The best ways to make money as an artist in 2025

It is in the nature of artistic creation to pursue one's passion while acting free as possible from financial and economic constraints

Apart from a few established stars with worldwide fame, most artists would probably agree that this is often not easy to achieve. After all, bills have to be paid, a living has to be earned, and nobody wants to live in constant existential fear.

For this reason, a sound financial foundation is essential. And isn't it easier, and above all, freer to pursue one's passion when bothersome financial worries can be banished from one's mind?

Art doesn't have to be unprofitable

"Art for art's sake" is a common phrase encountered both within and outside the art and culture scene. Yet, there are numerous ways to make a good living from one's creative work.

New technologies are emerging, the world is changing at a breathtaking pace . Tried-and-tested methods suddenly lose their effectiveness. It's not easy to keep track of everything.

For this reason, in this article I would like to summarize for you both tried and tested as well as new, promising opportunities on how you can monetize your talent this year (update for 2025) and in the future without compromising your artistic standards.

The status quo and the repercussions of the multiple crises on the art scene

In light of the multiple crises – the aftermath of the Corona pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy price shock, the shortage of skilled workers, and inflation – many art galleries and exhibitions are still facing difficult times. At the same time, developments in artificial intelligence and generative AI significantly impacting many artists.

Impacts and after-effects of the Corona crisis on the cultural and creative industries

The German cultural and creative sector suffered greatly from the effects of the Corona pandemic in the years 2020-2022 – as the Federal Government's Competence Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries has demonstrated using a scenario analysis the economic impact of the pandemic on the cultural and creative industries for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The performing arts (-81%), the music industry (-44%), the film industry (-41%), and the art market (-39%) were particularly hard hit. These figures once again illustrate the difficult situation that cultural professionals find themselves in during the coronavirus crisis. The hoped-for recovery in 2021 failed to materialize; instead, the sector was severely impacted a second time, as evidenced by the revenue decline of -6.3 percent, or -€11.0 billion, compared to 2019.

The economic situation of numerous art institutions, galleries, and trade fair organizers could also be considered critical. Uncertainty was palpable everywhere.

Artists and cultural workers in crisis – a photographer's notes

photographer Stephan Lucka portrayed artists and cultural workers to examine their personal coping strategies and solutions for dealing with the disruption of their activities.

He focused on twelve diverse examples, including performance artists, cabaret performers, dancers, and clowns. These portraits offer a fascinating insight into individual reactions to the crisis in the cultural sector and its broader societal impact.

Lucka's impressive demonstrates how creatively and decisively artists and cultural professionals respond to the challenges they face.

Culture can overcome crises – how the cultural sector is recovering

Despite the turbulent global situation, recent years of inflation, and multiple crises, arts and cultural events are once again enjoying great popularity, as audiences gradually return to venues and are hungry for culture. The challenges of recent years are gradually fading into the background, thanks in part to more flexible leisure activities and digital or virtual offerings.

Galleries, art fairs, theaters, and concert halls are responding to this change with last-minute tickets, flexible subscriptions, virtual offerings, and improved rebooking options. Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth has also introduced the Culture Pass , which provides young people with financial support for cultural activities and therefore benefits cultural professionals.

analysis by the Federal Government's Competence Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries ( download here ) also shows how the path out of the crisis and into the future can work through a future-oriented transformation of the cultural and creative industries.

It contains numerous innovative ideas that have emerged from the pandemic, as well as constructive and forward-looking coping strategies for the crisis and sound advice on how to actively shape one's future in the art industry.

monitoring report on the cultural and creative industries 2024, published on February 27, 2025, also documents the recovery of the creative industries with figures:

• Nearly two million people were employed at the nuclear power plant. This corresponds to approximately four percent of the total workforce in the German economy.
• The growth in the number of employed persons was 2.1 percent.
• Approximately 1.1 million employees were subject to social security contributions.
• Approximately 665,000 people were in marginal employment.
• Approximately 238,000 companies were part of the KKW.
• KKW had a turnover of around 205 billion euros in 2023.
• On average, each company was able to generate €858,000.
• Sales thus increased by 5.3 percent compared to the previous year.
• Most employees worked for the software/games industry, a total of 685,100 employees.

