Being a creative artist is a wonderful way to express yourself. But it doesn’t always guarantee a steady income.
Luckily, with the right knowledge and strategies, artists can find a great side hustle to support their artistic endeavours.
In this article, we explore twelve passive income ideas for artists. These ways of making extra income provide outstanding opportunities to make a good living from artistic talents in 2023.
What Is Passive Income?
Passive income is a powerful concept that can transform the way artists earn money. It refers to the idea of generating income on autopilot, where you make money even while you sleep. As you work to create more masterpieces, picture your art being purchased and enjoyed by people all over the world.
Passive income for artists is a game-changer. It allows you to break free from the traditional model. You don’t have to rely on selling your art in galleries or exhibitions. This opens up endless possibilities for growth and financial stability. It gives you the freedom to pursue your passion without the constant stress of making ends meet.
12 Passive Income Strategies for Artists
We’ve compiled the ultimate list of 12 passive income strategies that are perfect for artists like you. This way, you can turn your talent into a lucrative business venture.
1/ Create and Sell Digital Products
One of the best ways for artists to make passive income is by creating and selling digital products. In today’s digital age, there is a huge demand for digital downloads. Prints, templates, and digital illustrations are in high demand. Platforms like Etsy provide a seamless way for artists to sell their digital creations and earn passive income.
2/ Turn Your Portfolio Into an Art Book
As an artist or designer, you’ve likely accumulated a wealth of visually striking work over time. By curating your best pieces and compiling them into a beautifully designed art book, you can create a tangible masterpiece. It not only showcases your talent, but also appeals to art enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of your work.
Once the art book is published online or in print, it can continue to generate income. When art lovers and supporters purchase copies, your revenue grows.
This passive income source allows you to monetize your passion. It also provides a lasting and shareable representation of your artistic journey.
3/ Affiliate Marketing for Artists
Affiliate marketing can be a game-changer for artists looking to generate passive income. By partnering with reputable brands that sell art supplies, artists have the opportunity to earn a commission for every sale made through their affiliate links. This provides a steady stream of income. It also allows artists to showcase their favorite supplies and recommend them to their audience.
The beauty of affiliate marketing lies in its flexibility. Artists can promote products through their social media platforms. They can use blog posts or even their artwork descriptions.
It’s a win-win situation. Artists earn money but also contribute to the growth of the art community.
4/ Start a Blog
Start a blog and unlock the potential of passive income for artists! An artist blog is not just a platform to showcase your work; it is a powerful tool to monetize your creativity.
Regularly publishing content keeps your audience engaged. Share behind-the-scenes looks into your creative process, time-lapse videos of your artwork, or tutorials detailing specific techniques. By offering consistent value, you’ll keep your audience coming back for more.
You can also review art supplies, tools, or courses that you love and use affiliate links when recommending them. Each time someone purchases through your link, you earn a commission.
Ensure the products you promote resonate with your audience and are genuinely endorsed by you.
Once your blog garners a significant amount of traffic, consider integrating platforms like Google AdSense. These ads generate revenue based on the number of views or clicks they receive from your visitors.
5/ Start a YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel can be an exciting opportunity for aspiring artists. An artist’s YouTube channel allows creators to showcase their talent and connect with a global audience.
With billions of users, YouTube provides a platform for artists to share their music, artwork, or performances. Videos on the platform reach millions of people worldwide.
YouTube channels allow artists to engage directly with their fans, receive feedback, and build a supportive community. From tutorials to vlogs, the possibilities are endless in terms of content creation. So, if you have a passion for art and want to reach a wider audience, starting a YouTube channel could be the perfect next step for you.
6/ Sell Merchandise Featuring Your Art
Your art can be a great source of inspiration for various types of merchandise. From t-shirts and tote bags to mugs and phone cases, selling merchandise featuring your artwork can be a lucrative passive income stream.
You can partner with print-on-demand services that offer drop shipping (like Etsy). They will handle the production, shipping, and customer support, allowing you to focus on creating more art.
7/ License Your Art
An effective way for artists to earn passive income is by licensing their art. This involves granting permission to individuals or businesses to use your artwork for specific purposes in exchange for a licensing fee.
Art licensing can include using your art in products, marketing materials, or even as part of a branding campaign. By licensing your art, you can enjoy a steady income stream without the need for constant promotion.
8/ Create an Online Course
If you have expertise in a specific art form or technique, consider creating an online course. Many artists are willing to pay for in-depth art classes and tutorials that can help them elevate their skills. By creating an online course, you can provide valuable content to aspiring artists. It’s a great way to earn money from course enrollments and help out aspiring artists along the way.
