This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. See our affiliate disclosure for extra.
Studying how you can earn a living as an artist is unquestionably achievable, nevertheless it contains a variety of laborious work and a long-term technique.
On this article, I’ll define precisely what I’ve discovered about the place to promote your artwork on-line, how you can get new artwork purchasers, and much extra that can assist you construct your income as an artist or artistic. I’ve labored as a artistic artist for years and I’ve tried to incorporate all my finest recommendation and findings into one article and video right here.
12 Greatest Methods to Make Cash as an Artist
First, there are a number of methods to earn a living as an artist and you’ll create multiple stream of revenue. Whether or not you’re a part-time artist or a full-time freelance artist, there are many methods to earn a living out of your artwork. Listed below are a couple of of the very best methods I’ve seen artists earn a living from their artwork:
Promoting Your Artwork
The obvious strategy to earn a living as an artist is to promote your art work. There are a couple of methods I’ve discovered you are able to do this. Listed below are a couple of concepts to get your began:
1. Promote your authentic items
You’ll be able to promote your work, sculptures or ornamental gadgets and jewellery via your web site or e-shop.
It’s nevertheless extra smart to start out on a longtime on-line artwork market, with 1000’s of purchasers and thousands and thousands of holiday makers, as an alternative of ready for patrons to find your contemporary web site portfolio with nearly zero site visitors.
A few of these platforms give you the possibility to have your artwork featured, which is a good promotion.
2. Promote your prints
There are on-line marketplaces providing artists a spot to promote their artwork with print-on-demand.
3. License your artwork for inventory web sites
As a graphic designer, illustrator, photographer or videographer you may license your art work for inventory web sites as a strategy to make passive revenue for artists.
To know the place to start out, try our checklist beneath for the highest web sites to promote your work on.
4. Non-public commissions
Be commissioned straight by people or firms to create artistic work from scratch.
As a painter or illustrator, you may even receives a commission for road artwork and inside or exterior mural portray and design.
Instructing and consulting
If you have already got expertise, you may assist different aspiring artists to comply with their goals. Many individuals these days desire to comply with a web-based class or a webinar from their house, particularly those that don’t have many native alternatives to attend a course.
There are a number of methods to show, educate and seek the advice of individuals on-line as a freelancer.
5. Educate a web-based class or begin a workshop
It’s not really easy to arrange your individual webinar or on-line class from day 1, however you can begin by subscribing to a few of them to see the way it’s organized, or use an already established platform that provides on-line programs, like Skillshare or How Now.
6. Provide tutorials
In case you’ve already constructed an viewers who belief you thru running a blog or social media channels, you can begin promoting them tutorials in numerous varieties: pdfs, movies and webinars.
7. Create your individual weblog
Creating your individual weblog is among the finest advertising and marketing methods to draw purchasers in the present day.
For me, this was probably the most profitable determination in my profession. You construct belief and acquire authority when you’re selling your work. The trick is to write down to your audience, providing them what they’re on the lookout for. Whether or not that’s graphic design, social media, pictures, or arts, you’ll find a weblog area of interest for you.
A weblog that will get a variety of site visitors can turn into a worthwhile enterprise (this requires laborious work and dedication), via advertisements, affiliate hyperlinks and sponsors.
8. Create and promote an eBook
In case you’re into running a blog, that is the subsequent step you’ll in all probability take, after having constructed an viewers. It’s a lot simpler to advertise and promote your eBook to people who find themselves fascinated by your matter, belief you and take into account you as an knowledgeable.
9. Teaching and mentoring
Many creatives and artists are sharing their experiences via teaching and mentoring. You in all probability received’t begin your profession on-line as a coach, however should you get significantly concerned in running a blog or educating, that is additionally a possible subsequent step.
10. Consulting and artwork path
Being extra visually educated and knowledgeable about arts and design traits, you may advise people and firms on their artistic course of and creative initiatives.
Working for the artwork business
11. Work for on-line marketplaces or galleries
You may get priceless expertise with the behind-the-scenes work, providing providers like curating, promoting or selling artwork.
Other than incomes cash, you open your self to alternatives you wouldn’t have in any other case.
It is a step it’s best to take anyway should you’re dreaming of getting deeper into the artwork’s business and never simply promoting your work.
12. Work for magazines and blogs
Writing articles, taking pictures and doing artwork path for the press and blogs is a captivating method, not solely to earn a living as an artist but in addition to make highly effective connections and put your title in entrance of a broader viewers.
