If I, Vincent van Gogh, were alive today, would you see my works in scrolling feeds and reels? Would my brushstrokes flicker across your screen, giving glimpses into my world of wheat fields, night skies, and stormy seas of emotion? Perhaps, yes.
So, if I were navigating this dizzying world of social media, here are the secrets I would use to reach you, to sell my art, and to perhaps help you sell yours, too.
1. Find Your Own Artistic Voice—and Never Deviate From It
In my time, I painted what I felt, how I felt it. If I were posting on Instagram, I’d make sure each piece, each post, spoke in my voice alone: intense colors, thick textures, alive with emotion. This would be my signature, as unchanging as the stars.
Tip for Today: Stick to what you truly feel. Let your voice, your style, be undeniable, so your followers recognize it immediately as yours.
2. Write Captions that Share the Soul, Not Just the Surface
If I were sharing “Starry Night” today, my caption wouldn’t just say, “For Sale.” I’d tell you about the darkness in which I painted it, the storm of my mind set against the calm of those stars. Each post would pull you deeper, connecting our worlds, mine and yours.
Tip for Today: Don’t just describe the colors or dimensions; let people feel what you felt. They’ll connect with you and remember your work long after.
3. Let Them Watch You Paint
Imagine: videos of paint streaking across the canvas, my hand moving in furious strokes as each piece unfolds. My process was as much a part of my art as the finished painting. In 2024, I would film these moments so you could see the frenzy, the peace, the layers that go unseen.
Tip for Today: Show people how you create. Whether it’s a time-lapse or a simple video, the journey draws people in and deepens the connection they feel with your work.
4. Seek Out Kindred Spirits to Amplify Your Reach
Back then, I had friends like Gauguin who understood my soul (even if we clashed!). On social media, I’d look for people who understand my art’s spirit, who would share it with others. I might reach out to those speaking on mental health, art, or resilience—people who’d truly feel my message.
Tip for Today: Find individuals or groups who share your vision. They’ll help bring your work to people who already understand it, who might come to love it as you do.
5. Show Your World, Not Just Your Work
My work was tied to my days, my surroundings. I’d take you to the yellow house in Arles, the cafes by night, the fields of wheat and sunflowers. You would see my life, not just my work.
Tip for Today: Let people in. Show them the spaces you live and create in. Share your routines, your walks, even the moments that inspire you. These glimpses into your life bring them closer.
6. Engage Sincerely With Everyone
If I received a kind comment, I would answer it. I’d express my gratitude. Each person who appreciated my work, who took the time to comment, would know I valued them, one by one.
Tip for Today: People want real connection, not automated responses. Show them you care about their words, their time, their thoughts. It’s these small, sincere interactions that create lasting connections.
7. Use Hashtags that Lead to the Right Eyes
Would I use #StarryNight? Perhaps, but I’d think carefully about it. Instead, I’d find the places where those with a passion for vibrant color, for emotional art, for expressionism gather. I’d use hashtags that tell others, this art will move you.
Tip for Today: Don’t just use hashtags because they’re popular; use the ones that connect your work to those who already appreciate what you offer.
8. Release Art in Thematic Series
I would have created “The Arles Collection,” perhaps, filled with my favorite views of Arles: the café at night, the almond blossoms, the fields of golden wheat. I’d release them as a series, letting my audience feel the world I loved through multiple views.
Tip for Today: Consider releasing art in series, around a theme or place. It builds excitement and creates a unified vision that invites people to see through your eyes.
9. Let Collectors Share Their Stories
If someone had bought “The Bedroom” or “The Yellow House,” I would share their words about it—why they loved it, what they felt. These shared stories are the truest endorsements; they let others see how art finds its way into new homes.
Tip for Today: If you’ve sold your work, let others speak for you. Their testimonies carry a power you alone cannot give.
10. Be Honest About Your Own Struggles
You may know I suffered deeply, but in my art, I sought hope, beauty, release. I would share that in my posts, not to gain sympathy, but to be real. Art is both joy and hardship; people will feel that, and maybe find solace in it.
Tip for Today: Don’t hide your struggles. Share the journey, the setbacks, the triumphs. It makes you real, and it draws people to your work with a deeper respect.
These are the things I would do, were I alive to share my art with you today. And for you, my fellow artist in this bright, noisy world, I hope these thoughts can help you reach the hearts that are looking, always, for someone like you.
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