💰 My Artist Income + Sources in 2024 w/ Numbers & DATA!
TLDRChris, a freelance illustrator since 2005, shares his journey to earning six figures annually through various income streams. He began with a daily drawing project, which led to commissions and eventually collaborations with major brands. In 2023, his YouTube channel significantly contributed to his income, with YouTube ads, shop sales, affiliate links, Skillshare, and sponsored videos as key revenue sources. Chris emphasizes the importance of diversifying projects to maintain a successful and sustainable illustration career.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Chris has been a freelance illustrator for 15 years, earning six figures annually.
- 🔥 He started with graphic design in 2005 and transitioned to illustration after losing his job in 2009.
- 📈 Chris built his career with a daily drawing project, which helped him gain commissions and clients.
- 🌐 He diversified his income by creating online classes, teaching, and selling prints and merchandise.
- 📈 In 2023, his YouTube channel became a significant part of his income, especially through ads.
- 💰 His shop sales increased due to the YouTube channel's community support.
- 🔗 Affiliate links are a substantial income source, earning around $875 per month.
- 🎥 Skillshare classes and channel memberships also contribute to his income.
- 🎨 Chris worked on various illustration projects, including editorial, advertising, and publishing.
- 🌟 Diversifying projects and clients is key to a successful and sustainable illustration career.
- 📊 The income from different illustration categories can vary greatly, with advertising often paying more.
Q & A
How long has Chris been making a living as an artist?
-Chris has been making a living as an artist for the last 15 years.
What was Chris's initial career before becoming a full-time freelance illustrator?
-Chris started his career as a graphic designer in 2005.
What project did Chris start in 2007 that eventually led to commissions?
-Chris started a daily drawing project in 2007 where he posted a new drawing online each day.
How did Chris respond to losing his design job at the end of 2009?
-Chris took the opportunity to fully commit to illustration after losing his design job.
What were some of the revenue sources Chris built to supplement his income?
-Chris built revenue through online classes, teaching at a local university, and setting up an online shop to sell prints, stickers, and other merchandise.
Which well-known clients has Chris worked with in his illustration career?
-Chris has worked with clients like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Adidas, Lego, and many others.
How many books has Chris published?
-Chris has published three books of his daily drawings.
What role did Chris's YouTube channel start to play in his overall income as 2023 progressed?
-As 2023 progressed, Chris's YouTube channel started playing a more impactful role in his overall income.
What are the main sources of Chris's monthly income from his content creation business?
-The main sources of Chris's monthly income from content creation are YouTube ads, his shop, affiliate links, Skillshare, channel members, and sponsored videos.
What is the average monthly income Chris earns from YouTube ads?
-Chris earns an average of $1600 per month from YouTube ads.
How many projects did Chris complete last year, and what were the categories?
-Last year, Chris had roughly 25 projects which were categorized into editorial, packaging, branding, advertising, entertainment, publishing, and other.
What is the significance of having a diverse range of illustration projects?
-Having a diverse range of illustration projects is beneficial as it keeps income streams well-rounded and prevents periods of slowness due to industry fluctuations.
What is Chris's advice for illustrators regarding focusing on one specific category?
-Chris advises that focusing on one specific category can be tricky due to industry ups and downs, and doing a lot of different things keeps things interesting and income streams more stable.
Outlines
🎨 Journey of an Illustrator's Success
Chris shares his 15-year journey as a freelance illustrator, detailing how he transitioned from a graphic designer to a full-time illustrator. He emphasizes the importance of diversifying income streams, such as online classes, teaching, and an online shop. Chris also discusses the significant role his daily drawing project played in building momentum and attracting commissions. He mentions working with high-profile clients like Cartoon Network and Adidas and having published three books. Chris introduces his YouTube channel and his experience as a top teacher on Skillshare. He provides a breakdown of his current monthly income, highlighting YouTube ads as a surprising major income source, followed by his online shop sales, affiliate links, Skillshare earnings, channel memberships, and sponsored videos.
📈 Diversification in Illustration Career
Chris discusses the importance of diversifying the types of illustration projects to maintain a successful and stable career. He categorizes his past year's projects into editorial, packaging, advertising, entertainment, publishing, and other creative collaborations. He points out that focusing on a single category can lead to periods of slowness due to industry fluctuations. Chris also notes the varying income potential across different illustration sectors, with advertising typically offering higher budgets compared to editorial or publishing. He concludes by suggesting that a diverse range of projects not only helps in financial stability but also keeps the work interesting and engaging.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Freelance
💡Daily Drawing Project
💡Illustration
💡YouTube Channel
💡Content Creation
💡Affiliate Links
💡Skillshare
💡Channel Members
💡Sponsored Videos
💡Diverse Range of Projects
Highlights
Chris has been a full-time freelance illustrator for over 15 years, earning six figures annually.
He started as a graphic designer in 2005 and transitioned to illustration after losing his design job in 2009.
Chris initiated a daily drawing project in 2007, which led to commissioned work and increased project opportunities.
He diversified his income by creating online classes, teaching at a university, and selling prints and merchandise.
Chris has collaborated with major brands like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Adidas, and Lego.
He has published three books featuring his daily drawings.
Chris's YouTube channel has become a significant part of his income, contrary to his initial expectations.
YouTube ads are his primary source of income from the channel, earning an average of $1600 per month.
His online shop, supported by his YouTube audience, is the second-largest income source from content creation.
Affiliate links, including Amazon and Retro Supply Co, contribute approximately $875 per month.
Skillshare, where Chris has eight classes, earns him around $800 per month.
Channel memberships bring in about $600 per month, supported by 109 members.
Sponsored videos, though不多, have ranged from $400 to $500 per video for Chris's channel.
In 2023, Chris worked on approximately 25 illustration projects across various categories.
Diversifying the types of illustration projects is key to a successful and stable career in illustration.
Chris emphasizes the importance of not focusing on just one category of illustration work.
There are significant earnings differences between industries within the illustration field.
Advertising projects can be particularly lucrative due to larger budgets from big brands.
Chris's career success did not happen overnight; he posted daily drawings for 14 years.
He encourages a realistic view of what's possible in the fields of illustration and content creation.