12 Crazy Ideas To Make Money as an Artist

Are you someone who loves expressing themselves through art? Whether it’s painting, drawing, or crafting, many people start as hobbyists but dream of turning their passion into pay.

It is possible to turn your artistic talents into a way to make a living. There are several paths an artist can take to earn income from their creativity. You don’t have to be a famous painter or sculptor to make money as an artist. With some smart strategies and hard work, you can find ways to get paid for doing what you love.

This guide will explore different options and ideas for artists who want to generate income from their art. From selling artwork and merchandise to offering services and teaching, there are various opportunities to consider.

How To Make Money as an Artist?

Artists have long been associated with financial struggle, but the reality is, that you don’t have to choose between your passion for art and financial stability. It’s entirely possible to make a decent income doing what you love. Here are different ways you can choose to make money as an artist.

1. Sell Your Art

Making money as an artist is an exciting journey, and there are lots of ways to do it. Selling your artwork is a great option to make money with your artwork.

The internet is a powerful tool for artists. You can sell your original artwork on websites made just for artists or even on social media sites like Instagram or Facebook. This way, you can reach people worldwide and find buyers beyond your local area.

Selling original art pieces can be a great way to make money, but you need to be willing to put in the work. You need to find the right people who will appreciate your art and be willing to pay for it. This can take time, but it’s worth it.

Since each piece is unique, people are willing to pay more for it. If you price your art correctly, you can make a good income from each sale. According to report, DomoINK founder Domonique Brown makes more than $20000 per month selling her art online.

2. Teach Art

Earn money from your artistic passion by teaching art classes. You can teach students of all ages, from children to adults, and help them grow their creative abilities.

Teach Online

Teaching art online is a fantastic way to reach people from all over the world who are eager to learn new art.

You can create and sell online courses on popular platforms like Udemy and Skillshare. These courses can cover a wide range of topics, from beginner’s guides to advanced techniques in painting, drawing, photography, and more. This way, you can monetize your art expertise and earn money even when you are sleeping.

Teach Offline face-to-face

While teaching art online has its advantages, some people prefer the personal touch of in-person instruction. If you’re one of them, don’t worry – there are plenty of opportunities to teach art face-to-face in your local community.

You can offer painting, photography, or specialty art classes and workshops for adults, kids, or high schoolers at community centers. These classes can be a great way to engage with your community and share your passion for art.

3. Show Your ArtWork In Gallery

Artists can earn money by displaying their artwork in galleries. Showing your art in galleries allows people to see your creations and helps build your reputation as an artist.

Work on developing your unique artistic style and create a collection of artwork that showcases your skills. Find the right galleries to showcase your talent. Do some research to find local art galleries that suit your style.

Getting your artwork displayed in galleries isn’t just about making money. It’s also about sharing your talent with the world and gaining recognition for your hard work.

4. Start a YouTube Channel About Art

Making money on YouTube as an artist is an exciting way to make money with your art talent. It’s a brilliant way to showcase your artistic talents and connect with art lovers worldwide. So here are some tips to start your YouTube channel as an artist.

Choose Your Content Style

There are a few directions you can take with your channel. You might want to focus on art tutorials, where you teach techniques and inspire others to create. Or, you could dive into art history, sharing fascinating stories and insights that art enthusiasts will adore.

Create Engaging Videos

Make sure your videos are high-quality and engaging. Use good lighting and clear audio to ensure your audience can see and hear you well. Keep your content interesting and easy to follow. A little creativity and editing go a long way in keeping your viewers hooked.

Building a successful YouTube channel takes time and dedication. Be patient, stay true to your artistic style, and keep improving with each video.

5. Use Your Art as Merchandise

For artists, earning a living involves more than just creating artwork. It also means finding multiple ways to generate income and having an entrepreneurial mindset. One accessible option is selling merchandise featuring your artwork.

Selling products like t-shirts, mugs, prints and other items with your art printed on them is a great way for artists to earn money.

It allows you to tap into a wider audience beyond just art collectors. Merchandise enables your art to reach more people and provide another income stream.

Pursuing merchandising opportunities requires adopting an entrepreneurial approach as an artist.

But it’s a relatively easy way to monetize your creative talents and passion. Merchandise allows you to transform your artwork into products that art fans and buyers can purchase and enjoy daily. It diversifies how you make money from your artistic skills.

6. Earn Royalties

When you publish your artwork, like drawings, paintings, or designs, you can potentially earn money each time someone buys a copy. This is called earning royalties. The more people purchase your published artwork, the more royalties you can make.

Publishing allows you to share your creative talents with others while also providing a way to get paid for your hard work. It’s an exciting opportunity for artists to promote their art and make a living from their passion.

Authors and writers usually get royalties from book sales. Typically, a publisher helps with printing and selling the book, and the author gets a portion of the money made from each sale.

Artists like painters and photographers can also earn from art royalty. They might license their artwork to be used on things like greeting cards, t-shirts, or even mugs. Each time one of these items is sold, they earn a little royalty fee.

7. Start a Blog About Art

As an artist, you need to do more than just create art. You must find ways to earn money from your passion and build a long-term career.

Starting your own art blog can help. An art blog allows you to share your artwork and also make some income. It can be a rewarding and creative way to showcase your art while earning money.

An art blog is your personal corner of the internet, where you can share your unique artistic perspective and connect with a community of like-minded individuals. It’s a place to express yourself, explore your creativity, and dive into the wonderful world of art.

