Sharing Art Account with IRL friends?

[marygold]

There’s someone I know in person who shares a lot of my fandoms and really loves fanart. I’m considering giving my art social media username to them so that I can show them my drawings but I am feeling quite shy about it.

Have any of you artists out there done the same? I have thought of texting my drawings to her but I’m not 100% comfortable with that either.

[Maps]

I think it depends on which art pieces. If something feels vulnerable or you don’t want to share it, don’t feel obligated to. Pick and choose what you’re willing to share!
You can always start slowly too and see how it goes. If you realize it makes you uncomfortable, just stop sharing with them.
(Also, I just snooped your art posted on some forum topics and it’s really good!)

[VibrantFox]

I've only given my art account (ig) to two of my irl friends but it was more for means of communication rather than sharing my work. I guess I could consider myself lucky that they've been accepting even though I was apprehensive about it. Like Maps said it's up to you to choose what you're comfortable sharing with them.

One thing you could try is sending it to them via message and if they're accepting/cool with it or however then introduce them to your art social that way if things don't quite go to plan there's no need to awkwardly remove them or swap accounts in some worst case scenario.

not sure i'm the best advice source but i do wish you the best

[Kelheor]

Oh, definitely go for it, especially if you share the fandoms, they could become your best fan
If you're doing nude or something you're not comfortable feel like sharing - than maybe send them one fanart to look at their reaction at first.
You can just slip the link in when you're talking about something, the same old fandoms for example. If it's a friend, they will at least say "wow dude you're drawing things!". It doesn't mean they will definitely like it and will follow you everywhere, but hey, maybe they will =)

[marygold]

@Maps thank you so much! I’ll try that then.

And thank you! It’s been a while since I posted. Offline life has been quite busy

[marygold]

@VibrantFox I’m glad your friends like your artwork! I’ll give texting a drawing or two a try.

[marygold]

@Kelheor That’s a good point I hadn’t thought of that, thanks! Now I’m curious if she’ll like the comic content I created. One day I’ll get the link to her! Thanks for your encouragement

[Rhonder]

I do for sure. Way back when I was first getting into drawing more seriously, deviant art was all the rage with artists at my middle and highschool, so we would all follow each other there for the most part, so it's been something normal for my whole art career. Similarly nowadays I occasionally advertise my comic and art accounts on my personal facebook page and whatnot. I'm always shocked and flattered when I run into friends I don't see super often at parties and stuff and find out that they've been keeping up with and really like my comic xD It's like my own little fan base lmao. Similarly the last year or so I've started getting my first few art commissions though people I know irl seeking me out, so that's been kinda neat as well!

(* granted I totally understand that some people draw things they're not comfortable sharing and that's totally understandable and different! I've always drawn things I wouldn't mind anyone seeing so that frames my experience too)

[Novalinlin]

I never give out my @ to irl people - not even friends.

If I wanna share something with them I physically show them the art (like, on my phone) but it's going to be a version without my signature

I like having my own space online where irl people can't find and check up on me :o

[malverav]

It all comes down to you - if you're afraid of what your friends might say or think, remember that they'll probably think it's amazing that you can draw at all. Often, you're the only one who'll look at your work for more than ten seconds, and also you're the only one who'll ever critisise it so harshly. I always want to support my friends online by commenting on their ig posts and retweeting them; it makes me feel good that I can be a bit of a cheerleader, and maybe your friends might feel the same?

I personally don't give out my usernames to anyone besides my closest friends because I draw a fair bit of 18+ artwork - in fact, i preemptively block them most of the time. I like having a sphere separate from my IRL friends, especially for the sexually explicit stuff!