Before You Submit

Now that you understand how Spotlight works, let’s take a moment before building your series. 

There are a few key things to know if you want to make the most of the community — how to show up authentically, prepare your profile, and approach your first Spotlight with intention.

We’ll also clear up some common misconceptions along the way.

Get to Know the Spotlight Community

It’s a good idea to get familiar with Monkspace and the Spotlight community before submitting your first series. While there’s no waiting period, artists who take the time to explore the platform — voting, commenting, and engaging with others — tend to build stronger connections and gain more meaningful visibility when they launch.

You can create your free artist account by clicking the “Upload” button and selecting Artist. Take a moment to write a short, thoughtful bio, upload at least 5 artworks, and add your website and social links. This helps collectors and followers learn more about your practice and makes it easier for them to reach out when your Spotlight goes live.

Invite your friends, fellow artists, and community to join Monkspace too — so they’re ready to support your Spotlight series when the time comes. A strong start begins with the people who already believe in you.

Is Your Profile Ready?

Ah, the timeless question — how do you know when your profile (and your series) is ready for Spotlight?

The short answer: it depends on you, your work, and what kind of launch energy you believe in. There’s no single right way — only what aligns with your creative rhythm.

🎯 The “Just Share It” Mindset

Some artists believe in momentum over perfection. They upload their series even if it feels a little rough around the edges — because they know that sharing leads to clarity. Early feedback can be powerful, and sometimes, simply showing up is the boldest move.

This approach works especially well if you tend to overthink, delay endlessly, or need to validate your visual language by putting it in front of real people.

💬 Get Feedback, Then Publish

Other artists prefer to refine things before stepping into the spotlight. They share drafts with trusted friends, peers, or early supporters — collect feedback, make small adjustments, and build confidence before submitting. This intentional pace often leads to stronger engagement when the series goes live.

✨ The Magic Moment

Sometimes, the timing finds you.
Maybe someone shares your work and interest suddenly spikes. Maybe a recent exhibition, project, or even a cultural moment makes your series especially relevant. If you feel momentum building — even if your profile isn’t 100% “perfect” — it might be the right time to ride the wave.

The bottom line?
You don’t need perfection. You need readiness that feels honest.
Whether you’re polishing every word in your bio or uploading your series in a burst of inspiration, the best time to join Spotlight is when you’re ready to share your voice with intention.

Setting Goals

For many artists, it’s tempting to measure Spotlight success by leaderboard position or number of votes — and yes, reaching the top can be exciting. But that’s not the only kind of success that matters.

Spotlight can serve many different goals, and your definition of success should reflect where you are in your journey.

Here are some goals you might set for your Spotlight:

• 🎨 Sharing a complete story through a focused, meaningful series
• 👁 Gaining visibility among new collectors, curators, or galleries
• 💬 Receiving thoughtful feedback from the community
• 📈 Growing your audience on Monkspace or social media
• 🧠 Understanding what resonates most with your viewers
• ✉️ Starting conversations with potential buyers or collaborators
• 🌱 Tracking growth over time by launching again in the future
• 🔗 Getting discovered and building long-term relationships
• ✅ Simply showing up and sharing — launching as a personal milestone

The most important thing? Define your own version of success before you launch. That way, you’ll know what to look for — and how to keep growing after the Spotlight ends.

Votes are exciting. But connection, clarity, and momentum — that’s the real win.

Do I Need Someone Specific to Discover Me?

The answer is simple: No.

There are no curators, gatekeepers, or special connections required to get noticed on Spotlight. You don’t need a gallery, a manager, or a famous collector to validate your work.

You can submit your own series, anytime — and you should.
 Spotlight is designed to give artists direct access to an audience that values authenticity and story. When you share your work yourself, you’re not just publishing — you’re taking ownership of your voice, your narrative, and your presence.

The strongest launches come from artists who show up for their work — and invite others into it.

Busting the Myth of "Being Discovered"

Sure, sometimes a well-connected collector might help amplify a career. But waiting around to be noticed can hold you back more than it helps.

In Spotlight, what matters is:

• Telling a story that’s true to you
• Sharing it consistently
• Engaging with the community
• Inviting your people to support you
  
  

That's how meaningful discovery happens — not by chasing the "right person," but by building the right moment through intention and connection.

One last note:

You don’t need to pay anyone to promote your series. We discourage any form of paid promotion that tries to manipulate the voting process or simulate interest.
Spotlight is built to celebrate genuine connection. What you build here should last longer than a single launch week.

Your art is enough. Just share it. 🎨