Thanks for this, it's so rare for people to openly share what their income is, but certainly very helpful for aspiring artists to know! I would love to see a video in the future about your journey, what did you do first and how it evolved, maybe even with figures of how much income you were generating then, at the start of things. Keep up the lovely work! 😊
Me too. I’d also love to know more about how you plan and run your business. Do you do it all yourself or have an assistant to help with business things?
I thought watching your video made my life feel fresh. You are a very kind, sweet, beautiful woman and you have got a voice that matches your image. I love the combination of colors in your artwork. I like that. I also work hard to create good and beautiful designs. I have not received results for my hard work. But I will not give up my efforts. As you said "the day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit". Your video helped me change from today. thank you.❤
This is so encouraging! Thank you, Mel, for sharing the numbers and income streams, your knowledge and experiences. Like Damaris mentioned in her comment below, I would love to hear how everything evolved from the very beginning to now. Happy (Thurs-)day
Thank you for sharing this. Most artists don’t share numbers and this is really helpful. This actually shows there is hope if you work on building your art career. Also happy to see you are on Skillshare. I’ll definitely be watching all your videos.
Thank you for being so open about this. I always wanted to be a surface designer but unlike you I got discouraged and went into something less creative because I was worried I wouldn't make a living. I was a user experience designer. Very disheartened by the lack of creativity. I'm going to keep working at my dream.
Thank you Mel! This video was super helpful. What is the difference between Royalty Payments and Licensing Fees? I absolutely love your work. I first saw your Tui Bird pattern on the bird challenge and quickly started following you. I’d like to sign up for SkillShare to take some of your classes. Brilliant!
Thanks Christina! I'm so glad it was helpful. Licensing is when you are paid a set fee for a piece of work. The company can then use it for a set amount of time (e.g. 2 years), on specific products in a specific location. Royalties are when a company pays you a percentage of the wholesale price of the units sold with your design on them. Sometimes I receive a license fee and royalties for a design, sometimes just a license fee and sometimes just royalties. If you want to know a little more, you can download my free ebook, which explains it in more detail. This is the link to the free ebook... learn.melarmstrong.com/opt-in-8c39d462-9820-4f13-820a-db05d44af6cb
Thank you so much for this Mel! You are so kind! Can I ask you the difference between the income of Print on Demand (the one you mentioned being SpoonFlower) and the Royalties? I though SpoonFlowe WAS in fact a royalty income. If not, where can you earn Royalties? Thank you in advanced! :)
I consider the royalties to be those I earn from books I illustrated, products and fabric licenses that also pay royalties on sales. You could consider Spoonflower to be royalties, but I like to put it in the POD categories just so I can isolate it from the other royalties I receive. Hope that makes sense?
how much average income you get right now for every month? thank you for sharing alternative incomes in this global crisis situation. i appreciate that
Thank you so much Mel for sharing. I would love to know what you mean by royalties, and how it works. Are these royalties from companies you licensed your designs to? A video on this would be super helpful! Thank you
Hi Airin, yes royalties are payments for designs of licensed to companies. I get a % paid at different times throughout the year. They are mostly fabric licenses.
Thanks Mel, I found this so inspiring and enlightening! Just wondering if you're able to roughly estimate how many hours you spend a week illustrating and/or tending to your business? As a stay at home mum I'm currently trying to make the most of my 1-2 hours a day I have available to work on my business.
Thanks Rebecca. Currently I spend just over 30 hours a week working. My partner works part-time, so we are able to share kid responsibilities like school dropoffs/pickups and after school activities over the week. Some days I work 4 hours, some 8. When the kids were little, my hours were much less and it was a real juggle, but I love that I can always be there for the kids activities.
