23 Artistic and Creative Side Hustles

Are you looking for a way to make some extra money? Maybe you’re looking for a new creative challenge. Or maybe you just want a change of pace from your full-time job to explore your artistic side.

Whatever the reason, if you’re interested in creative and artistic side hustles, you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best options out there. So whether you’re an artist or designer, read on and see if one of these side hustles is right for you.

Looking for more options? See our list of 150+ side hustle ideas.

The Best Artistic and Creative Side Hustles

1. Graphic Design

If you’re a creative person with an eye for detail, then graphic design is one of the best side hustle ideas for you. Graphic designers are in high demand, and with the right skills, you can easily make extra money by taking on client work.

Today, every business needs some form of graphic design. From brand identity to websites to social media graphics, there’s always a need for people with the talent and creative skill to design things. That’s why it’s one of the best creative side hustles.

As a freelance graphic designer, you could offer your services online through marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork or to local businesses via word of mouth. While you’d be doing most of your work for small to medium-sized companies, you could also receive requests from individuals who want to promote their startups or non-profit organizations.

Another reason this is an excellent use of your spare time is that you can earn a nice hourly rate. According to ZipRecruiter, the average freelance designer in the U.S. earns $42 per hour! Of course, as a beginner, your rate is likely to be lower, but you can see plenty of potential.

To learn more about getting started, please read How to Start a Graphic Design Side Hustle.

2. Illustration

Along with graphic designing, another great way to use your creative skills is by illustrating. Time to pull out your pencil (or computer mouse) and create some magic. Whether you’re good at drawing people, creating characters, or coming up with symbols, there’s a business opportunity for you.

This could include creating:

• Characters and drawings or digital art for websites, social media, and branding
• Stickers and illustrations for brand packaging
• Detailed drawings and illustrations for children’s books

Fiverr and Upwork are excellent platforms for promoting your services and finding clients. Of course, you can also find clients on your own as well. As your business grows, you may want to consider creating your own website to showcase your portfolio and market yourself to potential clients.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average freelance illustrator earns $30 per hour.

3. Sell Your Artwork Online

If you’re an artist, selling your artwork is a great way to make some extra money. You can sell your paintings, drawings, fine art photographs, and other art pieces online via sites like Etsy, Redbubble, and Society6.

Etsy is a global marketplace for handmade goods, vintage items, and art where you can set up your own shop. Redbubble is a print-on-demand service that helps artists sell their designs on various products, including t-shirts, stickers, mugs, and phone cases.

Both platforms are easy to use and allow you to reach a wide audience. When setting up your shop, be sure to take some time to write quality product descriptions. This will help you attract buyers and boost your sales.

It’s possible that you already have some artwork you could sell. And, of course, you can also create new art specifically to sell on these sites.

To learn more, see the Sell Art Online Masterclass.

4. Sell Printables Online

One of the best ways to use your artistic skills is to design printables that you can sell online. Printables are digital files that people download and print at home. They’re often used for planners, organizers, journals, checklists, and more.

If you’re good at designing printables, then you can make a lot of extra income by selling them online. You can sell your printables on Etsy or via your own website or blog. Selling on Etsy is an easy way to get started, but creating your site will maximize your income potential. Platforms like Shopify, Podia, and SendOwl make selling from your site easy.

Thanks to Canva, designing printables is simple and can be done relatively quickly. Within a few months from now, you could have your own shop full of different printables available for purchase.

If you’re interested in generating passive income, designing printables is a creative side hustle you’ll want to consider. Once you’ve designed a printable, it can be sold over and over again with no additional work on your part. Your popular products may earn money for months or years to come.

5. Web Design

If you’re creative with an interest in technology, then web design is one of the best side hustle ideas for you. As a web designer, you’ll create websites for businesses and individuals. If you’re not a coder, don’t worry. Thanks to WordPress page builders like Divi, you can create beautiful custom designs without coding.

