Being an artist is probably one of the most important things in your life, especially if you want to make a living off your art. As such, it’s very difficult not to compare yourself with other artists, even if you don’t feel like you are quite there yet.
It can be tricky figuring out how much money you should expect to earn as an artist though. This article will talk about what factors influence an artist’s income, some hard numbers for different careers paths, and our recommendations for you to maximize your earnings.
How to get a job as an illustrator
Being an artist is hard, really hard. It demands long hours of work, constant education, and lots of rejection. Rejection can be tough to deal with, but it helps you grow. If someone doesn’t like your work, try to find the reason why and fix that!
Artists are in high demand these days, so there’s always a new piece waiting for you when you decide to start working again.
Finding employment as an illustrator isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible! While most people agree that having a degree or professional training makes you more marketable, being able to showcase your talent is just as important.
This article will talk about some ways to get into the field as an illustrator, and how much money you can make doing so.
Expose your work to more clients
As mentioned before, being able to identify yourself as an artist is one of the most important things you can do for your career. But how much money you make as an artist is not only determined by what kind of art you create, but also by how many different types of clients you are willing to take on as customers.
Getting new clients is the key to making large amounts of money as an artist. Even if you are already well-established, there’s still an opportunity to earn extra income every day!
By offering your services to various companies or individuals through social media marketing, blogging, or other advertising strategies, you can increase your client base and thus your revenue.
There are several ways to promote your artistic skills, so no matter who you are targeting, you will find something that works for you.
Be consistent
Being an illustrator means having your work seen, so being consistently productive is important. It’ll take time to develop your style, but don’t give up!
It can be hard to motivate yourself when you feel like your work is nothing special. But hopefully this article will inspire you to keep creating and practicing your craft.
Don’t worry about what other people think of your work – instead focus on how you feel while working on projects.
Your talent as an artist comes from within you, so why should you care what others have to say?
As long as you enjoy what you make then that’s all that really matters. Take some points from the content below to help you stay motivated.
Build a brand
In addition to creating illustrations, digital artists build brands. This is designing your look or signature style that you develop over time. It can be categorized as color theory, typography, pattern design, illustration techniques, etc.
Designers often refer to these styles as “the field” because it is like studying art in school — there are so many ways to apply it to make creative designs.
By having a solid understanding of this area, people will recognize your unique style. You can start developing your own style by looking at examples in the field and experimenting with them!
Generalist designers may not have much prestige but they need not worry about being too popular. A niche style that is well done will always get admirers. Your peers and other artists will help spread your work and create an audience for you.
An illustrator who knows how to use textures, patterns and colors effectively and beautifully will never run out of opportunities to produce masterpieces.
He/she will also know where to advertise their services, which helps them gain more business. Starting off as a generalist artist is better than trying to be everything to everyone, but then quitting due to lack of interest or money.
It takes years to hone your skills in some areas, so don’t rush into things. Take your time to learn what works for you and what doesn’t before diving in deeper.
Know your market
There is always room for someone with a great digital illustration to make a living doing it, but you have to know what markets are open to you as an artist. Are there online communities or magazines that feature your work? Do you attend events where people showcase their art or design projects?
It’s very difficult to earn money as an illustrator if you don’t include all of these elements in your artistic repertoire. If you’re too focused on creating beautifully illustrated pieces, then you may be missing out on opportunities to make extra cash.
As hard as this can be, try not to get distracted by the busy lifestyle that being an artist entails. A part-time job will quickly take over your time, so make sure that you only accept jobs that are compatible with your other commitments.
Alternatively, consider becoming more selective about which clients you want to represent yourself as an artist. You can still keep your style, but limit yourself to just certain types of assignments.
Connect with the right people
Being an artist is not easy, which is why most professionals have to work hard to market their craft. They spend time creating art that they are passionate about so that they can spread their artistic message and connect with others who want to see it as well.
As artists, we all know how difficult it can be to find the time to create our own artwork and put it out there for the world to see. Most of us also need to make some money doing this, so having a way to get exposure is important.
That is where social media comes in. By connecting to other like-minded individuals through accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, you will gain access to many potential customers.
By posting your illustrations or creative projects, you will grow your audience and therefore income.
Be creative
In this era of technology, there are many ways to make an income as an artist. With the availability of online art markets like ArtStation, you have all of the opportunities to showcase and sell your work free of cost.
Making money through design is not easy, but it’s definitely possible if you put in the effort into creating engaging designs that people want to see.
Running your own business takes time and energy, so be prepared for both. Start off by sharing your artistic talents with the world via social media sites and then find more ways to promote yourself through the web.
Know your software
Many people start their journey as digital artists by learning how to use one specific editing or designing program such as Photoshop, InDesign, or Sketch. While this is definitely a worthy goal, it is not necessarily the best way to begin!
Most large companies have an in-house design team that includes graphic designers, writers, marketers, and other creative professionals. These teams are made up of individuals with different skill sets who work together to produce great content for our favorite brands.
By adding additional depth to your artistic skills, you can be hired to do more than just edit pictures. Plus, being able to create graphics from scratch will help you get employment beyond the advertising industry.
There are many free and low cost apps available online and through mobile app stores. Some of the most popular drawing apps include Procreate (for iOS) and Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (ACS) members can access the same features via Google Keep. Both of these apps have paid versions that offer unlimited uses, which makes them worth the investment if you are ever really hard pressed for money.
