How to Make Money Off Your Art

Artistic ability is a valuable skill in the job market, as well as a talent you can use to make money independently. There are tons of outlets for digital and 3D artwork that offer pay, but it will ultimately be up to you to figure out how to make money off of your art. Here are some tips to help you get started.  

Think of Your Art as a Business

If you want to learn how to make money off your art, the first step is to change your mindset. Stop thinking of your art as a hobby full of dreamy possibilities and start thinking of it as the product you sell in a successful business. 

Create a business plan that includes income goals, sales channels, and deadlines. Map out how you plan to get your art in front of buyers, how much you will charge, and the specific products you will sell. Figure out what demographic is most likely to be interested in your products and determine the best ways to appeal to them.

Be Persistent and Proactive 

Don’t just sit around waiting to be discovered. Do whatever you can to get your art in front of potential buyers! 

Take rejection as constructive criticism, and use any feedback to learn what you can do to make your personal artwork more attractive or likely to be purchased. Don’t be afraid to put yourself “out there,” regardless of consequence — if you don’t champion your artwork, it won’t get noticed.

Build an Online Presence

Another important step in figuring out how to make money off your art is to build an online presence. In other words, make sure you are sharing your work everywhere you can and maintaining active profiles on job sites, such as LinkedIn and Fiverr. This way, if someone is looking to hire an artist, or looking for your work specifically, they will easily be able to find you. 

Social media can also help grow a fanbase, particularly Instagram, which is a largely visual platform. Make sure to include links in your profile so your followers can go directly to a sales platform.

If your renders are good enough to capture someone’s eye, post them to the Daz Gallery! Daz 3D often uses the best recent gallery images in our designs, emails, and newsletters, which is an excellent way to get people familiar with your style or brand and great for your resume!

Lots of our most avid users post their art or keep online portfolios on ArtStation, DeviantArt, and various Reddit avenues, as well as other online art channels. These portfolios are a great way to direct potential clients and customers to your growing folio of awesome original work!

Create Multiple Streams of Income

Don’t limit yourself to just one method. Instead, think about creative avenues that need your digital and 3D artwork. By creating multiple streams of income, you can maximize the amount you make from your products and increase the consistency of your revenue. Brainstorm ways you can create both active and passive income.

Ideas for Selling Your Art Through Passive Income

Passive income streams are those where the work can be done once, but it is possible to continue earning from them over time. Use the ideas below for how to make money off art as passive income.

Books/E-Books

Professionals have been using Daz Studio to create book and e-book covers for quite some time. With Genesis 8 and continued developments in the 3D art-sphere, your renders look more realistic and stunning than ever, and will look more attractive to anybody shopping for a book cover.

You can also create your own comic books, children’s books, and how-to books for other artists. Or you can design illustrations for book authors and help them create a beautiful finished product.

Stock Photo Sites

There are many public websites available where you can share, sell, and purchase digital artwork and photography. For example, Canva offers images, templates, and graphics to their users that are submitted by artists, who then make a small profit when their design is purchased for use. You can also offer sales of your artwork as downloadable digital prints. 

Teach Online

As an experienced artist, you can share your knowledge online with others looking to develop their skills. Create a YouTube series, sell print or video courses, develop a live-stream interactive class, or create a members-only educational platform. Live content will qualify more as an active income stream, but recorded content can stay up and continue to earn for you over time.

Ideas for Selling Your Art Through Active Income

Active income streams are those that you consistently work on. This may include long-term work that earns you a regular paycheck, or it may be something you spend regular time developing. 

Freelance & Commissioned Work

Take advantage of online freelance service marketplaces. Sites like Fiverr let you show promotional images and offer your services for a set price, so you can connect with clients and customers who are looking for your particular style. You may also be able to connect with clients looking for commissioned work, where they pay you to create something specific. Once you find clients, begin building a portfolio of your published work to show others what you can do for them.

Corporate Work

As an artist, your first thought when it comes to your craft may point you in the direction of independent sales. However, there are plenty of opportunities available working for established companies. You can be a part of design work for marketing campaigns, movie sets and effects, video game creation, 3D digital art films, and more. You may also be able to create tools for other artists and digital designers, such as digital brushes and templates.

Teaching In-Person

Last, but not least, you can always teach art classes in a school, from your home, or in your community. There are plenty of eager budding artists dying to benefit from your talent and expertise.

Create Unique Art with Daz 3D

Remember, you should be the biggest supporter of your own work. Discovering how to make money off art works best when you find your own particular avenues to connect with people who will pay for your art. Remember, it’s up to you to actively share your unique artistic vision!

Get started creating unique 3D digital art with Daz 3D today!