Hey Mel, thanks for sharing! Can you explain the difference between art licensing and royalties? I thought that royalties were an outcome of art licensing. Thank you! -Kali
Hi Kali, thanks for watching. Art licensing is when a company pays a set fee for your design to put on their product for a specific amount of time (e.g. 2 years), in a specific location etc. Royalties are when a company pays you a percentage of the wholesale price of the units sold with your design on them. You can have a contract that includes a license fee + royalties, or you could just have a license fee, or you could just have royalties. I have a free PDF that probably explains it a bit better -> learn.melarmstrong.com/opt-in-8c39d462-9820-4f13-820a-db05d44af6cb
@@MelArmstrong thank you I followed you back I’m on TikTok mainly I’m trying to make the switch to other social media. Your work and skills are something I need to require to up my game. If I could learn how to put my watercolours into patterns. I would love to be licensed or have an agent. I will be watching every video you have.. do you do one on one coaching.. ??
![Lethal Company Music Video 🎵 "Follow The Orders" [VERSION A]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QeooZB4Z7RA/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for this, it's so rare for people to openly share what their income is, but certainly very helpful for aspiring artists to know! I would love to see a video in the future about your journey, what did you do first and how it evolved, maybe even with figures of how much income you were generating then, at the start of things. Keep up the lovely work! 😊
Thank you for your comment. And yes, I agree a video of my journey and how its evolved is a great idea. I will add it to my list. 😀
Me too. I’d also love to know more about how you plan and run your business. Do you do it all yourself or have an assistant to help with business things?
Thank you soooo much for sharing this personal, but VERY HELPFUL information Mel! 🤗 I wish you continued success! 💛
You are so welcome! I've had so many questions and such lovely support, I just had to share! 😊
I thought watching your video made my life feel fresh. You are a very kind, sweet, beautiful woman and you have got a voice that matches your image. I love the combination of colors in your artwork. I like that. I also work hard to create good and beautiful designs. I have not received results for my hard work. But I will not give up my efforts. As you said "the day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit". Your video helped me change from today. thank you.❤
Awww...thank you so much for your kind words!
This is so encouraging! Thank you, Mel, for sharing the numbers and income streams, your knowledge and experiences. Like Damaris mentioned in her comment below, I would love to hear how everything evolved from the very beginning to now. Happy (Thurs-)day
Thanks Antonia! I'm so glad you found it encouraging. :-)
Thanks for sharing, Mel! I too have been told I won't make a living this way, and it just makes me want it more! 😊💖
Yes, totally! You can do it!
Thank you for sharing this. Most artists don’t share numbers and this is really helpful. This actually shows there is hope if you work on building your art career. Also happy to see you are on Skillshare. I’ll definitely be watching all your videos.
Thank you for watching. I'm so glad it was helpful.
Thank you for being so open about this. I always wanted to be a surface designer but unlike you I got discouraged and went into something less creative because I was worried I wouldn't make a living. I was a user experience designer. Very disheartened by the lack of creativity. I'm going to keep working at my dream.
Yes, absolutely...please keep going!! There is room for us all in this industry.
Thanks so much for sharing this information! It’s very helpful to hear real numbers from a working artist! I hope to get there someday myself!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing this. It's eye opening and encouraging ❤
Thank you for watching.
Impressive! Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure! I'm glad you liked it!
Inspiring. I love your work. Keep creating.
Thank you so much!
Thank you Mel! This video was super helpful. What is the difference between Royalty Payments and Licensing Fees? I absolutely love your work. I first saw your Tui Bird pattern on the bird challenge and quickly started following you. I’d like to sign up for SkillShare to take some of your classes. Brilliant!
Thanks Christina! I'm so glad it was helpful. Licensing is when you are paid a set fee for a piece of work. The company can then use it for a set amount of time (e.g. 2 years), on specific products in a specific location. Royalties are when a company pays you a percentage of the wholesale price of the units sold with your design on them. Sometimes I receive a license fee and royalties for a design, sometimes just a license fee and sometimes just royalties. If you want to know a little more, you can download my free ebook, which explains it in more detail. This is the link to the free ebook...
learn.melarmstrong.com/opt-in-8c39d462-9820-4f13-820a-db05d44af6cb
Thank you so much for this Mel! You are so kind! Can I ask you the difference between the income of Print on Demand (the one you mentioned being SpoonFlower) and the Royalties? I though SpoonFlowe WAS in fact a royalty income. If not, where can you earn Royalties? Thank you in advanced! :)
I consider the royalties to be those I earn from books I illustrated, products and fabric licenses that also pay royalties on sales. You could consider Spoonflower to be royalties, but I like to put it in the POD categories just so I can isolate it from the other royalties I receive. Hope that makes sense?
