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Hit 500 followers on my art portfolio site last week - still trying to figure out if that number means anything real
I got into digital art showcase posting about two years ago. Just sharing my landscape paintings and character sketches. Last week I hit 500 followers exactly. At first I was thrilled. But then I started thinking about it more. Does that number really mean my art is getting better? Or is it just that I'm posting more often and using better tags? Half my followers probably just followed back as a courtesy. The other half might genuinely like my work but I have no way to tell. I got more likes on a quick doodle of my cat than on a detailed portrait I spent 12 hours on. Has anyone else hit a milestone like this and wondered if it actually matters for your growth as an artist? Or do you just take the number and keep going?
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paul1172mo ago
Well shoot, I gotta say this is a pretty thoughtful thing to bring up... but you're kinda overthinking it a bit. The number itself isn't what matters, it's more about what it represents. 500 people thought enough to click that button, even if some just followed back. That's still a small crowd of folks who saw your name pop up and went "yeah, I'll take more of that".
But here's the thing - you're wrong about the cat doodle thing. That quick sketch probably caught someone's eye because it felt real and spontaneous. Your detailed portrait might be technically better, but sometimes art connects because it's loose and fun. That's not a bad sign, it just means your style has different strengths.
I'd say don't sweat the "courtesy follows" too much either. Those people still chose to follow you instead of someone else. They'll scroll past eventually if they don't care, but right now they're giving you a chance. That's real even if it's not deep.
Just keep painting what you like and posting it. The numbers will do their own thing whether you stare at them or not.
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adam_anderson62mo ago
500 courtesy follows out of 500 is still 500 people who didn't care enough to look at your work first. That cat doodle catching attention just proves the algorithm rewards quick, shallow engagement over actual skill.
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