Divi comes with hundreds of pre-made page layouts for different types of websites that you can use as a starting point for your clients. Or, you can use the drag-and-drop builder to create your own layouts and designs from scratch.

You can offer your services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations that need a new website or a re-design of an existing site.

To get started, you can use platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to find potential clients. Once you have some experience, you can start marketing yourself to small businesses in your area. You’ll also want to create your own website highlighting your services and portfolio.

To learn more, see my article How to Make Money as a Web Designer.

6. Start a Blog or Niche Website

If you’re creative and enjoy writing, then starting a blog or niche website could be the perfect side hustle for you. As a blogger or niche site owner, you can share your creativity and expertise with the world by writing articles and sharing your work with others.

You can make extra money from your blog or niche site through advertising (including Google AdSense), affiliate marketing, selling digital products, publishing sponsored content, and even promoting services. It’s possible to combine blogging and freelancing by using the blog to gain exposure and allow clients to find you.

You don’t have to choose an artistic or creative topic for your blog or website, but it makes sense to take advantage of your expertise and focus on what you’re good at. Tutorials are very popular in this niche, so you could create written or video tutorials to publish and attract readers.

Building a content-based website is an excellent option if you have a long-term focus. It’s a legit online business model that offers unlimited potential. You could make extra income on the side, or it could grow into a full-time business (my own online business started in 2007 with a design blog, so this online side hustle means a lot to me).

The downside is that it will take time and patience before you start earning good money and turning it into a successful business. Most content-based businesses don’t earn much of anything for six to twelve months. You need to be willing to work for nothing for a while to build the foundation of your business.

To learn more, please read my Guide to Building a Profitable Niche Website.

7. YouTube Channel

If you have a creative side and enjoy making videos, then starting a YouTube channel could be the perfect side hustle for you. As a YouTuber, you can share your creativity and expertise with the world while making extra cash.

Like blogging, tutorial videos on art and design are also very popular on YouTube. You could create video tutorials on graphic design, web design, illustration, or even digital painting.

To get started, you only need a camera (you can use your phone) and some basic editing software. No huge upfront costs to worry about. You can upgrade your tools later when you’re making money, but not much is essential for getting started.

You can make extra money from your channel through advertising (the YouTube Partner Program), direct sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. The income potential is outstanding, but this is another type of online business that requires some time to build from scratch.

8. Create an Online Course

Creating an online course could be an ideal side hustle for putting your creative skills to good use. As an online course creator, you can share your knowledge and expertise with others who want to learn more about your subject.

Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to be a world-class expert on a subject to create a successful course. You just need to be better and more knowledgeable on the subject than the people you teach.

Teachable and Podia are popular platforms that make it easy to create and sell your courses. Podia even offers a free program, so you can get started without the expense.

Creating an online course will take some time and effort upfront, but once it’s done, your course can generate passive income for months or years. And if you want to grow your business and increase your income, you can add other courses.

To learn how to make money with online courses, see Online Course Masters.

9. Print-on-Demand Designer

Designing t-shirts and other print-on-demand merchandise is one of the best side hustle ideas for artists and designers with creative talent. With print-on-demand, you don’t have to carry any inventory or worry about shipping. All you need to do is design the products and upload your designs to a platform like Printful.

When someone orders one of your products, Printful will produce and ship it for you. You’ll earn a commission on each sale, and you can withdraw your earnings whenever you want. Printful even integrates with Shopify to create your own professional website to market your products. Whenever someone makes a purchase, it will go straight to Printful for fulfillment.

There are a few reasons why this is an excellent side hustle:

• You can start with little-to-no expense
• The majority of the work involves design and creativity
• Once your designs are created, you can earn passive income from them perpetually.
• Over time, you can grow your shop and your business by adding more designs.
• Since you’re not responsible for order fulfillment or shipping, it doesn’t require much time.

To learn more about this opportunity, check out From Design to Product: Sell Your Art Online Through Print on Demand.

