Selling Your Paintings? Here’s What Your Instagram Highlights Should Look Like

If you’re an artist already selling your paintings on Instagram, you’ve likely been consistent with creating and sharing your work. But at this stage, growth is not just about what you create - it’s also about how you present it.

Many artists continue posting regularly but don’t spend enough time organising their profile in a way that gives clarity to the viewer. When someone visits your page, they should not have to figure things out on their own. Your profile should guide them.

And this is where highlights become important. They help structure your profile in a way that clearly shows what you do, what you offer, and how someone can engage with your work.

Why the Clarity of Your Professional Profile Matters

When someone visits your profile, they are not trying to spend time figuring things out. They are simply trying to understand, as quickly as possible, what you do and whether your work is relevant to them. If your profile is not clear, even strong work can get overlooked.

Clarity helps a visitor immediately understand:

• what kind of paintings you create

• what you offer (originals, prints, commissions)

• how they can engage with your work

When this information is easy to grasp, your profile feels more structured and intentional. It becomes easier for someone to explore your work without confusion.

On the other hand, if things are unclear or scattered, people may hesitate. Not because your work is not good, but because they are unsure about what you are offering or how to proceed.

A clear profile removes that hesitation. It guides the viewer, builds confidence, and makes your work easier to connect with.

What Instagram Highlights Actually Do for Your Profile

Highlights help organise your content in a way that is easy to navigate. Instead of expecting someone to scroll through your entire feed, you are giving them a clear starting point.

They act as a guided overview of your work. A new visitor can go through your highlights and quickly understand your style, your process, and what you offer.

When used properly, highlights make your profile feel more complete and easier to trust.

Common Mistakes Even Selling Artists Make

Even artists who are already selling often overlook how their highlights are set up.

One common issue is adding stories without thinking about structure. Over time, this creates highlights that feel mixed and unclear.

Another mistake is using names that don’t clearly describe what’s inside. If a viewer has to guess, they are less likely to engage.

There is also a tendency to focus only on posting new content while ignoring how everything is organised. But for someone visiting your profile, organisation plays a key role in how they understand your work.

Think Like Your Buyer

To improve your highlights, it helps to think from the buyer’s perspective.

A visitor is usually looking for quick answers:

• What does this artist create?

• Can I buy from them?

• Do they take commissions?

If your profile answers these questions clearly, people are more likely to stay and explore. If it doesn’t, they may leave without engaging further.

Essential Highlights Every Selling Artist Should Have

Your highlights should support your goal of making your work easier to understand and explore.

Artworks

This is the most important highlight on your profile. It should present your paintings clearly and in an organised way.

You can include:

• Your best and most recent paintings

• Different styles or mediums

• Clear, well-lit images

• Basic details like price or availability (if possible)

When someone opens this, they should immediately get a sense of the kind of paintings you create.

Commissioned Works

This highlight shows how you work with clients and what your process looks like.

You can include:

• Custom artworks you’ve created

• Work-in-progress visuals

• Before-and-after comparisons

This helps viewers understand what to expect if they choose to work with you.

Client Feedback

This is where trust builds naturally.

You can include:

• Screenshots of client messages

• Short testimonials

• Feedback after delivery

Even a small amount of feedback can make your profile feel more reliable.

Additional Highlights That Add Depth

Once your main highlights are in place, you can add a few more to give your profile more context.

For example, exhibitions or collaborations can show your experience. Behind-the-scenes content can help people connect with your process. If you offer workshops or other services, you can include those as well.

These highlights are not essential, but they help your profile feel more complete.

Naming and Structuring Your Highlights

Clarity should always come first.

Use simple and direct names like:

• Artworks

• Commissions

• Reviews

This makes it easier for visitors to understand your profile without confusion.

Try to keep your highlights organised and avoid mixing unrelated content. A clean structure makes your profile easier to navigate.

How Better Organisation Leads to Better Sales

When your highlights are clear and structured, your profile becomes easier to understand.

This leads to:

• More time spent on your profile

• Better understanding of your work

• Increased confidence from viewers

At this stage, selling is not just about visibility. It is about making things simple and clear for the person visiting your profile.

Conclusion

If you are already selling your paintings, improving your highlights is about refining how your work is presented.

By organising your highlights in a clear and thoughtful way, you make it easier for people to understand your work and what you offer. This clarity helps build trust and makes your profile feel more intentional.

And often, that is what helps people take the next step.

A more detailed understanding of art marketing, presenting, and selling your artwork is covered through live demos in our online course 'Art Marketing and Communication’.