Art vs Algorithm: Being an artist in the age of social media

This year I’ve been painting again, and with it comes an old dilemma: how to share the work without losing the spark.

There’s a moment when the brush feels alive, when colour is more discovery than decision. That’s the part I love — when art feels like freedom. But the moment I turn to social media, it shifts. Instead of exploring, I’m curating. Instead of flow, I’m editing, scheduling, responding. Before I know it, the day is gone and I’ve been more “marketer” than maker.

It’s a subtle trap. Comparison creeps in, the algorithm looms, and suddenly the art isn’t about light or texture anymore — it’s about performance. The work stiffens. The joy drains.

I’ve realised this isn’t just about painting; it’s about how we all hold space for the things we love. When the tools meant to connect us begin to consume us, the balance tips. And finding that balance — between visibility and authenticity, between sustaining ourselves and protecting what gives us life — is the real work.

I’ve started keeping a painting journal. Somewhere I can reflect on the serendipitous successes and the lessons learned of each session, before it hardens into a finished piece.

Because in the end, art — and life — breathe more easily when they’re not crushed under expectation.