Artist Annie Hejny, photo by Abigal Thompson
As part of the How To Make Money Selling Art series, we talked about the commission process to see if it makes sense for you to include it as part of your art practice. It’s one of six main ways that you can bring money in as an artist.
In addition to art commissions, another way you can consider adding income for your studio practice is to set up a Patreon account. Many artists use it successfully and are a little surprised by how fun and rewarding it can be.
What Exactly Is Patreon?
Patreon is a platform designed for art collectors and fans to support artists monetarily without buying individual pieces of art from them.
As an artist, you set up different monthly membership levels for patrons to choose from. In turn, they receive exclusive benefits that are fun and interactive, giving your patrons an inside peek at your creative process.
For example, $5 per month (the cost of a treating you to a coffee) may include an annual postcard and access to a private post or video archive that’s only available to members. At $50 per month, patrons would get these benefits, maybe early access to videos, and a surprise sticker, letter or other kind of fun goodie mailed every month.
This is a contemporary twist on the traditional concept of what art patrons do. And, it’s a way for your fans to support you financially and feel like they’re a part of your art practice.
How Can I Use Patreon As An Artist?
It’s very easy for artists at all levels to participate in. There are some costs starting at 5% of your membership income plus a payment processing fee but it can be worth it because the platform does ALL the technical work for you once it's set up.
There is no limit to how creative you can get. As an example of someone who’s doing it well, here’s a Patreon artist that you can be inspired by…
Patreon Art Star, Annie Hejny
Annie is a full-time working artist in the NE Arts District in Minneapolis, Minnesota who jump started her Patreon memberships right before a virtual open studio event which was nice timing to share this new way for art lovers to support her.
While working together, we created a doable plan that would double her monthly income from the platform that included things like identifying how many new Patrons she’d need along with who they might be.
We updated her Patreon platform levels and developed a system to invite her supporters to level-up their memberships to help reach her goal of covering her studio rent and art costs even more. The neat part about this system is that Annie can repeat it throughout her career.
Annie creates regular videos and behind-the-scenes content that she knows her fans will enjoy. Her commitment to continuing to grow and expand her art practice allows members to follow along with her through the platform.
Here’s what her fans have to say, “I love following Annie's artwork and journey as an artist. I've been following her on Instagram for a while, and I recalled her mentioning Patreon. Over the last few years, I've been making a conscious effort to support more small and local businesses. I love seeing her art and someday I will buy one of Annie's paintings! But in the meantime, I thought this was a very affordable way to support her work.”
One of the best ways to learn about Patreon is to become a patron and see what artists are actually doing. Why not start by following Annie? It can really help you to decide how you want your fans to feel when they are following you.
Are You Considering Joining Patreon?
If you’re inspired to create your own Patreon account, I can help you design levels and their benefits. We’ll make each membership level unique to who you are and your art practice while not overwhelming you or making it feel like just another chore. And you’ll have a system for promting it to people who love what you do.
Connect with me and we'll start brainstorming to see where you can go next.