How to Post Art on Pinterest

Pinterest is an absolute powerhouse for getting your artwork discovered, but posting without a plan can feel like shouting into the void. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to not just post your art on Pinterest, but to do it in a way that attracts viewers, builds a following, and drives traffic to your portfolio or shop. We’ll cover everything from setting up your profile to crafting the perfect Pin and using Pinterest's search engine to your advantage.

Pinterest is Different: Think Search Engine, Not Social Media Feed

Before we get into the "how," let's reframe the "what." Unlike Instagram or X, where your content has a lifespan of a few hours, a single Pin can drive traffic to your website for months or even years. People don't come to Pinterest to see what their friends are up to, they come to find ideas, inspiration, and products. They are actively searching.

For artists, this is a massive advantage. When someone searches for "abstract oil painting ideas" or "minimalist line art for living room," you want your work to be the answer they find. Every piece of art you pin is another opportunity to show up in those search results, connecting you with people who are already looking for what you create.

Step 1: Set Up Your Artist Profile for Success

Your profile is the foundation of your Pinterest strategy. An optimized profile tells both Pinterest and your potential fans exactly who you are and what kind of art you make.

Convert to a Free Business Account

If you’re still using a personal account, the first thing you should do is switch to a Business Account. It's free and unlocks essential tools you’ll need to grow.

• Analytics: See which Pins are performing best, what your audience is interested in, and how much traffic you’re sending to your site. This data is invaluable for refining your strategy.
• Rich Pins: Automatically sync extra information from your website to your Pins, like product pricing or article headlines.
• Website Claiming: Claiming your website links your profile directly to your portfolio or shop, building credibility and unlocking more detailed analytics.

To switch, just go to your settings and select "Convert to a business account." Follow the simple prompts, and you're set.

Craft a Keyword-Rich Profile

Your profile name and bio are prime real estate for SEO. Don’t just use your name, tell people what you do. Instead of "Jane Smith," try "Jane Smith | Abstract Watercolor Artist" or "Fine Art Oil Painter."

Your bio should do the same. In a sentence or two, describe your art style, the mediums you use, and who your art is for. For example:

"Contemporary oil painter creating vibrant, textured landscapes for modern homes. Specializing in palette knife techniques and large-scale commissions. Shop original art & prints below! 👇"

This bio includes key terms like "contemporary oil painter," "textured landscapes," "palette knife," and "original art," which will help you show up in relevant searches.

Create Relevant, Niche Boards

Think of your boards as categorized portfolios. Vague board titles like "My Art" are a missed opportunity. Get specific and user-focused. Create boards that reflect how people search for art.

• "Abstract Canvas Paintings"
• "Modern Botanical Illustrations"
• "Minimalist Ink Drawings"
• "Studio Vlogs & Painting Process"
• "Art for Your Home Office"

For each board, write a keyword-rich description. A good description for "Abstract Canvas Paintings" might be: "Find inspiration for your next statement piece. A collection of large-scale abstract paintings on canvas using acrylics and mixed media. Perfect for modern home decor, living room art, and office interiors."

Step 2: Create Pins That Stop the Scroll

A great Pin does three things: it grabs attention with a beautiful visual, provides context with a clear title and description, and leads the user to take action with a link.

The Perfect Visual Format

Pinterest is a vertical platform. To take up the most screen real estate and capture attention, your Pins should always be in a vertical aspect ratio. The ideal size is a 2:3 ratio, such as 1000 x 1500 pixels.

Showcase your art with high-quality, well-lit photos. If you're photographing physical art, make sure the colors are accurate and the details are crisp. You can even create simple mockups showing what your art would look like hanging on a wall - apps like Canva and Placeit make this easy.

Types of Pins Every Artist Should Create

Don’t just Pin finished pieces. Variety keeps your audience engaged and gives you more content to share.

• Static Image Pins: This is the classic Pin format. Perfect for showcasing your final artwork or high-quality detail shots. Create several Pins for each artwork at different angles or an in-context shot in a styled room.
• Video Pins: Video is incredibly powerful for telling a story. Share a timelapse of your painting process, a slow-motion pan over the texture of a finished piece, a flip-through of your sketchbook, or a quick tour of your studio. These videos don't need to be long, even 15-30 seconds can be highly effective.
• Multi-Image Pins (Carousels): Use carousel Pins to create a story-like experience. You can showcase a full collection of new works, walk through a step-by-step tutorial of a particular technique, or show a single piece from concept sketch to final product.

