Are you interested in earning a passive income from your art? Do you want to learn more about the differences between Art Licensing, Print On Demand (POD), and Stocks?

It can be difficult to understand the differences between these three methods of monetizing artwork. In this article, we’ll look at what each of them entails and how they can help you earn a passive income through your artwork. We’ll also look at popular platforms like Shopify POD, Redbubble, Society6, and others that can help you get started with these three strategies. By understanding the differences between these strategies, you will be able to decide which one is right for you and start making a passive income from your art.

Print On Demand (POD)

Print On Demand (POD) technology has revolutionized the way e-commerce businesses create and manage their products. This technology enables companies to print on demand products with no upfront costs, no inventory, and no risk. It allows businesses to have complete control over their production process and ensures that they can quickly respond to customer orders.

In addition, POD sites like Society6, Redbubble, Teepublic, Zazzle, Threadless, Teespring, Spoonflower, and Merch by Amazon make it easier for entrepreneurs to offer unique custom designs with minimal effort. They can create custom designs with a few clicks of the mouse and offer them in a variety of sizes and colors. This makes it possible for businesses to reach more customers without having to invest in large amounts of inventory or manpower.

Print On Demand technology is the future of e-commerce and provides businesses with an easy way to quickly turn ideas into reality without taking on too much risk or cost.

For new artists, I highly recommend joining a site like Society6 or Redbubble to get your feet wet with Print on Demand. These sites provide an easy-to-use platform for artists to upload their artwork and create products like t-shirts, mugs, and more. Once you join one of these sites, all you need is your artwork and customers can purchase it from anywhere in the world! This can be a great way for new artists to start building an audience without having to invest a lot of money upfront.

There are many POD platforms to choose from, including Printful, Printify, Teespring, and Redbubble. Each platform offers different features and pricing models, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that best suits your needs.

Most POD services have their integrations with Shopify or Etsy stores. You can find detailed instructions for setting up the integration on the POD service's website. If the POD service does not have an integration with Shopify or Etsy, you can use a third-party app like Printful to set up the integration.

How to sell your art on POD services?

1. Choose a POD Service. Research and compare different POD services to find the one that best suits your needs.

2. Create Your Designs. Create your designs for the products you want to sell. Make sure to use high-quality images and artwork.

3. Upload Your Designs. Once you’ve created your designs, upload them to your chosen POD service.

4. Set Up Your Store. Set up your store on the POD service, including pricing, shipping information, and payment options. 

5. Promote Your Store. Promote your store on social media and other platforms to generate more sales.

6. Track Your Sales. Track your sales to see which products and designs are the most popular. This will help you focus on what’s working and make changes to improve your store.

Art licensing

Art licensing is the process of granting permission from an artist or copyright holder to use artwork or designs on products or merchandise. It is a form of copyright protection in which a license is granted to a third party to manufacture and/or distribute products using an artist's work. The license agreement specifies the terms of use, including the type of products, duration of the license, and royalty payments.

How to sell your art through art licensing?

1. Do your research. Before you start getting into art licensing, it’s important to do your research. Learn about the different types of art licensing agreements and how they work.

2. Develop your portfolio. Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to start creating your portfolio. This should include a selection of your best work, as well as images of any products you’ve created using your artwork.

3. Set up a website. Having a website is a great way to showcase your artwork and make it easier for potential clients to contact you.

4. Reach out to potential clients. Once you’ve developed your portfolio and set up your website, it’s time to start reaching out to potential clients. You can reach out to companies directly or use a platform like ArtLicensing.com to connect with potential clients.

5. Negotiate your contracts. When you’ve been contacted by a potential client, it’s time to negotiate a contract. Be sure to clearly outline the terms of the agreement and make sure you’re both happy with the terms before signing.

Stock illustration

A stock illustration is a form of visual art that is used to illustrate a story or concept. It is typically used in advertising, publishing, and educational materials, and is often used in place of original artwork or photography. Stock illustrations can range from simple drawings to highly detailed images, and are often sold in pre-made packages or collections.

There are many stock illustration platforms to choose from. The most popular ones are Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Stock, Dreamstime, and Fotolia. Each platform offers unique features and pricing models, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that best suits your needs.

How to sell your art on stock platforms?

1. Research Platforms: Research different stock platforms to find the one that best suits your needs.

2. Create Your Portfolio: Create a portfolio of your artwork for potential buyers to browse.

3. Upload Your Artwork: Upload your artwork to the platform and set up your profile.

4. Set Your Prices: Set your prices for each piece of artwork.

5. Promote Your Art: Promote your artwork on social media and other platforms to generate more sales.

6. Track Your Sales: Track your sales to see which pieces are the most popular. This will help you gain insights into what works and what doesn’t.

Which of these methods to choose?

It depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a more passive income, then art licensing or stock illustration could be a good option. However, if you want to have more control over the products you create and the pricing, then POD services could be a better choice.

How much can I earn through these methods?

The amount you can earn through art licensing, stock illustrations and POD services depend on several factors, including the number of pieces you have sold, the type of products you have created, and the prices you have set. Generally, you can expect to make anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month with these methods.

Hope this article was helpful! If you want to get more ideas about how to earn money as an illustrator, subscribe to my newsletter and you will get noticed about new articles in my blog.