How to animate your own painting or illustration

Updated October 21, 2026 · Reviewed by The Rift team

Short answer

Photograph or export your artwork, add it in Rift, and tell Spark, Rift's video agent, what moves and to keep your style: 'keep my brushwork, the water ripples and the boat drifts'. Spark adds movement without redrawing your work. Tap Make for a video up to 15 seconds to post alongside the still or as a process reveal.

Add a photo of your artwork and say what should move, such as ripples on water or a drifting boat. Spark keeps your style and adds the motion, for a video of up to 15 seconds.

What you need

An iPhone with Rift.
A sharp, straight photo or export of your artwork.

Step by step

Add the artwork in Rift.
Say what moves and that your style stays.
Keep the movement small: a ripple, a breeze, a blink.
Check the Draft and tap Make.
Post the video and the still together.

Lines to try with Spark

“Keep my brushwork. The water ripples and the boat drifts slowly.”
“Keep my lines exactly. Her hair moves in the wind and she blinks.”
“Keep the ink style. Smoke rises from the chimney, snow falls.”
“Slow camera push into the painting, the lamps flicker.”

Tips

Less is more. Small movement keeps your work recognisable.
Pair it with process: sketch, final, then the moving version.

Questions people ask

Will it change my style?

Say "keep my lines and colours exactly" and keep the movement small.

Who owns the video?

What you make is yours to post anywhere. The artwork stays yours.

Does Rift learn from my art?

Only if you say yes. Rift asks after your first video, and the answer is off until you allow it.

What kinds of art work best?

Scenes with something that could move: water, sky, hair, fabric, smoke, light.