Make Money Side Hustles

20 Best Side Hustles for Artists and Creatives

Use your creativity to start making extra money with these side hustles.

painter paints in her studio
Updated May 28, 2024
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Side hustles have become a necessity for many Americans. Given the cost of living, saving for retirement and trying to get ahead financially have become increasingly difficult.

But nearly everyone can find ways to make money doing the things they love, and some might even pay pretty well if you can do them right. 

Here are some amazing side hustles that can help unlock your creativity.

Earn money online by taking surveys

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Edit photos and videos

Jacob Lund/Adobe equipment of a photographer on a table

Companies often need someone to edit photos and videos for their websites and social media channels.

Some individuals might also seek photo editing services, allowing you to choose which clients you want to work for as a freelancer.

Design book covers

Kuzmick/Adobe hardcover book on bookstore showcase

If you don’t want to do children’s illustrations, consider designing book covers for novels or self-help books.

Self-publishing has become increasingly popular, and many authors need (and will pay good money) for this service.

Sell an art course

Vasyl/Adobe asian female artist vlogger

You can create online courses for almost anything, and art is no exception. You can either make a course that teaches others how to make money from art or how to create the art itself.

Since it’s a course and not a live class, you can earn a passive income while working a full-time job.

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Illustrate children’s books

skolovaln/Adobe toddler girl with book

Children’s book authors need illustrators for their books. You can join popular freelance platforms or create your own website and reach out to potential clients.

Since you’re the boss, you decide what to charge and which projects to take on.

Sell online printables

Jacob Lund/Adobe human hands drawing in adult coloring book

Parents often look for coloring and activity sheets to print for their children, especially if they homeschool. You can also sell printable greeting cards and similar items.

And because you can sell the same printable to multiple customers, there’s no limit to how much money you can make.

Offer house painting services

Photographee.eu/Adobe living room with grey mural

Take your creativity and art skills and apply them to home decorating.

You can offer to paint murals or other designs on walls or buildings or branch into interior design and help homeowners with accent walls and color schemes.

Sell art directly

MclittleStock/Adobe wooden table with desktop devices portfolio

Sell your physical products online through websites like Etsy or keep all the profits by selling them on your website. Just don’t forget to factor in shipping costs and packaging the art for secure transport.

You might also find opportunities to sell art in your community. Check for craft fairs, farmer's markets, and other events where vendors can display and sell their products.

Write an art book

Kostiantyn/Adobe decorator working online from own art studio

You can write an informative book about art or a how-to book and collect royalties for the rest of your life.

Alternatively, you can write about a completely unrelated topic and include your artwork as illustrations or photos.

Teach an online art class

Garnar/Adobe man smiling happy making online art class

Offer art classes for adults or children, either as a one-time event or regularly for extra cash.

Rather than rent a space and offer in-person classes, you can teach online from the comfort of your home.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

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Try it

Design logos

Chaosamran_Studio/Adobe graphic designer sketching design

Businesses need logos, and graphic designers often offer logo design services. As a freelance logo designer, you can work where and when you want.

You can also charge whatever price you’d like, but it’s a good idea to see what the competition charges first.

Start a YouTube channel

Kazoo/Adobe vlogger

You can already find several art-related channels on YouTube.

Starting your own and growing an audience could lead to monetization from YouTube and sponsors. It can also help you find more buyers for your art.

Blog about art

BullRun/Adobe blogger reading received message during social chatting

If you start an art blog and get good website traffic, you’ll have options for making a passive income. You could feature ads, offer sponsored posts, or try affiliate marketing.

It’s also easy to add a blog if you already have a website where you sell your art.

Start a photography business

sebra/Adobe arms up holding vintage camera

Photographers can schedule photo sessions with people in their community or create books of their photos.

You might need to purchase some photography equipment to get started, but if you have a good clientele, it shouldn’t take you too long to make your money back.

Make promotional videos

Vane Nunes/Adobe transgender influencer streaming online makeup video tutorial

Businesses often hire creators to make promotional videos for social media. If you love creating reels, you might enjoy this side hustle.

Making promotional videos is also a good option for people who don’t want to invest time in growing their audience.

Offer website design

Blue Planet Studio/Adobe website design software

Nearly every business has a website. If you enjoy graphic design, you can offer to create graphics for these companies.

They might also ask you to design the website layout or images for their social media accounts.

Take custom orders

Georgii/Adobe woman's artist's fist in paints with brushes

You can always offer custom orders if you want guaranteed sales from your work.

By taking orders on demand, you won’t need to worry about keeping paintings or other artwork in storage or waiting months or years for them to sell.

Create fonts

Rawpixel.com/Adobe fonts creative drawing

Designing and selling fonts could make you some extra cash. Businesses might want these for their websites or promotional materials and often make custom orders.

Authors may also purchase fonts (or licensing rights to them) for book covers.

Offer landscape design

white78/Adobe beautiful landscaping

While landscape design doesn’t offer the passive income some of the items on this list do, you can still make money without working full-time.

Before diving into this side hustle, determine if homeowners or businesses in your area would pay for this service. If not, you might need to travel.

Tutor art

AnnaStills/Adobe girl with down syndrome choosing watercolor paint

College students or school-aged children sometimes need tutors for art-related classes. If you’re a pro in art history or art theory, consider tutoring part-time.

You can apply to websites that already offer this service or start your own tutoring business.

Stage houses

Iryna/Adobe modern cozy living room with monochrome sage green wall

Some real estate companies hire professional stagers to help sell houses. This is a great side hustle if you love interior design.

You’ll even find many options for staging certification programs if you want to turn this side hustle into a lucrative full-time business.

Bottom line

anoushkatoronto/Adobe female artist drawing on a touch pad digital tablet

You can put as much or as little time into your side hustle as you’d like. But the more you put into it and treat it as a business, the more you’re likely to get back.

Whether you want to pick up a little extra cash for a vacation or supplement your income, you can find a side hustle that works for you.

You might even decide to have a few side hustles, especially if you can earn a passive income from each one.

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Author Details

Katelyn Washington

Katelyn Washington is a writer with a passion for finance and business. She put herself through business school as a single mother of three and has had pieces commissioned by national magazines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and editing manuscripts for indie authors.