10. Freelance Writing

If you’re a creative person with good writing skills, then freelance writing could be the perfect side hustle for you. As a freelance writer, you can write articles, blog posts, web copy, and even marketing materials for businesses.

Using your creative and artistic skills by writing for design and art blogs is an excellent option. You can write tutorials, informational articles, profiles on other creatives, and more.

The great thing about freelance writing is that there’s always a demand for good writers. Businesses will always need content, and as a freelancer, you can choose the projects that interest you.

You can find work on job boards like Upwork or by contacting businesses directly. Once you build up a portfolio of writing samples, it will be easier to get higher-paying writing gigs.

Freelance writing is a fantastic way to earn money on the side while using your creativity and artistic skills.

Freelance Writing 101 by Brad Merrill provides you with everything you need to know to make money as a writer.

11. Self-Published Author

Becoming a self-published author is another creative side hustle for those who enjoy writing. As an author, you can write ebooks, novels, or even non-fiction books on topics that interest you.

You could write books or ebooks that cover topics related to design, art, or wherever your expertise lies. There are unlimited possibilities here.

The great thing about self-publishing is that there are very few barriers to entry. You don’t need a literary agent or a publishing deal. You can simply write your book and upload it to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform.

Once your book is published, it will be available for anyone to purchase as an ebook or paperback. Amazon will print and ship the paperbacks as they’re ordered, so you don’t need to invest any money or deal with inventory that you might not be able to sell.

Of course, writing a book can also benefit your career as well. If you write a book in a creative or artistic field, it could help to position yourself as an expert. This could lead to more speaking engagements, consulting work, or other opportunities.

12. Sell Design Templates

If you’re a graphic designer, web designer, or even a Photoshop artist, then you can create and sell design templates.

There are platforms like Creative Market and Creative Fabrica where you can upload your design templates and earn a commission on each sale. Designers from all over the world come to these sites to buy templates for their own projects.

You could create Photoshop mockups, website themes, logo templates, print templates, social media templates, and more.

If you have a knack for design, then this is an excellent way to make some extra money on the side. And like some of the other options we’ve discussed already, it offers the potential for long-term passive income.

13. Sell on Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace for handmade and vintage items, as well as unique factory-manufactured items. It’s the perfect platform for creative people with artistic talent to sell their wares.

If you make crafts or any other kind of handmade item, then Etsy is an excellent option for selling your goods. You can set up your own business and start selling to customers from all over the world.

The great thing about having an Etsy shop is that it’s very easy to start. You don’t need to worry about building a website. You simply upload your images and write your product listings. If your small business grows, you could always expand by creating your own site later if you want to.

You will need to pay a small listing fee and a transaction fee to Etsy for each sale you make, but other than that, you can keep the profits.

To learn more, see Sell on Etsy – How to Open a Successful Etsy Shop.

14. Photography Services

If you’re a talented photographer, you could start your own photography business and offer your services to clients for extra cash.

You could specialize in portraits, family photos, maternity, newborns, or any other type of photography. There are lots of different niches that you could explore as a photographer.

To get started, you will need a good camera and some basic editing skills. You can find work by talking to people in your existing network to let them know about your services. You can also use Craigslist and social platforms like Facebook to find clients.

Once you have some happy customers, you can build up your business by word-of-mouth and start charging higher prices for your services.

15. Stock Photography

Selling stock photos is another way to earn money online from your hobby. You can sell your photos online via sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and iStock. When one of your photos is purchased, you’ll receive a commission.

The stock photo industry is pretty saturated, so it’s difficult to earn a huge amount of money with stock photos today. But if you’re just looking for a way to make a smaller amount (a few hundred dollars per month) on the side, stock photography is a decent option. And if you already have a large collection of photos you can upload, even better.

To learn more, please see Getting Started with Stock Photography.

