What's the value of having multiple revenue streams as an artist?

Having multiple revenue sources—what can be called ‘the octopus’—gives you choices and stability. This might include commissions, print sales, gallery representation, licensing deals, and art fair appearances. When you have several tentacles working, you can wake up and decide what’s the best use of your time that day. Should you create licensing pieces, work on a fine art piece, or finish a commission? Each option leads to income. The artist is at their full potential when they have these choices and know that none of their efforts will be fruitless. Revenue diversity is crucial because it’s so hard to make it as an artist, so having even one revenue stream working puts you ahead.

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Asked by an artist building their business model · Answered by Scott Westmoreland · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-07-22