Introduction
As a freelance artist, you are likely used to thinking about your creative process. But there are other things that artists need to think about as well.
It's essential to consider the non-creative aspects of making money as a freelance artist and, how you can use these non-creative skills to help market yourself and further your career as an artist.
Here is how to make Around 10k$ A month as an artist in 2022
Selling Your Art
- You can sell your art online. Just set up an account with a site like eBay or Etsy, list your work and wait for the money to roll in!
- You can sell your art in person. If you're bold, try selling at the local farmer's market or flea market (or maybe even at a gallery).
- If neither of those things works out for you, consider setting up a table during the fair season (if there is one where you live).
License your art for stock websites
If you're an artist, you've probably heard of stock websites. Stock sites are basically online shops that buy and sell art in the form of images or illustrations. The website uses your artwork and sells it to customers (often for a pretty penny). #art #arte
There are many benefits to licensing your art to stock sites—particularly if you're just starting out as an artist:
- It's a quick way to make money!
- The more people that use your work, the more likely they'll be able to find you and buy other pieces from you in the future.
Teaching
Teaching is a great way to make money as an artist. Teaching is also a great way to learn new things, meet new people, improve your own skills, and build your reputation.
If you're good at something, it's always intelligent to teach others how to do what you do well.
Create your own blog
- Create a blog to promote your work. #blogging
Creating a blog is easy to share your art and get paid for it, especially if you are already creating content for social media sites,
like Instagram or Facebook. #blog
- Set up a blog on a free platform like WordPress.
Many blogging platforms offer free templates and hosting, so set up your own website with one of these options.
- Use a theme that is easy to use and navigate through (WordPress).
If you want people who visit your site to stay there longer than five seconds,
then make sure they can easily see what they're looking for.
Use simple graphics or icons in place of text whenever possible (for example: instead of writing "This piece is composed entirely of red dots," try using an image).
Create and sell an eBook
You can create and sell an eBook. You can write a book and sell it on Amazon or your website. If you have a blog, you can turn it into an ebook by adding chapters (or sections) to each blog post. You could also create a standalone book that's unrelated to your blog. #ebook
Coaching and mentoring
When you're a successful artist, it's possible to use that status to help other artists. You can do this in person or online, for free or for a fee (or both!). As your career progresses and you gain more experience, consider mentoring other aspiring artists. You don't need special training or certification to become a mentor—you just have to be willing and able.
Online classes are growing in popularity as an educational tool for people who want to learn something new but don't have the time or money to take classes at an actual school.
If you have expertise in art-related fields like painting techniques or graphic design software, offering online courses may be an excellent way to earn additional income and gain exposure within your industry!
Consulting and art direction
You might wonder what an art director and a consultant have in common. Here's the answer: both can make money for people who are artists or work in the arts industry.
Art directors are hired by companies to create marketing materials for products. They might do this by finding stock photos, creating illustrations or animations, and designing posters and brochures. Consultants help clients with their creative projects—for example, they might help them find talent to hire or strategize how to make more money from their business.
Considering the non-creative aspects of making money as a freelance artist is essential.
When making money as a freelance artist, it's essential to consider the non-creative aspects of your business. You'll need a plan for marketing and promotion, which includes deciding on your target audience and what kind of promotional methods will work best for you. You'll also need a plan for how you will get paid for your work: whether by the hour or project basis; through an agent or directly from clients; via direct deposit or check; whether you take credit cards or not. It's all about planning ahead!
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websites to sell your art online as an artist
If you're an artist, selling your art online is a great way to make money. You can trade on multiple websites—like Etsy and FineArtAmerica—and increase your exposure to potential buyers. Each site has unique features that could help you start selling your art online, so let's dive into what makes each one special! #artist
Etsy
Etsy is a marketplace for handmade goods and art. As an artist, you can sell your creations on Etsy and get paid through their checkout process.
You will also be able to use Etsy's reputation to help you sell your work. They have an excellent reputation for providing good customer service and keeping the site safe for buyers and sellers alike.
ArtFire
ArtFire is an online marketplace for handmade goods, so if you're a craftsperson, it's an excellent place to sell your artwork.
ArtFire is a free-to-use website and app that lets you list your work as an artist and make money off of it. It also has a community of artists who can help each other with advice and tips on being more successful at selling art online.
