5 Ways to Monetize Your Art Blog
Have you ever thought about starting a blog but weren’t sure if it was worth the time? Here’s the truth: blogging isn’t just about sharing your thoughts or showcasing your art — it’s a powerful tool that can transform your creativity into a thriving, income-generating business.
Blogging can help you transition into a full-time digital artist with a steady stream of income and endless opportunities. Your blog can help you become easily discoverable by art enthusiasts, potential clients, and collaborators; generate passive income streams through ads, affiliate marketing, and digital products; while positioning you as an expert in your field, opening doors to exciting collaborations, sponsorships, and even teaching opportunities.
If you’re dreaming of turning your artistic passion into a sustainable career, blogging might just be the missing piece to help you get there. By creating valuable content and sharing your expertise, you can build a community around your work, attract steady traffic to your site, and establish yourself as a trusted name in the digital art world.
This article is part of a series dedicated to the ins and outs of blogging for digital artists. You’ll find links to the next steps in your journey — whether it’s deciding what to write about, learning how to monetize your blog, or growing your audience.
So, if you're ready to start a blog that makes money, here are five ways to start earning from your art blog today.
1. Ads
Let’s start with the simplest: ads! By joining ad networks like Google AdSense or Mediavine, you can display ads on your blog and earn money every time someone visits or clicks.
Your ads revenue can be a few dollars a month at first, but as your traffic grows, so will your ad revenue. Websites with a couple millions of monthly visitors make about $30k a month just from ads!
The key here is to focus on creating quality content that attracts readers, and the ads will do the rest. Make sure that you’re optimizing your blog for search engines so when people have inquiries about your niche, they find your website.
Read more: The Ultimate SEO Guide for Digital Artists
2. Affiliate Marketing
This is a great way to make money by recommending products you already love. Here’s how it works: you sign up for an affiliate program, share your unique links in blog posts, and earn a commission when someone buys through your link.
There’s so many affiliate programs out there and it’s best to do your research to see which platforms have partnered up with your favorite brands. Our favorites are Amazon Affiliate Program, ShareASale, and Impact, because they have partnered up with a lot of our favorite brands that provide useful products and services for our community of digital artists, and they allow us to earn a commission at no extra cost to the buyer when someone makes a purchase using our links.
For example: If you use a Wacom One tablet and swear by it, write a blog post like “Why Wacom One is My Go-To for Digital Illustration.” Add your affiliate link to the tablet, and whenever someone buys it based on your recommendation, you earn a percentage.
Other ideas: recommend software like Procreate, your favorite brushes, or even books that inspire your work. The key is to be genuine — only promote products you truly believe in!
Affiliate partnerships track your audience’s web behavior using cookies, so remember to include a cookie policy and disclose that some of your links are affiliate for an ethical practice.
Read more: How Digital Artists Can Earn Money with Affiliate Marketing
3. Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts involve collaborating with brands that want to reach your audience. They pay you to write about their product or service, or include a link to their websites in one of your existing posts. It’s a win-win if the partnership feels authentic.
For example: If an art supplies company launches a new eco-friendly sketchpad, they might sponsor a post where you test it out and share your honest thoughts.
The trick here is to choose sponsorships that align with your values and your readers’ interests. Your audience trusts you, so keep it real!
As you get more views on your website, you’ll be getting a lot of emails about sponsored articles that might look fishy. That’s because they are! Be very careful about phishing requests, always check the email address (it should be something like name@companyname.com and not info@7vxwpd6y.dzhtwlypuie.com), and make sure that you’re speaking with an actual person who is interested in sponsoring a post to promote their actual products.
4. Sell Your Art or Digital Products
Your blog is like your personal gallery — it’s the perfect place to sell your art! Whether it’s physical prints, custom commissions, or even digital downloads, there’s a market for your work.
But don’t stop there! Consider selling digital products like:
eBooks: "A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting"
Brush Packs: Your custom Procreate or Photoshop brushes
Templates: Social media templates for other artists
For example: Create an eBook called “Mastering Pixel Art: A Complete Guide,” and link to it in a blog post titled "Top 10 Tips for Aspiring Pixel Artists."
With digital products, the beauty is that once they’re made, they can generate passive income for years.
5. Create an Online Course or Tutorial
If you love teaching, creating an online course can be a fantastic income stream. Share your expertise in a structured way, whether it’s a series of video lessons, a workshop, or a comprehensive guide.
For example: If you’re great at animation, create a course called “Animation Basics in Procreate” and sell it on platforms like Skillshare or Upskillist. Or, host a live workshop where attendees can learn directly from you and ask questions.
Don’t worry if you’re not ready for a full-blown course — start with a blog tutorial like "How to Draw Realistic Hair in Procreate" and offer it as a downloadable PDF for a small fee. If there’s a significant amount of demand for your tutorial, then you can consider creating a more comprehensive online course about that subject.
Ready to Monetize?
The best part is, you don’t have to pick just one of these strategies. Many successful art bloggers use a mix of all five to diversify their income.
Check out these resources to help you get more visitors on your art blog:
Your blog has the potential to be a game-changer, helping you create a career that sustains you both creatively and financially.
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