It’s no secret that the art world is a competitive one. That’s because only a small percentage of artists actually make earn art income. In fact, less than 3% of artists are able to support themselves solely through the sale of their artwork.
This means that if you’re an artist who is trying to make a living from your work, you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd and make sure that your work is seen by as many people as possible.
One of the best ways to do this is to focus on increasing your income. This can be done in a number of ways, but it’s important to remember that not all methods are created equal. Some methods will only give you a small boost in income, while others can potentially 10x your earnings.
Here are 15 of the best ways to 10x your art income.
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Start a Patreon Account
If you’re not familiar with Patreon, it’s a membership platform that allows creators to offer exclusive content and rewards to their fans in exchange for monthly payments.
Patreon is an excellent way to earn a consistent income from your art because it allows you to build up a base of supporters who are willing to pay you on a regular basis. And, as your fanbase grows, so will your income.
In order to make the most of Patreon, you need to offer your supporters something that they can’t get anywhere else. This could be exclusive access to your work-in-progress, discounts on prints and merchandise, or even private lessons.
Whatever you decide to offer, make sure that it’s something that your fans will be willing to pay for.
Sell Original Artwork
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s still worth mentioning. If you want to make a living from your art, you need to sell your original artwork.
This might seem like an obvious suggestion, but a lot of artists make the mistake of thinking that they can only make money from prints and merchandise. While these items can be a great source of income, they should never be your only source of income.
Selling original artwork is the best way to make money from your art because it allows you to earn the most money per sale. And, as your career progresses, you’ll be able to sell your artwork for higher and higher prices.
So, if you’re serious about making a living from your art, make sure that you’re selling original artwork as well as prints and merchandise.
Participate in Art Fairs and Festivals
Art fairs and festivals are great places to sell your work, meet new customers, and build up your reputation as an artist.
If you’re not familiar with art fairs, they are essentially large events where artists can set up booths to sell their work. These events usually attract a lot of people, which means that they’re a great place to make sales and build up your customer base.
Festivals, on the other hand, are usually smaller events that focus more on the experience of the event itself rather than the sales of artwork.
While festivals might not be the best place to make a lot of sales, they’re still a great way to get your work in front of new people and build up your reputation as an artist.
One of the best things about art fairs and festivals is that they’re usually held in public places, which means that you’ll have a built-in audience of people who are already interested in art.
Teach Workshops and Classes
If you’re a skilled artist, one of the best ways to increase your art income is to teach workshops and classes.
This is a great way to earn a consistent income because you can usually charge a higher price for your classes than you could for selling prints or originals. Plus, teaching classes is a great way to build up your reputation as an artist.
If you’re not sure how to get started, there are a few ways to find teaching opportunities. You can start by contacting your local art schools and community centers to see if they’re interested in having you teach a class.
You can also search online for opportunities, or you can set up your own website and offer classes that people can sign up for.
License Your Artwork
Licensing your artwork is another great way to make money from your art.
When you license your artwork, you’re essentially giving someone the right to use your artwork for a specific purpose. This could be anything from using your artwork on a website to selling products with your artwork on them.
Different licenses will allow different uses of your artwork, so it’s important to choose the right license for each project. For example, if you’re licensing your artwork to be used on a website, you’ll want to choose a license that allows the use of your artwork on that specific website.
Licensing your artwork is a great way to earn passive income because you can continue to earn money from your art even after it’s been sold. And, if you license your artwork to be used on products, you’ll also have the opportunity to earn a royalty on each sale.
To get started, you can contact companies that you think might be interested in using your artwork and offer to license your artwork to them.
You can also list your artwork on licensing platforms like ArtLicensing.com, where companies and individuals can browse and purchase licenses for artwork.
Invest in Art-Related Businesses or Ventures
If you’re serious about increasing your art income, you should also consider investing in art-related businesses or ventures. This could be anything from investing in an online art marketplace to starting your own art-related business.
For example, if you’re interested in investing in an online art marketplace, you can browse sites like Artfinder.com and Saatchiart.com to find art marketplaces that are looking for investors.
If you’re interested in starting your own art-related business, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to choose a business model that’s right for you.
Then, you’ll need to create a business plan and build a team of experts who can help you launch and grow your business.
And finally, you’ll need to raise capital to fund your business. This can be done through a variety of methods, including crowdfunding, angel investors, and venture capitalists.
Contribute Articles to Art Publications or Websites
If you’re a skilled writer, you can also make money from your art by contributing articles to art publications or websites.