In case you discover it extraordinarily troublesome to work for a weblog or one other web site, I can guarantee you that it’s simpler than you assume. All you want is to be an lively follower (meaning commenting on their posts or connecting via on-line teams).
Most bloggers and web site house owners are prone to rent from their very own viewers of readers.
My private expertise: Millo was one of many first blogs I subscribed to nearly 5 years in the past after I knew nothing about running a blog — 2 years later, having launched my very own weblog and web site, I began writing for them!
- There are numerous other ways to earn a living as an artist, together with promoting your work on-line, creating merchandise, providing commissions, educating workshops or lessons, and dealing in graphic design or illustration.
- To achieve success as an artist, construct a robust portfolio, community, and actively market your work.
- Domesticate a enterprise mindset. This will contain setting objectives, monitoring bills, and searching for out skilled recommendation when wanted.
15 web sites to promote your artwork on-line
For these trying to learn to earn a living as an artist, there are a number of on-line artwork marketplaces to promote your work on and other ways to do it — solely a small pattern is listed right here. I like to recommend you make your individual thorough analysis to see which is the very best match for you.
These web sites and platforms will supply every thing you should begin promoting as quickly as you add your items, charging a fee or an preliminary charge.
Painters, Illustrators, Sculptors, Photographers
1. Saatchi Artwork
With 12M+ month-to-month web page views, 1.1M+ Social Followers and 60,000 artists from around the globe, this is among the hottest on-line galleries, to promote your work, drawings, prints, images and sculptures. They deal with transport, have a non-exclusive coverage and cost a 35% fee. It’s a superb web site to promote your artwork on-line.
2. Artfinder
One other artwork market that provides 10,000 artists the possibility to achieve 500,000 subscribers around the globe. You’ll be able to promote authentic artwork together with portray, prints, images, and sculptures with a 30% fee.
3. UGALLERY
A curated on-line artwork gallery promoting one-of-a-kind works by the highest rising artists on this planet. They cost 50% fee.
4. Artplode
Artplode is a high-quality on-line artwork gallery the place sellers, artists, galleries and collectors purchase and promote artwork with no fee charged. Artplode prices a low, one-off flat charge of $60 to promote every art work. The itemizing stays on the Artplode web site till the vendor removes it. You may additionally elect to pay additional to have your artwork included in a number of of their featured classes.
5. CODAworx
CODAworx is a world on-line neighborhood that showcases and celebrates design initiatives that includes commissioned art work in inside and architectural areas. In case you are a public artist, sculptor, painter, you’re employed with gentle, sound or video, you will get found by architects, builders, designers, artwork consultants, and public directors.
Photographers, graphic designers and illustrators
6. Shutterstock
You in all probability already comprehend it and even used their high-quality inventory pictures, vectors and movies. It’s not simple, nevertheless, to be accepted and have a totally lively account.
7. Inventive Market
Inventive Market is a web-based market for community-generated design property. You’ll be able to promote graphics, WordPress themes, inventory pictures, and different digital items to be used by net creatives. Inventive Market has over a million customers and greater than 250,000 purchasable gadgets.
8. Zazzle
There are 3 methods to earn a living with Zazzle, as a designer, publishing your designs on merchandise, as a maker, promoting your merchandise and as an affiliate, selling your favourite merchandise. This provides you a number of choices to promote your artwork on-line and earn a living as an artist.
9. Society6
Utilizing Society6, you’ll not solely be capable to remodel your art work into posters & prints but in addition cellphone circumstances, stickers, t-shirts and no matter could be printed.
10. Printful
Printful prints and sends your customized print designs to your clients on merchandise similar to t-shirts, posters, canvas, mugs and many others.
Fingers and Crafts artists
11. Etsy
Etsy is a extremely popular e-commerce web site centered on handmade or classic gadgets and provides. These things cowl a variety, together with artwork, pictures, clothes, jewellery, meals, tub and sweetness merchandise, quilts, knick-knacks, and toys. The positioning follows the custom of open craft gala’s, giving sellers private storefronts the place they checklist their items for a charge of US$0.20 per merchandise.
12. Artfire
ArtFire is one other on-line market for handmade merchandise, designed by artisans worldwide, with no itemizing or remaining worth charges.
Photographers and videographers
13. Alamy
A spot to promote your inventory imagery, Alamy claims to be honest, clear and simple to work with and also you get 50% of the sale. You’ll be a part of a neighborhood of over 60,000 contributors and 110,000 patrons.
