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Just like anything else in the world, how much effort and/or money you put into it determines what you will get out of it. Let's start with the reasons you are on Instagram. If you are like me, then you want to post your art on a platform where the world can see what you are creating. You may want to share how you create and other tips and tricks. You may want to brag a little when you get into a juried show. You may even want to gain millions of followers who will end up buying your art and eventually become rich and famous. This can all happen and I encourage you to try, but don't think you don't have to do anything to achieve all that and especially the last goal. 

If you think that all you have to do is post your art and wait for people to find you, like your art and start following, then you are mistaken. You will not grow - and I don't mean just your account. You as an artist will not grow. 

Instagram is a place rich with artists and if you spend a bit of time looking at what they do, learning about the opportunities that are being offered out there and selflessly start engaging with other people's posts, you will receive in more ways than you thought. Guess what, it's not about you and your art. It's about the art community as a whole. Spend a bit of time and observe what is out there in your area, beyond your town and even in the world. What are other creatives doing? It's not about how many followers you can get. It's nice when there's a mutual interest. Take the time to actually scroll down the feed and comment when you see something you like. Make sure you don't follow so many accounts, that it becomes a burden. You can't follow everyone who follows you. Be selective. I have 3 rules when someone follows me. First rule, do they create art I am interested in seeing? Second rule, did they like a few of my posts before they chose to follow me? Third rule, I look at their comment sections in their own posts, do they reply when someone comments? If the answer is YES to all, then I will follow them back.

Don't waste your money on "enhancing" your post so it will reach a wider audience. Yeah, it might reach more people but it really does not mean you will grow a substantially larger following. Hope you found this helpful.

Recently I won first prize plus $1000 in a juried show at the art council of my county. I entered to win and gave it my best shot. You can't control who the juror will ultimately chose. However, you can take a few steps which will give you the best chance at winning a juried art show. 

Number 1

Chose a show that fits you. What does that mean? If you are starting out, look for competitions that are in your area. this can be your local art council, art guild or nearby art galleries. If the show has a theme or other requirements make sure they match you and your work. In other words, if the contest is themed: "Winter", don't enter a piece unrelated to winter. Your art will be immediately disqualified. If this is a recurring show you should do your homework and see what art has won in the past. Ask yourself if your work can compete with what you see. The size of a juried show may also matter. Obviously your chances of winning increases if you are competing against fewer artists. If I think several hundred artists will apply, I may pass and wait for a smaller show with greater odds.

Number 2

Make sure you understand what the show is looking for. Read all the rules and deadlines for submission, drop off, opening night and pick up. If any of those dates don't work for you, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Make sure your piece matches their guidelines. If the largest art they allow is 20x20, then make sure your piece is no larger than that. Learn who the juror is and try to find out what type of art they have selected in the past. If you understand who the juror is, you can ascertain whether your work might impress them to give you a prize. 

Number 3

Quality control. I can not stress this enough. Make sure your piece is in perfect condition. Go over it carefully and check everything. The juror will look at presentation. If your art is damaged or if the frame around your art is scratched up, you will not win. Give yourself the best chance by being very rigorous when it comes to the presentation and the quality of your artwork.

That's it! As simple as that. You can WIN if you follow this advice!