Further figures and analysis, as well as a look at the detailed results of the eleven sub-markets, can be found directly in the Monitoring Report Cultural and Creative Industries 2024 , which commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection .

New sales channels and earning opportunities for artists

compensate for the loss of traditional sales and marketing channels for their art new online and distance selling opportunities . To sell their art, they have developed methods and approaches that are likely to remain viable long after the pandemic has become history.

Let's take a look at the most popular and promising ways for an artist to earn money from their artistic work, both today and in the future.

The best ways to make money as an artist in 2025 and beyond

01 Sell original paintings, limited editions and copies (art prints) online

This is the most obvious and easiest way to achieve your goals. It requires neither a local shop nor a large audience. Thanks to the internet, you can sell your art online through various platforms, networks, and channels.

You don't even need your own online shop or website (although this is useful and advisable in the long run).

Here are some of the best places online to sell artwork directly to art enthusiasts:

Artnet

Artnet has established strategic partnerships with renowned auction houses and galleries to position itself as a central hub for passionate collectors of contemporary art. These collaborations with leading players in the art world allow Artnet to showcase a wide range of artworks and offer art lovers a comprehensive insight into the world of contemporary art.

As a virtual platform for galleries, Artnet acts as a showcase for artists represented by these partner galleries. Galleries can invite their artists to present their work on Artnet, thereby increasing their visibility in the digital space. On Artnet, interested parties can explore artists' work either through the gallery listings or a dedicated artist directory, which, in addition to current news and event announcements, also provides information on past auction results and available artworks.

With this innovative approach, Artnet succeeds in creating a unique platform that strengthens the connection between artists, galleries and art-loving collectors.

Artsy

Artsy pursues the ambitious goal of making the boundless diversity of the global art scene accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Similar to Artnet, Artsy is not only intended for individual artists but can also be of interest to galleries wishing to showcase their artwork on this platform.

As a venture capital-backed online gallery, Artsy primarily targets contemporary art enthusiasts. With live auctions, comprehensive information on art fairs and exhibitions, and the opportunity for galleries to showcase their work on the platform, Artsy offers a multifaceted experience for art lovers worldwide.

Etsy

Etsy is a rapidly growing and extremely popular platform that started in 2005 and has become one of the largest international online marketplaces of its kind.

It reaches a huge audience, especially for art, handmade items, and collectibles of all kinds . Due to the large number of artists offering their work on the website , it can be somewhat challenging to present your art effectively, showcase it well, and attract the right buyers. The sheer volume of works on offer means that it takes a certain amount of effort and ingenuity to stand out from the crowd.

Nevertheless, Etsy offers the necessary tools, marketing instruments, and a large, active, and very helpful community that, if used correctly, will help you sell your work in a short time.

If success isn't immediate, the available analysis tools and statistics can provide valuable insights for fine-tuning various aspects of your strategy. If you get stuck, the community usually has the answers. Don't hesitate to participate in discussions and regularly ask for help and advice.

The pricing model is very fair. There's only a very small listing fee, and the sales commissions are also reasonable. However, advertising can quickly eat into your budget if you're not careful and don't take advantage of optimization opportunities. Especially at the beginning, it's advisable to test with a small daily budget and then gradually increase it once you're satisfied with the results.

Etsy is a platform used by many artists to sell their artwork online. You can showcase and sell your art there. However, if we want to successfully sell our artwork, we can offer some small gifts as giveaways in the initial sales phase to attract more customers.

Small, delicate lapel pins are a great option. A badge with your online shop logo can surprise people who buy your art.

Of course, you can also turn your artwork into badges for sale. You can partner with an experienced badge manufacturer like Pins.net. Pins.net serves people all over the world who love personalized pins.

