Hey First name / friend!

 

Let’s talk about something that comes up all the time:

 

Posting your art on sites like Society6, Redbubble, and Spoonflower used to be the go-to advice for artists wanting to get started in art licensing.

 

But these days, new artists are so frustrated by that advice. And honestly, I get it.

The landscape has changed. Ten years ago, uploading designs to Society6 could actually be a viable way to make 6-figures as an artist. Today, it's not really that simple.

 

That’s why I always tell my students inside The Art of Collections that the key to a sustainable art business isn’t chasing outdated advice about what used to work. It’s learning how to adapt.

 

So here's a little story time about my own experience with POD, when I decided to shift my focus, and my advice for new artists looking to explore this income stream.

 

Print-on-demand was literally my first foot in the door. Back in 2014, I was working as an art director at a design agency in Kansas City. During nights and weekends, I was building up my side-hustle as an artist, but I barely had an audience or a brand. And I had a stack of watercolor paintings gathering dust.

 

I didn’t have time or money to run an Etsy shop or ship prints myself. So when I discovered Society6, it was a no-brainer.

They handled the printing, fulfillment, and customers, all I had to do was upload my art.

 

That low barrier to entry gave me my first taste of being a working artist.

Within six months, I was actually earning more on Society6 than at my full-time design job. That was the moment I realized… maybe I can actually do this.

 

 

Another huge benefit of POD was how it helped me get discovered.

 

For years, if you Googled my name, most of what came up were Society6 listings of my artwork — their SEO was that powerful. That visibility was priceless in the early days when I had no brand recognition.

 

I used that exposure strategically.
 

I went back and added my signature to every design, updated my bio on their site to include my website, email, and socials, and made sure anyone who stumbled across my work on S6 could easily find me.

 

That’s actually how I got my first licensing deal — a brand found me through Society6 and reached out directly.

You can read the full story of my first licensing deal here (it may or may not include a story of how I freaked out in the security line at LAX 😅)

 

Aside from being my first exposure to art licensing, POD also taught me how to think like a commercial artist and make marketable art by learning what sells and what doesn't.

 

Even now, I still keep my POD shops active because they continue to drive traffic and brand awareness.

POD isn't my main income stream anymore — but it’s absolutely a discovery tool I still value.

 

After a few great years on Society6, I started to realize something important: I couldn’t rely on one income stream forever.

 

Even after my Society6 income exceeded my 9-5 salary, I still wasn’t ready to quit my job yet — not because I didn’t believe in myself, but because I’m pretty risk-averse. I wanted to make sure I had a solid foundation before taking the leap. This was my livelihood I was talking about, after all!

 

(Side note: it’s totally okay to have a full-time job while you’re building your art business! I did this for a couple years before going full-time with my art, and I think it actually made me a better artist and business owner since I had the stability to learn and grow my art biz knowing I had the salary/benefits to fall back on.)

 

I knew that if I quit my job and relied solely on one company for my income — even if it was Society6 — I'd still be dependent on a single source of revenue. So instead of putting all my eggs in that basket, I focused on diversifying.

 

I started exploring other POD platforms like Redbubble and Spoonflower, took on freelance branding clients, sold at local art fairs, and began reaching out to stores about consignment. And, of course, I was starting to build a roster of art licensing partnerships, too!

 

Each step gave me more security and confidence, and eventually, that stability is what allowed me to go full-time as an independent artist.

 

If you’re starting out, POD can still be a great way to:

But don’t rely on it as your one and only strategy.

Use it as a learning platform, not your entire business model.

 

The artists who thrive today are the ones who stay curious, keep evolving, and don’t get stuck doing what worked ten years ago.

 

That’s what we explore deeply inside The Art of Collections. How to adapt your art, portfolio, and mindset for what’s actually current in licensing right now.

 

You've got this!

 

xo,

 

Cat

 

P.S. Next week, you'll hear about what I do when my art gets stolen + my thoughts on copyrighting your work 👀

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