Can a timelapse hurt your art more than help it?

I posted a 45 second timelapse of a portrait I painted on Procreate last month in Miami. It got like 200 likes but then some guy commented that watching it felt like watching someone cook without showing the recipe. It made me wonder if showing the process actually takes away from the final piece. What do you guys think does a timelapse show off your skill or just ruin the mystery?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_dixon2d ago

Honestly I think people overthink this stuff. A 45 second timelapse is just a quick look at your process, not a full tutorial. If someone wants the "recipe" they can ask or look up a class. Your art isn't ruined just because someone saw you swipe a brush around for a minute. It's a timelapse not a magic trick reveal.

brown.susan2d ago

Blair, this is exactly how I feel too. I saw someone on YouTube the other day who does these 30 second timelapses of her watercolor florals, and people in the comments were actually mad she didn't explain what brush she used. Like, it's a timelapse, not a step by step tutorial. If you really need to know her exact process, you could just ask politely or check her website.