Have you thought about using your creativity to make extra income? In today’s world every dollar counts and many families are struggling to get by and make ends meat. Using your creativity may be the secret to earning a few dollars for your family and expanding your creativity at the same time.
Most artistic businesses whether it be visual art such as painting and drawing or musical pursuits like singing or playing an instrument are beautiful ways of relaxing your mind and focusing on creating new skills. They can also be great ways to make extra money once you reach a certain level. Creative businesses often start as side projects done for amusement but can lead the way to a creative career or business down the road. What if once a month you sold a few paintings at a local street fair or even became represented by an art gallery? What if you sang at a wedding or party once a month for hire. You don’t need to replace your regular job but each of those endeavours may bring in a few hundred dollars per month. That’s a couple tanks of gas, a week of groceries, or even a car payment. At the same time you will be building your creative skills and could possibly make it a full time career down the road. Many people have done it including yours truly and I continue to meet others that have done the same thing through my podcast and television show for creative entrepreneurs.
People like Ukraine born artist Maryna Salagub who was a young Mother trying to get her kids to create good habits such as brushing their teeth or taking a bath. With a love of drawing she started teaching her kids using her illustration skills by drawing their favourite animals doing everyday tasks such as a whale taking a bath. Over the last few years she started to sell her work online and now has created a full time business selling her art online.
Then there is Mary Perkins that found a paint by numbers set in boxes as she was cleaning her basement and decided to give it a try. She had no artistic talent beforehand and certainly didn’t think she could create an art business at that moment. She enjoyed the process and now sells her art in galleries throughout the Province. She paints beautiful landscapes without any drawing abilities and has found not only a new income source but a love of creating art that she didn’t know she had. You could do it too!
The beautiful thing about the creative process is that you can start with your interests and talent at the time. Just open a sketch book or pick up that instrument that’s been sitting in the corner collecting dust over the years. It may be a new relaxing outlet for you and grow into something over time. If it doesn’t that’s okay too! My art business started in 2003 selling art to neighbours and I went full time with it in 2007. Today it has grown into a sizeable business.
You can hear the stories of many of these artists and many more from creative on my podcast called the Cashing in on Creativity Podcast. You can also see it on YourTV` channel 700 in the Halton area. I interview various artists and creative entrepreneurs about their business, art, and life in general. Click here view and listen to these interesting stories. You can learn more about the show at www.cashinginoncreativity.com Whatever you choose to do I wish you the best with it and hope even if you don’t end up selling or sharing your work with the World you enjoy the process and possibly create a new relaxation outlet for the future. The World holds lots of stress and art is a great way to deal with it. Enjoy!
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a creative entrepreneur from Burlington Ontario Canada. He is a professional cartoonist specializing in caricature entertainment, commissioned illustrator, author, and business consultant. He is the host and producer of the Cashing in on Creativity Podcast for creative entrepreneurs. You can learn more about the podcast at www.cashinginoncreativity.com and view interviews on his Youtube channel. Learn more about his art business at www.bruceoutridgeproductions.com
