The life of an independent artist can be both very rewarding and very trying. On the one hand, if you pursue this path it’s likely you’re doing so to chase a passion, and few things can be quite as enriching. Yes, you’ll see plenty of even successful artists bemoaning the lifestyle and recommending young artists find other employment – but deep down, they’re doing what they love to do. It’s just that it isn’t easy. On the other hand though, particularly when you’re starting out, finding reliable, paid work as an independent artist is far easier said than done.

There is no formula for earning money as an artist. It takes talent, initiative, and a little bit of luck. However, we have a few ideas for some modern outlets that the independent artist in 2018 can at least explore for potential income opportunities.

Patreon

For those who haven’t looked into it yet, Patreon is an innovative modern platform designed to help artistic people get funding. Basically, it’s similar to crowdfunding sites, but built for private artists. You post your work, or access to it, and “patrons” can pay to support it. The main idea is financing, but Patreon is also a fantastic way to gain exposure. If your work is good and you’re strategic about your use of the platform, you can build a legitimate following through this service.

Online Courses

If you do have any sort of following – through Patreon, social media exposure, previous sales, or whatever else – you can always explore the avenue of running an online course also. It’s not for everybody, but private instruction can bring in some nice supplemental income, and it doesn’t have to be that much work. Even getting 10 people to sign up for, say, a 10-video course at $100 each can get you a nice little chunk of cash in a matter of weeks. You’ll have to build to the point at which you can charge that kind of money and students will trust and respect your perspective, but it’s certainly worth exploring.

Game Art

This may sound oddly specific, but video games are coming out at an incredibly fast rate these days, and many of them are designed on tight budgets – meaning the creators might be looking for some help with cover art. And we aren’t just talking about console titles. New mobile games come out on a daily basis, and a massive portion of all internet gambling features online games. There are tons of online and mobile games, and doing some cover art for even one of them can lead to significant exposure and potentially more opportunities. You’ll have to hustle a bit to talk to and negotiate with game designers, but it’s a nice modern option to keep in mind.

Creator Art

Here we’re talking about a concept similar to that of making game cover art, but for other creative types: writers, musicians, and these days even podcasters. These people might not be primarily focused on visual art but at the end of the day they all need covers. And particularly now that so many creative types publish their own content online, independently, they might be interested in accepting help in an unorthodox manner. And again, doing a few covers for any kind of content that becomes popular – and making sure you can take credit – can lead to more exposure and opportunity.

Networking

A lot of modern artists would likely deem this the most important step toward making a career out of independent work. Networking tips for artists include simple but necessary ideas like meeting other artists (and offering support to them), seeking connections over sales, following up on new contacts, etc. Often, you gain the most exposure (and eventually more sales of your private work) the more people you know. And if you’re a regular presence in a community of artists and do your best to promote their work, they’ll likely do the same for you – meaning you magnify your audience with each fellow creative you successfully engage with!