Step 3: A Simple Guide to Posting Your Art Pin

Now, let's put it all together. Here’s how you publish a new Pin from scratch.

1. Upload Your Visual: On Pinterest, click "Create" and then "Create Pin." Drag and drop your image or video file.
2. Write a Compelling Title: Your title is your most important piece of SEO text. Be direct and descriptive. Instead of "New Painting," use "Textured Abstract Sunrise Oil Painting on Canvas." Think about what a potential buyer would type into the search bar.
3. Craft a Detailed Description: The description is where you can add more context and keywords. Describe the piece, the medium, the inspiration, and the style. Weave in 3-5 relevant keywords naturally. Don't just stuff them in, write helpful, human-readable sentences.

This original mixed-media painting, "Coastal Dawn," captures the serene feeling of an early morning by the sea. Created with professional acrylic paints and texture paste on a gallery-wrapped canvas. Its soft blue and gold palette makes it a beautiful piece of beach house decor or a calming addition to any modern interior.

1. Add the Destination Link: This is the most important step for driving traffic! Link every Pin to a relevant page on your website. Is it a finished piece for sale? Link to the product page. A work-in-progress? Link to a blog post about your process, or your Instagram profile. Don't miss this step.
2. Fill Out the Alt Text: Alt text describes your image for visually impaired users and also gives Pinterest's algorithm more context about your content. Be descriptive and use your main keyword. Example: "A close-up detail shot of a thick, textured blue and gold abstract painting."
3. Choose Your Most Relevant Board: Save your Pin to the most specific board you have. The board's title and description give your Pin even more SEO context.
4. Publish or Schedule: You can either publish your Pin immediately or schedule it for a later date and time.

Step 4: Grow Your Reach with a Smart Pinning Strategy

Posting is just the beginning. To really grow on Pinterest, you need a consistent strategy that leverages its search capabilities.

Embrace Pinterest SEO

Pinterest is a search engine, so treat it like one. Keywords are the language that connects your art with your audience.

• Finding Keywords: The easiest way to find keywords is right in the Pinterest search bar. Start typing a term like "botanical art" and look at the suggestions that pop up (e.g., "botanical art print," "botanical art vintage," "botanical art watercolor"). These are terms real people are searching for.
• Where to Use Keywords: Place your keywords strategically where they matter most: Pin titles, Pin descriptions, board titles, board descriptions, and even the text on your Pin image itself.

Embrace Pinterest SEO by ensuring your content is keyword-rich and relevant to what users are actively searching for.

Aim for Consistency, Not Volume

The old advice of pinning 20-30 times a day is long gone. Pinterest now prioritizes fresh, high-quality content. Instead of spamming the platform, focus on creating 1-3 new, high-quality Pins for your own artwork each day. Consistency is what signals to the algorithm that you are an active and valuable creator.

Analyze Your Results to Refine Your Strategy

Dive into your Pinterest Analytics at least once a month. Pay attention to:

• Impressions: How many times your Pins were seen.
• Saves: How many times people saved your Pin to one of their boards. This is a strong signal of valuable content.
• Outbound Clicks: How many times people clicked through to your website. This is a key metric for measuring ROI.

Look at your top-performing Pins. What do they have in common? Are they videos? Do they show a particular style of art? Use these insights to create more of what's already working.

Final Thoughts

Getting your art seen on Pinterest comes down to a simple formula: create high-quality, vertical visuals and pair them with keyword-rich descriptions that help people find your work. By treating Pinterest as a visual search engine instead of a fleeting social feed, you can build a sustainable source of discovery and traffic that works for you long after you've hit "publish."

Consistency is the biggest challenge for any creator, and that's precisely why we built our tools at Postbase. I love our visual calendar because it lets me plan and schedule all my social content - including Pinterest Pins - in one clean view. It removes the daily pressure of deciding what to post, which gives you more mental space to focus on what really matters: creating your next piece of art.