Multiple Income Streams for Artists: How to Build Them

Estimated read time: 5 minutes

When you first start a creative business, it’s exhilarating! You’re finally selling your own original artwork for money, and it feels like a dream. A lot of artists stay at this point, and believe that building a reliable, steady income from their art is a myth. 

If you’d like to keep your art a side hustle, that’s great! But if you dream of more, know that your dream of being a full-time artist is in your reach. Financial stability and being a professional artist are often propped up against each other as opposites in our culture, but they don’t have to be.

Hi, I’m Stacie Bloomfield. I’ve gone from being a coffee shop manager to owning a seven-figure art business that totally changed my life! I created the sketch-to-success system — the sm{art}er approach to making irresistible, infinitely-sellable, and purposely-profitable art that becomes a business you love to run. I just know that implementing the knowledge I have to share will change your life and business just like it did to mine.

Myths About Building An Art Business

Let’s start with some myths that artists tell themselves about building a consistent income from their art business:

• “My art isn’t good enough”– This is very likely untrue. I help people at lots of different levels of artistic skills create a lasting art career. 
• “Artists can’t expect a consistent stream of income”– While the “starving artist” idea may be a very common misconception among your family and friends, people like myself who have built a profitable business that makes consistent, good money can help you accomplish this dream for yourself.
• “I’d have to go viral on social media to become a full-time artist”– This is a growing idea, especially among young artists, that is reinforced by them seeing artists go viral and then launch a successful business. While this is some artists’ story, having a viral social media presence is not a requirement to find success, and it isn’t the most sustainable way to start out.

Is all of this sounding a bit too good to be true? That’s the feedback I get from a lot of people before they join my courses and online community. Now, I can only share so many of my secrets here, but today I want to talk about the best way to generate year-round, consistent revenue: diversifying your income streams and leveraging your artwork across multiple platforms. 

Streams Of Income To Build

If all of that sounds like a bunch of confusing business words, don’t stress! I’m about to share some of the most reliable, scalable streams of income that you can create a career out of.

1. Art Licensing: This means renting your existing artwork to companies for them to use on their products. You get paid a royalty or a flat fee, creating recurring revenue as long as the product sells. It’s a low-cost, high-reward strategy that allows you to focus on creating great art.
2. Print-on-Demand Websites: Set up a store on platforms like Redbubble, Society6, or Zazzle. These platforms handle the production and shipping of products featuring your artwork, allowing you to earn money without managing inventory. Passive income streams like these can help you continuously make money with minimal effort.
3. Commissioned Work: Offer custom pieces such as house or pet portraits. This can provide a steady stream of income as you build a client base.
4. Craft Shows and Handmade Items: Create and sell handmade items at craft shows. This can be a more immediate source of income, and is a great way to network in your area. 
5. Small Manufacturing Runs: Start with a small quantity of a manufactured product featuring your art. This can help test the market and gradually build up your product line.

By implementing these strategies in a logical order and focusing on building a sellable portfolio, you can create multiple income streams that add up to consistent, year-round revenue.

Want a step-by-step roadmap for turning these income streams into a real business? Art Side Hustle School is designed to help artists like you grow from side hustle to full-time income — one stream at a time.