If you’re a hand letterer or illustrator looking for ways to monetize your talent and skills, we’ve got some great news for you! The starving artist stereotype is no more. In the modern, digital era, there are plenty of ways to achieve your goals and many income streams you can tap into along the way.

In the following post, we’ll introduce you to seven proven ways to make money if you’re an artist specializing in hand lettering or illustration. We’ll explore how to get started in each income stream and inspire you with some creative tips as we go.

Freelance

One of the most popular and widely known income streams is freelance work. Freelance artists collaborate directly with clients on custom projects The freelance world is vast and includes a broad array of different types of projects that vary depending on the artists’ discipline—everything from editorial design for magazines to cover art for books to brand and identity design falls into this category.

Without a doubt, illustration and hand lettering are artistic skills that can be turned into lucrative freelance careers. Imagine getting paid to handwrite letters or create custom illustrations that bring clients’ ideas to life! It’s totally possible, and we know first-hand because we’ve done it ourselves!

Here are some of the things you need to think about to get started with freelancing…

Create an attractive portfolio

The first thing you’ll need is to build an attractive and eye-catching portfolio of your work. A strong portfolio is essential for showcasing your capabilities to potential clients and can help demonstrate your range of styles and skills. Curating your portfolio to include only your very best work is key. You also want to ensure it is easy to navigate and displayed clearly.

Gain visibility

The next step is to promote yourself and connect with potential clients. Share your work on trending social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Use appropriate hashtags, participate in group challenges or discussions, and engage with other illustrators and potential clients to build your network.

Attend relevant events

To increase your chances of securing more clients, make the most of events and conferences where you can network and meet people interested in your work. These could include art fairs, niche festivals, and creative conferences. You can also use this opportunity to collaborate with other artists in your field.

For instance, propose a collaborative project or participate in group exhibitions where you can share some of your favorite creations.

Outreach

You don’t just have to sit around and wait for clients to knock on your door. You can (and should) go to them! Create a list of your dream clients and pitch them your ideas in an email, or get really creative and send them something unique via snail mail.

Pro tip: One of the best ways to become a successful freelancer in the illustration or hand lettering industry is to niche down. In other words, try to specialize in a specific type of illustration or hand lettering style. This will help you stand out from the competition and attract clients looking for your specific skills. For instance, you may choose to focus on children's book illustrations, tactile hand lettering, or custom invitations for weddings.

Art Licensing

Although freelancing is one money-making opportunity, it’s not the only road you can take as an illustrator or hand letterer.

What is art licensing?

In a nutshell, art licensing means to “rent” your art to a company and permit them to use it on their products. Artists can license their work for all sorts of products— from greeting cards to fabric to home goods to toys, there’s really no limit to what your art could end up on.

How to get started with art licensing

Just like with freelancing, to land fruitful partnerships with quality clients, you’ll need a stand-out portfolio. Where an art licensing portfolio differs from a freelance portfolio, however, is in its content. While freelance portfolios typically show examples of past projects completed for other clients, licensing portfolios display an array of art that is ready to be purchased as-is. Clients want to see artwork that they can pull directly out of your portfolio and stick right on their products.

Art licensing requires a deep understanding of the market and the types of products that are in demand. Such insights will help you create art that is marketable and appeals to a broader range of companies. In addition, you may want to take advantage of licensing agencies that specialize in representing artists and connecting them with potential partners.

Protect your work

One of the key things to consider with art licensing is ensuring the protection of your art by copyrighting your designs and registering them with the appropriate agencies. This will eliminate any risks of infringement and will guarantee that your creations can only be used with your permission.

Negotiate a good deal

Furthermore, don’t forget that although we’re talking about art, you’ll still need to break out your negotiating skills when it comes to art licensing. When renting out your designs, it’s best to negotiate the terms and royalties upfront. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the agreement and that they are fair and protect your rights.

Once you have a licensee or you’ve partnered with several companies, your next big challenge is to maintain a good relationship. Ultimately, this will lead to a broader range of licensing opportunities and long-term partnerships.