Storeenvy
Storeenvy is an excellent option for artists who want to sell their work online. It's a platform where you can have your own shop and sell your art, prints, and other products. They offer a 50% commission on all sales made in the store and allow you to upload items not created by you but design services such as custom logos.
FineArtAmerica
FineArtAmerica is a great place to sell art. They have many categories, buyers, and sellers, making it easy to find what you're looking for. You can also make your own online store if you want! There are thousands of artists on the site, and they all have worked in different genres.
Amazon Art
Amazon Art is a marketplace for art focusing on quality and authenticity. The site pairs artists with fine art collectors to provide both sides with an easy way to buy, sell and discover new works of art.
There are many reasons why being on Amazon Art could be beneficial for you as an artist:
- You can access over 100 million shoppers who have bought from Amazon before (including me!). Your work will reach an audience that may not otherwise see it in person or online elsewhere.
- There are no listing fees or commissions on sales made through Amazon Art - you only pay a small shipping fee for each item sold!
Rubylane
- Rubylane is a subsidiary of eBay, so it is no surprise that Rubylane has a similar business model. Like many other online markets, Rubylane uses an auction-style system. However, unlike many other websites, they also offer the ability to list your pieces as "Buy it Now." This will allow you to set your own price and not worry about whether or not someone else will bid on it before the auction ends.
- Suppose you are an artist who sells their work through galleries and art fairs. In that case, Rubylane is unsuitable for you because they do not accept gallery submissions at this time (they say they will soon). However, suppose most of your sales come from private collectors who have purchased directly from you in person. In that case, this website may be worth exploring further because it allows artists to list their sculptures individually or by series (which can really help increase exposure).
Redbubble
Redbubble is a website that allows artists to sell their work on the site. It is free and easy to join the website, but you do need to apply for membership before uploading your work. Once accepted into the site, you can begin uploading and selling prints and other merchandise of your art. #redbubble
You can choose from various products that range from pillows, mugs, and shirts to posters, bags, and stickers. You can also upload t-shirt designs and digital artwork, such as photos.
There are no setup fees or monthly fees associated with this site; however, there are fees associated with each item sold which vary by product type (print versus sticker).
Vango
Vango is a website to sell your art online as an artist for a beginner. Vango is a website to sell your artwork as an artist for a beginner. Vango is a website to sell your art online as an artist for a beginner.
Saatchi Art
Saatchi Art is a website that allows you to sell your art online. They charge a commission on sales (similar to Etsy), but this can be waived if you have less than 10 sales per month.
They also have a print-on-demand service, People who buy your paintings online can receive prints of their choice and ship them directly from the company's warehouse.
Saatchi Art's extensive gallery directory showcases over 60,000 artists in over 100 countries. This will give potential buyers more exposure to your products and increase sales opportunities across borders and continents by exposing them to international and local audiences!
There are other features, too: They have an art blog where artists can share advice and a community forum where members can discuss art-related topics.
Shopify
Shopify is an excellent choice for selling art online. It has a wide range of templates, and its interface is easy to use. The support team is knowledgeable and friendly, and their reputation is top-notch.
Shopify also has plenty of features to help you promote your brand, including analytics so you can track how much traffic your store gets.
Social media integrations: Enable people to share their favorite pieces with friends on Facebook or Twitter and an app store that lets you customize your site as much as you want.
If you're an artist, try out a website to sell your art
online.
You can sell your art online to customers all over the world. You can also sell your art online to customers who are looking for original art and want to support local artists.
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How to make money as an artist on Instagram and social media
Social media is booming and the art industry is definitely feeling the impact. Artists have always had a strong presence on the Internet, but now the web has become so accessible that nearly anyone can make their way into the art world. If you're an aspiring artist, I'm sure you're asking how you can be part of it! Social media has changed the game of being an artist, but also it comes with a lot of opportunities to monetize your art online.
Define Your Brand
You need to know what kind of art you want to make, what you want to be known for, and how these things will connect with your audience. Make sure your brand matches who you are as an artist by being authentic and consistent in everything you do. You should be able to answer the question "Why?" when people ask why they should follow or buy your work.
Maintain Consistency
This is a big one! Consistency is essential in all aspects of social media:
- Consistent posting helps build trust among your followers, who will be more likely to engage with you and return if they know there's a constant stream of new content.
- Consistent content helps create your brand, which gives you a distinct voice and adds value to the community you're trying to build.