Saatchi Art

Saatchi Art has a huge audience and attracts millions of art enthusiasts to its site every day. It is arguably the largest international online art gallery and an art marketplace that can bring you worldwide exposure.

On Saatchi Art, visitors discover an unparalleled selection of artwork from artists worldwide, catering to every budget, style, and space. A key feature is access to experienced curators, whose approved artworks are featured in weekly special collections. Registered artists can also collaborate with an art consultant through the platform to receive personalized recommendations.

Saatchi Art boasts a large number of young and up-and-coming artists.

Singular type

Singulart is an international online art gallery based in Paris. The online platform was founded in August 2017 to support artists in the digital transformation of the art market and to sell their works to collectors worldwide.

The online gallery now offers over 45,000 works of art in over 45 countries, representing more than 81 nationalities.

Empower artists! is the motto of Singulart, whose founders set out to make the art market more international, transparent, and open. Artists are to be supported in the digitalization of the art market and responsibly involved in the sales process.

Artsper

Artsper is also a growing international online gallery for artists.

However, we spoke with several artists active on the platform whose experience with Artsper was rather disappointing. Initially, the platform seemed promising, as it offered artists the opportunity to gain international visibility. But high membership fees, a 30% commission on sales, and the pressure to book expensive advertising campaigns made it difficult for freelance artists to succeed.

Visibility depended more on financial resources than on artistic quality. Furthermore, there was little transparency: instead of curating the best works, it seemed that the platform primarily favored the work of artists who invested the most in advertising. Additional restrictions in the terms and conditions led these artists to terminate their memberships. Switching to another platform brought them faster success and fairer conditions.

In summary, Artsper can work, but it is comparatively expensive and opaque – for these reasons we cannot recommend the platform for realistic sales promotion for freelance artists.

Amazon Handmade

What many people don't know: Amazon has its own marketplace for arts and crafts, where you can sell your art, handmade crafts, custom-made accessories and more.

You can sell drawings, paintings, and artwork. Amazon Handmade does not charge listing fees. A flat fee of 15% applies per sale.

Regarding profitability: According to Jungle Scout 's 2022 State of the Seller Report, 33% of handmade sellers achieved profit margins of over 20%.

Shopify

online shopping platform Shopify offers more design freedom for your online presence . However, this requires subscribing to their website hosting services, which results in recurring monthly fixed costs. This service is less suitable for occasional sellers, but becomes increasingly worthwhile with rising sales volumes.

With Shopify, you can create your own online storefront, set up a complete e-commerce shop, and promote your shop via social media to reach a wider audience.

Fine Art America

An important online marketplace – albeit primarily geared towards a US audience. It offers a blend of a more traditional gallery model with print-on-demand options.

Fine Art America you can not only sell original artwork, but also have the opportunity to have your creative work printed on everyday products such as hats, shirts, and phone cases. The platform or its partners handle the printing and order processing for you.

Artfire

Another marketplace where art, crafts and other handmade items can be sold is Artfire .

Millions of online shoppers visit this website daily, so your work needs to be competitive and stand out.

Artfire uses listing and sales fees as its billing method. Several packages are available, and upgrades are possible at any time.

U Gallery

U Gallery is essentially an exclusive, high-class art gallery that operates online.

This creates potential for greater reach and appeals to customers worldwide. The concept and its implementation are unique in this form, as all artists and artworks are vetted by a team of experts, resulting in a hand-picked selection.

To be featured on U Gallery, artists must go through an application process. If selected and accepted, the proceeds from art sales are split 50/50 with U Gallery.

02 Own online shop

The internet has revolutionized the way artists can sell their work. The COVID-19 pandemic has further fueled the trend towards online sales.

Setting up an online shop can be the perfect way to allow people interested in your work to purchase your pieces without paying commissions or fees to galleries or marketplaces. It does involve some initial effort before your shop is up and running, but it's definitely worth it in the long run.