14. Vimeo on Demand
You’ll be able to promote your movies on Vimeo, the well-known high-quality video platform, for $20/month billed yearly or attempt it free for 30 days.
15. Amazon
You’ve used Amazon to purchase one thing no less than as soon as in your life! You’ll be able to promote absolutely anything there — you may print and promote your e-book, DVD, or no matter you may think about, the probabilities are infinite.
Irrespective of via which channel you showcase and promote your work, social media is the right software for promotion and networking. Social media advertising and marketing generally is a full-time job, nevertheless it’s definitely worth the effort should you put within the time.
Instagram, Pinterest, Fb, Twitter and YouTube are the most well-liked media for artists, nevertheless it’s as much as you to search out probably the most appropriate to your objectives.
Take a while to get used to it and see how issues work earlier than you begin posting. Comply with those that do it efficiently to study their secrets and techniques – a few of them supply free webinars and ebooks.
Just a few fundamental tricks to comply with:
Submit solely high-quality photos and fascinating content material
Don’t join your title or model with low-quality photos, movies and irrelevant posts only for the sake of being there. In case you don’t add worth, educate or entertain your viewers, you then’re simply losing their, and your, time. Purpose to have a cohesive feel and look to generate consciousness.
Submit usually and persistently to construct a following
One of the crucial vital guidelines in social media advertising and marketing. It takes greater than posting as soon as a month to construct a substantial following. Be in entrance of your followers’ eyes always, with beautiful pictures and compelling tales.
Generate site visitors with paid advertisements
It’s extraordinarily simple and inexpensive, even for a really low funds, to generate extra site visitors and enhance your posts with paid advertisements on Fb and Instagram.
Hyperlink to your web site, portfolio or weblog
Don’t rely solely on social media to showcase your artwork — it’s essential to have your individual foundation or e-shop. A self-hosted web site or weblog is actually obligatory, the place you don’t depend upon Fb or Instagram adjustments on algorithms and even decay and disappearance (bear in mind MySpace?).
Your objective is to draw potential purchasers via social media to go to your web site or weblog and study extra about you and your work, so at all times bear in mind to incorporate hyperlinks to your web site or weblog. In spite of everything — that’s the aim of posting!
Learn to run a enterprise as an artist
Be taught the fundamentals of working a enterprise as an artist
The rationale many artistic individuals by no means grasp how you can earn a living as an artist is as a result of they spend 1000’s of hours, late nights, weekends honing their creative expertise. However they spend little or no time studying about what it takes to really earn a living as an artist.
However because you’re right here studying our article on getting cash as an artist, I’ll guess that you simply already knew that. However did you additionally know you can sharpen your corporation expertise with websites like Udemy—the place there are actually dozens of enterprise lessons (together with the one beneath) for extremely low costs.
For instance, there’s this course for $49. And this course is barely $19! And there are heaps extra. I imply, nicely price it to get a greater understanding of what it takes to earn a living as an artist.
Discover your speciality
It’s quite common for artists and creatives to have many expertise and abilities. You generally is a passionate illustrator or painter who works as a graphic designer, or an architect who takes beautiful pictures.
You’ve extra probabilities to efficiently learn to earn a living as an artist by promoting one thing you’re actually good at, or is far in demand.
For example, it’s possible you’ll discover out you can make extra cash educating others the secrets and techniques of Adobe Illustrator fairly than promoting your individual illustrations.
I’d by no means imagined that writing posts for my weblog would carry 90% of my purchasers to my architectural studio!
You will have to start out with what pays the payments (like copying work, or curating artwork), even when that isn’t your true ardour and be open; typically surprising alternatives present us the fitting path to getting cash as an artist.
Select your area of interest or invent a brand new one
There aren’t any limits on how you can earn a living on-line these days, however 1 factor is critical: it’s essential to discover those that intend to purchase what you supply. As a enterprise proprietor, it’s vital to make choices based mostly on what the market desires.
There are 2 choices you may comply with, every with its professionals and cons, each requiring laborious work and persistence:
1. You promote one thing persons are shopping for already.
upfront that what you’ll supply is in demand. The drawback of an already established market is a big competitors, which requires a lot more durable work, beautiful high quality and a variety of promotion.
2. You discover a very specialised area of interest otherwise you create one thing new and modern.
In that case, you must work more durable at first to appeal to purchasers, however should you lastly make it, you’ll stand out simply since there received’t be a lot competitors.