- Consistent posting habits help grow an audience that's familiar with what you do and interested in it on an ongoing basis.
Find a Niche
The first step to making money as an artist is finding a niche. A niche is a specific area of focus for your art, such as pets, fashion, or food.
Don't be afraid to be precise with your place because it will help you focus on what you are good at.
At creating and helping people find the type of art, they are looking for when they search in Instagram's Explore tab or browse through Facebook advertising options.
When choosing a particular niche, keep these things in mind:
- Find something you're passionate about so you'll enjoy creating and sharing content with others.
- Choose something relevant to skills and interests that aren't too broad (like "art") but also not too narrow (like "watercolor").
- Make sure there's enough demand for what you create so that when customers search online, they can easily find your work without looking hard enough first!
Leverage Existing Relationships
Find people already following you and ask them to promote your work. These are the first people to consider because they already have a vested interest in what you do. They will be more willing to share your work than someone unfamiliar with you or your work. In turn, their followers may become interested as well and follow you.
Additionally, find people with large followings that could benefit from promoting your art or products. The more followers they have, the more likely their content will show up on the feed of other users (especially if those users have a similar taste).
Take Advantage of Shout Outs
Let's say you're a ceramic artist and want to get your work in front of more people. One way to do that is by posting photos on Instagram, but what if you could also reach out to other artists with a similar audience as yours? Like most things in life, it's all about relationships—shout-outs are an effective way to build those. You may not know the person doing the shout-out.
When they see how much engagement your post got and how many new followers you've gained because of it. They'll be curious enough about the quality of your work that they might want their own piece!
When asking for a shout-out from another artist, make sure it's reciprocal; ask them first if they would like a shout-out from you. It will keep things even between both parties!
Curate a Strong Portfolio That's Easy to Share
- Be selective.
Only include work that best represents your brand and the kind of visual storytelling you want to share with the world.
- Make sure it's easy to share.
Your portfolio should be easily accessible to anyone who wants to promote you on social media, so make sure that it's appropriately branded (with a website URL or a watermark) and easy for people to find.
Consider using an online platform like Behance or Dribbble if you're looking for more visibility on other people's profiles as well as yours;
they tend to have better SEO than Instagram, which means they'll show up higher in search results—and getting found by new audiences is what this whole thing is all about!
- Use something easy-to-share.
If there are times when you don't want someone else sharing your work (for example, if there are risqué elements), set permissions so no one can copy-paste it anywhere without your permission first.
Emphasize Quality Over Quantity (Especially at First)
In summary, quality over quantity is a good rule of thumb. Quality wins out in this business, especially if you're starting as an artist on Instagram and social media. So don't feel you need to make a new post every hour or two hours. If you can only manage one post daily, that's fine—just keep it up! As your following grows, you will have more opportunities to post more often (and thus make more money).
Don't Be Afraid to Make Deals and Discounts.
If you want to make money as an artist, don't be afraid to make deals.
Don't be frightened to give discounts.
Don't be scared of asking for help and referrals.
If a customer is willing to pay for something, don't pass up that opportunity just because the sale might not seem worth the time or effort.
Instead, embrace this opportunity to spread your name further and generate goodwill with clients who may become lifelong customers or even referrers themselves! Don't forget that sometimes giving someone something free is one of the best ways of getting them on board with whatever it is that you're trying to sell them later on down the line (so long as it's not illegal).
And don't limit yourself to actual products; remember that freebies can also take the shape of social media campaigns, discounts during particular seasons, and so on. So, always consider those options when thinking about how they might benefit from helping promote other creators' work, either online or offline.
Through word-of-mouth referrals from friends/family members who saw what was happening firsthand but didn't necessarily know where things came from.
It doesn't matter if these people were directly involved either way;
all anyone needs to know about any given situation is whether or not something seems trustworthy enough, based upon how well received everything else has been before now,
and since nothing lasts forever anyways (especially when it comes down.
Add Links to Your Instagram Stories (or Use Link in Bio Effectively)
- A link to your website or a landing page that lists your work.
Your website is where people will go if they want more information about you and your work, so it's essential to include a link to it in each of your posts on Instagram.
- A link to your Instagram profile.
When people click on the link in this section on Instagram, they'll be taken directly to your profile page, where they can view all the photos and videos, you've posted there.
