Advice for raising money through creative pursuits?

NervousHomeowner

Hi all, just looking for a little bit of advice :j

I'm an illustrator & graphic designer by trade but I am currently going back to uni and struggling to find an illustration job that fits around my class times. I am interested in finding some ways I can use my 'talents' to make a bit of extra money but I'm not really quite sure where to start.

I have considered doing e-book covers but don't really know where to start there. I have also considered selling little bits and pieces like greetings cards, screen prints, printed tote bags etc.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience in this area or has any suggestions or tips for getting started? Specifically, any tips for marketing/selling my work?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

lindens

I'm sure you can make money doing this. I am a great fan of etsy.com and folksy.co.uk - have a browse on there and see what people are selling.

NervousHomeowner

lindens wrote: »

I'm sure you can make money doing this. I am a great fan of etsy.com and folksy.co.uk - have a browse on there and see what people are selling.

I'd heard of Etsy but never Folksy so thank you! Just had a look and it does look like my stuff would fit in there and it's UK based so a huge plus! I have an etsy account but I'm a bit apprehensive about it because it's international & I'm unsure about postage etc.

gb12345

eBook covers you could look to do through one of the freelancing sites such as Freelancer.com or as an "hourly" on PeoplePerHour.

Have you also thought about designing icons, logos and banners for websites?

Idiophreak

Thought about tee shirt design?

Look at places like this:
http://www.teefury.com/submit.php

gb12345

Idiophreak wrote: »

Thought about tee shirt design?

Look at places like this:
http://www.teefury.com/submit.php

A good idea, but I would be wary of using teefury - as their website has no physical contact details and they hide their domain registration behind a privacy service.

Idiophreak

gb12345 wrote: »

A good idea, but I would be wary of using teefury - as their website has no physical contact details and they hide their domain registration behind a privacy service.

Interesting, wonder why they do that...They're definitely legit, I've used them stacks of times....Plenty of others about, anyway.

NervousHomeowner

gb12345 wrote: »

eBook covers you could look to do through one of the freelancing sites such as Freelancer.com or as an "hourly" on PeoplePerHour.

Have you also thought about designing icons, logos and banners for websites?

Thanks for this! Have signed up on Freelancer.com and just looking at PeoplePerHour now.

Designing logos, banners, icons etc. would be a great idea as I've already got experience with that I'm actually currently designing a website for someone at the minute. The only issue is that most people I know who build and design websites can create these themselves, so I'm not sure how much work I'd get doing it or how I'd actually get that sort of work in the first place.

Idiophreak wrote: »

Thought about tee shirt design?

Look at places like this:
http://www.teefury.com/submit.php

Thanks for the link I have thought about this sort of thing but I'm unsure how I feel about it. I know a lot of designers and illustrators who feel that 'spec' work is bad because it trivialises our profession/skills and relies on designers/illustrators making something for nothing and hoping that their work gets picked, then only earning a pittance ($1 per shirt sold) in the event that their shirt is the one that's sold.

So I'm not sure how I feel about that sort of thing - obviously I need the money but at the same time, I know it is bad for the industry and there's a possibility that I'll produce work and won't get reimbursed for it or the money I do get will barely cover the time I spent producing it.

gb12345

NervousHomeowner wrote: »

Thanks for this! Have signed up on Freelancer.com and just looking at PeoplePerHour now.

Designing logos, banners, icons etc. would be a great idea as I've already got experience with that I'm actually currently designing a website for someone at the minute. The only issue is that most people I know who build and design websites can create these themselves, so I'm not sure how much work I'd get doing it or how I'd actually get that sort of work in the first place.

Freelancer & PeoplePerHour again. Freelancer in particular quite often has people posting contests for the design of logos.

NervousHomeowner

gb12345 wrote: »

Freelancer & PeoplePerHour again. Freelancer in particular quite often has people posting contests for the design of logos.

Thanks for that! Have now signed up at PPH too. Not sure how I feel about contests though as they're spec work too, my intention was to ignore those and apply for the actual freelance jobs that come up?

Patchwork_Girl

I've paid for ebook covers - I used people I found through Elance so that might be worth checking out too.