4 Perspectives on Making Money as an Artist

Want to know how some of your fellow artists make a living?

Over the weekend, I asked the artists in the EFII Community to share their stories of how they make money as an artist.  As with every Weekend Forum topic, there was a great mix of perspectives, so I thought I’d highlight some of them here in case you missed it.

I invite you to read the stories below and visit the websites of these 4 artists to learn more about them.

Thanks to all the Illustrators who joined the conversation!

Aaron Miller: Seems like everyone needs a second income that isn’t their primary passion.

I’m in the same boat. But my boat has changed in the past year. I used to go to my freelance gig daily like any other job. But when my last gig ended as an art director I decided to jump into the illustration market as full time as I can. While the freelance design jobs pretty much keep me just above water (and the wife’s business is a godsend for support) I put about 40-50 hours a week into my illustration now.

Taking that leap included adding conventions and classes, as well as running life drawing sessions.  If you have a studio you might consider opening it up for figure drawing. It doesn’t pay all the bills but it makes up for a slow day.

Etsy seems like it’s going to slowly work as well. Having a nice featured image on the front page helps. Though I sell most prints at conventions.

I’ll also have to second the notion of constantly putting yourself out there. It’s just going to take time to fine tune the “where” and “how much”.

Dave Stolte: Illustration commissions are few & far between unfortunately. I’m doggedly promoting myself via my web site, Twitter, Facebook, TAXI, Dripbook, and Illustration Mundo. I have some older self-promo illos up for sale at Getty Images. And I sell archival fine-art prints at http://davestolte.etsy.com — but all of that accounts for maybe 1% of my income.

I work a day job as the solo in-house graphic artist for a consumer goods company about an hour away from home, working closely with a NYC design agency on the company’s square-one rebranding. I’m there Monday – Thursday 8:00 to 6:00.

And I take on whatever freelance design work comes my way – web sites, logos, print collateral, and illustration outside of my style.

With all of this, I still try to do at least one thing every day to further my illustration career, hoping to get to the point where I can do it full-time and ditch these other (less interesting, less rewarding) means of getting by.

Michelle Schultz: I have worked full time as a graphic designer since I graduated art school in 1995 with an Illustration degree.
Ever since graduation I have taken as many freelance jobs as I had time for. And that has created a very diverse portfolio! I have been a single mother since college too & my son is now 15 so I am starting to slowly spend more time with my own art. I have many plans. I want to design posters, spot illustrations, children’s books. I know, I have to focus though so for now I am focusing on posters. I’m still working out my art style for them and all the details but as soon as I do I will put up an etsy site. I am very excited!

Heather Hansma: Right now my graphic design job is what supports me. Everything else is bonus. I’m working in switching over from my day job to what my career and passion is: illustration. It is complicated because my job takes up so much of my time so it is holding me back from accomplishing more, but I can’t work less at the moment because my significant other was laid off from his job. It is all a great balancing act, but I love it so much that I’ll bend over backwards to further my career as an illustrator.

I do freelance illustration, but those jobs are still few and far between at this stage of my career. I create commissioned paintings every once in a while. I sell some art in galleries, and have some jewelry/other stuff in sale at various consignment shops. I sell prints, art, jewelry, etc. on my Etsy shop (http://hansma.etsy.com). I teach some painting lessons and seminars about promoting yourself as an artist. I have a 9-5 job as a graphic designer at a consulting firm. I plan on doing some indie craft fairs this year as well.

Thanks again to the 4 artists above, as well as the other community members who contributed to the conversation.

Related Posts:

• How Do You Make Money as an Artist?
• 15 Places to Sell Your Work Online
• 9 Ways to Run a Smart Creative Business

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