10 ways to earn money as Artist

Mar 16, 2022

Making money from your passion can be done. Much like everything else to do, earning the money you want to make as an artist demands a strategic approach and numerous hours of dedication.

Based on our experience and conversations with a lot of artists We compiled an inventory of the most successful ways to earn money as an artist.

 10 of the most efficient ways to earn money an artist

  1.   Teach Online Courses
  2.   Offer Tutorials and Mini-courses
  3.   Video Consulting and Teaching
  4.   Create videos of the art-making process
  5.   Start a Youtube channel
  6.   Selling Original Pieces
  7.   SELL NFTs
  8.   Sell Art Prints
  9.   Sell Digital Stock Artwork
  10.   Working on commissions

Bonus: Where to promote your art


There's a myriad of ways to earn cash as an artist and it is possible to earn multiple sources of income. If you're a freelance artist or self-employed permanent artist there are many options to make money through your art.

 Learn online classes

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Source: Jennifer Gast online courses

It's difficult to begin your own online course on the first day however, you could start by signing up with a few of them to examine the plans, or you can use an established platform that has online classes for inspiration. Naturally, we at CreativeMindClass are big in teaching online classes on an unrelated platform, where you are sitting behind the steering at the wheel.

 Offer tutorials and miniature-courses

If you've already built an audience that trusts you through your blog or social media platforms, you could start by providing short tutorials or courses explaining how to make your artwork that come in a variety of formats, including video webcasts, PDFs, or even webinars.

 Video consultation and instruction

If you've had experience, you could help others who are aspiring artists pursue their ambitions. You could offer videos and give lectures via Zoom or Facetime. Today, a lot of students opt to take an online course or webinar in their own homes, particularly those who don't find many opportunities within their local area to go to an educational course.

 Make videos of the making process

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Source: Riccardo Russomanno art-making process

If you're an artist working on fun personalized projects, the next time you're working just turn the camera on and take a picture of the creation process. Do you need a fantastic online course idea? It is possible to combine illustrations using someone's photos or create an entertaining illustration of your family. Your clients can not only get a great artwork but also learn how it was made.

 Start a Youtube channel

If the thought of selling an online course doesn't bring you joy, even though you love engaging, sharing your knowledge, or doing live shows, setting up your own YouTube channel might be the ideal option. Be aware that you won't earn a great deal at first, but the content of high quality, that solves an issue or is entertaining, will attract more viewers and will also make you cash over time.

 Offer Original Pieces of Art for sale

You can sell your original creations. You can offer your artwork or sculptures as well as jewelry and ornamental objects in your online store or site.

It's better, to begin with, an established online art market with thousands of customers and millions of users rather than waiting for prospective buyers to come across your brand new website portfolio, which does not have any visitors at all.

Certain platforms provide you with an opportunity to get your art work included in an opportunity for marketing.

 Buy NFTs

Are you gifted with digital art? Perhaps you'd like to learn how to market art created using NFT. A lot of collectors and artists are already taking advantage of this form of a 'digital art collective' , and are earning some cool money. The trend is hot right now and although the future of NFTs is not sure, any innovative method to earn money is based on a blockchain it's definitely something you shouldn't ignore.

There are numerous marketplaces on the internet that provide artists the possibility of selling their art through print-on-demand. Additionally, some support artists by featuring them on their Social media channels.

 SELL Digital Stock Artwork

If you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, as well as a videographer are able to utilize your work for websites which stock photos to earn money from the craft of producing.

 Work on Commissions

Receive direct orders from individuals or corporations to create unique designs at the beginning.

Client work doesn't need to be monotonous. When you're a painter or an illustrator in the role of an illustrator, you can earn money for street art or indoor or outdoor mural design and painting. Also, you can pair with other artists like musicians and create for example artwork for an Spotify song cover.

 How to promote your art?

Okay. We've talked about which items to market, but it's time to decide where we can market it.

 Get started with your creative blog

The creation of the blog of your preference is among the most effective marketing strategies to draw clients in the present.

This was by far the best decision I've made during my professional journey. Trust and authority are earned when you promote your work. One way to achieve this is to address the people you want to reach and provide them the info they're searching for. If you're interested in graphic design photography and social media or perhaps arts or even music, it's possible to determine a blog niche that is suitable for you.

A site that is able to draw a large amount of visitors could become an extremely profitable business (this requires effort and dedication) via affiliate or advertisements hyperlinks, in addition to advertisers and sponsors.

 Create and design an eBook

If you're blogging and writing this is the next step 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 subject You can be confident and trust your knowledge.

 Learning and Mentoring

Numerous artists and creators have shared their experience by tutoring, teaching, and mentorship via video calls or the internet-based teaching platforms. There is a good chance that you will begin your career coaching, but when you're engaged in blogging or teaching it's an option for the next stage.

 Works for online Marketplaces or Galleries

You will gain important experience by working behind-the-scenes, which involves providing services like curating, selling or marketing artwork.

Apart from earning cash, you can also explore possibilities that you might not have been able to.

This is a decision you must take if you're seeking to enter the world of art rather than just selling your work.

 Works for blogs and magazines

Writing, photographing and creating art for blogs or the press is an exciting opportunity to earn an income as an artist, but also as an opportunity to make connections and make your name known to even more people.

If you're having trouble to set up the blog or site you're interested in We'd like to inform that it's not nearly so difficult as you think. The only thing you have to be is a consistent reader (that is, commenting on blog posts and joining groups online).

Many bloggers and webmasters tend to hire from their own followers.

 Promote via Social Media

It is possible to earn profits as an artist through Instagram along with other social media and writing blogs of your own. Whatever channel you choose to promote and present your work on, keep in mind that social media is only one of the methods for promoting and networking and you should not be 100 100% completely dependent upon it.

Facebook, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are among the most popular platforms for artists, however it's your choice to choose the best one that meets your requirements.

Social media marketing is an all-time occupation However, it's worth it provided you're willing to put in the effort.

 Get ready for a long , long run

I'm not lying to you that the path to success isn't simple. It's a long-term commitment to hard work persistence, perseverance and the right approach for making income as an artist but more and more people succeed in making a living from the field.

If you consider your art as a business instead of simply a hobby to enjoy, you will have greater odds of becoming one the fortunate ones!

It is possible to create a long-term income source through your work as an artist CreativeMindClass.