Furthermore, there are now numerous online shop systems and website builders that can be used without programming and web design knowledge and with little effort :

• Wix
• Shopify
• Squarespace
• Ecwid
• Big Cartel

For professional artists, having their own shop or at least their own website is essential. This is the only way to become independent of galleries, marketplaces, and algorithms in the long run.

If you don't your own website , it might be a good idea to create one to sell your work online. Once everything is set up, link your online store to all your social media accounts to maximize its reach.

In addition, you can continue selling on online marketplaces like Etsy, Artfinder, or Saatchi Art, where artists present and sell their art to a global audience. However, always give your fans, customers, and buyers a small additional incentive to purchase directly through your website (e.g., with coupons, discounts, extras, goodies, etc.) to build a strong relationship with them.

Selling your artwork online can finance your art with just a few clicks. However, selling can be a lot of work, especially if you handle the shipping yourself. Ideally, you should find someone to take care of these tasks for you so you don't lose focus on your art.

Furthermore, not every work is suitable for online sale. Fortunately, there are other options you can consider and explore to obtain funding for your art.

Advantages:

• Complete independence
• Essential for a professional appearance
• Excellent for bundling all your sales and marketing channels
• Important for long-term customer loyalty
• Online shops are easy to set up and allow you to present your artwork in a professional light
• If you own a physical store, you can direct customers to a virtual space where you sell artwork online
• You don't need to pay commissions to galleries, exhibitions, or marketplaces to showcase your artwork

Disadvantages:

• To run an effective digital marketing campaign that brings customers to your online shop, financial resources are required.
• For shipping via an online shop, a sufficient stock of works is required to offer your customers a selection

03 Sell works at art exhibitions

This is the most prestigious path . To be honest, not every artist can boast this. Long exhibition histories are a sign of recognition and popularity in the art world.

If you are lucky enough to have an agent, you can probably earn a whole year's salary by having them sell a few paintings for you at an exhibition.

However, keep in mind that you need a trustworthy and reliable agent who doesn't immediately claim 80% of the sales revenue for themselves. Therefore, look before you leap.

If you are fortunate enough to have good connections in the art and exhibition world, you can manage without an agent. However, this requires a lot of networking, and you may have to visit numerous exhibitions of other artists before you get your foot in the door.

It certainly also depends on your personality. Do you want to concentrate fully on your art, or are you a sociable, jovial person who finds it easy to make and maintain contacts? Your choice should be based on your individual preferences, talents, and abilities. General advice is not very helpful here. You know yourself best.

It should also be noted that art exhibitions are currently few and far between while the world is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, if you are in a region where restrictions have been largely lifted, you can already start looking for galleries that will soon be holding exhibitions again or at least planning to do so.

04 Contract work

This method is for those who are stress-tolerant. It has always been popular. Everyone wants their own portrait or to give someone a hand-painted or lovingly drawn portrait.

The clients differ in character, their expectations, requirements, and ability to pay. Each project is unique, and prices vary depending on the desired work and the client's budget. Deadlines also vary considerably: sometimes time is hardly a factor, while other times the work needs to be completed at very short notice or even overnight.

This makes it difficult for artists to plan their time and finances.

But here's an idea:

You can offer simpler commissions, such as greeting cards or posters and cards for special occasions and holidays. You can find commissions on legendary sites like DeviantArt , which is still one of the largest online art communities in the world.

Conduct 5 offline workshops

In my opinion, this is the most enjoyable . Gather groups of adults and/or children and give regular lessons. From time to time, you can also organize painting events or painting trips and give workshops.

A change of scenery, meeting new and interesting people, and the satisfaction of teaching and seeing grateful students greatly motivate and diversify this type of work.

This method may be difficult to implement at first, as you need to find a space, buy materials, assemble groups, and do a lot of administrative work. But with the right approach, the investment pays off in many ways.

