Incorporating my Art Process into Videos

Did you know I have a YouTube channel? It’s called Mack’s Storybook! I share a lot of my daily life, art, and adventures on there. I feel like my YouTube is very much in the beginning of it’s creative development and I’m constantly trying out new ideas. I think video content is perfect for developing and documenting your art. I feel like we often forget how much we’ve improved and I think video is a perfect way to remember. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost old drawings or old sketchbooks and wished I had pictures or some form of digital media of them somewhere so I could look back. Video content has sort of become the new photograph for me. I can store many pictures into a video and look back on them whenever I’d like. What I film doesn’t only have to be for me though, I also find sharing my art through video to be an important way to connect with others. In this blog, I want to delve into the how and why I share my videos and what I’ve learned about what people want to see from me.

The How and the Why

Like I said previously, I like to share my videos to record my memories and my art making process. But we all know I have an art business so that can’t be the only reason why I do it. I post for promotion as well. I want others to see my art, connect with it, and maybe even want to have it in there home or on a notebook. I feel like art is the perfect way to share a feeling and help people understand that feeling the way you feel it. A big inspiration for me growing up were Pixar and Studio Ghibli films. I feel like a lot of people can relate to that haha. They had these little details whether in the style of their art or the stories that they told that really stuck a cord in the heart of the viewer. I’ve always wanted to do that with my art because I really struggled with expressing myself when I was younger. I was a very quiet kid, and I’m still a pretty quiet adult. There are plenty of ways to communicate in this world, and art seemed to be the most attractive to me. Therefore, I share my art to share how I feel. In terms of how I share, it’s via social media platforms and this blog! I tend to want to share to an adult crowd, those who used to be in corporate jobs or just really want to share their own stories too. I feel like I lost a childlike part of me that was always up for trying new things and exploring life. Mostly because I felt like the ‘adult things’ in life were more important. Things like taxes, money, to do lists, etc. Those are important, but they aren’t the only things that are important. I just want to remind people to have a bit of fun in life. Spend some time listening to a little story from MackAttacksArt and feel like you’re being read a book again. Maybe even decorate your to do list journal with some fun stickers, just to get a smile going. Being an adult doesn’t mean life has to be dull y’know?

But how do you strike to the heart of your viewers? Well, let’s explore that.

How to Strike the Heart

The short answer: Story and Relatability

Most of the time, people don’t really care about what you put out into the world. But if nobody cared about what anyone was doing, then we wouldn’t have favorite artists, bands, influencers, clothing companies, etc. I have posted a lot of videos and images on multiple forms of social media and I looked over the videos and posts that did well and they all have one of two things that seem to attract people: Story and Relatability. Seeing a picture of a running dog doesn’t feel as interesting as hearing a story of a dog running to save it’s owner from a well now does it? Story offers depth and gives a piece more meaning. Similarly, when you relate to something such as a little black cat picture because maybe you have one of your own, it gives you a connection to the piece, it makes it meaningful to you. More so than it would give someone with a golden retriever. You feel represented and seen.

Story example

Here are some examples of videos I’ve done that story was a huge driver in making them successful:

Both of these videos delve into the story (the why) of the characters I’m drawing. We get more incite as to why they look the way they do, where they’re positioned the way they are. I also offer a bit of relatability in both as I tap into the viewers’ love for fall and Halloween or even ask if they’re melancholy like the character. Story is a good way to bring the viewer in and question themselves.

Relatability

Relatability works more on a personal level. When you speak to someone face to face and explain something universal or universal to a particular niche. I would group existential questioning videos and even educational how to videos into this category because they both relate back to the person watching. The video below is about me reading books in Barnes and Noble to save some money because sometimes the book you want isn’t at the library. But a lot of people do it so it is pretty relatable:

Conclusion

I feel like video content is very important. But like adult tasks, it isn’t the only thing that’s important. Remember to have fun whenever you’re creating, don’t feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing. If you don’t like video content, then go you’re own way. A lot of people can probably relate and would gladly want to see how you build your own story in this life.

What do you think about video content? Do you think if offers a look into how the creator is thinking? What do you think about relatability and story being important factors in video creation? Leave your critiques below and add some more ideas as well.