7 Ways to Make Money as An Artist That's NOT Selling Art
🎨 Whether you are making art, crafts, candles or beaded wrist bands, you can sell your work and make money. You can, in fact, do very well selling physical art or art prints, and that's what I teach in this blog and inside my membership Art Revenue Coaching.
However, did you know that there are a lot of other ways you can make money as an artist? In fact, I personally have about 17 streams of income.
I won't go into all of them here, but I always suggest that it’s wise to consider diversifying your income. There are quite a few different ways to do this, many of which I’ve tried personally or have good friends that do it to good success. There are many ways to think outside of the box... and I'm going to tell you a few of them here!
Adding multiple income streams isn’t just about making more money—it’s about building a business that’s flexible, resilient, and better able to support your creativity in the long run. When you rely on one source of income—like original art sales—you’re vulnerable to seasonal dips, algorithm changes, and life’s general chaos. But when you diversify, you give your business the room it needs to breathe, adapt, and grow at a sustainable pace. Whether you’re looking for passive income, project-based gigs, or community-driven support, there’s a model that can work for you—and it might be simpler than you think.
Today I'm going to share 7 different ways you can make money as an artist BESIDES selling your art. Read on!
1. Monetize Your Audience with Crowd Funding & Subscriptions
What if you could get your fans to pay you a modest amount of money a month in return for early access to your art posts, an exclusive blog or newsletter, discounts on your art, or something like a postcard-of-the-month club? You can! There's a growing culture of crowd funding for artists. One kind is to request financial support for a time-sensitive project, and another is to offer a monthly subscription to your brand.
Patreon is the flagship app for monthly creative support. They help you build your page, process payments, and handle customer service (for a small cut, of course). Instagram and Facebook also offer subscription services, starting as low as $1/month. Many websites now offer subscription functionality if you’d prefer to keep it all on your own turf.
I know quite a few artists and creatives that use Patreon. Some have an art club, where members get art lessons every month. Others get early access to new work or even first peeks at social media content.
This patron model is attractive to people who love your art but can't afford original work—and would be more than happy to chip in a small amount every month. You will need to promote it, and you’ll need to decide what you’re offering in return. Don’t go overboard. Keep it manageable.
You can also run a one-time crowd-funding campaign (Kickstarter, GoFundMe, or even just via email) to support a single project like a new body of work, a book, or a mural. đź’Ś
2. License Your Artwork to Companies and Brands
Licensing is when you provide an image of your art and a company puts it on something: greeting cards, puzzles, wallpaper, mugs, or even semi mass-produced art sold at places like West Elm.
In licensing agreements, you usually receive 7–11% of net sales. The beauty is that the manufacturer handles production, shipping, and customer service. You send a high-res image file—and they send you a check.
For example, I have a line of puzzles that are distributed by a puzzle manufacturer to Amazon, Walmart, and Target. It’s a win-win: they do the heavy lifting, I get paid, and more people get to enjoy my art in a new form.
3. Create Art for Commercial Illustration Projects
Many brands and businesses need custom artwork for their packaging, marketing, or products. I know artists who have created watercolor florals for soap labels, patterns for home goods, or quirky designs for stationery.
Unlike licensing, illustration work is usually “work for hire.” That means the company buys the art outright—you don’t retain copyright, and you won’t always be credited. In exchange, you get a flat fee.
This can be a great way to make consistent income, especially if you like working with creative briefs and client feedback.
4. Leverage Social Media to Earn Affiliate & Sponsor Income
Yes, artists can be influencers, too. If you have a decent following on social media, you can partner with brands to promote products in exchange for a fee or trade.
In the art world, this often means tagging or featuring art supplies. For example, when I was working with epoxy resin, a resin company sent me weekly shipments and I mentioned their brand in my posts. That was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
You may also get offers for affiliate links—meaning you earn a percentage of any sales made through your unique link. Typical commissions are around 10%.
Personally, I don’t promote many outside brands. I have enough of my own things to sell, and I’m careful not to dilute my sales power. But for many artists, this is a legit source of side income.
5. Host Local or Travel-Based Art Workshops
If you like working with people and live in an area with creative interest, teaching live workshops can be a fun and profitable path. You’ll need:
A space to host (community centers, art studios, your kitchen table)
A project that can be completed in 1–3 hours
Supplies for attendees (which you can often bake into the ticket price)
It’s also a great way to meet fans and start building real-world relationships that may evolve into collectors or students of your broader work.
6. Sell Digital Products to a Global Audience
If you’re a natural teacher, this is a fantastic way to extend your impact. Digital products include:
Online classes and tutorials
PDF guides, workbooks, or printables
Membership communities
You’ll need to be comfortable with a little tech: filming your process, editing, uploading, and marketing your offer. But once it’s built, digital products can generate income long after the work is done.
🚀 This is a big part of what I do through Art Revenue Coaching (ARC). I’ve created a full ecosystem of resources for artists who want to build income streams beyond original sales.
Being a natural teacher, I also sell courses on a bunch of other art related things, like my thick acrylic process or watercolor color theory.
7. Think Like a Creative Entrepreneur
These aren’t the only options—just seven of the most common I’ve seen artists use to generate real income. A few more you might explore:
Selling prints or products through print-on-demand platforms
Running retreats or travel-based workshops
Writing and self-publishing a book
Consulting for other artists or creative businesses
You don’t have to do all of these. In fact, please don’t! Start with one that feels the most aligned with your strengths and curiosity. Build it, test it, and refine it.
Multiple Income Streams Create Stability
📚 Let’s recap the 7 ways to make money as an artist that go beyond selling originals:
Crowd funding and subscriptions (Patreon, email campaigns, etc.)
Licensing your art to brands and manufacturers
Commercial illustration for packaging and marketing
Social media promotions and affiliate income
Teaching workshops in your community
Selling digital products like courses or printables
Creative entrepreneurship—finding other paths that match your skills
I always recommend diversification. The more creative ways you bring in income, the more stable your business will be. Hopefully one of these sparked a new idea for your own path.
