What Is a Freelance Artist? Meaning, Types, How They Earn and How the Job Differs From Staff Roles

What is a freelance artist? It is a creative professional who makes visual work for clients on a project basis, without being an employee of any one company. They pick their own jobs, set their own prices and run their own small business. Illustrators, designers, painters, concept artists and tattoo artists can all work this way.

The word “freelance” describes how someone works, not what they make. In this article I explain the meaning, walk through the main types of artist, show how they get paid, and compare the role with a staff artist. I also share what we see when we bid for creative clients on Upwork with our own team.

What is a freelance artist, in plain words?

A freelance artist is a self-employed person who creates art or design for paying clients. One week they might draw characters for a children’s book. The next they design a logo for a bakery. Each job has its own brief, price and deadline.

Three things set the role apart:

• Several clients at once. No single employer owns their time.
• Their own tools and workspace. They buy the software, tablet, paints or equipment themselves.
• Responsibility for the business side. They quote, invoice, chase payments and keep records.

Some freelance artists work full time at it. Others do it on the side next to a job or studies. Both count. What matters is that the work is paid, repeated and run like a small business.

Is a freelance artist the same as a self-taught hobbyist?

No. A hobbyist makes art for pleasure and may sell the odd piece. A freelance artist takes briefs, meets deadlines and treats clients as customers. Many freelancers are self-taught, and many went to art school. Clients mostly care about the portfolio and how easy you are to work with, not where you learned.

Freelance, self-employed and independent contractor

These terms overlap. “Freelance” is the everyday word for creatives. “Self-employed” and “independent contractor” are the labels used in tax and employment rules, and the exact meaning depends on your country. For the US view, the IRS explains the difference between an independent contractor and an employee. This is general information, not legal or tax advice, so check the rules where you live.

What types of freelance artist are there?

Ask what is a freelance artist and the answer changes by craft. Here are the main ones, with what each does and the sort of client who hires them.

Type	What they make	Typical clients
Illustrator	Drawings for books, magazines, websites, packaging and apps	Publishers, brands, agencies, authors
Graphic designer	Logos, brand kits, social posts, layouts, presentations	Small businesses, startups, agencies
Painter or fine artist	Original paintings, prints, commissioned portraits	Collectors, galleries, private buyers, interior designers
Concept artist	Characters, environments and props for games and film	Game studios, indie developers, production teams
Tattoo artist	Custom designs applied on skin	Individual clients, often through a studio or on their own
Commission artist	Custom pieces for individuals, such as pet portraits or character art	Fans, gamers, families, hobbyists
Muralist	Large painted walls and public art	Cafes, schools, councils, property owners
Motion or 3D artist	Animation, 3D models, short video graphics	Marketing teams, studios, product companies

Illustrators and designers

These two are the most common freelance roles online. An illustrator is usually hired for a style. A designer is usually hired to solve a communication problem, such as making a brand look consistent. The line blurs: many people do both.

Painters, muralists and fine artists

Here the income often mixes commissions with direct sales. A painter may take a portrait commission in the spring, sell prints at a market in summer and paint a shop wall in autumn. The work is slower and each piece costs more to produce, so pricing needs thought.

Concept, character and 3D artists

These artists work inside a production pipeline. They receive a creative brief, deliver stages of work and revise based on feedback from an art director. Studios often hire them per project, which fits freelancing well.

Tattoo and commission artists

Tattoo artists are often self-employed even when they work from a shop, since many rent a chair rather than draw a wage. Rules differ by place and by studio, and health and licensing rules apply, so follow the local requirements. Commission artists take one-off orders from individuals and usually work from a price list.

How does a freelance artist earn money?

There is no single pay model. Most freelance artists mix two or three. Here are the common ones.

