Go from Part-Time to Full-Time Creator
BY RICK DUREE
Have you ever been hit in the face…with inspiration? I remember when I had my first comic writing epiphany. I was so excited about the story. It came so easily to me, and I couldn’t stop writing for weeks. I pushed my creative team to get the comic book on Kickstarter ASAP. We created a bunch of add-on bonus material people would love. I was sure it’d get funded in a matter of days. Everyone was going to love my story; that was obvious, right? I mean, who doesn’t love comics?!
Well… it took a hundred social posts, countless messages to my personal contacts, and the whole month-long campaign to get there, but we finally got funded. That’s when I remembered what I’d casually heard for years but never internalized: it’s tough making money in art.
It’s true, us artists have a hard go of it trying to get noticed and eventually paid for our creations. But no need to roil in self-pity. It’s January, a new year is upon us. Let’s make a resolution to have 2024 be the year we expand our part-time artistic endeavors to full-time profit centers! And in hopes of hitting you in the face with inspiration, here are some industry options a few successful artists have added to their bailiwick to take them to the next level.
Artists
START A MONTHLY ART NIGHT
Start a monthly art night geared towards sharing your style of art. There’s money in experiential sales. People love these types of events, they’re fun and often sell out. You can get the word out via Eventbrite and social media by offering free entry and prizes for people who share the event.
CONNECT WITH LOCAL CREATORS
Host a comic art exhibit at a local craft store, comic shop, or art museum. You might sell some of your originals. By joining forces with other local creators, you’ll have more success generating buzz as more people are spreading the word.
SEEK OUT VIDEO GAME GIGS
Seek out video game gigs. You’ll probably need to be a digital artist, but the indie game industry is booming right now, so there’s work available for those who’ve got the skills.
CREATE ANIMATED VIDEOS
Create animated videos for new creators who need help with their Kickstarter ads. No need for deep software skills here, just grab Canva or Adobe and start creating short videos using comic panels.
Aries the Artist’s Advice
For those of you who want to put this New Year’s resolution into practice but don’t quite have the first step lined up yet, here’s some great advice from a buddy of mine who goes by the name Aries the Artist. He’s a pro comic artist who found additional good paying and satisfying work creating digital characters for video games. He agrees that it’s hard to pay the bills with comic art alone, and confessed that he just “got lucky, honestly. I was in the right place at the right time.”
To be successful as an artist:
- Don’t quit your day job
- Work hard to improve your craft and build a portfolio
- Invest in yourself by having the right tools and training
- Launch a business focusing on art people want, not just the art you like
Writers
OFFER STORY EDITING SERVICES
Offer story editing services that go beyond grammar. Too many editors are grammar editors only. Indie writers need help creating plot twists, developing characters, and laying out their pages.
SUBMIT SHORT STORIES
Submit short stories to be included in anthologies, or articles to be inserted in industry publications. Get your name out there and be seen as a professional in your field.
LAUNCH A WRITING CLUB
Launch a writing club; it’ll help improve your own writing as well as others’, and you might score some writing jobs while you’re at it as a ghostwriter. Local libraries can be invaluable tools in getting programs like these off the ground.
CONNECT WITH LOCAL CREATORS
Follow the same steps mentioned in the Artists section above.
So there, that’s your inspirational slap in the face. You’re welcome. Happy New Year. Now do as Mike Myers ordered in “So I Married An Axe Murderer” (undeniably one of the best comedies ever made), “fine, go, you’ve stayed your hour!”
About the Author:
Rick Duree is a self-made entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, angel investor, professor of entrepreneurship, TV producer, missionary, musician, martial artist, author, proud husband, and father.
