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Making money drawing can be a great way for artists to supplement their income and make a living from their art. When it comes to starting to make money drawing, there are a ton of different directions to take:
- You can create artwork for commission
- Become a freelance illustrator or cartoonist
- Create custom artwork for businesses or for sale online, or even
- Teach art classes and share your knowledge of art with others
Researching the various opportunities available drawing for money and deciding on the best fit for you is the first step towards making money from drawing.
You may also want to look into selling your artwork on websites like Etsy, or entering art competitions to show off your work and gain recognition. With a bit of determination and creativity, you can make money drawing and be successful in your artistic endeavors.
5 Creative Ways How to Make Money with Drawing
The great thing about drawing is that it’s a monetizable skill that can be self-taught. Drawing for money is something literally anybody can do.
You don’t a college degree or experience to make money drawing. You just need to be skilled and with that skill, you can add an income stream to your bank account. Here are 5 creative ways how to make money with drawing…
1. Sell your drawings on Fiverr
If you’re looking for a way to make money from drawing, Fiverr can be an excellent option.
Fiverr is an online marketplace where you can offer your services for a flat fee. You can set up an illustration gig on Fiverr, where users can purchase your artwork for their own projects.
To get started on Fiverr, you’ll need to create an account and set up a profile. You’ll want to include a portfolio of your artwork so potential buyers can see what you have to offer.
Once your profile is set up, you can begin creating gigs, setting your fees and pricing, and advertising your services. To make sure you stand out, it’s important to offer quality artwork and provide good customer service. With a bit of effort, Fiverr can be a great way to make money drawing.
2. Sell your artwork on Etsy
Etsy is a handmade marketplace website for selling physical and digital goods. You can create an Etsy store as a seller and list sell drawings for money ( or artwork ) for sale.
With Etsy, it’s pretty easy. You can literally upload drawing and earn money when those drawings are bought by a buyer on the platform.
You’re going to create your product listing, set it up, and publish live on the platform!
In the product listing, you can list:
- A description of the art you’re selling
- Post a price
- Set shipping rates, if applicable
Examples of artwork to sell on Etsy are:
- Prints
- Illustrations
- Sculptures
- Drawings
What did I sell on Etsy?
I created and sold digital prints. They were motivational sayings for entrepreneurs that I uploaded as a template. Buyers could pick their favorite prints, which were just a few bucks each then print them out and frame them on the wall.
I targeted the entrepreneur, home business, and work from home audience who might want to see motivational sayings like You Got This, Girl Boss, and related sayings to inspire them throughout the work day.
It was a lot of fun creating the art and I made money doing this!
3. Create an online drawing course
Why not teach others to draw? Course creation has grown in popularity a lot over the years. There are nearly 1.5 billion online learners and the online education market is expected to grow to over 1 trillion dollars by 2028!
There are many ways to pursue this. After selecting the topic (like illustration, watercolor painting, etc.), you can outline your curriculum and lesson plan, choose how you’ll sell your course, then start creating content and uploading it to your platform of choice.
Examples of online learning platforms are:
Some platforms are free to join and the platform takes a cut of your sale. Others have a monthly and annual recurring charge to operate on the platform.
Teachable is a good platform to be on if you want something totally comprehensive with a lot of flexibility. You can design your sales page or hire a designer to do it for you. You can set up coupon codes, bring on affiliates to market your course, bundle multiple courses, email students and a lot more. If you have an audience, Teachable is a great place to sell your course.
Skillshare is great if you don’t have an audience and want to appeal to Skillshare’s userbase. You won’t have the same flexibility as with Teachable.
For example, you won’t be able to design your own sales page but, if you have no marketing experience and don’t know how to get customers, Skillshare is a platform that can help you get sales just because of the sheer traffic volume they bring in to their website.
4. Illustration
When it comes to creating artwork for commission, illustrators and cartoonists can be hired to create artwork for books, magazines, websites, advertisements, and more.
Illustration is a great example of how to make money drawing pictures.
Freelance illustrators can also create artwork for sale online, such as prints, illustrations, and custom artwork. Those with a bit more experience can also offer digital art commissions, logo design, and custom lettering.
To make sure your artwork stands out, it’s important to create high-quality artwork and provide good customer service. You can also look into selling your artwork on websites like Etsy, or entering art competitions to show off your work and gain recognition. With a bit of determination and creativity, you can make money drawing and be successful in your artistic endeavors.
5. Sell drawing ebooks
Make money drawing pictures selling your expertise in an ebook.
An ebook is like a shorter version of a course. It’s a condensed form, for sure and can be a lot easier to create. You’ll pick a topic, draft an outline and start writing. Then, publish when you’re ready.
Here are some ways to sell ebooks online:
- Platforms: Sell your e-book on platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Gumroad, or Sellfy.
- Your website: Create a website to sell your e-book and promote it through social media, email marketing, and advertising.
- Affiliate marketing: Partner with other websites or influencers in the art community to promote your e-book and earn a commission on each sale.
- Online art communities: Promote and sell your e-book to members of online art communities such as DeviantArt or Behance.
- Email list: Build an email list of followers and customers who are interested in your artwork and offer them exclusive discounts or early access to your e-book.
- Art workshops and events: Offer your e-book as an additional resource to students attending your art workshops or events.
- Cross-promotion: Collaborate with other artists or authors to cross-promote each other’s e-books and reach a wider audience.
Can you draw for a living?
Absolutely! When I was a child, I loved drawing! So much. I was into fashion drawing so I’d illustrate outfit after outfit, hundreds of these fashion drawings but, I was always told there’s no money in drawing. Over time I let that hobby go but, I wish I hadn’t.
Drawing is a soothing, relaxing activity that really lets you express yourself and show your creativity. And, there are so many ways to draw for money, like the 5 money-making ideas shared above.
It is possible to make a living drawing and many artists are able to earn a living by creating and selling their artwork. This can be through traditional means such as gallery exhibitions or more modern methods like online sales.
However, making a living as an artist can be challenging, as the field is highly competitive and the income can be unstable.
Success as an artist often depends on factors such as talent, marketing skills, business acumen, and networking.
It is important for artists to continuously improve their skills and develop a strong online presence in order to increase their visibility and reach potential buyers.
Bottom Line
Making money drawing involves leveraging your skills and creativity in various ways. From offering freelance illustration services to selling digital or print art, teaching drawing classes, or creating and selling e-books, there are numerous opportunities for artists to monetize their passion.
By utilizing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Gumroad, promoting your work through online art communities, or collaborating with other artists, you can reach a wider audience and build a successful business around your artwork.
To make money with drawing requires effort and dedication, but it can be a fulfilling and lucrative career for those who are passionate about their craft.