee you that there is something in your past or present that others will relate to that will set you apart from everyone else.
We’ve all been to at least one “About” or “Our Story” page of a business and read where the company originated, what hardships they had to go through, and what drives them deep down in their gut to keep going. The trouble is, we get stuck in our own minds thinking “this is too personal”, “no one wants to hear this”, or “people will judge me if I’m too honest” and we end up hiding behind the camera on social media with a story that says something like, “nature-inspired art created to inspire, made by [name of artist] in [their current home city]” and that’s it!
If that is close to what you have listed in your “long shop description”, you might as well delete it now because it’s not that different from what a big corporation could say about the things they sell from their mass-produced warehouse.
Here are 5 ways to share your story as an artist that will make you stand out from the crowd and give your work the true recognition it deserves:
Share how you got started with your art
When did you first start making what you make now? Did you bead bracelets as a little girl and now you have an entire collection? Were you a rebel in your 20’s, drop out of school, and decide to weave baskets amidst African tribes? Did you have a nervous breakdown when you were in your 30’s and decide to channel that breakdown into making mosaics? Did you get fired from or quit your boring, corporate job and finally decide to dive into your passion for plein air painting and take classes when you were in your 40’s or 50’s? Did you lose a loved one and decide to create in their honor? Do you come from a long line of artists in your family and it’s now second nature to you? Whatever your “beginning” is, share it with people so they know where your talent came from.
Share what motivates you from your past, what hardship you have overcome
Were your parents divorced and now you create art that exudes nothing but love? Were you told that being an artist when you grew up was impossible and now you’re taking your painting/pottery/jewelry-making skills and proving everyone wrong? Did you lose a loved one who you now dedicate every piece to? Did you read a story when you were younger and now want to create art that reflects that story and all the feelings, emotions, and life lessons that come with it? Have you been drawing flowers since you were a little girl to channel your own loneliness and now want to put those drawings on hats so women can feel more confident and feminine despite hardships they’ve had in their past? Challenges are something we think no one else has gone through until we start talking about them and realize that so many others have been through them too. I’m not saying to share something you’re not comfortable with but I do challenge you to push yourself, just a little bit, to share something personal so people can understand the depth of your work, not just the beauty on the surface.
Share if you’re raising money for a special cause
Do you make your art as a side hustle to help buy groceries for your family? Did you start your business to save for your children’s college funds? Do you sell what you make in order to give back to a charity that’s meaningful to you? Do you sell your art to pay for an older loved one’s care? Not all artists are in business for reasons like this but if you’re one of the ones who are, people want to hear about it!
Share your personality and quirkiness
Artists are quirky, that’s what gives you the ability to create. However, many artists think “if I’m too quirky, then no one will relate with me.” Let me tell you right now, there ARE people out there who will appreciate your quirkiness and they will probably end up being your best customers because they’ll feel like someone finally “gets them”. This can be an uneasy process because if you share something unique about yourself, at first the people already following you may not get it and you may not get the response you want which could lead to you thinking “see, I’m too weird, I’m never doing that again.” Hang on, dear sister, give people time to find you. If you’re on an island and you shoot up one flare, your rescue team might not see it right away. Sometimes you have to give it a few tries before you get the attention you’re looking for and then it’s a happy ending to your story. Also, the more you can show your confidence in your quirkiness, the better.
Share your daily life
This is something you can do easily. Share a video of yourself walking somewhere (to the park, the grocery store, around your block, wherever it may be). Share a photo of your with your best friend or a member of your family if they approve and tell people what fun, silly thing you’re doing together today (getting lunch, reconnecting after 5 years, getting ice cream - if so, share your favorite flavor while you’re at it!, hanging out at home because it’s 100+ degrees outside, whatever it is.) Share a photo of your favorite coffee or tea being back in stock at the store. Share a new outfit that goes perfectly with the jewelry you make. Share photos of your studio or work bench. Let people see who you are as a person and, again, it will add more depth to your work than just its scrollability factor.
The biggest difference between big corporations and small business is the story behind where each product comes from. Big corporations are there to mass-produce and make as much money as they can. Small, handmade business are there to create something with meaning and give people the feeling of long-lasting warmth and happiness when they buy, not just an instant gratification that has a good chance of ending up in the trash in the not-too-distant future.
YOU are worth it to share your story. YOUR story deserves to get told just as much as the next person. Don’t be afraid to be YOU. You never know, you might just discover a whole world out there who wants to show you and your work the love that is deserved.
Until next time… happy creating <3
