How to Make Money with AI Art (and AI Art Generators)
AI artwork has introduced new avenues for digital creators to showcase their creativity. Beyond its artistic value, AI-generated art has also become a lucrative field that offers opportunities for users to monetize their creations like never before.
If you want to turn your AI art enthusiasm into a profitable venture, this article is for you.
Whether you are an established digital artist looking to embrace AI or a newcomer eager to explore the possibilities, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools you require to create an income source from AI art generation.
Don’t have a proper tool yet?
Feel free to check out the best AI art generators that you can use to generate images and then monetize them using the methods I’ll detail below.
Can You Make Money Selling AI Art?
Yes, you can create and sell AI art for money. Many artists and collectors have been able to make money selling it.
The value of AI art is determined by factors such as the uniqueness of the piece and the quality of the algorithm used to create it. Some AI-generated artworks have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.
Ways to Make Money Using AI Art Generators
Below are ideas on how you can make money using AI-generated art.
1. Sell AI Art in Digital Format
Selling AI art in its digital format is a popular and convenient way to monetize your creations. Digital art can be easily shared, reproduced, and distributed, making it an ideal option for selling online.
One way to sell your AI art digitally is through online marketplaces that specialize in such art. These marketplaces provide a platform for AI artists to showcase and sell their high-quality pieces to a global audience. Some popular online marketplaces for digital art include Artsi, AI Art Shop, and Wirestock.
Another way to sell your AI art online as a digital download is through your own website or portfolio. You simply create a professional website or portfolio to showcase your AI art and provide a platform for potential buyers to purchase your artwork directly from you.
This approach allows you to have more control over the sales process and keep a larger percentage of the profits. All you need to do is find a suitable domain name, choose a web hosting service, install a theme, set up product pages, and create or generate content for them.
You can read more about the top places to sell AI art online.
2. Make Canvas Prints with Art
Printing AI art on canvas is another way to make money from your creations and cater to art collectors who prefer physical artwork. AI art on canvas can serve as unique and visually stunning pieces that can be displayed in homes, offices, or galleries.
To sell AI art on canvas, you can either print the artwork yourself or work with a professional printing service. Only print yourself if you have the knowledge and equipment to save on production costs.
When choosing a printing service, it’s wise to consider the quality of the prints, the materials used, and the pricing. You can also offer different sizing options to cater to different budgets and preferences.
Once you have your canvas prints ready, you can sell them through various channels, such as online marketplaces, your own website, or your portfolio. You could even collaborate with galleries or art dealers.
If you decide to sell on your own, it would help to pay attention to the shipping and handling of the canvas prints. They require careful packaging and transportation to ensure their safe arrival to the buyer.
3. Create AI Art Designs for Custom Products
This is one of the top ways to make money from AI art without worrying about its value. People always want unique and personalized items and you can leverage AI algorithms to generate visually stunning and original designs that can be applied to a wide range of products. These products range from clothing such as t-shirts and hoodies to accessories like phone cases.
The good thing about this moneymaking idea is that you don’t have to print the art on products in advance. Using the print-on-demand approach, what you do is upload your artwork on a product image and only print when someone makes an order.
There are numerous print-on-demand platforms and marketplaces that allow you to upload your designs and customize products for customers. Some popular platforms for creating custom products include Printful, Zazzle, and Redbubble.
When someone orders something with your art, the platform will print it and ship the item to the customer. You earn the money on top of product and printing costs.
Most times you have the option to select the printing company, some of which are cheaper than others. Working with reliable printing and fulfillment services ensures that your designs are accurately reproduced and applied to the products(enhances customer satisfaction).
4. Offer AI Art Creation Services as a Freelancer
People hire freelancers because they lack the skills or time to do something. And so, you can easily get gigs as a freelance AI art creator online because you’re equipped with the knowledge and have time to do it.
To offer AI art creation services as a freelancer, you can start by showcasing your portfolio and expertise on platforms such as Behance, Dribbble, or your own website. Highlight your experience with AI art algorithms, your ability to generate diverse and visually stunning designs, and any specialized techniques or styles you excel in.
