7 VARIOUS METHODS FOR MAKING MONEY USING YOUR ARTWORK

SELL YOUR ORIGINAL ARTWORK

When considering ways to make money as an artist, selling your art is likely the first option that comes to mind. It’s a thrilling experience when someone appreciates your work enough to pay for it. However, preparing to sell your original artwork involves various steps, such as listing, promoting, and shipping. One of the most crucial questions that arise while starting to sell your artwork is, “How much should I charge?”

To get a rough idea, you can use pricing formulas that you can adjust later based on factors such as the prices charged by your fellow artists, your level of experience, the demand from your target audience, and other related aspects. It’s essential to research and analyze how much similar artists are charging to ensure that you’re not undervaluing your work. Under-pricing may decrease the perceived value of your art and negatively impact your artistic career in the long run. On the other hand, astronomically high prices could quickly turn potential buyers away. As a general rule, make sure to consider all costs, including materials and time, to ensure that you are still making a profit.

If you’re not making sales, the temptation may arise to change your artwork to fit current commercial trends. However, it’s crucial to prioritize staying true to your style and artistic practice and not sacrificing your creativity for the sake of selling more.

To get your art noticed, focus on making adequate promotion and marketing efforts to attract buyers and audiences, instead of altering it to match the latest trends.

In summary, selling your artwork is an excellent way to make money as an artist, but it’s crucial to price your work appropriately, stay true to your artistic style, and focus on promoting and marketing your craft.

SELL ART PRINTS

As artists, we tend to have an emotional connection with our artwork and may feel hesitant to sell them. However, selling prints of your original pieces can be a great way to make money as an artist without having to give up your precious creations.

Creating high-quality art prints is a simple and affordable option for artists who want to sell their work while keeping their original pieces. Some artists may choose to sell a combination of originals and prints to appeal to a wider audience.

If you’re interested in making art prints but lack the necessary equipment, you can use print-on-demand services that are available.

These services work by having an external company handle everything from production to shipping, after a customer purchases your design. Additionally, there are businesses such as Redbubble or Society6 that offer your designs on various products such as tote bags, mugs, and t-shirts, expanding the possibilities beyond just art prints.

SELL AT AN ART FAIR 

If you’re a new artist and want to jump into the busy selling environment, arts, and crafts fairs are a great starting point. They provide an in-person shopping experience that customers don’t get online, which is especially important for art. Additionally, being physically present at your booth allows you to engage with potential buyers, building relationships that can lead to future sales.

Networking with fellow artists and industry professionals is another benefit of participating in art fairs. However, it’s important to plan and research beforehand, as a physical store requires additional considerations such as materials, transportation, and fees. Choosing the right art fair can make a big difference in terms of cost and exposure.

Selling in person is a valuable experience for any artist, even if sales are slow. At the very least, people will have seen your art and may take away a business card for future purchases.

MAKE USE OF INSTAGRAM’S SHOP TOOL TO SELL YOUR ART

One of the keys to success as an artist is promotion. If you don’t actively share your work, people are less likely to know about it. Instagram, in particular, has been instrumental in launching artists’ careers through self-promotion. In recent years, the app has even added e-commerce features, making it an ideal platform for selling your artwork.

With built-in shop features, artists can directly advertise their work on several social media sites, making it more accessible to potential buyers. Even if you prefer not to sell your artwork directly on social media, it’s still important to use these platforms to build a community of followers who can support and promote your work. By posting your art online, you’re essentially providing free advertising to potential buyers who may come across your work during their lunch break or free time.

OFFER THE OPTION OF COMMISSIONS

Offering commissions can be a unique way to expand your audience, as not every artist is open to them. It’s important to distinguish them from the commissions galleries take when they sell a piece in their exhibition – these are different concepts.

When commissioning an artist, clients ask for a personalized and unique piece tailored to their specific needs from the artist. These types of projects are usually more expensive for the client, as they are one-of-a-kind and made specifically for one person or brand. Commissions can be a lucrative source of income for artists, particularly if they build a good reputation and a strong art portfolio.

If you’re new to this process, getting started can be intimidating. You need to have confidence in your ability to create something that the buyer will love and be willing to pay for. However, the fact that the client has chosen you for the commission shows that they see something in your vision and creativity. It’s important, to be honest about what you can and can’t make and ideally, your commissions should align with your existing style and approach.

Open An Etsy Store to sell Your Art

As the online art world expands rapidly, taking advantage of e-commerce platforms could be a smart move, with Etsy being one such option. It’s important to do some research, though, as there are plenty of e-commerce sites available, and some may be better suited to your practice than others.

Etsy is an excellent marketplace to consider because it was created for creators and artists. The website is tailored to art, as well as other products such as vintage items and crafts. One benefit of Etsy is that, as it already has an existing customer base, you don’t necessarily need a large following of your own to start an Etsy shop. However, generating your first sales on Etsy can be challenging without an established audience. The best things to do in this scenario are to market your shop well, use up-to-date SEO tactics, and build good reviews to increase your sales and make money.

Advantages of Etsy

Despite the advantages of Etsy, it may take a long time to generate enough sales to support yourself. Before you begin on Etsy, there are a few things to keep in mind.You may need other sources of income while you build and establish your shop. Many Etsy sellers have another job and do this on the side, so if you’re thinking of relying on it financially right from the start, you might need to reconsider your strategy.

In any case, an Etsy shop can be an excellent way to make money from something you already enjoy making. If people have ever expressed interest in buying prints of your work, you can direct them to your Etsy shop. The experience and confidence you gain from selling can also pave the way for bigger things in the future, such as setting up your own shop on your artist’s website. Etsy is a great option for that purpose.

LICENSE YOUR ARTWORK

Artists who have limited time to focus on generating income can benefit from licensing their designs. Licensing designs generates “passive income” because it requires initial effort but does not require continuous monitoring or maintenance to sustain over time. Print-on-demand services like Society6 allow artists to have their designs printed on a variety of products without any additional effort, as an example of this type of revenue.

Licensing artwork operates in a similar fashion. Once the artist creates the art, the bulk of the work is complete. With a licensing agreement in place, the design can be utilized on a variety of products, ranging from pillows to billboards. The artist receives payment in exchange for their creation. Compared to selling physical art and commissions, licensing is a smaller but more stable form of income that can provide support for an artist in the background of their other projects.

To begin an art licensing journey, it is important to have a portfolio or collection of high-quality artwork that can be presented to manufacturers. Familiarize yourself with copyright rules and regulations to learn how to protect your work once it is out there. When you have identified a manufacturer or company to work with, be sure to read the contract carefully before signing. It may be worth asking a friend or lawyer to review it with you.

IN CONCLUSION,

 making money as an artist is not easy, but it’s definitely possible. By following these tips and tricks, you can boost your earnings and turn your passion for art into a profitable business.