16. Photo Editing

If you’re good with Photoshop, Lightroom, or other similar photo editing software, you could offer your services as a photo editor. There are lots of people who need photos edited but don’t have the time or skills to do it themselves.

Your clients might want someone removed from a photo or other similar touchups. Other clients might include professional photographers who outsource the editing of hundreds or thousands of photos to save time.

You can find clients by offering your services online via Fiverr, Upwork, and other platforms. Once you’ve built positive reviews, you can start charging higher service prices. And if you already have a strong portfolio of work, it can be an easy way to start making money online from your creative skills.

To get started, create a profile on Fiverr and set up your gigs or offers.

17. Videography

Similar to photography, if you’re good with a video camera and editing software, you could start your own videography business.

Your clients could include businesses that need promo videos, event organizers who need someone to document their events and even individuals who need a family video or other personal project filmed.

The great thing about videography is that it’s not just limited to weddings and events. There is a growing demand for video content, so this is a great way to get started as a freelancer. You can find work by talking to people in your network or posting on Craigslist.

18. Font Designer

If you’re a graphic designer, you could use your skills to design fonts with this creative business. Fonts are in high demand, especially for those who work in advertising and graphic design.

Creating fonts is a pretty niche skill, but if you can do it well, you can start making money by selling your fonts online. There are a few different sites that you can use to sell your fonts, such as Creative Market and Creative Fabrica. Of course, you can also create your own online shop to have full control and avoid sharing the profit with a marketplace.

If you create many fonts, you can also bundle them together. This is a great way to increase the average order size and earn more profit. You could offer the bundles on your site or sell them through deal sites like MightyDeals and Design Cuts.

19. Painting Houses

If you’re creative with an eye for detail, you could start a business painting houses. This could include interior and exterior jobs, and it’s a great way to earn money while using your creative skills.

You can start your own house painting business by advertising your services online or talking to people in your network. Once you have some happy customers, your business should grow through word-of-mouth. And if you want to expand, you can even start offering other services like wallpaper installation and deck staining.

20. Mural Painting

If painting houses doesn’t provide you with enough creative freedom, you could also consider painting murals. Murals are becoming increasingly popular, especially in businesses and public spaces.

If you have a specific style or niche that you specialize in, that can help you attract clients. For example, if you’re good at painting nature scenes, you could target businesses that want to add some greenery to their space.

You can find clients by advertising your services online or talking to people in your network. Each mural you paint, especially those in public spaces, will serve as an advertisement for you. The more mural painting projects you do, the more potential clients will be exposed to your creative work.

21. Teaching Art or Design

If you’re a creative person, chances are you have some skills that others would like to learn. And what better way to make extra income than by teaching others how to be creative? You can start your own art classes, in-person or online, or find a part-time teaching job.

Your students could include adults who want to find a new hobby, kids who want to explore their creativity or even other artists who want to learn your specific style.

You can find students by advertising your classes online or talking to people in your network. You can also reach out to schools and community centers to see if they’re interested in offering your classes to their members.

22. Home Staging

If you have a good eye for design, you could start a business home staging. Home staging is when you help people make their homes more presentable for selling. This usually includes decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding or removing decorations.

You can start your own home staging business by advertising your services online or talking to local realtors. As your professional network grows, more and more clients will find you. If you get results, listing agents will be happy to hire you or recommend you to their clients.

23. Furniture Flipping

If you like working with your hands, you could start a business flipping furniture for profit. Furniture flipping is when you take used furniture and give it new life. This usually includes things like sanding, painting, and reupholstering.

You can find furniture to flip at yard sales, flea markets, or just by checking what other people put out for trash collection. Once you’ve fixed it up, you can sell it online or in person (Facebook Marketplace is an excellent resource).

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on Creative and Artistic Side Hustles

There are many different ways for artists and other creative people to make extra money. And the best part is that you can often do it while using your creative skills.

So if you’re looking for a way to make some extra cash, consider one of the side hustles from this list. You might be surprised at how much money you can make!