Unfortunately, this approach always limits your earning potential, as you cannot guarantee that all workshop places will always be filled, or that the number of participants is limited anyway. Furthermore, you may not be able to offer classes and workshops daily.

This method is not only suitable for visual arts , but also for performing arts and music (instruments).

06 Create and publish online art courses

The conception, creation, publication and marketing of online art courses requires a lot of resources at the beginning and can take a lot of time until market launch.

To do this, you first need good film equipment and lighting to make high-quality video recordings. Furthermore, you should also know how to record and edit videos.

Of course, you can learn all of this on your own – using online tutorials – or by taking paid courses. However, to create high-quality content – ​​which is almost expected by potential clients these days – it's advisable to consult professionals who can help you with the organization, execution, and post-production of your filming.

All you have to do then is take care of the content.

The online course is finished? The next question is, where to publish the online course ?

Nowadays, there are many ways to publish videos and online courses on the internet . These range from your own website, to publishing and video platforms like YouTube, Vimeo & Co. , to large international course provider marketplaces such as Udemy or Domestika .

Other popular platforms for online courses are Learnworlds and Teachable . The minimum packages on these sites start at around €29 per month. Minimum packages are a good starting point, but their functionality is limited and they may not meet everyone's needs. If you're serious about learning, you should generally expect to pay three times that amount.

Creating and publishing an online course is one thing, but that's far from the end of it. The road to the first sale can be long and arduous.

Promoting and selling new courses is a complicated task. The same principle applies as with images. If you already have a large audience or fanbase and are familiar with marketing and sales, then you can get things moving quickly with relatively little effort.

If that's not the case, you should place your online courses on already well-known and popular platforms, such as Udemy or Skillshare .

The advantage of these high-reach platforms, besides their already huge audience, is that content and courses can be published and promoted very quickly and with minimal technical problems. This usually comes at a monthly cost. The disadvantage lies in the intense competition among providers, against which one has to stand out.

All platforms have different terms and conditions, but in general they are quite similar. They usually take a share of your course sales (sometimes in conjunction with a monthly base fee).

Once your course is published on one of these platforms, it will be available to all users. If there are already many other courses on the platform, the question then arises as to how to make yours stand out.

In addition to publishing content, the platforms typically offer advertising services for an additional fee to make courses more visible to potential customers.

07 Publish video content on popular platforms

There are large video platforms such as YouTube , Vimeo TikTok which is popular among very young audiences , to name the most prominent examples.

You can earn money on YouTube for views. First, you need more than 1,000 subscribers to monetize your YouTube channel with ads.

Another good idea is to create an account on Patreon to receive additional financial support from your subscribers and fans.

Furthermore, you can earn money on TikTok through user support. Once you have 1,000 followers, you can go live. Other users can then support you with gifts in the form of stickers. These can later be exchanged for real money.

However, it's not as easy as it sounds. It means being constantly active and regularly producing trendy, high-quality content. The initial effort to build your own fanbase can also be lengthy and very time-consuming.

Given the high level of competition on these platforms, you sometimes need not only creativity and originality, but also good perseverance and a long-term perspective.

Aside from the revenue potential of video content alone, these are also great platforms to generate valuable feedback, reviews and partner marketing for your art and services, and to keep your content constantly up to date.

08 Earning money as a freelance illustrator

You can google on the internet and find, for example, a book publisher to send unsolicited application as an illustrator

You can also register on a freelancer website and publish your portfolio there. You might then be noticed by potential clients and offered interesting projects.

Platforms like Upwork and Freelancer are popular freelance platforms with extensive categories and service offerings. However, keep in mind that many other freelancers offer the same or very similar services. Therefore, competition and consequently price pressure are quite high.

But that's not all.

Your pricing also needs to be competitive. One thing you can do before setting up your profile is to browse the art and graphic design categories to get a better idea of ​​what's on offer and what it costs.

To achieve an attractive price level, you should be able to stand out from the crowd, accumulate positive customer reviews over time, and maintain consistent performance.

