How to Use Bluesky as an Artist

Bluesky is quickly becoming a favorite spot for artists seeking a more community-focused and chronological social media space, and getting started on the right foot can make all the difference. This guide will walk you through setting up your profile, finding your audience, sharing your work effectively, and building a genuine following without the pressure of complex algorithms. We'll cover everything from mastering custom feeds to creating posts that people actually want to engage with.

First Things First: Setting Up Your Artist Profile for Success

Your profile is your digital studio door. It's the first thing potential fans, clients, and fellow creators see. A clear and professional profile invites people in and tells them exactly what kind of art you create.

Your Handle and Display Name

Your handle (e.g., @yourname.bsky.social) is your unique identifier. If possible, try to grab the same handle you use on other platforms like Instagram or X. This consistency makes it much easier for your existing followers to find you and strengthens your overall brand recognition.

Your display name is more flexible and can be a powerful tool. Don't just put your name, use this space strategically. Consider adding a short descriptor of what you do. Here are a few great examples:

• Jenna Draws | Illustrator & Story Artist
• Mark Forge | 3D Character Artist | Comms Open
• The Cozy Potter | Ceramics

This little bit of extra text immediately tells visitors what you're about, and mentioning that commissions are open can be a great, low-pressure way to attract clients.

Crafting a Bio That Connects

Your bio is your elevator pitch. You have 256 characters to tell people who you are, what you do, and where else they can find you. A great artist bio typically includes:

• What You Create: Be specific. "Digital Illustrator," "Watercolor Landscape Painter," "Comic Book Artist," "Fantasy Concept Artist," etc.
• A Touch of Personality: Mention your interests or what inspires your work. "Lover of all things fantasy and folklore," or "Inspired by vintage sci-fi novels."
• Important Links: This is a must. Use a service like Linktree or Carrd to consolidate your portfolio, online shop, Patreon, and Ko-fi links into one manageable URL.
• Status: Use this space to let people know if your commissions are open or closed, or if you have a new print available in your shop.

Choosing the Perfect Header and Profile Picture

As an artist, this is your prime real estate. Avoid a generic header image or a photo of your cat (unless your art is exclusively cat portraits).

• Profile Picture: This should be clear and instantly recognizable, even as a small icon. A high-quality self-portrait, a well-drawn avatar, or a simplified version of your logo works best. Choose an image that represents the core of your artistic identity.
• Header Image: Think of the header as a mini-portfolio. This is a fantastic place to showcase a collage of your best work, a panoramic illustration, or your single favorite piece. It immediately establishes your style and skill level for anyone who lands on your page. Make sure the artwork is high-resolution and compositions look good on both mobile and desktop.

Finding Your People: Custom Feeds and Building Community

Bluesky's superpower is its custom feeds. Unlike a single, algorithm-driven timeline, users can create, share, and subscribe to focused feeds built around specific topics. For artists, this is an incredible way to get your work seen by the right people.

What Are Custom Feeds?

Imagine a timeline that *only* shows posts about watercolors. Or one dedicated entirely to character design. That's a custom feed. They're typically created using keywords, hashtags, or even lists of specific users. When you post something with a relevant keyword (like "character design"), you'll automatically appear in that feed for everyone who is subscribed to it.

Essential Feeds Every Artist Should Follow

Finding the right feeds is the fastest way to immerse yourself in the art community. You can find them by using the search bar and tapping the "Feeds" tab. Start by searching for some of these:

• Art: The big, general feed. Great for broad discovery.
• Sketch / MastoArt / CreativeToots: Communities carrying over from other platforms with established followings.
• Your Medium: Search for "Watercolor," "Digital Art," "Oil Painting," "#PixelArt," "3D Art," etc.
• Your Subject: Look for feeds like "Fantasy Art," "Character Design," "SciFi Art," or "Furry Art."

Subscribing to these feeds and pinning your favorites to your home screen gives you a constant stream of inspiration and a direct line into the communities you want to join.

