Happy New Year friends! As we step into 2025, I wanted to share the top five ways artists can make money online, based on my own research, experience, and earnings.

There are many different ways to earn an income as an artist or creative professional online. Some methods require more upfront work but can generate passive income over time, while others require ongoing effort but can provide steady income streams.

I’ve been selling my art online for over eight years, and in that time, I’ve tried multiple income streams. Some worked amazingly, and others… not so much. Today, I’m sharing what has actually worked for me and what I see as the best ways for artists to make money online in 2025.

👇 Watch the video for a detailed breakdown of my earnings:

The top 5 ways artists can make money online in 2025 are:

1. Print on Demand (POD)

Print on Demand is one of the easiest ways to start selling art online without having to handle production, inventory, or shipping. With POD, you simply upload your designs to a platform, and they handle the rest. Every time someone buys a product with your design, you earn a commission or royalty.

🔹 Best platforms for artists: Spoonflower, Zazzle, Redbubble, Merch by Amazon, TeePublic, Society6 (though they now charge a fee), and Threadless.

Tips for success:

• Focus on niches that sell well—florals, cute animals, and trendy aesthetics are always in demand.
• Upload new designs regularly to keep your shop fresh.
• Optimize your titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords to increase visibility. (Check out my blog post on SEO for Artists!)
• Create mockups using Canva’s AI tools to make your designs stand out. (I have a Skillshare class on this!)

Many of my own top-selling designs are seamless patterns on Spoonflower, but I also sell on multiple POD platforms to maximize my reach.

2. Selling Digital Goods & Products

Another great way to make passive income as an artist is by selling digital products. This means creating something once and selling it over and over again!

Popular digital products for artists:

• Procreate brushes and templates
• Printable coloring pages (I offer free ones on my site!)
• Digital backgrounds and textures
• Clipart and design elements
• Planner pages, stickers, and digital downloads

Where to sell digital goods:

• Your own website (I’m currently redesigning mine using Divi to better support my shop!)
• Etsy (great for handmade and digital items)
• Creative Fabrica (perfect for selling digital assets)
• Gumroad or Ko-fi (for an independent shop setup)

3. Education – Teaching Online Classes

If you love teaching and sharing your skills, online education is a fantastic way to earn money as an artist. Platforms like Skillshare and Udemy allow you to create pre-recorded classes, and you earn based on student watch time or sales.

I published my first Skillshare class in 2021, and since then, I’ve made thousands of dollars teaching topics like print on demand, digital art, and marketing for artists. It was scary at first, but now it’s one of my favorite ways to earn passive income.

Why teaching works:

• Once you create a class, it keeps earning over time.
• You can teach what you already know—whether that’s drawing, Procreate, or selling art online.
• It helps build your credibility as an expert in your niche.

💡 Thinking about starting a class? I have a blog post about my experience with Skillshare and how to make money on it!

4. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is an often overlooked way for artists to make extra income online. This means recommending products you already love and earning a commission when someone makes a purchase through your unique link.

For example, I share links to:

• Creative Fabrica (for digital assets)
• Canva Pro (for AI-generated mockups)
• Print on Demand platforms (like Zazzle and Spoonflower)
• Amazon (for my favorite iPad stylus and art supplies)

If you’re already talking about products you love, why not get paid for it? You can share links in blog posts, YouTube descriptions, or even Instagram stories.

5. Consulting & Client Work

Although I prefer not to work with clients, some artists thrive on commission-based work or consulting. If you enjoy working one-on-one, this can be a high-ticket way to earn money.

Examples of consulting work for artists:

• Art licensing (working with brands to feature your art on products)
• Graphic design and illustration commissions
• Marketing & social media strategy for other artists
• Helping other creatives set up their own print-on-demand shops

The key takeaway here is to leverage your expertise in a way that feels sustainable. If one-on-one work isn’t your thing, you can always package your knowledge into a digital product or class instead!

I go into a lot more depth on each point and show concrete examples in the video so make sure to watch until the end! Also consider subscribing to my Youtube channel as I don’t share every single video here on my blog.

Final Thoughts: Where Should You Start?

If you’re brand new to selling art online, I recommend:
✅ Starting with Print on Demand to get your art on products with minimal effort.
✅ Exploring digital downloads—even just one simple product like printable coloring pages.
✅ Considering teaching if you love sharing knowledge.

No matter where you start, consistency is key. Your first month might be slow, but over time, these income streams can grow into something truly sustainable.

Next Steps:

• Want to learn Print on Demand? Take my Skillshare class on selling art through Zazzle.
• Interested in digital products? Check out my digital downloads section here on my website to see what’s possible.
• Curious about affiliate marketing? Check out Creative Fabrica for an easy way to start.

💬 What’s your main income stream as an artist? Let’s chat in the comments!

Wising you all the best and tons of success in 2025!

Cheers,