Internet and the Modern Illustrator

It used to be pretty difficult to make a living as an artist. Your options were limited. Either work creatively without pay until you came across the next Van Gogh, as the typical "starving artist". Or maybe you could be a graphic artist, making advertisements or illustrations for companies, but you had to have a degree and make copies of your best work and mail it to companies or know someone in the industry to get you in.
Today, the internet opens up a whole new world to artists wishing to make money from their art.
Some of the best ways to earn money with your art include:

• Become a Freelance Artist
  You can take orders from clients all over the world to create logos and art


• Stock Illustration
  Stock photography and illustration companies make it easy to just create, upload and earn money


• Create-a-product Sites
  Earn money by creating shirts, mugs and other products with your unique art


• Donate your talent
  Working for charities occasionally can help boost your portfolio and gain exposure

The great thing is, you can do ALL of these things. Start by focusing on just one, and then expand your efforts until you have an online empire and you're working from home doing what you love. In the next segment, I'll break down how to get started on these great ways to start an illustration career.