Providing one thing distinctive and modern was my alternative and haven’t regretted it. I needed to work actually laborious, nevertheless, for nearly 3 years earlier than I began seeing outcomes, however there’s nonetheless zero competitors within the area of interest I “created”.
Develop your expertise
Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or you have already got a variety of expertise in advantageous artwork, practising and honing your expertise always, exploring new methods and testing new instruments is of nice significance.
Your expertise is ineffective should you don’t work persistently, experimenting and creating your individual fashion, whereas staying updated with new traits and benefiting from the most recent apps, software program and expertise.
It’s additionally essential to be productive and create a quantity of labor earlier than you begin promoting.
Community for purchasers
Each particular person you meet generally is a potential purchaser or somebody who can refer you to others. Artwork is an fascinating topic and many individuals could be excited to debate it with a painter, photographer or jewellery designer.
Seize the chance to speak about your work and ensure they’ll bear in mind you, by handing them your corporation playing cards or sending them your portfolio’s URL.
In case you assume that paper playing cards are outdated you’re improper, in actual fact, it’s an effective way for artists to indicate a pattern of their work.
Be imaginative and modern, utilizing postcards or pictures for example, as an alternative of a basic enterprise card. Utilizing your creativity is among the finest methods on how you can earn a living as an artist.
A profitable tip I used to promote my weblog, was to print some easy, however well-designed bookmarks with simply its url on them. I gave them as a small present to those that wished to go to my weblog – nearly all people I met!
Social media are the right spots to advertise your work on-line and appeal to purchasers.
They’re additionally wonderful locations for networking and connecting with professionals which might be fascinated by artwork and are always on the lookout for new abilities or contemporary content material, i.e. inside designers, architects, journalists and bloggers.
Adam Wright wrote a superb submit, masking each potential method to get purchasers rapidly.
Decide your pricing
No matter method you select to earn a living as an artist, you’ll have to regulate your costs or charges a number of occasions earlier than you’re lastly happy. This is applicable to freelancers typically — not simply artists.
Artists have a bonus in comparison with different professionals, by having the ability to see what their rivals are charging. You’ll be able to simply get a transparent thought about your friends’ costs, simply by visiting websites the place their artwork is uncovered.
Nevertheless, the artwork market is far more sophisticated in comparison with different industries. The identical piece of artwork could be too costly or too low cost, relying on the artist’s “worth” and timing. (Poor Van Gogh was not such a superb marketer as Picasso or Dali.)
It is a secret in artwork advertising and marketing — most individuals purchase the artist and never the art work.
In case you select to promote your pictures and illustrations to blogs and inventory markets, costs are extra mounted. You often begin low and the extra in demand your gadgets are, your charges go up.
Remaining recommendations on getting cash as an artist
Listed below are only a few extra issues to remember as you’re employed laborious to earn a living out of your artwork.
Be distinctive or superb
Creating superb items of advantageous artwork will not be all it takes to make actual cash as an artist. But it surely’s an excellent begin.
In case you do what all people else does and also you don’t do it completely, there’s not a lot of an opportunity of getting observed.
Preserve updated with new traits and expertise however don’t be a slave to them!
Supposing that you simply need to stand out, you must develop your individual fashion and this takes time and observe. However that is one thing it’s best to do anyway — honing your expertise and bettering each single day is crucial to remain aggressive.
Develop the fitting mindset
The place most creatives fail is dedication and persistence. They have an inclination to get simply dissatisfied and give up their plans and goals, particularly in the event that they really feel rejected.
As a contract artist, you’re extra delicate and susceptible in criticism than different professionals, as a result of via your work you specific your emotions and reveal your interior self.
Your art work will likely be uncovered and judged — you may’t keep away from it. Due to this fact, it’s essential to develop a thick pores and skin and be capable to distinguish constructive suggestions from adverse and toxic criticism.
Don’t take issues too personally. The truth that any person doesn’t like your creations doesn’t essentially imply you’re an entire failure — maybe they aren’t certified to understand artwork.
However, if no person appears to love your drawings or pictures, otherwise you hardly get observed, you’re in all probability doing one thing improper, which have to be mounted.
Be disciplined, organized and aware of your bills
There’s a frequent false impression: In case you create nice artwork, you may merely sit again and watch the cash roll in.
Working your individual artistic enterprise is superb for the liberty it offers you.
You’ll have a tough time getting cash as an artist. Nevertheless, in case you are not very organized, you’re dangerous at managing time and non-creative duties, terrible at funds and consumer communication will not be your asset. (All frequent traits amongst artists!)
