What revenue sources are available to artists beyond just selling wall art?

The width and breadth of revenue sources available to creatives is much larger than most realize. Beyond traditional wall art sales, successful artists are generating income from: original pieces, limited editions, commissions, prints, merchandise (mugs, puzzles, apparel), fabric art, mixed media, teaching classes and workshops, offering studio tours, speaking engagements, doing art fairs and shows, selling courses on technique, custom work (like hand-painted items), and even combining multiple streams like having a booth at speaking events. Many artists are surprised to discover that what they thought would be their main revenue source ends up being secondary to something their audience asks for — like teaching their technique rather than selling finished work. The key is to stay open to multiple revenue paths and let your audience tell you where the demand actually is.

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Asked by an artist exploring business options · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-05-10