This can be useful if you only want them to see certain things or would like them to come back for more content later down the road.
Otherwise, it may confuse people just trying to learn more about what you do as an artist (but not necessarily how).
- A link to the email address:
When someone clicks on this section of an image within Instagram Stories (and other platforms), he/she will be taken directly to his/her email, an email account with some text already written out asking him/her questions about why he/she clicked on that particular image in the first place;
this text includes links at the bottom that go directly back into Instagram stories! It's like magic...
Offer Multiple Options for People to Work With You or Buy Your Artwork
Offer multiple options for people to work with you or buy your artwork. Make it easy for them to buy your work by offering a variety of sizes, prices, and ways to purchase. The more choices they have, the more likely they will be able to find something that fits their budget and needs.
Time spent defining your brand, choosing a niche that works for you, creating high-quality artwork, and utilizing social media tools can be an investment in your future.
Check out our blog post if you are looking for more ways to sell your artwork online.
What is a brand? A brand is your identity. It's how you want people to perceive and remember you, either as an artist or a business. Your unique style, values, and purpose are all part of what makes up your brand's identity.
When it comes to making money on Instagram and social media, understanding how to build a successful brand will help you make more sales by connecting with customers in new ways that align with their interests.
When thinking about building an audience online, consider the following questions: who are my target audience members? What do they like? What attracts them to my artwork? Where do they hang out online so I can connect with them there too?
Once we have determined whom we want our target audience members to be and where we can build content around those people so that they see our work for sale on Instagram/social media (or anywhere else).
It resonates with them because it fits into their interests or personality type.
For example:
"If I'm selling abstract art prints, then maybe someone who likes bright colors would appreciate my artwork more than someone who prefers muted tones." This idea could also extend to what kinds of subject matter appeal most strongly; so if someone likes nature scenes, then maybe I should create some animal-themed design!
We don't necessarily need everyone, but broad appeal means there may be less competition in terms of "who's buying." This could mean fewer sales overall despite both artists having similar numbers due to only one catering specifically.
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Learn how to run a business as an artist
If you're an artist, you know how hard it can be to make a living. The traditional business model requires that you spend money before you get paid. But as an artist, your most valuable asset is your time and energy—not capital or inventory. So why not invest in yourself? This article will explore how artists have successfully built businesses that allow them to create art while generating income and building their brands.
Set a goal for your business.
The biggest mistake that artists make is not setting goals for their businesses. It's common to have a vague idea of what you want to achieve and how much money you need to do it. Still, without clear targets, it's hard to know if your business is growing or declining—or if you'll ever be successful. #business2022 #business
When setting your goals for your business, keep the following things in mind:
- Don't compare yourself to other people's goals.
Everyone has different reasons for running their own companies and diverse skill sets. Yours may be completely different from those of other artists!
- Be ambitious!
But also realistic; if your goal is too lofty, it will make everything seem more daunting every time something goes wrong along the way (and believe me—something will go wrong).
Setting small incremental steps toward each larger goal can help make achieving them less intimidating and more manageable over time. If nothing else works out this year (and things do happen!), then at least I've got another goal on my list because I still want to get back into shape before next summer starts too soon!
Create systems that work for you.
Setting goals is the first step to making progress in your business. If you don't know where you want to go, how can you set out on the right path?
To set a goal, ask yourself: What do I want? Write down your answer and commit it to paper. Then, break that goal into smaller chunks—what steps will get me there? Take small steps every day until those smaller goals reach your large ones.
Don't worry about other people's goals or whether they are more successful than yours; focus on being ambitious but realistic with your own ambitions.
For example;
if one of my fitness goals was running a marathon in 3 months and another person had aspired for six months (or never), I would feel like my failure was inevitable because their goal seemed so much more achievable than mine!
Instead, focus solely on achieving yours—this way, no matter what happens along the way or what kind of success someone else has compared with yours, it won't matter because everything will work out perfectly for everyone involved!
Know your costs.
- Know your costs.
- Get a business license.
- Get an accountant and a tax attorney.
Get organized and create a schedule.
- You need to create a schedule and stick to it.
This will help you keep track of your work and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Include all your responsibilities (your job, your family life, etc.) in this schedule so that you don't forget anything important.
- Remember:
If something comes up and you can't stick to your schedule on that day or week, then change it! It's better for everyone involved when things aren't rushed because they didn't get done on time.