Sign up for our Free Art Licensing Training here and learn all about art licensing and how to leverage it as an artist and turn it into passive income.

Physical Products

Selling art as a side hustle is another one of the profit-making streams you can tap into as an artist. As an illustrator or hand letterer, you can make money by creating and selling physical products that feature your designs.

Knowing your options

Many illustrators and hand letterers choose to design and sell their own products such as art prints, greeting cards, jewelry, t-shirts, etc…. For instance, you could sell your art products on a personal website, at local events like craft fairs, or even through larger retail shops via consignment or wholesale. Alternatively, there are plenty of specialized eCommerce platforms, like Etsy and Amazon Merch On Demand where you can reach customers.

Print-on-demand opportunities

Additionally, there are a variety of available print-on-demand services like Society6, Redbubble, and Threadless that allow artists to upload their designs and sell them on products such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and art prints. The biggest perk? This is a low-risk way to sell products, as you don't need to invest in inventory or shipping.

Explore different niches

When it comes to selling physical products, the beauty of it all is that you have a wide array of options. For example, you could create and sell unique stationery products such as greeting cards, journals, and notepads. A hand letterer, for instance, could design custom wedding invitation suites, while an illustrator could create a line of botanical-themed greeting cards.

Another great option is to earn money by selling high-quality art prints of your illustrations and hand lettering. You can diversify your portfolio by offering these prints in a range of sizes and price points. Imagine this—as an illustrator, you could create a series of cityscape prints and as a hand letterer, you could offer motivational quotes in calligraphy.

And why not capitalize on apparel as a popular niche? Create and sell apparel featuring your designs, like t-shirts, sweatshirts, or even hats. You could create a line of illustrated t-shirts with a nature or animal theme, or design inspirational quotes on sweatshirts.

The options are infinite. You could create and sell accessories such as enamel pins and tote bags, or enter the interior space with home decor products such as throw pillows, wall art, or even wallpaper.

No matter which strategy you adopt, selling physical products featuring your illustrations and hand lettering is a great way to monetize your artwork. With a little creativity and business savvy, you can turn your passion for art into a profitable business.

Digital Products

There is a multitude of ways you can offer your art digitally, including purchasable online illustrations, or downloadables, like Photoshop brushes, product mockups, fonts, printable art, and so much more. You can explore opportunities like selling graphics, templates, and pretty much anything you can imagine that lives in the digital realm.

Let’s dive deeper into the paths you can embrace.

Digital Prints - Create and sell high-quality digital prints of your illustrations and hand lettering. For example, an illustrator could create a series of floral digital prints. And if you’re a hand letterer, think of selling motivational quotes!
Graphics - Offer customers graphics for use in digital designs, websites, and social media. For instance, a client could use a collection of hand-drawn floral graphics for their brand identity and use them across their business cards and letterhead.
Fonts - Unique, hand-drawn, or digital fonts are fun to create, and even more fun to sell!
Social Media Templates - Think about creating and selling customizable social media templates for Instagram, Pinterest, and other platforms. Some ideas include designing a set of Instagram story templates with your signature style or creating a set of Pinterest graphics featuring your personal hand-lettered quotes.
Printables - Another avenue to consider is digital printables such as coloring pages, planner pages, and wall art. You could create a series of coloring pages featuring holiday-inspired illustrations, or perhaps design printable motivational quotes.

Teaching

Although a lot of illustrators and hand letterers may feel uncertain at the beginning of their careers, there’s always something you know that someone else doesn’t. Even if you’re just one step ahead, there are others who could benefit from the lessons you’ve learned.

Plenty of artists generate income by teaching their skills to students via workshops, online courses, speaking engagements, books, and other avenues.