Don't underestimate referral marketing. Every satisfied customer is the best and most effective advertising you can get.

09 To publish a textbook on the subject of drawing

Drawing is a very popular hobby among young and old. You can put together a simple drawing tutorial or information on different drawing techniques.

Then you can create a digital version of it that can be downloaded for a certain amount.

The best part?

Her book doesn't have to be about techniques and theory. She could also compile an art book with her best illustrations or paintings.

Many self -publishing eBook authors turn to Amazon to sell their books via Kindle.  Thorough spell checking essential to make a professional impression and retain readers in the long run.

Lifelong learning and study are part of the typical career path for many artists. The need for further education and personal development is therefore high in the creative world. You can also take the traditional route : find a publisher and publish the book together.

This option is not so easy to accomplish, but developing an eBook and achieving enough sales and attention can eventually lead to you getting a publishing contract with a publisher.

Create 10 fabric patterns

You can create beautiful, stylish patterns and upload them to Pattern Design or Patternbank , and perhaps a major (fashion) house will even buy that illustration. There are several ways to sell patterns on Patternbank.

You can sell your designed prints for non-commercial use, commercial use, or premium exclusive use, where the buyer acquires ownership of the design after purchase.

In this case, you will receive a one-time fee, which is usually higher, so that the buyer receives the exclusive rights to use the print.

For non-exclusive categories, you are entitled to a 50% commission on all sales made through Patternbank.

11 paid live streams

You can still earn good money with paid streams, webinars, and live broadcasts Demio or Vimeo .

This way, you can tutorials , workshops and webinars , and have the opportunity to interact directly with viewers, receiving immediate feedback or content requests. This interactive and dynamic approach makes your stream more engaging and informative.

But that's not all.

Your live streams can range from art classes and "Ask Me Anything" sessions to casual chats or tips and tricks sessions. If you're an active social media influencer, this is a great way to promote your various pages and offerings. Your viewers can then contact you about projects or purchase your artwork directly .

Artist and video course creator Mustafa Jannan in the following article: Designing successful online courses: A guide for beginners .

Conduct 12 paid personal consultations online

Paid one-on-one consultations and individual training sessions using tools like Zoom are very popular these days. You can offer art consultations and use your expertise to help others find specific artworks or show them how to use art to beautify their home or office.

Many potential customers may not have access to an art expert who can advise them on purchasing artworks or ordering custom artworks, or they may even need help with their own art projects and want an expert opinion on techniques or sourcing materials for their projects.

13 Concept Art for Games and the Gaming Industry

Another sought-after and well-paid way to earn money as an artist is drawing graphics, scenes and sketches for games (keyword: concept art, character design, fan art ).

You can create your portfolio on ArtStation , where you can be noticed by gaming industry giants such as Blizzard, Ubisoft, and others. Publishing sketches and digital designs on DeviantArt or Instagram has also helped many artists secure commissions in the gaming industry.

The gaming industry is huge, and new developers are constantly emerging who are looking for artists to help them visualize their ideas and fantasy worlds.

Some of today's most popular games feature concept art found on ArtStation , and many artists have become very successful producing art for games, even being offered full-time jobs by major game developers.

These artists are very well-known in the industry thanks to their amazing talent and dedication, and guess what: you might have the potential to achieve that too!

14 stock photos

Stock photos are the photography industry's version of the popular adage, "Do what you love, and the money will follow." Let's be honest, no one is going to leave a briefcase full of cash on your doorstep the moment you sign up with a stock photo agency.

However, these platforms offer a unique opportunity to get paid for work you may have done for free in creating a stunning photo website to showcase your talent.

Below, we'd like to give you a few small but valuable tips on how to make the most of these platforms. Want to dive into this world? Here are the most important things to keep in mind when learning how to successfully sell stock photos:

Tip 1: Choose the right images

When selecting photos to upload to the stock photo agency, consider your potential customers. For example, if you think one of them would work well on a magazine cover, make sure you share a vertical, not a horizontal, version. If you envision it as an advertisement background, leave enough space for the creative team to integrate their content into your composition.