Track your hours.
- Track your hours.
- Use a time-tracking app to track your time and identify patterns in how you spend it to create more efficient schedules, avoid procrastination and maximize productivity.
- Track the time spent on different activities, such as designing artwork or writing emails; scheduling meetings; marketing yourself or networking; accounting/billing/bookkeeping/payroll administration tasks; client communications (email, phone calls); research; etc. This will help you determine where you're spending too much time on specific things and where there could be room for improvement in terms of efficiency.
Be realistic with your time.
- Being realistic about how much time it will take to complete a project.
- Don't overbook yourself. Don't work on art if you're tired, hungry, or stressed out.
- Say no to projects that aren't worth your time and energy (or money).
Find the right support system.
As an artist, it is essential to find the right support system. Your support system can help you with your business and personal life. Finding a support system that will help you achieve your goals and ensure they are met on time is essential.
If you're looking for a sound support system, look for people who understand what you are going through as an artist in the business world. You want people who have had similar experiences or have at least been able to give advice on how to move forward when things get tricky!
Support systems should also be made up of people with experience working as an artist within different industries or jobs to know what it takes for someone like yourself (the person being supported).
Because then they would be able to let them know where their strengths lie while letting them know where there might be weaknesses; which could lead to taking advantage of competitors trying their best as well!
Plan ahead.
Planning is essential for running a business, and it's crucial in your personal life as well. It's an important skill that you can learn with practice. No matter how experienced you are, effective planning helps you make the best use of time and resources to achieve more with less effort. #plan
Planning lets you see where things might go wrong before they go wrong, making things go better when they happen, even if it's because someone else has already handled the problem for you!
Planning also increases efficiency: once something has been planned out, there's less chance of wasted time or effort trying to figure out what needs doing next (or worse yet: not getting anything done at all).
If someone else is involved in the planning process — like a team member — then planning together can result in better communication between individuals and groups!
Join a community of like-minded creators.
- Join a community of like-minded creators.
- Finding a supportive and trustworthy community is essential to your long-term success as an artist. You'll have the opportunity to share knowledge, resources, and experiences with other artists who are interested in the same goals that you are. Being part of this network provides valuable insight into what's working (or not) for others so that you can make informed decisions about how you want your business to grow over time.
- In addition to helping each other learn from shared experiences, being part of a community allows artists to share resources such as equipment or materials to reduce costs associated with starting up their business.
Protect yourself against failure by planning for success and scaling slowly.
One of the best ways to protect yourself against failure is by planning for success and scaling slowly. An excellent way to do this is by upfront identifying your goals and needs.
For example, suppose your goal is to become a recognized artist with a stable income from your art.
In that case, you should consider what it will take to get there (e.g., getting more shows or building an audience). Then start taking steps toward achieving those goals (e.g., signing up for more exhibitions or making connections with other artists).
Similarly, if you need money fast but don't have time for big projects or slow sales cycles (e.g., if you're just starting out), try making smaller pieces that can sell quickly, like postcards or prints, or find ways to deliver value without having to spend much time on each component (e.g., designing logos).
You can run an artist's business successfully.
If you're reading this, there's a good chance that you have a passion for creating art. You might think about turning your craft into a business and making money from it. With the right tools, knowledge, and support system, this is absolutely possible!
You can do it! There are many successful artists out there who have made their living from their work. They made it happen through hard work and dedication—but also by surrounding themselves with people who believed in them along the way.
Artists can be incredibly successful if they put in the time to create high-quality content at an affordable price. Their success is directly tied to how well they communicate why people should buy their work: what value does it provide? How will it help others? Why should anyone care about your art?
Conclusion
This was a difficult post to write due to the lack of concrete facts and data. While we present solid information about our findings, none of it is scientific. I admit that this has caused me to question what I set out to study. On one hand, I'm glad to know exactly how much artists around the globe make today, at least on one platform. On the other hand, I feel like there are more questions than answers regarding how to make more money as an artist. It is this dichotomy that actually inspired me to try and research a possible answer for artists who make music and art.
Are you trying to make it as a full-time artist? Good for you. However, most artists struggle to make a living solely off their art. So what can you do to turn your artistic hobby into a money-making machine? In this guide, we will discuss ways to make money as an artist in the year 2022, the upside of being an artist, and how to grow your skill set as an artist.