In case you lack self-discipline and dedication, not having a boss forcing you to fulfill deadlines can simply trigger you to slide into laziness and turn into unproductive.
Whenever you begin studying how you can earn a living as an artist, you may outsource time-consuming duties to focus in your artistic work, however in case you’re simply beginning out you must put on many hats.
Enhance your branding and presentation
An image is price a thousand phrases and in your case, this quote is essential. Because you create one thing to be seen, you’re decided to get uncovered. You positively want a spot to current your artwork items.
In case you haven’t constructed your private web site but (simply don’t wait too lengthy), you may showcase your work utilizing platforms like Behance, Deviantart or Dribble.
Publicity is step one of promotion — and at all times be sure you do it professionally! First impressions are essential, particularly within the artwork business — you need to impress your guests, not solely together with your artwork itself however with a tremendous presentation.
Branding is not only a couple of brand, it’s the way you make individuals really feel about your artwork and the way they bear in mind you. Your portfolio have to be updated and have a good and cohesive feel and look.
Use solely high-quality pictures or graphics, select the fitting shade palette and typography, and use mock-ups of any variety to current your artwork professionally. Take a look at websites like Canva that may allow you to create fast and customized graphics to your social.
Select your finest, excellent items to incorporate in your portfolio web site and never every thing you’ve ever created.
Retailers are utilizing this tactic efficiently with their store home windows.
Use your most compelling gadgets to draw purchasers — once they’re into your “store” you’ll have the possibility to indicate them a few of your “cheaper” items.
Join with fellow artists/teams
Having relationships with different artists is extraordinarily useful in some ways.
You’ll be able to focus on and remedy issues, you will get an knowledgeable’s suggestions in your work, you may even associate or ship purchasers to one another.
In case you really feel remoted, social media teams are nice locations to attach with the creatives neighborhood, discover help, study suggestions and have entry to helpful sources from different fellow freelance artists.
Your expertise alone isn’t sufficient to earn a living as an artist
Though it appears simpler than ever to go on the market and present your artwork items, it’s extraordinarily potential to get misplaced within the crowded, hyper-competitive net.
You want laborious work, persistence and the fitting technique to get found by potential purchasers, promote your art work, and earn a living as an artist.
There are particular causes that just a few individuals ever learn to earn a living as an artist doing what they most like.
Even should you create masterpieces, they’ll in all probability stay locked in your warehouse (or your laborious disk) should you don’t develop your advertising and marketing expertise in addition to your artistic mastery.
In case you’re questioning how you can earn a living as an artist, right here’s a secret: it’s essential to cease considering like a hobbyist and begin appearing like a enterprise proprietor.
What follows subsequent is simpler: you simply implement examined recipes and efficient methods which carry outcomes.
Begin getting cash as an artist
Though it might appear overwhelming following all these steps, don’t get disheartened. Many people who now run a web-based enterprise felt the identical method at first — misplaced and confused within the chaotic net.
Subscribe to the very best blogs in your area of interest (it’s simple to search out them, their posts rank larger in Google searches) and begin following fellow artists you admire.
You’ll study so much, not solely by implementing what they advise you to do however by listening to how they do it. Don’t simply take a look at their art work and approach — see how they market themselves.
Each platform has its professionals and cons, select probably the most appropriate so that you can arrange your web site portfolio and promote your work.
I received’t mislead you, the trail to success will not be simple and easy. It takes laborious work, persistence, perseverance, self-discipline and a wise technique to earn a living as an artist — just a few will find yourself residing from it.
As quickly as you begin conceiving your artwork as a enterprise and never simply as a pleasurable pastime, you’ve got extra probabilities to be one in every of them!
Preserve the dialog going…
Over 10,000 of us are having day by day conversations over in our free Fb group and we would like to see you there. Be a part of us!
Written by Mania Mavridou
Employees at Millo.co
Mania Mavridou is an Architect, Blogger and Enterprise Coach, proprietor of DesignMania, the architectural studio the place design meets psychology to create areas for individuals to dwell and work in fortunately. She speaks, writes and teaches about inside design psychology, shade psychology and visible advertising and marketing. She launched 2 blogs, Design4Happiness, the first Greek weblog about inside design psychology and The Profitable Weblog, which helps creatives comply with their goals and construct a profitable enterprise.
Reviewed & edited by Preston Lee, Editor at Millo.
At Millo, we try to publish solely the very best, most reliable and dependable content material for freelancers. You’ll be able to study extra by reviewing our editorial coverage.