Thanks to the wonder of the internet, we live in a more connected world than ever before. Chances are notifications from your favourite sites pop up every now and then to keep you updated with news headlines and your friends’ social media statuses. But for artists looking to connect with the creative community, live streaming offers a unique way to get involved with like-minded people in real-time.
Streaming sites aren’t anything particularly new. Just take live streaming video platform Twitch. The site, which focuses on video game content, has amassed a huge audience of engaged users over recent years because it’s tapped into the needs of its target audience and hit them hard with entertaining content.
Another factor at the heart of streaming’s success is that people can either sit back and enjoy the videos, or they can host them. But it’s not just gamers who get to indulge in some live streaming fun, there are plenty of informative and amusing videos for artists to watch elsewhere online.
This is sure to be welcome news for creatives, because sometimes working as an artist can feel like a lonely pursuit. Not only do you have to put the hours in to hone your craft, you also need to keep topping up your skills and somehow get your masterpieces out into the world. If you want to make it big, there’s also a tremendous amount of networking involved.
Don’t fret though, because live streaming platform Picarto is here to connect digital artists and animators in order to help them share their passions. Created in 2013, Picarto is the first live streaming platform to put its emphasis on creativity. It covers all sorts of creative interests, including popular topics such as comics, anime, and character design. As long as it’s connected to creativity, artists are free to watch and share videos on Picarto.
Picarto’s creativity focused live streaming is a godsend if you want to learn a new technique and build your audience. By watching artists whip up an illustration or an animation, viewers can get a greater understanding of what went into making their work. And for the creators hosting the streaming videos, it’s an opportunity to establish a fanbase and make a name for yourself.
One of the biggest lures when it comes to live streaming sites is that all you need is a piece of recording equipment like a webcam and you can become a streamer yourself. With no need to edit your footage, you can begin broadcasting to your audience quickly and easily. Chuck in the opportunity to earn commissions from your work, and Picarto could even help you to make money from your art.
And with so many streams available on Picarto, visitors are sure to find a video that caters to their needs. What’s more, if you’ve found a creator who you think deserves a little more attention, you can help them grow by setting up a themed duo-stream session with a similar artist. Alternatively there are multi-streams which can support up to four artists, making them an invaluable way for presenters and community members to swap notes.
Artists have always worked as members of a community, whether it’s the Pop art movement or the Post-Impressionists. And if artistic communities are good enough for the likes of Andy Warhol and Toulouse-Lautrec, they must be useful. So just think of live streaming and Picarto as a community that unites artists from all over the world. Once you get involved you might learn a new skill, meet new people, or even create your own fanbase.
To explore everything Picarto has to offer, either as an audience member or as a potential streamer, visit the site here.