This is a great way to get your name out there and build up your reputation as an expert in your field. Plus, it’s a great way to earn some extra income.
To get started, you can search for publications or websites that accept submissions from freelance writers. Once you’ve found a few potential outlets, you can pitch your article ideas and see if they’re interested in publishing your work.
If you’re not sure what to write about, you can try brainstorming ideas that would be of interest to the publication’s or website’s audience.
You can also search for writing opportunities on job boards or freelancer platforms, although these can be more competitive.
Submit Your Work to Juried Shows and Competitions
Another great way to increase your art income is to submit your work to juried shows and competitions.
This is a great way to get your work seen by a larger audience and potentially sell your artwork. Plus, it’s a great way to earn some extra income.
To get started, you can search for shows and competitions that are accepting submissions. Once you’ve found a few that you’re interested in, you can submit your work and see if it’s accepted.
If you’re not sure what to submit, you can try searching for shows that are specifically looking for artists in your medium or genre.
You can also search for shows that are open to a specific theme or style of artwork. If you’re not sure what to submit, you can always ask the show’s organizers for guidance.
Collaborate With Other Artists
I really like the idea of collaborating with other artists because it’s a great way to create something new and unique. It’s also a great way to build up your network of contacts and potentially make some sales.
To get started, you can reach out to other artists who you think would be a good fit for a collaboration and see if they’re interested. You’ll need to agree on a project idea and then work together to create the artwork.
Once the artwork is complete, you can promote it through your social media channels and websites. You can also submit it to juried shows and competitions, or sell it through an online art marketplace.
Create Art-Related Products
Another great way to increase your art income is to create art-related products. This is different than licensing your artwork because you’ll be creating a physical product that features your artwork.
Some examples of art-related products include t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, notebooks, and calendars. You can also create digital products like eBooks, online courses, and printables. Print on demand websites make it easy to create and sell these products without any upfront costs.
Here’s how to make money with print on demand.
The advantage of creating your own products is that you’ll have complete control over the design, pricing, and marketing. Plus, you’ll be able to keep a larger portion of the profits.
To get started, you’ll need to decide what products you want to create and then find a manufacturer or printer. Once you’ve created your products, you’ll need to set up an online store or sell them through a third-party marketplace.
Join an Artist collective or society
If you want to make money from your art but don’t want to go it alone, you can join an artist collective or society. This is a great way to get your work seen by a larger audience and potentially make some sales.
Collectives and societies are usually made up of a group of artists who share a common interest or theme. They often promote and sell each other’s work, and they may also offer workshops and events.
To find a collective or society that’s right for you, you can search online or ask other artists in your area. You can also check out art fairs and festivals to see if there are any that you’re interested in joining.
Start an Art-Related Blog or Podcast
Finally, another great way to add to your art income is to start an art-related blog or podcast. This is a great way to build up your audience and connect with other artists and art lovers.
Plus, it’s a great way to earn some extra income through advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing, which can lead to earning passive income streams.
To get started, you’ll need to choose a topic for your blog or podcast and then start creating content. Once you’ve built up a following, you can start promoting your art and products through your blog or podcast. You could also sell advertising space or sponsor other artists and businesses.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many ways you can increase your art income. So, if you’re looking for ways to earn a living as an artist, be sure to try out some of these ideas.
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so you’ll need to experiment to see what works best for you. But with a little effort, you can surely find a way to make money from your art.
FAQ – 10x Your Art Income
How can I make extra money from my art?
There are a number of ways you can increase your art income as outlined in the article above. The best thing to do is to start with one or two and then gradually add more as you get comfortable.
What types of art make the most money?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors such as the artist’s popularity, the subject matter of the art, and the venue where the art is sold. However, some general categories of art that tend to sell well include abstract art, landscapes, portraiture, and still life.
How do artists get passive income?
There are a number of ways that artists can create passive income business from their art. Some common methods include selling art prints, licensing artwork, and creating merchandise.
How do artists gain money?
Artists can gain money through a variety of methods including sales of their artwork, commissions, grants, and residencies. This includes methods such as selling artwork online, art licensing, print on demand services, digital downloads, or other creative endeavors.
What is art leasing?
Art leasing is a great way for artists to make money from their art without having to sell it outright. With art leasing, the artist leases the artwork to a business or individual for a specified period of time, usually 2-5 years. The lessee then pays the artist a monthly fee for the use of the artwork. At the end of the lease, the artist has the option to sell the artwork to the lessee or to another party.