Here are some ideas about topics to post on your art blog:

• Artist Interviews: Chat with other artists, from beginners to experts, and share their stories and experiences.
• Studio Sneak Peeks: Give readers a behind-the-scenes look at your workspace and the creative process.
• How-to Guides: Teach others a new skill or technique with easy-to-follow tutorials.
• Art Supply Reviews: Test out different art supplies and provide honest reviews to help fellow artists.

8. Become Freelancer

Freelancing is a fantastic way to turn your art skills into a flexible and rewarding career. Freelance artists get to choose their own projects and clients, which means you can be your own boss.

One of the best things about freelancing is the variety. You can work on all sorts of exciting projects and with different clients, from individuals to businesses. Freelancing also gives you the power to set your own rates. That means you can earn a good income doing what you love.

Related – Unique Ideas To Make Money as a Freelancer

9. Take Commison For Your Art Work

Commissions are a fantastic way for beginner artists and illustrators to earn some cash and build a reputation.

The first step is to showcase your awesome work online. Set up an art account on social media platforms and don’t forget to mention that you’re open to taking commissions. Whether it’s painting, drawing, photography, or any other art form, put your unique twist on it and show it off.

Keep your online presence engaging by regularly posting new art and interacting with your followers. Your social media profiles will act as a gallery, allowing potential clients to discover and fall in love with your talent.

As you continue to share your art and engage with people, you might be surprised to find clients reaching out to you directly.

10. Participate In Art Competition

You might think that only big museums or fancy art galleries hold art competitions, but that’s not true. Lots of places, like colleges, private art galleries, and even companies, host these competitions too. They want to find awesome artwork that can make their spaces look great or help them in their business.

Sometimes, you can win money just for placing in the top spots, or even getting an honorable mention. The amount of money you can win varies, but it’s always a nice bonus to get something for creating art that you love.

11. Apply For Grants

Earning money as an artist can be challenging, but there are opportunities available. One option is to apply for grants and enter art competitions.

These are often organized by groups that support artists, promote culture, or address issues. Grants and competitions allow you to share your art with others and potentially win cash prizes.

Art has the power to inspire and create change. Many organizations understand this power and offer grants to artists. These grants can support young artistic talent, promote cultural projects, or use creative means to address societal issues.

Local institutions may also seek artists to enhance their spaces or events, providing another way for artists to showcase their work and earn income. To find these opportunities, do an online search.

Searching online makes it easy to uncover grants, competitions, and programs that can financially support your art and allow you to share your talents. Take advantage of these opportunities to further your artistic career.

12. Licensing Your Artwork

For artists, it is important to understand how to use your creations to earn money. One way to do this is through licensing your artwork.

Licensing doesn’t have to be complicated. It just means letting someone else use your art in exchange for a fee. They pay you, and then they can put your artwork on products, websites, or whatever they need it for.

Licensing is a good way for artists to earn some extra money without having to constantly make new art. The income can come in without you having to put in extra work each time. This can help fund your bigger art projects.

What Are Some Popular Platforms For Selling Art Online?

There are many popular websites where artists can sell their work online. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

• Etsy: A giant marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. Artists can offer their creations to buyers worldwide.
• Fine Art America: A large community where artists can sell prints, originals, and products with their art on them. They also help artists market and sell.
• Saatchi Art: Represents thousands of artists worldwide. They focus on high-end original artwork and limited edition prints, and artists must apply to sell.
• Artfinder: An online gallery based in London and Miami. Artists are selected to join, and Artfinder takes a portion of sales.
• ArtPal: A free platform with a big community of artists. Artists can sell originals and prints and use their print-on-demand services.
• UGallery: They carefully choose the artists and artwork they feature and split sales evenly with artists. They also handle shipping.
• Singulart: This site promotes its artists through newsletters, marketing, and a physical gallery in Berlin. Artists must apply to sell here, too.

What Are Some Popular Art Styles That Sell Well?

Some art styles that are often popular and well-received include:

• Abstract Art: This style doesn’t look like real-life things. Instead, it uses shapes, colors, and textures to express emotions and let viewers decide what it means to them.
• Realism: Also called naturalism, this style shows things exactly as they are in real life. Artists try to make their paintings look very real and lifelike.
• Expressionism: Expressionism uses bright, bold colors to show how the artist feels about what they’re painting. It’s all about expressing emotions through colors and brushstrokes.
• Painterly Style: Artists who use this style want you to see the brushstrokes and the texture of the paint. They don’t try to make their paintings look smooth and perfect.
• Impressionism: Impressionists focus on how light and brushstrokes make things look, rather than painting things exactly as they are. They care more about their feelings about the subject than making it look realistic.
• Pop Art: Pop art is all about using pictures from popular culture, like comics, celebrities, and advertisements. It’s usually very colorful and often challenges the traditional way art is done.
• Cubism: Started by artists like Pablo Picasso, cubism shows things from different angles and in a geometric way. It might look abstract, but it’s still a type of realism.

FAQs About Making Money With Your Art

Final Thoughts

Earning money as an artist is all about using your skills in smart ways. You can sell your artwork, teach others, or even start an online business. There’s a way for every artist to make money and be happy doing it.

Just keep making art, learn how to sell it well, and don’t give up. If you work hard and stay creative, you’ll see your art career grow and bring you the money you deserve. So, keep painting, drawing, or doing whatever you love, and see where it takes you.