• Fixed project fee. One price for a clear scope, such as a logo with two revision rounds. Clients like knowing the cost upfront.
• Hourly rate. Useful when the scope is unclear or the client keeps changing direction. Upwork and other marketplaces support this style.
• Per-piece price list. Common for commissions: head and shoulders at one price, full body at another, extra characters at an add-on price.
• Licensing. The artist keeps the copyright and the client pays to use the work in a defined way, for a defined time. Terms vary a lot, so they should be written down.
• Product and print sales. Prints, stickers, templates and digital downloads sold through a shop. The income can continue after the work is made.
• Retainers. A client pays a set amount each month for an agreed amount of work. This is the steadiest model, and it is usually earned after a good first project.

I will not quote typical earnings here. Income swings widely between a beginner illustrating for small clients and an experienced concept artist working with studios. For general pay data on art and design jobs, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes occupational outlook pages, though they cover mostly employed workers and may not reflect freelance income.

Why income feels uneven

A paid month can be followed by a quiet one. Clients also pay late. Many freelancers set aside money from each invoice for tax and slow periods. If you want the wider picture of running this as a business, read how to start a freelance business.

Freelance artist or staff artist: what is the difference?

A staff artist is an employee. A studio, agency or brand pays a salary and decides what to work on. A freelance artist chooses clients and bills them one by one. Neither is better. They suit different people.

Point	Freelance artist	Staff artist
Pay	Varies by project and month	Regular salary
Who sets the brief	Each client, with the artist negotiating scope	The employer or art director
Style freedom	Often wider, since clients hire you for your look	Often fits the company’s house style
Benefits	Arranged by the artist, such as insurance and savings	Depends on the employer and country
Hours	Flexible, but deadlines still apply	Set by the employer
Tools and software	Bought by the artist	Often provided
Finding work	Your job, always	Handled by the company
Copyright	Usually set by contract, so it must be agreed	Usually belongs to the employer, depending on local law and contract

Many artists move between the two. Some start in a studio to learn pipelines, then go freelance. Others freelance first and take a staff job later. The skills carry over both ways.

What do real freelance artist jobs look like?

The best way to see what is a freelance artist in daily life is to look at typical jobs. These are generic examples, not real client stories.

A book cover for a self-published author

The author sends a short brief and a few reference images. The illustrator proposes two sketches, the author picks one, and the artist delivers the final art in the right sizes for print and ebook. One revision round is included.

A logo and colour palette for a new cafe

The designer asks about the cafe’s customers and mood, shows a few directions and refines one. The deliverable is a set of logo files plus a simple guide on colours and fonts.

Character art for an indie game

A concept artist draws the main character from several angles, then outfits and expressions. The developer reviews each stage. Because the game may change, the contract should say what happens when the brief grows.

A pet portrait commission

An individual orders a painting from photos of their dog. The artist quotes by size and medium, takes a deposit, sends a progress photo and ships the finished piece after final payment.

A wall mural for a school

A muralist surveys the wall, presents a sketch, agrees materials and a timeline, and paints during a school break. The price covers prep, supplies and the artist’s time.

Notice what repeats: a brief, a quote, a stage of review and a clear delivery. That cycle is the real job, whatever the medium.

Which skills does a freelance artist need besides art?

Talent gets you noticed. In practice, what is a freelance artist if not a small business owner who also draws? These skills keep you hired.

• Reading a brief. Many revision rounds come from misunderstanding what the client wanted.
• Clear communication. Short, polite updates build trust.
• Time management. You must plan work around deadlines with no manager.
• Basic pricing. Know your hourly floor, and quote scope not just a number.
• Writing a short pitch. Marketplaces reward artists who explain how they will solve the client’s problem.
• Record keeping. Save contracts, invoices and files from every project.

Pitching deserves special attention. On Upwork, a client posts a job and reads proposals quickly. The artist who answers the brief in the first lines and attaches one fitting sample usually stands out. Our team wrote about this in how to send proposals on Upwork.

Where do freelance artists find clients?

Most artists use several channels at once.

1. Freelance marketplaces. Upwork, Fiverr and similar sites bring buyers to you. Our guide to getting clients on Fiverr covers one of them.
2. Social media and portfolio sites. Instagram, Behance, ArtStation and a personal site show your style to people who search for it.
3. Direct commissions. Fans and collectors who message you after seeing your work online.
4. Agencies and studios. They hire freelancers for overflow work, and can send repeat projects.
5. Referrals. Past clients recommend you, especially if you ask for a testimonial after a good project.