If this sounds like something you’d want to pursue, here are some creative ways to make it happen:

In-Person Workshops - In-person workshops are one of the classic and most popular ways to make earnings as an artist. Teaching sessions can be focused on a specific medium or style and can be held at local community centers, art schools, or even in your own studio. For example, host a watercolor painting workshop, or organize a calligraphy class for those interested in the field.
Online Courses - The online space has also created a myriad of ways to share your skills and knowledge digitally. Utilize specialized platforms, like Skillshare and Udemy to inspire others and help them enter the world of art. For instance, you could create an online course on how to create digital illustrations using Procreate, or teach a course on how to create a typeface
YouTube Tutorials - YouTube is unquestionably one of the most well-known online platforms for video content. Use it to create and share free tutorials to grow your audience and promote your work. You can monetize your videos with ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. Topics like “how to draw cartoon characters”, or “how to create brush lettering” are just some of the eye-catching examples.
eBooks - If content creation is one of your many talents, eBooks are definitely another money-making solution to try. Write and sell eBooks on specific art topics, like “how to create realistic portraits”, or “how to create beautiful hand-lettered wedding invitations”.
Art Coaching - Offer one-on-one online or in-person art coaching sessions to help others improve their skills. Why not sell coaching sessions to help aspiring illustrators improve their digital illustration skills, or maybe help beginners improve their calligraphy techniques?

As a quick reminder, don’t limit yourself to these examples. The opportunities are multiple and it’s up to you to put your creativity to use to maximize your earnings as an illustrator or hand letterer.

Murals, Installations & Live Art

Brands are increasingly looking to artists to create “wow factor” moments for their customers and employees through experiences and installations. From large-scale murals designed to attract Instagram photos to live hand-painted customization of products to custom in-store displays, artists are really getting up close and personal with consumers.

Illustrators and hand letterers can make money by creating murals, installations, and live art for businesses, events, and public spaces.

Here are some creative ways to get started.

Murals

Mural art is a form of public art that transforms mundane walls into breathtaking masterpieces that captivate and inspire the imagination of passersby. It's like taking a giant canvas and painting it on a colossal scale, with the power to transform urban landscapes and add color and vibrancy to drab concrete buildings.

As an artist, you can create and sell large-scale murals for businesses, schools, and public spaces. Picture a mural for a children's hospital featuring colorful and playful characters or a mural for a co-working space with motivational quotes and inspiring messages.

Installations

Combine this with art installations for events, festivals, and exhibitions. For example, design a beautiful, large-scale paper flower installation for a wedding or an interactive light installation for a music festival.

Live Art

Offer live art services for events, weddings, and festivals. Think of live event sketches of guests, or on-the-spot calligraphy services.

Public Art Projects

Apply for public art projects in your city or town. For example, an illustrator could create a mural for a local park or community center, or a hand letterer could create an installation for a public library or museum.

Brand Partnerships & Promotions

If you have access to an audience that a brand wants to reach, it's more than likely that you can earn money to help them advertise. Strategic partnerships and collaborations can be a great option for artists as you can get paid while still bringing value to your fans and followers.

Establish your niche

Similarly to freelancing and art licensing, you’ll need to be strategic about brand partnerships. For starters, define your niche and style to attract the right brands to work with. Whether you specialize in watercolor illustrations or modern calligraphy, make sure your work is clearly defined in your portfolio and marketing materials. This will help brands understand what you can offer and if you're a good fit for their brand.

Networking & Professionalism

It’s also essential to put in the time and effort to network and reach out to brands. This is a key part of building brand partnerships and landing promotions. Attend industry events, join relevant social media groups, and reach out to brands that you admire and that align with your style and values. Be professional and personal in your outreach, and clearly communicate how you can help them achieve their goals.

Prices & Agreements

Negotiate rates and contracts with brands clearly. Determine your pricing based on your level of experience, the scope of the project, and the amount of time you'll need to complete the work. Make sure to clarify the project scope and timeline, as well as the terms of payment and any additional costs.

Closing thoughts

In the highly connected and digital era that we live in, there are tons of opportunities to make money as an illustrator or hand letterer. The right combination of income streams, persistence, and strategic thinking can transform your art business goals from a dream into reality. We hope that these seven earning streams will inspire you to make some moves and take your skills to the next level by monetizing them.

Want more help building your art business?

Check out The Good Guild, our membership and educational program built to help you take your business to the next level!

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How to Make Money as an Illustrator or Hand Letterer Online—7 Ways to Get Paid as an Artist