The Art of Side Hustles: Reliable Income Streams for Artists

TL;DR

• 81% of artists hold second jobs outside the arts for financial security.

• Side hustles can often be lifelines that enable creative freedom.

• Learn sustainable ways to earn without burning out: from teaching and digital sales to licensing and freelancing.

• The key is to align your income with your creative goals through recurring opportunities.

• Balancing passion and practicality builds longevity in an unpredictable industry.
  

  
  

For most artists, inspiration is free, but paint, canvas, and rent aren’t.The romantic notion of the “starving artist” still lingers, but in 2025, it’s less romantic and more exhausting. According to a recent global review, artists earn 40% less than professionals with comparable training, and between one-third and one-half of working artists operate at or below the poverty line. Even in creative capitals like New York or Berlin, economic precarity remains the unspoken norm.

We did some digging, and found that 81% of arts graduates hold a secondary job outside the arts, often in food service, retail, or administration. Not because they lack skill, but because art income is deeply seasonal, inconsistent, and sometimes, delayed for months by galleries.

So where does that leave the modern creative? In a new reality: where side hustles can be survival strategies that enable artistic sustainability - and might allow you to get that set professional grade art supplies you've been saving up for. In this article, we'll explore some income streams for artists that can be helpful during low sale seasons.

Are you Juggling 2 Jobs to Sustain your Creative Practice?

If you're reading this article, chances are, you were already looking up creative side hustles or part-time gigs that can help your creative career. For most artists stepping their toes into the world of selling their art - the start can often be the hardest. Galleries are tough to get into, small portfolio's can often get lost in the crowd, and for every opportunity out there, we have three times the takers. It's tricky.

So let's face the honest truth - most early-career artists are juggling some kind of side hustle to make ends meet and to afford their lifestyle. The phrase artist side hustle often conjures images of compromise, as if pursuing a second income somehow invalidates one’s identity as an artist. But it’s quite the opposite. The data shows that a large number of artists cannot sustain a living from their craft alone.

Delayed gallery payments, inconsistent commissions, and structural inequities leave many artists with negative or delayed income. It’s a systemic issue. A healthy side hustle isn’t about quitting art; it’s about buying yourself time to create without fear. It’s a quiet act of defiance against a market that often undervalues creative labor.

The most successful artists today treat side hustles as extensions of their creative identity, not compromises. They teach, design, write, or consult - all using the same muscles that power their art.

The Emotional Conflict: Passion vs. Profit

There’s a deep emotional tension in balancing artistic integrity with financial need. Many artists experience what economists call the “artwork-preference burden” - a tendency to prioritize creative spending over practical needs. They invest in better paints, new studios, or exhibitions, even when finances are tight.

This passion, while beautiful, can quickly morph into obligation. Debt mounts, exhaustion creeps in, and the joy of creation begins to feel transactional. The shame associated with “doing other work” is cultural, not creative. For decades, art institutions perpetuated the myth that financial struggle is proof of authenticity. But burnout is not a badge of honor; it’s a symptom of an unsustainable system.

A sustainable side hustle gives artists room to breathe, and in doing so, room to create. Whether it’s tutoring, digital commissions, or selling prints online, these income streams can reduce anxiety and preserve creative energy.

High-Impact, Low-Burnout Income Streams for Artists

Every artist’s side hustle should share one trait: low cognitive friction. It should generate income without derailing your creative rhythm. Below are proven, scalable options artists worldwide are embracing:

Teaching & Mentorship

Offer online or local workshops. Platforms like Skillshare, Domestika, and Teachable allow artists to monetize knowledge - not just finished work. Skillshare makes it particularly easy and accessible to upload short courses regularly and be able to build a passive income.

Digital Prints & Print-on-Demand

Print-on-demand (POD) services like Society6, InPrint, and Redbubble are thriving, especially as home décor replaces merchandise as the top art e-commerce category. Artists upload designs once and earn passive royalties indefinitely. However, you do need to do your own copywriting.

Freelance Design & Branding Work

Many artists find that part-time design contracts sustain them through exhibition dry spells. Think: album covers, book illustrations, poster design, or branding for indie businesses. It’s not “selling out” - it’s expanding your creative fluency.

Licensing & Collaborations

Licensing offers artists a share of royalties when their work appears on commercial goods (textiles, stationery, etc.). It’s a scalable, non-exploitative income model that keeps ownership intact. You can also submit your photos to sites like shutterstock to generate passive income from scrap photos and videos.

Participate in Art Markets:

Most local communities have art festivals or small markets where you may be able to rent a stall. Markets can be a great way of selling smaller pieces, or prints to make the odd buck. We've met artists who only do markets regularly to sell their pieces and swear by it.

Part-time jobs that keep you close to your craft:

Look for art museums, galleries or magazines in your area that may be hiring. This would allow you to learn more about the industry you're a part of. Working with an art gallery can allow you to network more with art collectors and be more informed about upcoming exhibitions that may be suitable for your work, working with art magazines can give you insights into what art curators and editors look for in art portfolios, and teaching can help you keep your art practice more consistent. Richard Ballantyne, a potter from the UK, found his calling for pottery through teaching.

Patreon & Community Support

Following models like DailyArt Magazine or Contemporary Lynx, many independent artists rely on community-funded support. Sites like Patreon and Substack are two incredible resources to create recurring income through patrons or paid newsletters. Even $5/month from a few dozen patrons creates recurring stability.

Sloth Tip: Don't think about how you can make the funds to support yourself today, instead, think about ways to generate recurring revenue that provides you with financial stability during seasons when sales and opportunities are low.

The Digital Marketplace Advantage

The global shift to digital sales has completely changed the art economy. Online transactions have surpassed art fairs as the main way galleries meet new clients.

Platforms like Artsy, Saatchi Art, Shopify, and Etsy have democratized access, removing the middlemen and giving artists direct control over pricing, presentation, and storytelling.

Quick stats:

• 45% of high-net-worth collectors discovered new artists online in 2024.

• 52% of collector spending now goes to emerging or mid-tier artists.

• Gen Z collectors spend 55% of their budgets on artists under 40.

For artists, this means the digital marketplace isn’t oversaturated, it’s maturing. Success now depends on branding, storytelling, and consistent visibility rather than exclusivity.

The Balance Blueprint: Managing Time & Energy

Even the best side hustle can become draining if unmanaged. Artists already face high burnout rates - juggling day jobs, networking, and production cycles. Burnout is one of the leading causes of artistic dropout, often tied to economic instability and emotional exhaustion.

To balance multiple income streams:

• Set “energy budgets”: Schedule creative work when you’re most alert; reserve admin tasks for low-energy hours.

• Automate financial tasks (subscriptions, savings).

• Establish boundaries - protect studio days like sacred appointments.

• Rest intentionally. A rested artist produces better art and smarter business decisions.

Creative Freedom Through Stability

The artist economy is shifting. Collectors are getting younger, online platforms are more accessible, and creative professionals are reclaiming autonomy . As artists, we often neglect systems that exist in most other professions. You craft is your business, and deserves the respect that your art demands. Find ways to create sustainable, and dependable streams of income that keep you going in the days you need it most - so you always have the space and time to create more art.

Creative always,

Sloth