For more on client sourcing in general, see how to find clients as a freelancer.

Where BidStaff fits for artists who use Upwork

BidStaff is built for the freelancer side of Upwork. It writes proposals in your own tone from your past winning proposals and attaches the best work sample. It also scores each job from 0 to 10 against your profile and checks the client before you apply. You can see how it works on the features page. It does not make art, and it never submits for you: you copy the proposal and send it yourself.

What about contracts, copyright and taxes?

This is the part new artists skip, and it causes most disputes. The rules depend on your country, so treat the points below as a checklist of things to learn, not as advice.

• Contract. Even a one-page agreement should cover scope, price, revisions, deadlines, payment dates and who owns the final work.
• Copyright and usage. In many places the creator holds the copyright unless a contract says otherwise, though work made for an employer or “for hire” can differ. The US Copyright Office explains the basics for US readers.
• Deposits. Taking part of the fee upfront is common for commissions and larger projects.
• Tax. Self-employed people usually report their own income and may pay tax in a different way than employees. It depends on your country, so check the official tax agency.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. If a client asks you to sign away all rights for a small fee, pause and get proper advice first.

Common myths about freelance artists

A few ideas cloud the question of what is a freelance artist, so let me clear them up.

• “They work whenever they feel like it.” Deadlines are real, and clients expect replies.
• “Talent is enough.” A strong portfolio helps, but repeat clients come from reliability.
• “You need a degree.” Some clients ask for one, but most look at samples first.
• “They are always starving.” Some earn little, others build solid businesses. Results depend on skill, niche, pricing and effort put into finding clients.
• “AI makes artists pointless.” Tools change the work and the market, and clients still hire people for taste, direction and accountability. How much this shifts differs by niche.

If you are still deciding whether to try it, our article on how to start freelancing without experience helps with the first steps. When you are ready for a plan, read how to be a freelance artist. To compare the daily reality and income side, see what is freelance artist.

Frequently asked questions

What is a freelance artist in simple terms?

It is an artist or designer who sells work to different clients as a self-employed person, instead of working for one employer.

Is a freelance artist a real job?

Yes. People do it full time and part time. The income depends on skill, niche, pricing and how well they find clients.

Do freelance artists need a degree?

Not by law, in most fields. Clients usually judge the portfolio and communication. Some studio roles prefer formal training.

Can a tattoo artist be freelance?

Yes, many are self-employed, but local licensing and studio rules apply. Check what your area requires.

How do freelance artists get paid?

By project fee, hourly rate, price list, licensing, print sales or a monthly retainer. Many use a deposit and a final payment.

Do freelance artists own the copyright?

Often yes by default, but contracts can transfer or limit rights, and the law varies by country. Agree it in writing.

Where can a beginner find first clients?

Start with a small portfolio on a marketplace or social platform, take a few low-risk commissions and ask for feedback. Marketplace jobs reward a short, specific proposal.

Is freelance art better than a staff job?

Neither is better in general. Freelancing gives freedom and risk. Staff roles give stability and a team. Choose by your needs.

Conclusion

So, what is a freelance artist? A self-employed creative who sells work to several clients, from illustrators and designers to painters, concept artists and tattoo artists. They earn through fees, commissions, licensing and sales, and they trade a fixed salary for freedom.

Your action list:

1. Pick the type of artist you want to be and name the clients you would serve.
2. Build a small portfolio of work that looks like the jobs you want.
3. Learn the basics of contracts, copyright and tax in your own country.
4. Choose two channels to find clients and send short, specific pitches.
5. If Upwork is one of them, try BidStaff to check the client and draft the proposal faster.

Other related articles

• How to be a freelance artist
• What is freelance artist
• How to start a freelance business
• How to start freelancing without experience
• How to find clients as a freelancer

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and builds BidStaff around that daily work.