Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Learn as many art methods as you can. It's important to be versatile when you're working with online markets. Many will take hand-drawn art, but you should also learn to use graphic software. There are many market possibilities for computer-generated art, and some markets will only take work created on a computer. The more techniques you are familiar with, both in traditional art and computer art, the more opportunities you'll have to sell your work.
Stay busy. Even while you're looking for markets where you can sell your art, keep turning out new stuff. To make it as a freelance artist, you'll need more than one drawing or painting. Paint or draw as often as you can. You never know when a viable market will turn up for the work you do. Selling your work on the Internet takes a good balance of creating and marketing. Consider setting a schedule that allows you a certain period of time for working on your art projects and another set time where you will find the markets to which you want to sell.
Purchase a copy of the "Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market" from F and W Publications. This is a must for any artist serious about selling his or her work. The listing includes hundreds of markets, both online and off. The market listings give complete submission information, such as where and how to submit your work and how much you will be paid. This will be a key resource for your freelance art career.
Keep your options open. Do work for a variety of projects. Small presses are always putting out anthologies in need of cover art. Small press magazines often seek interior art work. Some of them want simple line art in black and white, which is easy to produce. These online sales outlets can generate money for you while you work on bigger projects. Consider using an online writer's market database to look for publishers who are looking for this type of art (see resources). The submission guidelines for writers often include information for artists as well.
Use online websites devoted to displaying and selling the work of freelance artists (see resources). Websites such as etsy.com let artists upload and display their paintings, drawings, and sculptures. These websites allow you to set your own price. They typically get a small percentage from each sale, but these avenues can be extremely profitable for the freelance artist and can help generate more business by word of mouth.
Consider getting an account with a web-hosting service and putting up your own website. Having your own website not only allows you to display your own work, it's a place customers can visit when they find you on another website and want to learn more about you. The more visible you are, the more money you can make selling your art in the online environment.