Living in the 21st century has opened doors that many never imagined. If you have skills you can now make money online as a freelance artist and its easier than ever.
No more, driving to clients, unless you want to.
Here at Evviva, we are committed to helping you achieve financial freedom. One of the key tools to building your abundant life is side hustles like freelancing.
What Is A Freelance Artist?
A freelance artist is an artist who works independently, rather than working for a company. They usually have more control over their work schedule and working conditions.
Freelancers charge a fixed rate per hour or per job to clients that hire them for long-term or one-off projects. Freelancers can make a premium because companies use them when they do not have the staff or desire to onboard someone who would cost salary and benefits. This leaves them with an immediate need for your skills.
Self-employed artists can specialize and work in a number of art mediums. Today, graphic design is the most versatile and popular method of online art freelance. You can freelance in:
- Photoshop and other Adobe programs
- Digital illustration
- Pixel art
- Traditional art
- Any style you can think of
Why Be A Freelance Artist?
There are many benefits to being a freelance artist. The U.S. freelance economy is worth an estimated $1.2 trillion annually. (CNBC, 2020)
As a freelancer, you can work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. You are your own boss so you get to set your own hours. You also get to choose who you want to work with and what projects you want to take on. This is an excellent Side Hustle while in college and could even scale into a full-time career by the time you graduate.
Another great aspect of freelance work is that you can make a really good income. The average freelance graphic designer charges $30 per hour (Payscale, 2020), but the top earners make over $80 per hour (Upwork, 2022).
Being a freelancer also allows you to be more selective with the projects you take on. You can choose to work on projects that interest you or that are in line with your values.
How to become a freelance artist
You don’t have to be a practiced artist to start working in the freelance business, though it doesn’t hurt. The freelance industry is open to all levels of experience!
There are a few key things you need to get started as a freelance artist:
- Developed skills in one or more art mediums
- A portfolio to attract new clients
If you have these things, you’re well on your way to becoming a freelance artist.
Develop Skills
The first step is to develop your skills. If you’re starting from scratch, there are plenty of resources available to help you learn. You can find free tutorials online, or enroll in an online course. Once you have a basic understanding of the medium you want to freelance in, it’s time to start practicing. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at your craft. Here are some resources we recommend to get you up to speed while building your portfolio.
Online Art Courses:
This course is a comprehensive graphic design course, that will teach you how to use three of the top Adobe programs for graphic design, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Not only does the course teach you how to use the software, but it will teach you about typography, logo design, layouts, photo editing, and so much more.
You will need access to the Adobe suite for this, which can be found here.
Logo Design Mastery In Adobe Illustrator
This course hones in on logo design specifically. It will take you through the entire process from the theory of logo design to the presentation, export, and delivery of logos to your client. There is even a 30-Day money-back guarantee.
If you are interested in logo design, look no further.
You will need access to the Adobe suite for this, which can be found here.
Pixel Art Master Course – Beginner to Professional/Freelance
This course will teach you how to create pixel art for video games. There are a number of successful pixel art freelancers, and this topic is too cool not to include.
In this course, the instructor will cover everything from the basics of pixel art to advanced techniques, so that you are ready to create art for indie games. The best part is that you will get access to a community of pixel artists on Discord when you take the course.
The Ultimate Digital Painting Course – Beginner to Advanced
For those who are more classically inclined, this course is for you. This course will teach you the skills needed for digital art, from beginner to mastery. Fundamentals, color theory, and the character design are just some of the topics covered. If you want to get into digital painting and drawing, we highly recommend you check this course out.
These are just some of the courses out there to bolster your art skills. Check out more here.
Create A Portfolio
Once you’ve developed your skills, it’s time to create a portfolio. As a freelance artist, you have to make a portfolio, it is a collection of your best work that you can show to potential clients. It’s important to have a variety of pieces in your portfolio so that clients can see the range of your abilities. Many freelance artists create an online portfolio. They’re easy to set up and it’s free. You can use sites like Wix, Weebly, or WordPress to create your portfolio website. Some of the freelance sites will also allow you to upload material to their site to show clients.
If you enjoy art or took one of the courses above, you likely have enough material to build your portfolio, you only need a few pieces to get started. Once you have your portfolio set up, it’s time to find some clients.
Where To Find Clients
Now that you have art skills and proof you have them, you can start making money! There are countless freelance platform websites that will connect you with clients today. It truly has never been easier to become a successful freelance artist.
You can check out our article on freelance platforms if you would like to see more options, but here are our top three recommendations for freelance artist platforms.
Top 3 Freelance Platforms To Find Clients
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the most popular freelance websites; it is easy to use and has a huge pool of clients ready to hire.
One of the best things about Fiverr is that it’s straightforward; clients can search for consultants by skills and location, and then view their profiles, reviews, and gig descriptions. Then you both can easily chat on the site.
Key Features:
- A huge pool of consultants & clients
- Easy to use
- Consultants are rated and reviewed
- Fiverr takes a 20% cut of every transaction
2. Upwork
Upwork is a major freelancing website with over 12 million registered freelancers and 5 million customers. Upwork has a comprehensive vetting procedure for contractors, so businesses know they can rely on you.
A freelancer’s profile on Upwork includes a CV, portfolio, testimonials, and a rate card. To help clients and freelancers find the ideal match, Upwork offers a searchable database of professionals, skills tests, and bids.
Key Features:
- 16 million registered freelancers
- Rigorous screening process
- Skills tests
- 20% fee for the first $500
- 10% from $500-10,000
- 5% above $10,000
3. Freelancer
Freelancer is one of the most popular freelance sites, with over 25 million registered users and 10 million projects posted every year. If you want to take on one-time jobs or look for long-term employment, Freelancer is a fantastic platform.
One of the finest features of Freelancer is that it provides a variety of methods to earn money, including hourly jobs, fixed-price projects, and contests. This makes it simple to locate work that matches schedules and abilities. There are also several tools available to make locating the appropriate project easy, such as a searchable database of projects,
Key Features:
- Contests
- Built-in messenger
- 6 free bids per month (for free users)
- 10% fee for hourly projects
- 10% or $5 (whichever is higher) fee for fixed-price projects
- 20% fee for services
What are you waiting for?
You can operate from any place with an internet connection as a freelancer. You are your own employer, so you may set your own schedules. You also get to pick who you want to work with and what tasks you want to undertake. This is a fantastic Side Hustle while in school that might even grow into a career by the time you graduate!
If you want to become a freelance artist, use the three websites above to get started. Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer are all great platforms that will help you find clients and make money. You can start freelancing today and make some extra cash with a little effort. Who knows, you might even end up loving it so much that you make it your full-time job!