Posting Your Art: Best Practices for Visibility and Engagement

Now that your profile is polished and you’ve found some communities, it's time to share your art. How you do this can significantly impact who sees it and how they engage.

The Anatomy of a Great Art Post

An effective art post on Bluesky has a few key ingredients:

1. High-Quality Image(s): Upload your art at a high resolution. Bluesky supports up to four images per post, so you can show off your full piece along with some of your favorite close-up details.
2. Descriptive Alt Text: This is non-negotiable. Alt text makes you accessible to visually impaired users who use screen readers. Beyond that, the art community on Bluesky deeply values accessibility. To add it, tap the "ALT" badge on your image before posting.
   
   Good Alt Text Example: "Digital painting of a knight in silver armor with glowing blue runes, standing in a dark forest. They are holding a large sword that pierces a gnarled tree root. Moonlight filters through the canopy above."
3. An Engaging Caption: Don't just post the image and run. Talk about it! Share a snippet of the story behind the character, mention the tools you used, or describe a technique you were experimenting with. Asking a simple question like, "What kind of backstory do you think they have?" can kickstart a conversation in the replies.
4. Relevant Hashtags & Keywords: While custom feeds based on keywords are more central to Bluesky than hashtags are on Instagram, including them is still a helpful practice. Mix broad tags (#art, #illustration) with specific ones (#watercolorpainting, #procreateart) in your caption to help people find your work through search.

"Show Your Work": Posting WIPs, Sketches, and More

Don't be afraid to post things that aren't finished masterpieces. Your feed should tell the story of your artistic journey. People love seeing the process. Share:

• Work-in-progress (WIP) shots: Start a thread and update it as you complete a piece.
• Sketchbook pages: It gives a peek into your raw ideas and practice.
• Timelapse videos: Showing your art come to life is always captivating.
• Studio photos: Desk shots or pictures of your art supplies help people connect with you as a person.

This variety makes your account feel more authentic and gives your followers more reasons to check in regularly.

More Than Just Posting: Building Your Artist Brand on Bluesky

The "social" part of social media is where relationships are built. Showing up, engaging with others, and being a supportive member of the community is how you turn a profile into a presence.

Engage, Engage, Engage

Genuine interaction is the most effective growth strategy on Bluesky. Spend time every day browsing your favorite art feeds and:

• Reply to other artists' work. Leave a genuine, thoughtful comment - more than just "cool!" Ask them about their technique or tell them what you like about the piece.
• Reskeet (Repost) art you love. This is one of the best ways to support your peers. It gets their work in front of your followers and builds goodwill across the community.
• Answer your own comments. When someone takes the time to comment on your art, always try to respond. This fosters a welcoming atmosphere and encourages more people to engage in the future.

Promoting Your Shop, Patreon, or Commissions Gracefully

It’s perfectly okay to promote your business - after all, you need to make a living! Succeeding here is a matter of balance. Follow an unofficial "80/20" rule: 80% of your posts should be about sharing art and engaging with the community, and 20% can be direct promotion.

Some gentle ways to do this:

• Pin a "promo" post. Create one killer post that introduces you, shows off your best work, and has all your critical links. Then pin it to the top of your profile.
• Update your display name. A simple "| Store Update!" or "| Comms Open" works wonders.
• Post naturally about your offerings. Instead of just "BUY MY PRINTS," try something like, "So excited about how these prints turned out! The colors are just perfect. They're now available in the shop if you'd like one for your wall [link]."

Final Thoughts

Bluesky offers artists a unique chance to grow in an environment that prioritizes user experience and community building over opaque algorithms. By setting up a thoughtful profile, embracing custom feeds, sharing your art with intention, and genuinely engaging with others, you can build a thriving home for yourself and your work.

While you're building your home on Bluesky, keeping your presence on other platforms like Instagram and X consistent can feel like a lot to juggle. All of that content planning can quickly pull you away from the creative work you'd rather be doing. We built Postbase to solve exactly that problem, giving you a simple visual calendar to schedule all your content across every platform, plan campaigns, and see exactly what's happening at a glance. It's meant to free you up for what really counts: creating more art.