How to Become a Freelance Artist in 2022 What is a freelance artist? Freelance artists work for many clients at the same time. They’re self-employed and contract out their artistic services. The freelance lifestyle can be a good fit for artists because there’s a lot of freedom and flexibility in how you work. 1. Don’t quit your day job, yet You’ve heard the “starving artist” trope, right? Unfortunately, it’s become a way to describe artists as not earning enough to support themselves. While there’s some truth to that, artists aren’t the only freelancers who can benefit from starting on the side of their day job. 2. Remember, you’re running a business This will be the least creative aspect of becoming a freelance artist, but it’s incredibly important to treat this like a business. This will help you organize your work, get paid, take care of taxes, and plan for the future. 3. Build your portfolio You probably have a large body of work to choose from, and you’ll want to spend some time picking out pieces that really show who you are as an artist. Your portfolio shouldn’t be a complete collection of your work. Instead, pair it down to the most powerful pieces. 4. Market yourself online Designing a website with a portfolio isn’t enough for freelance artists who want to find paying patrons or clients. You need to put yourself out there on social media. 5. Actively look for work The dream for some artists is that a wealthy patron walks in your studio, looks at your work, and says, “I’ll take it all.” But the reality is far from that, especially when you are first starting out. 6. Maintain a good work/life balance You’re working a lot, trying to create in your spare time, and you may also have a family or other responsibilities. That’s a lot. When you become a busy freelancer, it feels like you’re being pulled in so many directions 7. Diversify your income Diversifying your income means you’re bringing in money from multiple sources.