A good way to find out which images might perform better in which format is to research the types of images used by brands. By reviewing publications, websites, and billboards, you can identify any patterns they all share.

If you are still unsure after that, or believe that a photo could work in more than one format, you can upload multiple versions of the same image to maximize the likelihood of a sale.

Tip 2: Follow the rules

Have you ever heard the saying, "It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission" ? Well, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to stock photos.

In fact, explicit permission is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Stock photos must not show recognizable trademarks, logos, or people who haven't released their image rights. If your photo contains either of the first two, you can remove it with Photoshop. For people, you must ask them to sign a model release form.

Many photographers have learned the hard way that it's not just a visible face that makes people "recognizable." Other characteristics, such as unique tattoos, also fall under this category.

Tip 3: Choose the best stock photo agency/platform for your photos

Choosing the right agency or platform to work with can be quite overwhelming, as there are numerous platforms to consider. However, they can all be divided into two main categories: microstock and premium stock .

Microstock agencies accept amateur photos and have a lower barrier to entry. Although the price they pay per image is quite low, it's important to note that most buyers work with these platforms. Examples of microstock agencies include iStock , Dreamstime and Adobe Stock .

The large stock platform Depositphotos falls into this category.

These days, it's entirely possible to make money selling your content online. In fact, publishers, advertising agencies, designers, and bloggers from all over the world buy hundreds of images daily from specialized websites that offer this service. The stock platform Depositphotos is one way to not only sell your artwork in no time but also generate passive income.

Imagine you create a truly interesting image that represents the concept of winning or luck, which by definition is a timeless concept, a so-called "evergreen", meaning it is always relevant.

In this way, your image has a real chance of selling again and again without needing to be changed or adapted.

So if you are a creative image designer, you should consider selling https://de.depositphotos.com/

Premium stock photo agencies require higher qualifications, so selling your images through them isn't as easy. However, the payouts for photos are usually significantly higher than with microstock. One of the most popular premium stock photo agencies is Getty Images .

Another major difference between the two types is exclusivity. Microstock agencies have no requirements and allow you to sell your images on any platform, while premium stock agencies require that you make your images available nowhere else.

Tip 4: Understanding photo licensing

Photo licensing is perhaps the most difficult part of learning how to sell stock photos. Microstock agencies don't typically offer many options, but if you choose to sell on a premium stock platform, you'll need to understand two types of licenses: Royalty-Free and Royalty-Managed . The agency selects the appropriate license for each image based on its uniqueness.

Royalty-free (RF) files can be used without limits, and the price depends on the file size. Therefore, you should always upload the highest possible resolution.

Royalty Managed (RM) licenses are single-user licenses and the price depends on usage.

Tip 5: Find out who bought your pictures

If one of your images sells for a significant sum of money, you'll probably be curious about who used it. While knowing this won't necessarily teach you how to sell stock photos, it can boost your motivation and do wonders for your online marketing skills.

The stock photo agency can't show you the exact usage, but they can tell you the name of the company that bought the image. If that doesn't satisfy your curiosity, you can try contacting the buyers by email and asking if they could share the final usage details with you.

15 Connect with other artists

You can collaborate with other emerging artists and organize an exhibition together, or network with artists who are already well-known and active in the art scene.

Social media platforms are a great way to facilitate such collaborations and get some publicity for your own media appearances, where audiences can find and view your art.

Collaboration with artists can also take the form of joint projects , such as collaborative murals or charity events. Such projects can also be financed online via crowdfunding, which could certainly raise your profile as an artist.

16. Try street vending

If you really want to put in the effort, why not try selling your art on the street? You could set up a stall where you draw or paint on request, or sell finished artworks directly from the spot.

