10 Ways To Earn Income With Art & Design

Learn how to make a living using different avenues of art & design.

Issa Day-Simmons

4/23/20233 min read

1. Sell artwork

One of the most direct ways to make money with art is to sell your work. There are many options for selling your artwork, including local galleries, art fairs, and online platforms. To sell your artwork successfully, it's important to create a strong portfolio, establish a consistent style, and price your work appropriately. You can also consider selling prints or limited edition prints of your work to make it more affordable for buyers.

2. Commission work

Commission work involves creating custom artwork for clients, which can include paintings, illustrations, murals, or logos. To be successful in commission work, you need to have excellent communication skills, be able to understand the client's vision, and deliver high-quality work on time. It's important to establish a clear contract outlining the scope of work, deadlines, and payment terms.

3. Licensing

Licensing your artwork involves granting companies the right to use your art on products such as home decor, clothing, or stationary. This can be a great way to make passive income as you receive royalties for the use of your art. Licensing requires building relationships with companies, negotiating contracts, and understanding licensing terms.

4. Freelance design

Freelance design involves offering your design skills for hire on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. This can include creating logos, websites, or branding materials for clients. To be successful in freelance design, you need to have a strong portfolio, good communication skills, and the ability to deliver high-quality work on time.

5. Teaching

Teaching art and design classes can be a rewarding way to make money using your skills. This can be done in person or online through platforms like Skillshare or Udemy. To teach successfully, you need to have excellent communication skills, be able to break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand steps, and be able to provide feedback and support to your students.

6. Print-on-demand

Print-on-demand allows you to upload your designs to platforms like Redbubble, Society6, Printify, Shopify or Zazzle, which will handle the printing and shipping of your designs on various products like t-shirts, phone cases, and mugs. This can be a great way to make passive income with your art and design skills.

7. Art curation

Art curation involves selecting and organizing artwork for galleries, museums, or exhibitions. This can include selecting artists, managing budgets, and creating themes for exhibitions. To be successful in art curation, you need to have a deep understanding of art history, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to work well with artists, galleries, and other stakeholders.

8. Art consulting

Art consulting involves offering advice to clients on art purchases, collection management, and art investment. This can be done on a freelance basis or through an established firm. To be successful in art consulting, you need to have a deep understanding of the art market, strong research skills, and the ability to work well with clients.

9. Art therapy

Art therapy involves using art to help individuals express themselves and heal emotionally. This can be done in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, or private practices. To be successful in art therapy, you need to have a deep understanding of psychology, excellent communication skills, and the ability to create a safe and supportive environment for your clients.

10. Public art projects


Public art projects involve creating large-scale art installations for public spaces. This can include sculptures, murals, or interactive installations. To be successful in public art projects, you need to have a strong portfolio of previous work, excellent project management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with community stakeholders and other artists.

Having skills in art & design can be a huge advantage when navigating your way through the financial marketplace. There's no need to fret when you have a strong fundamental knowledge, an expansive imagination and the creative ability to apply all of that to provide solutions to clients across the world, even with the presence of artificial intelligence! With that being said, let's discover 10 ways to get your creative revenue generating!