10 ways to earn money as an artist

Mar 16, 2022

Turning your passion into money is possible. Much like everything else in life, making income as an artist takes the right approach, and many hours of effort.

Based on our own experience and talking to many creators and artists, we have put together a list of the most effective ways to earn money as an artist.

 10 of the most efficient methods to earn money as an artist

  1.   Teach Online Courses
  2.   Provide Tutorials and Mini-courses
  3.   Video Consulting and Teaching
  4.   Make Videos of the art-making process
  5.   Make an Youtube channel
  6.   Sell your Original Pieces
  7.   SELL NFTs
  8.   Sell Art Prints
  9.   Sell Digital Artwork in Stock
  10.   Working on commissions

BONUS: Where to promote your art


There are a variety of methods to make income as an artist and it is possible to have more than one source of earnings. If you're part-time or a permanent self-employed artist there are many ways to make money through your art.

 Teach online courses

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Source: Jennifer Gast online courses

It's difficult to begin your own online course on the very first day. However, you could start by signing up to several of them and examine the plans and then use an established website that offers classes online to help you get started. Obviously, here with us at CreativeMindClass we are keen in teaching online classes on an unrelated platform, where you are sitting behind the steering at the wheel.

 Offer tutorials as well as mini-courses

If you've established an audience who trusts you through your blog or other social media platforms, you could start with offering tutorials or mini courses showing how you make your artwork that come in various forms, such as videos webcasts, PDFs, or even webinars.

 Teaching and video consulting

If you've already had the expertise, you can aid those who want to be artists achieve their dreams. You could offer videos and give lectures via Zoom or Facetime. A lot of people today would rather take an online class or webinar from their homes, particularly those who don't find many opportunities within the area they live in to go to an educational course.

 Video-clips of the making process

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Source: Riccardo Russomanno art-making process

If you are an illustrator making fun personal projects, the next time you're working just turn the camera on and record your creation-making process. Looking for a great online course idea? It is possible to combine illustrations by combining someone's photographs or an engaging illustration of their family. Your clients can not only enjoy the artwork, but also observe how it was made.

 Make an Youtube channel

If selling online courses doesn't bring you joy, even though you enjoy engaging, sharing your knowledge, or doing live shows, setting up your own YouTube channel could be the right choice. Keep in mind that you're unlikely to earn a great deal at first, but content of good quality, that solves a problem or entertains, will attract more viewers, and also earn you more money in the long run.

 Sell your Original Pieces

You can sell your original creations. Your artwork can be sold or sculptures as well as jewelry and ornamental objects in your online store or on your website.

It's best to start withan existing online marketplace for art that has thousands of customers and millions of users rather than waiting for prospective buyers to discover your online portfolio that is virtually unvisited.

Certain platforms offer an opportunity to get your work featured as an advertising opportunity.

 SELL NFTs

Do you have a talent for digital art? Then you might want to know the best ways to market your art created using NFT. Numerous collectors and artists are already taking advantage of this type of digital art group' and making cool cash. It's the hot thing right today and even though the future of NFTs isn't sure, any innovative method of making money based on blockchain technology is something you must not ignore.

 Sell Art Prints

There are plenty of websites that give artists the opportunity to sell their artwork using printing-on-demand. Moreover, some of them support artists by featuring the artists' work on their social media platforms.

 Sell Digital Stock Artwork

If you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, as well as a videographer can make use of your work on sites which stock photos to earn income from your craft of producing.

 Work on Commissions

Get directly commissioned by individuals or companies to create unique works at the beginning.

Working for clients doesn't have to be dull. As an illustrator or painter or illustrator, you can earn money for street art or interior or outdoor mural design and painting. Also, you can pair with other artists like musicians, and make for example artwork for an Spotify music cover.

 Where can you promote your Art?

Okay. so we discussed what to sell now the question is where to sell it.

 Create your own Creative Blog

The development of a blog of your preference is among the most efficient marketing strategies to draw clients at present.

This was by far the best choice I've ever made throughout my professional life. It is easier to gain trust and credibility by promoting your job. How to accomplish this is to communicate to the people you want to reach and provide all the details they're looking for. If you're interested in graphic design photography and social media or perhaps arts, you'll be able to find a niche for your blog that's suitable for you.

A site that is able to draw a large amount of visitors could become an effective business (this requires effort and dedication) via affiliate or advertisements links, and also sponsors and advertisers.

 Make and Design an eBook

If you're writing or blogging, it's the next stage that you'll follow after having established a following. It's simpler to market and sell your ebook to anyone who is interested in your field. be confident and trust your expertise.

 Learning and Mentoring

Numerous artists and creators have shared their experiences by tutoring, teaching, and mentorship via video calls or on the internet-based teaching platforms. You are unlikely to will begin your career as a coach, however when you're involved in teaching or blogging, it is possible to take your next move.

 Works for online Marketplaces or Galleries

It is important to gain experience by working behind-the-scenes, which provides services, such as curating, selling or marketing artwork.

Apart from earning profits, you explore possibilities that you might not have been capable of.

It's a step to take if aspiring to get deeper into the realm of art, and not only sell your work.

 Work for magazines and blogs

The art of writing, photographing, or conducting art on blogs and the press is an exciting way not just to make money as an artist, but also as also to establish strong relationships and get your name before more individuals.

If you're finding it difficult to create the website or blog you're interested in we're here to assure you that it'sn't as difficult as you imagine. All you need to do is be a regular reader (that means, you have to comment on blog posts, or joining groups online).

Webmasters and bloggers tend to recruit from their own users.

 Promote the use of social Media

Earn income as an artist by using Instagram as well as other platforms as well as writing blogs of your own. No matter which channel you use to show your work, be aware that Social media is just one method of advertising and networking. You should not be 100 100% dependent on it.

Facebook, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are among the most well-known platforms for artists, however it's your choice to pick the right one for your needs.

Marketing via social media can be a constant job however, it's worthwhile when you're prepared to invest the time.

 Be ready for a long , long run

It's not a lie that the road to success doesn't come quick or straightforward. It's a long-term commitment to hard work perseverance, as well as the right approach for making income as an artist yet more and more individuals succeed in making a living out of it.

Once you start considering your craft as a potential business instead of just a fun hobby and you'll have better odds of becoming one the lucky ones!

You could build a reliable income through your work as an artist CreativeMindClass.