Thank you for sharing Mel! You are an inspiration and your skillshare courses are great ❤
Thank you so much!
Definitely going to buy your class, I’m at a standing point with my art and I think this would help me with the next steps.
Ohhh...thanks for watching! I'd love to see you in one of my classes! :-)
how much average income you get right now for every month? thank you for sharing alternative incomes in this global crisis situation. i appreciate that
Thanks for watching! It varies each month, some months 10k +, others as low as $5k, but on average probably around 8k.
Great video, Mel. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Sarah!
So helpful and encouraging. Your work is gorgeous! :)
Thank you so much!
You are an inspiration, thank you for sharing your art and your knowledge!
Awww...thanks so much!
Thank you so much Mel for sharing. I would love to know what you mean by royalties, and how it works. Are these royalties from companies you licensed your designs to? A video on this would be super helpful! Thank you
Hi Airin, yes royalties are payments for designs of licensed to companies. I get a % paid at different times throughout the year. They are mostly fabric licenses.
Thanks so much for sharing this! Very inspiring. Great video!
You are so welcome! Thank you!
Great video Mel, thank you for sharing its very encouraging!
You're so welcome! And thank you!
Thanks Mel, I found this so inspiring and enlightening! Just wondering if you're able to roughly estimate how many hours you spend a week illustrating and/or tending to your business? As a stay at home mum I'm currently trying to make the most of my 1-2 hours a day I have available to work on my business.
Thanks Rebecca. Currently I spend just over 30 hours a week working. My partner works part-time, so we are able to share kid responsibilities like school dropoffs/pickups and after school activities over the week. Some days I work 4 hours, some 8. When the kids were little, my hours were much less and it was a real juggle, but I love that I can always be there for the kids activities.
You are an inspiration! ❤❤❤
thank you!
very useful insight, thank you!!When do custom design artwork for company, will you still charge fee of license or royalities? I am confused about it😢
Depends on the license. Some I just have a fee, some just royalties, some have both! :-)
Go you!!!! ❤❤❤
Hey Mel, thanks for sharing! Can you explain the difference between art licensing and royalties? I thought that royalties were an outcome of art licensing. Thank you! -Kali
Hi Kali, thanks for watching. Art licensing is when a company pays a set fee for your design to put on their product for a specific amount of time (e.g. 2 years), in a specific location etc. Royalties are when a company pays you a percentage of the wholesale price
of the units sold with your design on them. You can have a contract that includes a license fee + royalties, or you could just have a license fee, or you could just have royalties. I have a free PDF that probably explains it a bit better -> learn.melarmstrong.com/opt-in-8c39d462-9820-4f13-820a-db05d44af6cb
@@MelArmstrong thank you for taking the time to explain!
Hello Mel I’m also a NZ artist nice to meet you
Hello Karlena! So nice to meet another NZ artist. I just started following you on Instagram. I'm loving your art!
@@MelArmstrong thank you I followed you back I’m on TikTok mainly I’m trying to make the switch to other social media. Your work and skills are something I need to require to up my game. If I could learn how to put my watercolours into patterns. I would love to be licensed or have an agent. I will be watching every video you have.. do you do one on one coaching.. ??
Thank with love❤. I have a question about the artist payment. What is spoonflowers paid in? Are they have payoneer ?
They pay in USD to a PayPal account.
how many of your designs in spoonflower? ty
I have close to 600 designs on there.
@@MelArmstrong ty