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Let’s be honest, selling art can be unpredictable. There are brilliant highs, but also quiet spells where you’re left wondering, “What now?” One of the best ways to bridge that gap and stay in the creative world is by teaching what you know.

And when I say teaching, I don’t mean standing in front of a class with a stick of chalk and a stiff upper lip. Teaching is simply about sharing. Sharing your skills, your process, your way of doing things. And it doesn’t have to look one particular way.

I used to think I was destined to be an artist, selling work full-time. But I’ve realised that teaching, content creating, and bringing people together is where I come alive. So if you’re looking for ways to bring in extra income (or even start a whole new chapter), here are seven ways you can teach your art.

1. Host an Event or Workshop

This can be super informal. Four or five people in a room, some art supplies, and a space to play. You could host a social art session where people pay a small fee to come, experiment, and connect. Or maybe you demo a specific technique like loosening up in a sketchbook.

You don’t need a fancy venue either. Some spaces are free or low cost. The key is to create a space for creativity and connection. It’s simple, and it can be a lovely little income boost.

2. Build a Community

You don’t even have to teach directly. You could build a community of people with shared interests and become the bridge—curating resources, recommending courses, and connecting people.

You can even earn through affiliate links by pointing your community to teachers and products you love. You become the guide, the space holder. That’s exactly how United ArtSpace began for me.

3. Create a Membership

Memberships can be beautifully simple. I’ve run several over the years, and they’ve ranged from monthly creative prompts to journaling groups. People subscribe, they get regular content or connection, and you earn recurring income.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to offer something meaningful that people want to come back for.

4. Teach a Course

This could be in-person over six weeks, or online through pre-recorded videos. You take people on a journey, maybe from blank canvas to finished painting, or from idea to confidence.

Courses can run live or on-demand. Once they’re recorded, they become assets you can sell again and again, especially helpful during slower sales months.

5. Run a Paint Party

This one’s such fun. Everyone paints the same artwork, you provide the materials, and people enjoy the process in a relaxed setting.

Paint parties can be big or small, online or in person. And yes, they can be very profitable. Our summit speaker Heidi Easley will be diving into this more.

6. Start an After-School Club

If you’ve got kids—or just want to work with children—this is a brilliant option. Parents are turning after-school art clubs into full-time businesses.

You get to be creative, your own kids can join in, and the income potential is amazing. Crystal and Stefani will be sharing how they did it during the Teach Your Art Summit.

7. Blogging

Yes, blogging. You can teach through writing, sharing tips, how-tos, and your own creative journey. You can link to your own courses or others’ via affiliate links, and if writing’s your thing (or even if it’s not—hello, ChatGPT!) it’s a great low-pressure way to share knowledge.

Blogs can also lead to all sorts of other opportunities: collaborations, brand deals, book offers… who knows?

What’s Calling You?

Maybe it’s a paint party, a journaling membership, or blogging quietly from behind the scenes. The best teaching paths are the ones that feel natural to you.

If anything here sparks something, come join us at the Teach Your Art Summit. It’s free, packed with practical advice, and full of inspiration. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. We’re doing it together.

Click the link to sign up, and let us know what you’re most curious about. We’re cheering you on.

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Have a great week & take care,

Michelle xo