Choose a lively area, such as a popular tourist destination, a busy shopping street, or a cultural district. Just like a musician busking, you can do the same with art.

Many artists have become known by selling art on sidewalks or drawing portraits on the spot for passers-by, and have even gone viral on the internet.

As long as you don't obstruct pedestrians, have the necessary permits, or violate any city laws, you are free to try your hand at selling street art. It's a fun, entertaining, diverse, and exciting way to share your art with the world.

17. Create your own blog

Blogging is a popular and successful method for marketing yourself, your talent, and your art in a personal and approachable way. The combination of a portfolio, insights into the creative process behind the art, and personal descriptions and stories will turn interested parties into loyal readers and ultimately readers into customers.

You can use free versions of blogging platforms like Wix or WordPress to get started right away. Joomla , Jimdo , and Tumblr have also established themselves well in the creative industry.

Blogging requires dedication and consistency to remain relevant and maintain your audience's interest. View it as a long-term strategy and don't expect quick, visible results. Good things take time.

In terms of thematic focus, you can publish content about your art, insights into your professional (or even private) life, how-to articles, instructions, and tutorials. A good mix of text and media content such as images, audio, and video usually proves ideal. Most blogging platforms also offer shop extensions to sell finished works directly through your blog.

Additional monetization of your blog can be achieved through affiliate marketing ( Affiliate Program with companies and brands), sponsored posts , and product advertising . Search affiliate networks or the web for art-related partner programs you can participate in to offer your audience added value and generate passive income from ad clicks and promotional items.

These affiliate sites include, for example, Amazon Partnernet, Awin, CJ, Creative Bug, Blick, MightyDeals and Creative Market .

However, it's not as easy as it sounds. It means being constantly active and regularly producing trendy, high-quality content. The initial effort to build your own fanbase can also be lengthy and very time-consuming.

Aleks Bleck from NorthernFinance is particularly successful on YouTube and has, for example, one or two tips on how to build a passive income.

18. Participate in art competitions

It's perhaps a bit like playing the lottery, but if your work is impressive enough or particularly captures a zeitgeist, you have a chance of winning. Just Google "online art competitions" and you'll find a wealth of options.

Before you register, make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully and pay attention to any warnings that might indicate something suspicious. Some art competitions require an entry fee and seem dubious, but there are many where participation is free and well worth it.

Art competitions are also a great way to boost your reputation, as you can use the recognition to promote your personal brand. Furthermore, art competitions keep you engaged, drive you to improve your skills, and motivate you to become a better artist overall.

19 Selling art at fairs and festivals

Book a spot at your local farmers market, festival, major event, or art fair to display your artwork for sale.

These events are crowded with people, and you are very likely to make some sales or at least get a good amount of attention.

Be sure to hand out business cards and flyers so that potential customers can quickly find your social media accounts or have your contact details handy in case they ever want to buy from you.

Markets and festivals typically promote unique, handcrafted products. You can give your art a new direction by specifically addressing or incorporating the theme of the festivities, for example, by painting on upcycled materials or selling sustainable handcrafted items.

Christmas markets are also always a good opportunity to provide relaxed people with one or two special gift ideas.

20 Stay on the ball and don't give up

It's no secret that selling art isn't easy – especially in the short term. But fortunately, you've now learned about some promising ways to try your hand at it.

Consistency is key in any business, and you must continue to perfect your craft and constantly improve. The better you are at what you do, the higher the quality of your work, which in turn will attract more people to your art.

It is also good practice to use more than one channel to promote your art and to utilize different platforms to get noticed, make sales, and monetize your talent.

As you can see, the internet offers a huge number of opportunities for artists today. The main thing is to know where you want to go, choose a niche, and become good at it.

Think about what topics inspire you and what style you prefer to work in. It's important to understand how much time you're willing to invest in this, so you can make a decision based on that.

Whatever you decide, it is important that you continue to work on and refine your own style and individual technique.

There are thousands of artists, but only one like you!