Turning My Art Into a Full-Time Business: What Worked and What Didn’t

For years, I painted simply because I loved it. But everything shifted when people started to express genuine interest in my work. They wanted to buy my paintings, take classes, and learn how I create. That’s when I asked myself: Could I turn this passion into something bigger?

I didn’t go all in immediately. I explored different paths. some worked well, others didn’t. Here’s a transparent look into what helped me build a sustainable creative business and what I chose to leave behind.

I began experimenting with platforms like Redbubble and Printful. Each had its pros and cons.

• Redbubble was incredibly slow. I only had four tiny purchases, very few likes, and the product quality didn’t impress me. That said, I was surprised to see one of my old designs purchased years after uploading. Proof that this type of platform can be evergreen, even with little visibility.

• Printful, on the other hand, offers very good quality, reliable logistics, and even branding options, which I really appreciated. However, it comes with a major condition: I’d need to run my own online shop and handle all the marketing and sales myself. Since I wasn’t ready to open an online store yet, I decided to postpone using Printful for now. The fulfillment time is also somewhat slow to my region, so that’s something to keep in mind. Visibility is another challenge you won’t be discovered unless you actively promote your shop.

I plan to return to Printful later once I have my own online storefront set up.

Spoonflower has been one of the most promising platforms so far. While I’m still waiting for that first sale, I’m watching with a lot of hope and enthusiasm. What makes it different from other platforms is:

• It offers fast visibility compared to others.

• The product quality is excellent. I’d be proud to see my patterns on their fabrics and homeware.

• Best of all, I don’t need to build or manage my own shop elsewhere.

• I also don’t have to deal with any logistics, no packaging, no shipping, no headaches.

I’m continuing to upload new designs and update my collections regularly.

Without a doubt, teaching art has been the most dependable and rewarding part of my business. Whether it’s group watercolor workshops or private tutoring, teaching brings in consistent income and deep personal connection with my students.

This route has made up 50% of my revenue, and it continues to grow thanks to repeat students and referrals.

Selling my paintings has also become a solid stream of income. It’s not as consistent as teaching, but it’s deeply fulfilling. Every sale is a story, a piece of my creativity finding a new home.

Painting sales now account for about 25% of my total revenue

At one point, I was fulfilling custom surface design orders myself printing, packaging, and shipping everything. While it was successful financially, the workload became overwhelming. Managing the logistics started to take the joy out of creating.

Eventually, I stopped doing the fulfillment myself and began pitching my collections to brands for licensing instead. It’s a slower, long-term strategy, but far more sustainable and much more aligned with how I want to work.

Although I haven’t actively marketed it, I’ve done some creative coaching sessions. Even without promotion, a few people reached out, and I was able to support them on their journey. Coaching only brought in about 5% of my income, but I see potential in expanding this area in the future with the right structure and messaging.

• 50% – Teaching (workshops and private sessions)

• 30% – Surface design (when fulfilled by me)

• 25% – Painting sales

• 5% – Coaching (minimal marketing)

Building a full-time business from my art didn’t happen overnight. It came from exploring different routes, testing what felt aligned, and letting go of what didn’t serve me.

If you’re trying to do the same, here’s my advice:

• Try everything that sparks your curiosity, but track what works.

• Focus on routes that combine both income and joy.

• Don’t be afraid to pivot as you grow, change is a sign of progress, not failure.

You don’t have to get it perfect the first time. What matters is that you keep going, one creative step at a time.