How Artists Actually Grow on Instagram and TikTok (It's Not What You Think)
Why Chasing Instagram Likes Hurts Your Art
You're probably reading this because you want to be instafamous, right?
You want to be noticed, you want more followers, you want strangers to comment and say "Wow, amazing art", but is that really validation? I could've turned this post into one of those bullshit "5 Steps to Gain Followers on Instagram and TikTok" or something stupid along those lines but I don't want to do you that disservice. I don't want to continue to propagate the ridiculous idea that you have to draw for likes or draw like the most popular accounts because they have thousands of followers.
Mostly I'm writing on this topic because I'm tired of seeing YOU my fans and peers get down on yourselves because you aren't getting hundreds of likes on everything you post. So what, who cares! The truth is that being famous on Instagram, TikTok, or whatever platform you're on shouldn't be your end game.
The focus should always be the art, YOUR ART and creating better art every time you put pencil or marker or brush to paper.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to share your art with the world and in fact that is the point of creating anything, to share it. Just keep in mind that not everyone will like your work or be a fan and that's all right. Draw and create for yourself and what you like and want to see out there in the world. That's the real secret.
What Actually Gets You More Followers as an Artist
Here's what I've seen work, not just for me but for artists I respect and follow. The accounts that grow consistently on Instagram and TikTok aren't the ones gaming the algorithm. They're the ones putting out work that's genuinely theirs, work you can look at and immediately know who made it.
That means practicing constantly, studying your craft, and developing a point of view. When your style is distinct, people remember you. They come back. They share your work because it doesn't look like anyone else's.
Post your process. Show the sketchbook pages, the ugly drafts, the half-finished pieces. On TikTok especially, process videos and time-lapses of your work coming together get traction because people are fascinated by how art is made. On Instagram, it's the same story. People connect with the journey, not just the polished result. And when someone does leave a comment or send a DM, respond to it. A small engaged community will do more for your growth than ten thousand silent followers.
The accounts with real momentum aren't chasing trends. They're setting them, one drawing at a time.
The Artist Mindset That Builds a Real Audience
The mindset shift is simple but it changes everything: stop creating for the feed and start creating for the work.
When your goal is a better drawing, a more accurate shadow, a cleaner line, a more interesting composition, the Instagram and TikTok stuff starts to sort itself out. You're not stressed about posting schedules or hashtags or trending audio because you're too busy actually improving. And improvement shows. People can see it in your work over time.
I've been at this long enough to know that the artists who stick around, the ones still doing this five or ten years from now, are never the ones who were optimizing for likes. They're the ones who couldn't stop drawing even when nobody was watching.
That's the audience worth building. People who follow you because they genuinely love what you make.
So, What's the Real Secret?
So, I'm going to ask you again. You want more followers, likes, and comments then get your ass to work. As you get better, as you create quality art, people will notice. I guarantee it. When that time comes you won't be worried about likes or followers or comments because those things will just happen but more importantly you will have earned it because you put in the work.
Lastly, why did I choose Prince as my blog image this week? Even though I may not have liked every song he produced I have always appreciated that the man marched to his own tune creating what he wanted to hear putting art first before money or fame.
If this post convinced at least one person to stop looking for that magic pill and just practice day in and day out or if maybe it just reminded you of what your focus needs to be let me know below. Don't forget to leave your Instagram or TikTok account in the comment so I can check out your work.
Your neighborhood marker slinger,
Ivan Castro
“Sometimes it takes years for a person to become an overnight success.”
