5 Ways How to Make Money Selling Paintings as an Artist

Thinking about selling your paintings to the general public? Whether you want to start out in your local area or begin selling online, you can launch a successful art career by beginning with a side business. Instead of waiting until some point in the future, now is an excellent time to start this new endeavor.   Unsure as to where you should start? Let me give you 5 ways how to make money selling paintings as an artist in your spare time.  

1. Create an Inventory of Paintings

Before moving forward with anything else, invest some time in building an inventory of your artwork. Use your time off to ignite your creativity and paint some of your best images yet. This will allow you to optimize your time in the future and will help you avoid the stress of needing to create on-demand.   As you begin building up an inventory for your gallery, you may start to consider the places in which you plan to sell your paintings. Instead of trying to create for your audience/venues, paint what you love. Once you’ve created images you’re satisfied with, find events, boutiques, cafes, and other places that are a fit for your individual style.  

2. Launch Your Own Side Business

Upon creating a breathtaking inventory of your best work, it is time to formally launch your business. In order to legally sell your paintings — either online or at local events — you will need to complete specific paperwork.   Some of the more common items you’ll need to apply for include a business structure filing (e.g. sole proprietor, LLC), a state sales tax permit, and business licenses for all counties/cities in which you plan to sell at in-person events. If you’ve chosen to structure your Utah business as an LLC, the easiest way to register is to use a formation service.  

3. Strategically Approach Local Galleries and Vendor Markets

Having a successful art career involves creating a mix of passive and active income opportunities. For a painter, this means applying to have your work sold on your behalf in various businesses (such as art galleries and cafes) and applying to sell your work at popular local events.   Rather than submitting an application for anything and everything, narrow your list. Research the customer/client profile of each event and business before asking them to carry your artwork. Not only will this save them time, but it will also save you time. Plus, by strategically selecting where you’ll sell your paintings, you can tie up less of your inventory — which increases your chances of making money.  

4. Turn Your Artwork Into a Brand

Another wise place to use your creativity is in branding your business. Putting in minimum effort into your marketing will yield poor results. Explore ideas for using your artwork in your logo, social media posts, and in other marketing materials.  

5. Schedule ‘Creative Sessions’ Each Week

Being a professional artist — even on the side — is about far more than making money. It is about your creative process and sharing your work with the world. Continue fostering your purpose and goals by scheduling creative sessions each week. Whether you choose to paint during this time or not is up to you. However, whether you set aside one hour or an entire day, use it to express your creativity to the fullest.   There is never a perfect time to start a business. Use this wisdom to motivate you to start selling your paintings in the coming weeks or months. No matter where this journey takes you, it will definitely be worth the effort.