Tips to Making Money as an Artist

Artists do what they do for a variety of reasons: to make a statement, to carry on a tradition or simply for the fun of it. One thing every full time artist has to consider, though, is how to make a living, and even hobbyists would sometimes like a little pocket money. With a little work, it should be possible to earn at least a little money from the practice of your art.

The stereotypical starving artist should not be anyone's role model. Whether any given artist chooses to seek employment in the field, look for commissions or sell finished pieces, there are still ways for him to avoid freezing in a garret. Consider some specific ideas and tips.

• Find employment that uses your skills. Commercial artists make good money working in the print and broadcast media and for advertising agencies, for example. Put together a portfolio and a resume and make appointments with every ad agency in your area. At the end of each interview, remember to ask the interviewer if they know of anyone else in the area that might be interested in work like yours. Remember, networks are your friends.


• Do bespoke work. This is specifically commissioned pieces on a given theme, sometimes with other requirements. It can include portraits of a certain size, or paintings themed around a certain area or activity. It can also include illustrations for a book or a set of paintings to be reproduced on tarot cards or even eight china plates with cute kittens on them. For a flexible artist, even the low levels of commissioned work have income potential.


• Seek gallery placements. Not only does the privilege of hanging a piece in a gallery present the possibility of a sale, it also gets your name out in the artistic community. This can lead to other sales, bespoke work or even employment in the long run, so it is worth taking your portfolio from gallery to gallery to place single pieces, even if you never get a show.


• Make life easy for reviewers. Provide the reporters on the arts beat at newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations and Internet outlets with frequent press releases. Every award, every grant and every show is newsworthy, and it only takes one slow news day to get your name in front of your entire community as that of a serious artist.


• Participate in community events. Donate a piece to every art sale and charity auction that comes along, with no bitterness whatever. Its value will return to you many times over in publicity. Rent booths at festivals and hang a few paintings between the guy selling ceramic penguins and the lady with the patchwork cushions. You may sell a few, but you will certainly give out a lot of business cards and develop your network.


• Utilize social media. Most artists have portfolios in the form of websites. Each time a new piece goes up, it should be tweeted about and posted to Facebook, as well as discussed on any forums or newsgroups where you are a regular. It may be appropriate to note it on LinkedIn as well, and to give it some play on social bookmarking sites. Artists with good language skills should consider blogging, both to promote specific events and to build a following.

Artists, like any other professionals, need to make money to stay in business. It may not be their main goal, but it is a necessity nonetheless. Do it right and it can enhance your career without taking time away from the creation process.