Starting a YouTube Art Channel
Starting a YouTube Art Channel
As an artist, is it worth setting up a YouTube art channel? My answer is yes but with some qualifications. It depends on your goals. First, let’s deal with a misconception. Some people will try to convince you that YouTube is an easy way for artists (or anyone) to make some extra income via YouTube’s partner program. Exact statistics are not available around monetization, but estimates indicate that less than ten percent of YouTube channels earn money from advertising, and less than half that number earn enough to make a full-time living. Or, put another way, ninety percent of YouTube channels never earn a penny. So, if your primary goal is earning money, YouTube might not be the easiest option. However beyond making money there are good reasons why you might want to start a YouTube Channel. These include:
getting your art seen by more people
expanding your geographical reach
learning new skills such as presenting to camera, video editing, storytelling and others
getting your artist story out to the world
Here are some things to consider before recording any videos:
Choosing a Target Audience
YouTube art channels can be grouped into many categories. For example, there are tutorial-style channels and channels that deal with the business aspects of being an artist. Some channels look at art history, while others focus on using specific mediums or art styles. Imagine a typical member of your audience. What do they want from your content? What interests you? What type of content do you want to create? Start from there.
Getting Started
Next, you need to look at the technical stuff. What equipment do you need? You’ll need a camera, perhaps a microphone, editing software and a computer to run the software. You might need lights, tripods, and a space to record in. What’s your budget? I started my channel with a cheap webcam and free, open-source editing software called Open Shot Video Editor. The technical quality of my early videos was very poor. However, given that I had almost no budget, I decided to focus on just making content and uploading what I could. I put the emphasis on getting started rather than on quality. Some people with have a phone capable of recording video that is also a viable option. You might still need a microphone to record decent sound.
Avoid Copyright issues
The most common reason for channels getting shut down is copyright infringement. For example using music you don’t own the rights to. YouTube has a “three strikes and you’re out” policy. Breaking community guidelines can also get you banned. With art that usually means life drawing - YouTube does not like nudity.
Growing Your YouTube Channel
Let’s say you’ve completed the initial challenges and uploaded your first video. You now face the central challenge: keeping your channel alive and growing. You need to decide on an upload schedule. Once a day, a week, a month, it doesn’t matter. Just pick a schedule and stick to it. Release videos consistently and predictably. Three things will help you succeed: consistency, patience, and luck.
In Summary
My YouTube channel provides me with zero income after three years of hard work. So why do I think YouTube is good for artists? If you want to share your process and have a permanent record of your journey as an artist, then YouTube is probably the best platform to achieve those goals. As I said at the beginning of the article, whether or not YouTube is suitable for you depends on your goals.
the mysterious algorithm
If you decide to become a YouTube creator you will sooner or later hear people talking about the mysterious algorithm. The most reliable source of information on how to build and grow a YouTube channel is YouTube itself. They have a channel called Creator Insider which has lots of useful videos like the one below.
Last and Least - Trolls and Haters
In my experience 98% of comments are positive and/or genuine enquires such as “what paper do you recommend for … ? But you may encounter haters and trolls, the other one or two percent. These sad little creatures live miserable lives hiding under rocks in dark damp places. Occasionally, they crawl out to spread their fear and anger. My policy with trolls and haters is simple. I delete their comments and mute them from my channel. Never interact with these creatures. Block them and move on.