Over 50? Here’s a calm, realistic £1,000/month plan for your art (without daily posting)
By following these steps, you’ll discover how to make £1000 a month from your art and achieve the financial stability you desire.
If you’re over 50 and that voice keeps saying “too late”, here’s the reality: it’s rarely too late, it’s usually just unplanned.
Many artists don’t struggle because their work isn’t good enough. They struggle because income is accidental. A painting sells, a commission appears, a workshop happens once, then nothing for weeks. You can’t build a life around “maybe”.
This article shows you how to make £1,000 a month from your art using a loop you repeat each month, not a marketing machine you have to feed. You’ll turn a fuzzy goal into numbers, an offer mix, and a weekly rhythm that protects your energy.
I’m Simone, an abstract artist and ex Business Analyst (American Express). I’m building my art business while juggling health, kids and responsibilities.
Why £1,000? Because it’s big enough to matter and small enough to be realistic. And when you can make £1,000 a month from your art reliably, you can scale it.
How to make £1,000 a month from your art: The £1k Income Loop
To make £1,000 a month from your art in a sustainable way, run this four-step loop month after month:
Purpose + Number
Offers + Income Mix
Visibility Rhythm
Systems + Review
Think of it as a small wheel you turn, not a mountain. It’s a gentle way to make £1,000 a month from your art.
1) Purpose + Number: give the £1,000 a job
Before you decide what to post or where to sell, decide why the money matters. To make £1,000 a month from your art without resentment, your goal needs a purpose that’s personal.
Examples:
“I want £1,000 a month so I can drop one day of paid work.”
“I want £1,000 a month so my art pays for itself.”
“I want £1,000 a month so I can top up savings or pension.”
Write it down:
“My £1,000 is for ________.”
That tiny step matters because it turns “more sales” into a clear brief. You are not hoping to make £1,000 a month from your art. You are designing it.
2) Offers + Income Mix: turn £1,000 into real things people buy
To make £1,000 a month from your art, you need a small set of offers with clear prices. Here are three mixes, just to show the maths.
Mix 1: Commissions-focused
4 commissions at £250 each = £1,000
Or5 commissions at £200 each = £1,000
If you have a warm local circle, commissions can be the most direct route.
Mix 2: Originals + prints
3 originals at £300 each = £900
4 prints at £25 each = £100
Total = £1,000
This mix helps you make £1,000 a month from your art without relying entirely on custom work.
Mix 3: Teaching + art sales
1 workshop for 8 people at £60 each = £480
2 originals at £200 each = £400
5 prints at £24 each (round to £25) = £120
Total = £1,000
Teaching is a joyful way to make £1,000 a month from your art while building confidence and community.
Mini-payoff: to make £1,000 a month from your art, you don’t need a viral reel. You need a handful of clear transactions. This is the moment many artists realise they actually can make £1,000 a month from your art with the offers they already enjoy making.
3) Choose your easiest path for the next 90 days
The biggest mistake is chasing all three mixes at once. To make £1,000 a month from your art, focus beats variety, at least for the first three months.
Ask:
“With my current energy and life, which mix feels easiest to repeat?”
(A quick guide) Are you a:
Connector: relationships come naturally. Commissions often help you make £1,000 a month from your art fastest.
Maker: you love the studio and want a coherent body of work. Originals + prints can help you make £1,000 a month from your art steadily.
Guide: you enjoy explaining and encouraging. Teaching can help you make £1,000 a month from your art with fewer “will they buy?” moments.
Choose one and say it:
“For the next 90 days, I will focus on one path and repeat it.”
4) Visibility Rhythm: one calm way to be seen (no daily posting)
To make £1,000 a month from your art, you don’t need to be everywhere. You need to be consistent in a small number of places.
Pick three things for this month:
One main place online
One main way offline
One repeated call to action
Examples:
Commissions
Online: Instagram 1–2 times a week showing finished work.
Offline: mention your commission spots in one community group.
CTA: “I have 4 commission spots this month. Message me for details.”
Originals + prints
Online: one strong email showcasing what’s available.
Offline: refresh one café or venue display.
CTA: “These pieces are available now. Reply to buy or arrange a viewing.”
Workshops
Online: short posts showing what students will experience.
Offline: one flyer where your ideal students already go.
CTA: “Beginner workshop on [date], [X] places. Book here.”
This narrow focus makes it easier to make £1,000 a month from your art because people can see, understand, and act.
5) Systems + Review: keep it light, keep it moving
To make £1,000 a month from your art consistently, you need a tiny structure that prevents drift:
Weekly check-in (10 minutes)
Ask:
“Did I do at least one thing that moved my £1k path forward?”
“What needs adjusting this week because of health, caring, or life?”
Simple tracking (one page)
Track only what matters:
pieces available and sold
commissions booked and delivered
workshop places or print orders
End-of-month review (20 minutes)
Ask:
“How much did I bring in?”
“Which part of my mix moved?”
“What felt heavy, what felt surprisingly enjoyable?”
Then tweak next month. That is how you keep learning while you make £1,000 a month from your art.
The £1k month I’d choose if I was starting again at 50+
Your goal is to make £1,000 a month from your art.
If I was starting again now, I would choose a mix with teaching at it’s heart as I love sharing my knowledge and watching others flourish. I would ensure I have:
one main offer
one supportive offer
one lower-risk entry point
Example:
1 small workshop: 8 people at £65 = £520
2 medium originals at £200 each = £400
4 small prints or mini works at £20 each = £80
Total = £1,000
That’s a friendly way to make £1,000 a month from your art because it doesn’t rely on one single type of buyer.
Your turn: draft your first £1k month today
Copy and complete:
My £1,000 is for: ________
My easiest path (90 days): commissions OR originals+prints OR teaching
My £1,000 mix (prices + quantities): ________
One online place: ________
One offline route: ________
One repeated call to action: ________
Weekly check-in day/time: ________
If your goal is to make £1,000 a month from your art, start the loop this week with one small action.

See my other videos in the series here: Link to Full Playlist
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