Reels

Types of Reels that work best for artists (2025)

1. Community & Event Reels

Great for:

  • IN VIEW
  • STUDIO IN VIEW
  • Open studios
  • Exhibitions and fairs
  • Art community moments

Remember to tag:
Location, venue, artists involved, and relevant ASP hashtags.

2. Studio Insight Reels (#StudioInView)

Offer quick glimpses into your practice, such as:

  • Materials
  • Techniques
  • Studio routines
  • Short chats to camera
  • Setting up for a new piece

These reels help people understand the world around your work.

3. Work-in-Progress Reels (#WIP)

Short, simple clips showing:

  • Early marks
  • Layers building
  • Details and textures
  • Transitions
  • Final reveal

Transformation is always compelling.

4. Artwork Reel

Use Reels to show finished works in context:

  • Pans across the surface
  • Scale shots
  • Close-ups
  • “Gallery walk” style video

Feed posts show the artwork; Reels show the experience of the artwork.

5. Shout-Out Reels

Celebrate others in your community:

  • Fellow artists
  • Galleries
  • Events and exhibitions
  • Open studio visits

Tag all relevant accounts — this expands your reach into their networks.

6. Re-Imagined Old Content

Instead of reposting old posts, re-edit them into a fresh Reel:

  • Combine images
  • Add short text
  • Pair with new audio or voiceover
  • Add location and updated hashtags

This gives older work a new audience while avoiding Instagram’s “duplicate content” penalty.

What to avoid (2025 update)

  • Reposting identical content to your feed
  • Over-long reels with low watch time
  • Trend-chasing for the sake of it
  • Heavy text covering the whole screen
  • Videos that take too long to “get going”

Short, clear Reels perform better.

Editing Tips

Hook viewers in the first 1–2 seconds

Start with:

  • A strong close-up
  • A surprising detail
  • Your hand working
  • A nearly finished artwork
  • A short direct-to-camera intro

Mix stills and video

A varied sequence keeps viewers watching:

  • Quick detail clips
  • Still images
  • Wider shots
  • Context shots (studio, gallery wall)

Create short, clear narratives

Examples:

  • 3 images at 2 seconds
  • 1 detail at 3 seconds
  • 2 video clips at 4 seconds
  • Final reveal

Or: reveal first, process afterwards.

Sound and Voiceover

Choose audio that suits the work:

  • Calm ambient sound
  • Subtle music
  • Short voiceovers
  • Silence with text overlay (effective for slower work)

No need to use trending audio.

Add short text overlays

Examples:

  • “Underpainting layer”
  • “Mixing greens”
  • “Studio today”
  • “Final piece: ‘Title’, 2025”

Keep text minimal and readable.

Use Calls to Action

Only when appropriate:

  • “More in Stories”
  • “DM for details”
  • “New work in shop”
  • “See finished piece at end”

Optimal Reel Length

  • Most effective: 6–12 seconds
  • Process reels: 15–25 seconds
  • Generally avoid going beyond 30 seconds

Instagram values completion rate and rewatch rate more than total length.

Hot Tip

If you want your grid to look clean and “gallery-like”, choose a strong cover image for your Reel rather than relying on a random frame from the video.

Final Thought

Reels don’t need to be highly produced. Start small, keep it authentic, and show your process and world. You’ll improve naturally as you go.