Creative Hustle: 15 Real Ways to Make Money Online as an Artist

Are you an artist wondering how to turn your talent into income, without leaving your house? Good news: we’re living in a golden era for creative people. Thanks to the internet, the starving artist stereotype is fading fast. Whether you paint, draw, illustrate, animate, or do graphic design, there are plenty of ways to make money online as an artist.

Think of your art as a garden. The more places you plant your seeds (like digital stores, social media, and freelance sites), the more chances you have to watch your income grow. You just need to know where to plant and how to water your efforts. Ready to dig in?

1. Sell Digital Downloads

This is one of the easiest passive income streams for artists. Once you create digital art, like printable wall art, stickers, templates, or clipart, you can sell them over and over again.

Best Platforms:

• Etsy
• Gumroad
• Creative Market

Pro Tip: Use keywords in your listing titles and descriptions to make your art discoverable.

Read More: Tap Coin Make Money Online

2. Start a Print-on-Demand Store

Print-on-demand (POD) services let you place your art on t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, phone cases, and more. When someone buys, the service prints and ships the item for you.

Top POD Sites:

• Redbubble
• Society6
• Printful (for your own site)

Why it’s great: No inventory, no shipping hassle. You focus on art, they handle the rest.

3. Offer Art Commissions

Love drawing portraits or custom designs? Commissions are a great way to make money directly from fans or clients. You can set up a commission page on your site or promote your services through social media.

Where to Offer:

• Instagram (add a "Commissions Open" highlight)
• DeviantArt
• Ko-fi

Tip: Create a clear commission guide with pricing, delivery times, and terms.

4. Join Freelance Platforms

Freelancing gives you access to clients around the world. Whether it’s a company needing a logo or a book author needing illustrations, you can find gigs that pay well.

Top Freelance Sites:

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Freelancer
• 99Designs

Pro Tip: Keep your portfolio updated. Clients love seeing samples of your style and range.

5. Teach Art Online

If you’re great at explaining techniques or breaking down your process, teaching can be your new income stream. You don’t need to be a celebrity artist — you just need to be a few steps ahead of your audience.

Where to Teach:

• Skillshare
• Udemy
• Teachable
• Your own YouTube channel

Ideas: Watercolor basics, how to draw anime, digital illustration tips, or even “art for kids” classes.

6. Create a YouTube Channel

YouTube rewards consistency, personality, and valuable content. Share your art process, speed paints, reviews, or tutorials. You can earn through ads, memberships, and sponsored content.

Monetization Options:

• Google Ads
• Affiliate links (art supplies)
• Brand deals

Think of it like turning your sketchbook into a show that people want to binge.

7. Use Patreon or Memberships

Patreon lets fans support you monthly in exchange for exclusive content. This could be behind-the-scenes sketches, monthly wallpapers, early access to art, or private livestreams.

Other Options:

• Ko-fi
• Buy Me a Coffee

Why it works: It creates a stable income stream and a loyal fan base.

Read More:

Best Online Chat Rooms to Make Money Online

8. Sell NFTs (Digital Art Tokens)

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are like digital collectibles. If your style is bold, unique, or trendy, the crypto world might be for you. But do your research — this space moves fast and has risks.

Popular NFT Platforms:

• OpenSea
• Rarible
• Foundation

Caution: Understand fees (gas fees), copyright issues, and market trends before diving in.

9. License Your Art

Licensing is when you let companies use your art on their products, and they pay you royalties. This could be anything — calendars, greeting cards, puzzles, or fabric.

Get Started By:

• Creating a portfolio for licensing
• Joining licensing agencies
• Reaching out to companies directly

Bonus: You retain ownership of your work!

10. Design and Sell Merchandise

Beyond POD, you can order products in bulk and sell them on your website or at events. Think enamel pins, notebooks, apparel, and accessories with your designs.

Tools to Try:

• Shopify
• Big Cartel
• Ecwid

Note: You'll need to handle packaging and shipping, but profit margins can be higher.

11. Sell on Stock Photo and Illustration Sites

If you like creating icons, vector sets, or background illustrations, this one’s for you. Upload once, earn every time it’s downloaded.

Popular Platforms:

• Shutterstock
• Adobe Stock
• iStock

Ideal for: Simple, clean, commercial-friendly designs.

12. Build a Niche Art Blog or Website

A blog lets you showcase your art, share tutorials, and build SEO traffic. Add affiliate links, sell digital products, or run ads once you grow traffic.

Ideas:

• “How to draw [X]” tutorials
• Speedpaint breakdowns
• Reviews of digital art tools

Pro Tip: Use platforms like WordPress or Squarespace for clean, professional-looking sites.

13. Run an Art Newsletter with Subscriptions

Email isn’t dead — it’s just underrated. Share your art journey, sneak peeks, and thoughts. Services like Substack or ConvertKit let you run free and paid email newsletters.

Perks:

• Build a community
• Control your audience
• Promote launches or new work directly

14. Publish Coloring Books or Zines

Turn your art into physical or digital coloring books. Self-publishing is easier than ever thanks to print-on-demand platforms like Amazon KDP or Lulu.

Themes to Try:

• Fantasy creatures
• Nature scenes
• Affirmation-style mandalas

Zines: Short, creative, and niche publications can be sold online or at virtual art fairs.

15. Collaborate with Brands or Influencers

As your social media presence grows, brands might want to work with you. This could be sponsored posts, product reviews, or limited-edition collections.

Best for Artists Who:

• Have a distinct style
• Post regularly on social media
• Are comfortable promoting products

Start Small: Reach out to small indie brands first. Pitch a simple collaboration idea.

Conclusion

Being an artist online isn’t just about talent — it’s about getting your work seen and knowing how to offer it in a way people want to buy. With so many ways to make money online as an artist, the real challenge is choosing where to start.

Try a few methods. See what clicks. Most successful online artists combine multiple income streams, which keeps things flexible and financially rewarding. Whether you're just starting out or you've been at this for years, there’s always room to grow, share, and earn.