We've all cultivated skills over our lives. These skills seem intrinsic to us, inextricable from our beings. Our abilities came innately or through hard and efficient work-- preferably through a combination of both.
Web-design, Programming, copy writing, immense charisma, accounting, etc...These are 'rain-making' skills.
I've been brainstorming ideas as to how an artist could create a product or service that wouldn't require them to art-slave for studio or work for 'set rates'.
The exception is where a project is developed for a small studio (better profit share) and then the product is a success. Thus is the example with Journey. He also worked on Flower for the same company.
The concept artist/art director for Journey, Matt Nava became a millionaire after the game's success, this is evidenced by his listing in Forbes' 30 under 30.
Other than Mr.Nava, I've had almost zero-luck finding any young millionaire artists whom don't make their work in fine-art sectors.
I've also found this relatively disheartening yet informative article in regards to why digital artists aren't becoming millionaires like programmers or web designers: [#DIGART] Why Your .JPEGs Aren't Making You A Millionaire | The Creators Project
Anyway, after this research, I've started contemplating ways as to how one can make millions as a singular (or small team) of digital artists. One of the biggest prerequisites with art is the level of skill any given artist has, and the over-all appeal of their work.
Here's a list of potential paths to millions as a digital artist:
List of products a digital artist can create and prosper from:
Graphic Novel Or "Art Book": An example of success using this method is: Dan Luvisi -- he created an art book called Last Man Standing. He's currently having it made into a movie. He marketed vigorously through social media documenting his process and even getting other artists to contribute.
Children's books: Another very viable route to wealth, simply research the best selling children's books and reproduce those sames successful themes in your own work. Find a publisher or publish it yourself.
Education: I haven't seen a 6 or 7-figure educational site that's operated by a singular artist, but I have seen sites that take on a plethora of experienced artists and create tutorials based on their areas of expertise. Still, a singular artist might be able to make 5-figures a year marketing their knowledge to hungry artists.
Commissions: If you can find a way to freelance without having your time absolutely usurped, then I'm all ears. Many projects for animators, illustrators, concept artists and the like can take up to 5-20 hours on average. They also have pretty low-end flat rates unless you're very established. Hourly rates are less common, but seldom breach the $40.00 barrier...Not fastlane.
Games: Much like our Friend Matt Nava, One can establish (or join) a small studio and generate projects that generate revenue. Start small, follow trends and aim to set a couple of them. Mobile gaming and console marketplace gaming are good places to start. Aim for Steam as well. You're not going to be able to pull off making a game by yourself unless you learn to code though, or are very comfortable spending vast amounts of money outsourcing the things you don't have the knowledge to complete sufficiently.
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And this is the part wherein I come to the end of my knowledge on how one can become affluent using digital art as the predominant means. I'm 100% certain that there are ways a digital artist can leverage their talents and skills to achieve financial freedom, but as of yet it's a relatively untrodden path.
I'm trying to hybridize more business principles with artistic ones in order to figure out new ways to attack the market. We all know that a business can never be more profitable than the market it's in, but since digital art is used to plan feature length films, illustrate best-selling book covers, and empower the cutting edge of the video game market, I know that it can become a viable way to provide massive value and be compensated for such.
So there you have it. I'd love to facilitate some discussion and ideas as to how these skills can be maximized in terms of the value that they provide.
I also don't mind being corrected or challenged, so please speak your mind and we can all learn and prosper together.
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