6 Ways I Make Money as an Illustrator 

How do you price your work?

many years ago i would chase a certain percentage of my unpaid invoices. but once i set a policy of 50% deposit, then i never had to chase down an unpaid invoice again. instilling a down payment doesn't scare customers away, but instead they have more respect for you as a professional and someone who's serious. it weeds out those who weren't serious to begin with and you'd probably have problems with getting them to pay anyway.

Thank you a lot for this video! I'm trying to switch from 9-5 to the freelance and the fear keeps holding me back. Each video like that gives me more and more courage to make yet another step towards my dream :)

Lovely video, Holly!! I’ve been watching your videos almost daily for a few weeks now, and I so appreciate your practical view on life as an experienced illustrator! I am only just now beginning my illustration journey, and will be launching my online store in January, so learning from your content has been invaluable! Thank you, and warmest wishes. 💕✨

I love it when you make videos about your illustration career 🙌✨ Thanks for the advice! ❤️

Thank you for doing this video Holly! I really appreciate that you share your knowledge and experiences in illustration field. Also, thank you for the effort of making more video, is also very much appreciated.

This video is stressful and yet very inspiring ! I love the idea of taking parts in so many little things haha

Just taking baby steps into this myself. I wish you all the best!!

Hi Holly! I am an illustrator too and similar to you, I do client work, personal commissions and sell at markets and on Etsy. Something else I do is teach Photoshop one-to-one lessons from my studio. I didn’t train to teach but just realised eventually that actually I knew a lot and could help others. It’s a handy way to earn a bit extra and there is very little prep involved as I cater each lesson to the pupil as I go 😊

Fantastic Holly, Thanks so much for sharing with this with us. Xx

It is good to hear an illustrator talking about his/her career. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for this post, it really helps me out. I only just started and need all the help I can get.

Fantastic video - clear, concise and beautifully conceived, illuminating your values and your journey as an illustrator. Thankyou for your care and sincerity.

I've been struggling with stable income but I'm trying to lean into this space to grow my art and today my stomach was in knots over this. I am so glad I found your page because it is such a realistic view into how things will go for me if I follow this path

It's my dream to be an illustrator.. But i haven't graduated any art school.. I study painting by myself.. I hope my dream will come true.. You are very pleasant person and you are motivating me.. Thank you..

Great video ! Really appreciate your videos about your experience as an illustrator :)

Just discovered you channel and I love it! Thank you so much for sharing this :)

Thank you for sharing so honestly! This was very helpful

Hey Holly, it was a great video, so simple and minimal, but so useful too. Thank you!

Oh, yeah, and I definitely subscribed. I want to hear more of your insights.

Thanks for breaking all of this down for us Holly.

I'm currently starting up an RU-vid channel and an Etsy store, so thanks for sharing your tips! 🙌

So glad to have stumbled across your channel. Subscribed now Xx

Your voice is suuuper relaxing!

Your voice is so calming. Thanks for this video.

Very interesting and inspiring video, thanks for sharing 😊

✨👌 Always learning valuable things from every video you make!

I really like your work. Thank you for the content.

lovely, well put together video, thank you for sharing

Really appreciate the authentic tone of voice, the honesty and the mellowness. Subscribing!

Yes, great video! the more income streams as an artist you can have, the better...having your own books and products is something that I'm working on and colouring books too. I've done art for print on demand sites and once you get past the fact that you get low commissions over on them sites, you are able to think in terms of exclusive designs that people actually search for and would want to buy on t-shirts or mugs, making you more money in the long run

I love your channel and I am so confused as to why I have only just found you. Thank you.

Thank you for a very sincere video with positive and negative sides. I just subscribed!

This video is brilliant. BRI-LI-ANT!!!! OH GOD I WISH I HAD THIS video when I was 20....

Hi Holly I am a freelance visual artist too. Your videos are very helpful and I absolutely agree that this profession can be very lonely. Being a freelancer many times schedule don't match and we drift apart.

Thanks for sharing!!!

you're awesome Holly!

Thanks Holly for a really interesting video. It would be super great if you could post a list of the illustration fairs you know about. I am based in the uk and find this information really hard to get hold of xx

Love all your your videos Holly! You are very talented and your illustrations are so beautiful! Did you think to make a colouring book? I think it would be nice idea. I haven't seen colouring books with food... Thank you for your advice ❤️

As an illustrator I only have 1 income stream and you are exactly right, it can vary a lot. Love what you said about having to sacrifice your personal life when work comes in. That is so true! It's like you have to drop everything and get the proposal out, then reel it in, then get rolling on the first proof. One thing that can really help with work flow is when you have one dependable client that sends you work on a frequent basis, like every couple weeks. One of my clients is just like this, and to service them I have expanded what I do from just CGI to include other things which I call "graphic support". An example of this is doing work for this client like Photoshop work or even charts and graphics for PowerPoint. It builds skills and also keeps your clients in your camp, so to speak, and this strategy of offering other related services has worked super well for me.