Platforms like Skillshare or Udemy offer an excellent opportunity for artists to create online courses and earn passive income through student subscriptions. You can create video tutorials, provide feedback, and share your tips and techniques with aspiring artists.
9/ Write E-Books
For artists seeking a passive income stream, writing e-books offers an exceptional opportunity to monetize their knowledge and skills. An e-book can cover a plethora of topics, from mastering specific art techniques and understanding color theories to exploring the history of a particular art movement.
This medium allows artists to document and share their expertise. Yet, most importantly, it also serves as an evergreen product that, once written, can be sold an infinite number of times without any additional effort.
You can hire a ghostwriter if you’re not too confident with your writing skills. Creating low-content books like planners, journals, coloring books, and more might also be worthwhile.
Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Gumroad make it remarkably easy for artists to publish and sell e-books.
10/ Offer Subscription Services
Subscription services offer an excellent opportunity for artists with a strong social media presence to generate passive income. You can utilize these services in various ways, such as by providing access to exclusive content like new videos and sneak peeks of your work.
By setting up and promoting these subscription offerings on your social media platforms, you can steadily build a source of passive income as an artist.
Selecting the right subscription service is crucial for success in this endeavor. Podia stands out as a leading option worth exploring in today’s landscape, offering a robust platform for artists and content creators looking to monetize their work effectively.
Other great examples are:
- Wix – one of the most popular closed-source hosting platforms.
- WordPress.org – the most popular, open-source web and blogging platform in the world.
- WordPress.com – a managed hosting for WordPress offering extreme stability and great features.
- Duda.com – The Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own!
- Ycode.com – professional websites with absolutely no code (unless you want to .
11/ Sell Digital Assets
As an artist, you can sell so much more than your artwork. Think about creating digital assets that may be useful for other artists. Consider designing fonts, custom brushes, textures, or art references.
You can design templates for social media posts, website themes, or digital art projects. Artists can use these templates as a starting point and customize them according to their own style and needs. Creating digital assets as an artist can be a great way to diversify your income and reach a wider audience.
Remember to research the market and identify the needs and preferences of your target audience. Promote your digital assets through various online platforms, such as your own website, social media channels, or artist communities, to reach a wider audience and maximize your sales potential.
12/ Monetize Your Social Media Presence
Social media platforms can serve as a powerful tool to earn passive income for artists. By growing a significant following and engaging with your audience, you can attract sponsorship opportunities, brand collaborations, and even sell your artwork directly through social media.
Monetizing your social media presence allows you to leverage your online presence and turn it into a source of substantial income.
Other Ways to Make Extra Money as an Artist
If you’re an artist looking to make some extra money, there are other ways you can generate income passively.
Consider art leasing. You can rent out your pieces for an agreed-upon duration of time and earn some extra money. By renting your art, you don’t have to worry about extra storage for your painted pieces.
Building a website or online portfolio to showcase and sell your art. You can connect your blog to your personal website and monetize your page.
Build an email marketing subscriber base. You can promote your digital products, affiliate links, courses, and ebooks that way.
Remember, passive income takes time and effort to build, but it can provide a consistent stream of income and allow you to focus more on your art. So, explore different options, find what suits your skills and interests, and start generating your income as an artist.
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Final Thoughts
Artists have multiple opportunities to generate passive income. The possibilities of making a good living from their artistic talents are endless. From selling digital products and teaching art online to licensing your art, The possibilities are endless.
By leveraging these passive income ideas, artists can build many income streams. They can create a sustainable financial future while pursuing their creative passions.
Passive Income for Artists FAQ
Passive income is important for artists because it provides a way to make a living without relying solely on selling art. It allows artists to diversify their income and create a more stable financial foundation.
Passive income provides artists with a way to make a good income without constantly creating and selling new pieces of art. It allows artists to generate income while they focus on their creative process or other aspects of their art business.
Yes, it is possible to make a living from passive income. While it may not replace the income you earn from selling art, passive income can provide a steady additional income stream that can help you make a good living.
To get started with passive income as an artist, you can begin by identifying your areas of expertise and the passive income options that align with your skills and interests. You can then set up online platforms, create digital products, or explore other passive income sources that suit your artistic style and goals.
Generating additional income as an artist with little effort can be achieved by leveraging online platforms and marketplaces, creating digital products that can be sold repeatedly, and utilizing automated systems for selling and delivering your art or art-related products.