When working with clients, it’s best to understand their specific needs and goals for the AI art. Whether they require AI art for branding, marketing campaigns, website design, or any other purpose, actively listening to their requirements and offering creative solutions will help you deliver a product that exceeds their expectations.
When it comes to promoting your AI art creation services and finding clients, utilize social media platforms, online communities, and freelance job sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.
5. Create a YouTube Channel Based on AI Art
Creating a YouTube channel based on AI art is a great way to showcase your creativity and share your passion for AI-generated artwork with a wider audience. Here are some tips on how to create a successful YouTube channel based on AI art:
- Define your niche: You can either focus on AI art itself or start a faceless YouTube channel on any topic that utilizes AI art in video creation. This will help you establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract a targeted audience.
- Create engaging content: If you’re focusing on AI art, create videos that showcase your process of creating it, share tips and tricks, and offer tutorials for beginners. You can also feature interviews with other AI artists, share your experience with different AI tools and software, and showcase your finished artwork.
- Optimize your videos for search: Use relevant keywords and tags in your video titles and descriptions to optimize your videos for search engines. This will help your videos rank higher in search results and attract more viewers.
- Promote your channel: Share your videos on social media platforms, forums, and online communities to attract more viewers. Collaborate with other AI artists, participate in relevant discussions, and engage with your audience to build a loyal following.
Once you have built a significant YouTube channel, you can monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. You can also offer paid courses or workshops to teach others how to create AI art.
6. Compile AI Art into a Children’s Book
Compiling AI art into a children’s book is a creative and innovative way to showcase your AI-generated artwork and engage with a young audience. Children’s books are a popular medium for storytelling and visual art, and incorporating AI art can bring a unique and imaginative element to the book.
You need to begin by selecting a theme or storyline that aligns with your AI art style. This could be a whimsical adventure, a moral lesson, or any other unique concept that may come to mind.
Your AI art should enhance the storytelling experience and captivate young readers. If possible, you can craft a quick short story that accompanies your set of AI illustrations.
Be sure to keep the text simple and engaging. Use language that’s suitable for the target age group and incorporate interactive elements like rhymes, repetition, or questions.
You can either self-publish the book online as an e-book to sell as a digital product or collaborate with a publishing company for kids’ books. Self-publishing on platforms like Amazon Kindle gives you creative control over the final product while working with a publisher can provide wider distribution and marketing opportunities.
Make use of social media platforms, book fairs, local libraries, and schools to showcase your book. You could even organize book readings or partner with educational institutions.
7. Create and Sell Printables
The last (but not the least) way to make money using AI art generators is to create and sell the images as printables. Printables are a type of digital product that people can download online and print to use.
Some of the best examples of printables that you can create with AI are wall art and coloring pages.
Wall Art
There’s a wide variety of AI art that people will love to display on their walls. These include human portraits, animals, and fantasy.
You need to make sure that the images are of high quality and flawless. Watch out for pictures with distorted or missing body parts or objects.
Coloring Pages
Both adults and children can participate in coloring activities. If you choose to create coloring pages for kids, you can include things like cute animals, human beings, and other objects that look cartoonish.
If you’re targeting adults, you would be better off with more realistic-looking human, object, or scene drawings. They have to be a bit more complex compared to those for kids.
But how can you create AI art that suits coloring pages? There are two ways.
- The pencil drawing mode: On the art generator you’re using, you can select the pencil drawing mode (or whatever else is related) to create images that can be colored. If the tool you’re using doesn’t offer this, look for one that does.
- A photo-to-sketch tool: You can also input your AI-generated images into a quality tool that can convert real images to pencil sketches. This is a better option if the AI generator you have struggles to craft proper drawings.
Conclusion
You now have several ideas on how to make money using AI art. What you need to do next is pick an idea that you like and get started with it.
You can even experiment with multiple ideas to find out what works best for you. You aren’t limited!
But remember one thing. It also starts with good AI art.
You can’t monetize anything that’s of poor quality. That’s why you need a good AI art generator and master prompting techniques before you even think about selling your art creations.