You're really adorable and good at transfering knowledge. Thanky you!!

I'm at the start of your video, but WOW, your hair is beautiful! Ps now I've finished the video and it was really helpfull, thanks!

Thank you for your honesty. I thought your video was very nicely done and you seem like a very sweet person 😊

I got around the problem of private clients not having enough of a budget for art portraits by choosing the neighborhood to sell in and just going there, parking my car and knocking on doors with portfolio in hand and cold calling. I developed a way to close people who liked my work and had some interest. "Hey, I'll only be here once." I earned a living at this for 10 yrs., made as much as $2500 for a pen and ink. Architects get even more for a rendering, why shouldn't an artist?

Great that you mentioned the cost of negotiating a job. Many times you can spend half a day to a days worth of time going back and forth with some clients. I think your'e right in saying you need to strike a balance if you can between your own work and client work when it comes to making an income. Would you have any advice on the best ways you go about sourcing client work? Thanks for a great video again Holly!

With fairs if you sign up people to a mailing list, you have a way to reach out to them later and with your social media and stuff on business cards or whatever. It's a way to market and possibly reach them later

thanks for sharing

Hello....Nice informative video....Very nice hair color & style too!

thanks. from london

To be honest, I have never heard of any crafter or artist who made anything worth mentioning from craft or art fairs. Have you? I think they are a dying breed. The only fairs that still really generate money are those where manufacturers are exhibiting and things like ComicCon. - It is a lot to do and to fit in a day if you want to maintain all that you do, I think. In German the word entrepeneur is called "selbständig" which is a combination of "selb" meaning self and "ständig" meaning contantly. And that is it in a nut shell. I grew up in a small business household - my late father was a sign writer/window dresser (and painter/scultor in his spare time). So we were doing secretarial work, dealing with customers, helping where we could in the workshop from an early age because my father hand made all his displays of varying sizes, my mother did the bookkeeping. And when you were out, you would still have to represent to maintain the good name (which didn't go too well for a certain period during my adolescence, I might add). Anyways, eventually my sister and I followed in his footsteps in a way. And so, even though I work an office job now to support myself, I am still always doing this and that. :-)

it really helpfull. Thanks 😃😃😃

I'm definitely subscribing to your channel

great video ^^ I would love to do more fairs but also they tend to be too far away or i don't have enough products, but something to think about :)

Can I suggest that you make a course on Skillshare? That'd be another way to make income. You're content is really great and I've actually seen similar things to what you're doing on there. My apologies if you already have gone down this route (I haven't checked) but I think you'd be great at it!

Encouraging and inspiring, as always, thank you! I have yet to start making my videos for my channel! I wonder if you can give some specific tips about that as you say you taught yourself, which is great; type of software you use for editing, camera set up. Well, anything, ha!

God, I should make some new things for my etsy shop.... already happy that I sold enough small pieces to have made more money with the shop, than I have spend on fee‘s for the shop :D But one can offer commissions well per etsy? Like: buy this commission for 50€, give me a ref and I‘ll draw this in 3 weeks time? Have no experience with it so far... Also, passive income streams.... for it to become „passive“ it is quite a mountain of work. Like Redbubble or self publishing. Doing it right and then getting noticed...PUH xD RU-vid is purely fun :D makes you feel like a pro and like you‘re doing something cool...

Hi Holly, looking back, is there anything you wish you'd done better or differently regarding your portfolio, etsy shop, clients etc? I'm trying to gather as much info as possible about going freelance and want to avoid as many pitfalls as possible! Thanks xxx

Thank you for the Tips. Could you reduce the sound of the music, it is higher than your voice in some parts. Question: Why you do not get a regular full or part time job as an illustrator ?

Dear Holly, do you have any advice for beginners to find out in which illustration areas can our style fit or how to create a niche for ourselves? I would like to work for book covers and illustration and editorial illustrations, but I am not sure how and where my style can fit, have a lovely day and thank you for your great content :)

But Holly, have you tried selling on Creative Market as clipart. I know it might instantly look like not a lot of money can be earned, but when you put out products constantly you can get passive income (a lot of artist's live from this and it's not microstock bullcrap). Also you don't have to deal with shipping 'cause it's digital product such as png and pattern files.

