There is a common perception that you cannot earn while making art. I, too, believed that art could never be turned into a profession. But I was wrong. Nowadays, with the emergence of technology and businesses, there is always a demand for art and design. Every new company needs a logo and branding, and behind that branding is a graphic designer or an artist who creates the identity for that company. Whether art-related or not, every field incorporates art and design in their system. So, art plays an important role everywhere.

My Journey: From Doodling to Earning

A few years ago, I started doodling with my then 3-year-old son's watercolor paints, watched some YouTube tutorials, and created an Instagram account. Every day, I painted for a few minutes and posted online. After some time, I started getting freelance jobs through social media. I began earning money through in-person workshops, online classes, and even print-on-demand (POD) sites. After about four years of consistent work, I built my portfolio and secured more commercial projects from companies around the world and magazines. So let me tell you, it is absolutely possible to make a living with your art. It may take time and effort, but you will get there if you keep going.

How to Start Earning Money with Your Art

If you are a creative and want to earn some income through your art, here are some ways to start making money as an artist. This guide is for absolute beginners who have never sold their art but are willing to do so and for those who have been in the creative field for a while but never considered making it a profession before.

1. Private Commissions

Taking private commissions is the first and most common step for most artists. Private commissions involve creating art like a painting, logo, portrait, or wedding stationery for someone. The client can be your friends, family, or anyone. This type of income is easy to get—all you have to do is showcase your work to people. You can also ask your friends and family to spread the word.

2. Print on Demand (POD)

Selling your art on Print on Demand websites like Redbubble and Society6 is a fun and easy step. You don't have to talk to any client or produce any product. Create art and upload it to these websites; they handle production, shipping, and customer care. However, note that you will get a small percentage of each sale, and you need to market your work to get sales due to increased competition.

3. In-Person Workshops

This is one of my favorite things I used to do before the pandemic. Meeting people from different cultures and teaching them your skills is incredibly fun. It may take some preparation, but it's definitely worth it.

4. Online Teaching

If you love teaching, you will enjoy teaching online too. You can film your classes and put them on platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or your website. Another way of teaching online is through live Zoom calls. Figure out what works best for you and get started.

5. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another small portion of my income. It involves marketing products from other companies and earning a percentage of each sale made via your link.

6. YouTube

If you love making videos like vlogs, tutorials, or product reviews, create a YouTube channel. While I am not a great YouTuber, many artist friends have done well on this platform. You can earn passive income after reaching a certain number of subscribers and build a solid following.

7. Licensing

Licensing is another amazing way to earn money with your art. It takes a while to get into this field, but it can be a full-time income generator for anyone with a unique signature style. Licensing means renting your artwork or designs to a company for a number of products for a certain period and earning royalties on the sales.

8. Selling Your Own Products

This is another fantastic way of earning income. You can sell art prints, original art, handmade products, stickers, mugs, etc. You can open an online shop with Shopify, Squarespace, or Etsy.

9. Commercial Projects

Commercial projects like logo designing, packaging design, advertising, editorial design, and illustrations are some of my favorites. If you love art direction and enjoy illustrating for different companies and magazines, this could be a great fit for you.

10. Patreon

Patreon is a crowdfunding platform where artists can create a membership business with their fans. People pay you monthly, and you share content like tutorials, live calls, and behind-the-scenes insights.

These are my top suggestions on how you can start making money as an artist. There might be many other ways too. Start with one and gradually expand your horizons. I hope this article was helpful to you!