Real Ways People Are Making Money with AI Art (Patreon)

A no BS article with actual real ways people are making money selling AI generated images.

Hi! I’m sure you’ve seen the many, many blog posts and articles with titles like “How I make $5000 selling AI images on Etsy”, “Make money with AI side hustles!”, “Earn Tons of Passive Income with this AI Art Image Niche”, etc. I’ve yet to see any concrete evidence in these blogs that the writer is actually making that much money from their supposed side hustles.

It’s true that selling AI art may be profitable, but it requires time, energy, and a following. Most articles about making money from AI art are vague and lack specific details or examples. It’s important to do thorough research before investing in this venture. I haven’t seen any detailed breakdowns or examples of individuals or businesses making money selling AI art images.

So, I did the work for you and found three AI image generated products and the businesses or individuals behind them who are successfully making sales. These examples are not ranked in any particular order:

1. Tarot Cards

2. AI Clip Art

3. Wall Art

Tarot Cards:

Let’s start with Tarot card decks selling on Etsy. There are a plethora of tarot sets for sale, many of which seem to be created with AI image generation. The shops selling these sets have only opened in the last few years, yet have numerous options available in various styles and themes. Sellers on etsy do not need to state whether or not they utilize AI image generated for their products, but you can tell from the quantity of sets created, and stylization that many are being created with AI image generation.

Here’s an example of a seller on Etsy, PicDuSoleil, out of Turkey, who does state that their tarot deck sets are created with AI image generation.

The original price for this item is $74, but it is currently on sale for $55. This store has made 2,845 sales and offers a variety of 16 tarot decks. Assuming each sale averages around $50, the total revenue would be approximately $142k. However, considering typical expenses such as production, design, printing, promotion, and shipping materials, it is likely that 60% of this amount goes towards cost of goods.

Based on a profit margin of 40%, the store would have a remaining amount of $56,800. While this may seem like a decent salary for a single person business, it may not be enough to cover the costs of hiring additional staff to assist with designing, ordering, packaging and shipping items. So, upon closer examination, it appears that while this store is making a significant amount of money overall, their profit per employee is relatively low.

Is selling AI-generated Tarot decks profitable? While there is potential for earnings, the market is competitive with numerous shops and decks available. If interested in this business, consider expenses such as taxes, design and production costs, Etsy listing fees, VAT for international shipping, and licensing in multiple countries if selling through a personal website.

Clip Art:

This is another really popular AI image art money making side hustle that is frequently mentioned in blog posts as a way to earn passive income. The Etsy shop, PlanItJournal , which opened in 2019, sells collections of cute watercolor clip art images. They have had 809 sales so far, with each bundle typically priced at $2.60 or $1.43 on sale. The benefit of selling digital products is that there are no production or shipping costs upfront, making it a potentially profitable side hustle. However, since the items are low-priced, success may depend on actively promoting and marketing to drive enough sales to make it worth the effort.

This store has earned about $1618 in the past five years from selling 809 digital bundles at let’s estimate an average of $2 each. To be successful in selling digital clip art, it’s important to build an audience and find a niche to increase traffic to your store. While there are lower upfront costs for selling digital goods, you will still have business fees, Etsy fees (if you choose to open a store there), and taxes to consider.

Wall Art

While the Etsy shop SlightlyScorchedUS does not explicitly state their use of AI generated images, close examination of their art reveals tell-tale signs such as artifacting, unrealistic elements, and even headless figures with fuzzy or blurred features — all indications of AI image generation at work.

This store sells a wide range of prints, with prices starting at $58.99 per print. It appears that they use a Print-On-Demand website to produce and ship their products. The shop was opened in 2022 and has already made 8,866 sales, with hundreds of art images available for purchase. It is challenging to determine an average price as their range varies from $58.99 to nearly $600, without the option of adding a frame. However, with such high sales numbers, it is safe to assume they are making a considerable profit, even if we base it on the lowest price of $58.99, which would amount to approximately $523k. They offer a vast selection with a diverse range of designs for customers to choose from.

Selling AI image prints can bring in roughly $200k a year, depending on expenses and marketing efforts. However, this market is highly competitive and success may require significant investment of time and money.

Before jumping in, make sure to do your research. Discover the market, learn how to promote through social media, and be aware of costs and fees. With this knowledge, you’ll be equipped to start selling AI art images and turn your passion into profit.

💬 A Quick Note from Me

I create and share all my content here on Medium to help others explore the creative side of AI image generation.

I’m not affiliated with any AI apps — just a passionate creator who loves experimenting with art, tech, and storytelling. If you’re new here: hi! I’m Meri, your AI-art-slinging friend who never says no to a cool image or a good story.

And as always — create boldly, and be kind to fellow creators out there sharing their work with heart and hustle. 💛

Stay creative,
Meri 💫