How did you build your client list? Do you have a rep or did you just submit a portfolio or from social media? Thanks.

Can you make an updated version of this? Unless nothing has changed.

Thanks for the video! I've been considering some of the avenues you mentioned but how did you get over the fear of putting yourself out there on social media platforms like RU-vid? The Internet can be such a scary negative place, what pushed you to make the leap?

I love the music in this. I think it's spot on.

Thanks. Btw i love your hair colour.. Is that real??? Or dye?

thank you for this! my question is, how do you actually get clients such as businesses and brands?!!! would love your advice!!

Hi Holly, I am thankful for this video. It's just right and to the point. I learned a lot and how to actually start illustrating. God bless. Love ya

Great video as always ^_^ Another way is by POD websites like society6 and redbubble.

Hey Holly! I'm a comic style illustrator and I've just this year started to sell and exhibit my artwork and crafts. I really want to ask someone about the business side of freelancing and, I guess... what kind on licencing (if any) you would need to BE a freelancer, have your own online shop / etsy shop, or sell your products at conventions and fairs/street fairs (like Comic Con). I've had a look at GOV.uk on the licencing front and... I've just kinda ended up in a head-spin trying to figure out what kind of licences would apply to me. I just wanted to ask, if you don't mind of course, do you have any tips for this situation I'm in?

I like to draw n post my drawings on Instagram do I make money by posting my drawings on Instagram? I want to make money by illstruation

How do you get clients in the first place?!? :(

You Are So Beautiful Mam.... You made My Day.... And The Information Is Amazing I will try the first tip which you gave us.

What about Patreon? Is it good income for an illustrator?

Do you have any suggestions for building an illustration business if you work full time. I dont have allot of free time. I have a RU-vid channel but its so tiny. I draw regularly but I want to make a commitment to my art on a new level.

help i need work link

Hello

Thanks Holly - Have you considered doing watercolour tutorials on Gumroad? This is a good way to create passive income.

Why not license, clothing or wrapping paper etc 😊🌸

Subtitulos en español ☺ please

4:30

I'm surprised you didn't mention Patreon :o

Holly...just a little constructive criticism...drop the background music! It is too distracting. You are definitely not the only you tuber who has made this mistake. On the bright side, when I was able to wade through the music to hear what you were saying, I enjoyed the info and I thank you!

Designcrowd is real or fake

hi quicksilver

Background music is higher than your voice!

From Pakistan

Why did I know you had a British accent?!

You are so beautiful. You are my crush on RU-vid

Why does all of your video have negative stuff? As a beginner that's not a nice impression.

NEVER, invoice a job beyond the length of turnaround for the project. 1 hour. 1 day 1 week one month. Anything longer than a day, get a deposit. REMEMBER, You are an industry. Therefore, if a Client wants to work with you, then they work under YOUR TERMS if their company can only process on a 30 day net, then raise the price, get approval and have them begin processing both, the Deposit Check AND the Term check. Then begin work ONLY AFTER you have been handed the deposit check. That way you can be paid within the time frame of the project. No client is entitled to having term payment. That comes from long term business with them and trust. For Artists, getting screwed over is a constant fear. I have worked wit schools and government agencies and this has worked for me. Regarding Deposits, When a potential Client agrees to work with you or approves your art and says whats next, the next words out of your mouth should be "How would you like to pay your deposit?" Listening to your video, you seem to have issues in this area, at least that is how it comes across. I have been working professionally as an artist for over 30 years. If I am broke today, I can hustle what I need within a day and have one or more projects happening. I live by what I wrote above. All Freelancers should do the same. Your time is money, and your time should be BIG money. If a Client asks why you charge what you do, politely tell them that you have spent the last however many years learning to be at your level. Good Luck.

ARE YOU SHY? IT PRETTY SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE, AND THAT MAKES YOU CUTE

If you only want to work with ethical companies then I'm afraid you need to ditch Patreon at high speed.

To be honest, illustrators in freelance earn nothing, trust me. nobody pays or hires you if you are not experienced and if your work is not famous. Contacts matter a lot. But good suggestions and explanation though. Also i am here because i think she is really pretty. I love her hair and voice. so calm, i can listen to her all day instead of listening to music. :) If you are reading this, i want to say, you're beautiful. :)

Thank you a lot for this video! I'm trying to switch from 9-5 to the freelance and the fear keeps holding me back. Each video like that gives me more and more courage to make yet another step towards my dream :)