Gone are the days when you needed to master a paintbrush or spend years learning Photoshop to create stunning art. Thanks to the rise of AI tools, especially generative art models, anyone can now produce eye-catching visuals—and better yet, sell them online for real money.
Whether you’re a total beginner or someone who’s just curious about this new trend, this guide will show you exactly how to tap into the booming world of AI-generated art, how to turn it into a side hustle, and how to build a passive income stream from it.
Let’s dive straight into it.
🌟 What is AI-Generated Art?
AI-generated art is artwork created using artificial intelligence. These tools use algorithms trained on millions of images to understand styles, colors, and compositions, allowing them to generate new, original artworks based on your prompts.
Some popular AI art tools include Midjourney, DALL·E, and a new player that’s making waves—Artistly AI. (More on this later.)
All you need to do is input a description like:
“A futuristic city at sunset in cyberpunk style”
…and in seconds, the AI creates a masterpiece.
💰 Is There a Market for AI Art?
Yes. A big one.
From wall prints to digital wallpapers, t-shirt designs, album covers, book illustrations, and NFTs, the demand for unique art is booming—especially when it’s fast, original, and affordable. AI-generated art ticks all these boxes.
Platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, Redbubble, and even Instagram are filled with people selling AI-generated art—and getting paid for it.
And the best part? You can start with zero art skills.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money with AI Art
Let’s break it all down into manageable steps:
✅ Step 1: Choose the Right AI Tool
To create high-quality and sellable art, you need an AI art generator that gives you full control, commercial rights, and outputs in HD.
We recommend checking out Artistly AI.
It’s beginner-friendly, gives you unlimited generations, and even offers one-click image variations.
Unlike many free tools that limit your usage or slap watermarks on your images, Artistly AI lets you create and own your artwork. That means you can legally sell it and keep 100% of the profit.
✅ Step 2: Start Creating Art in Popular Niches
Don’t just create random pieces. Focus on niches that sell. Here are a few:
- Anime-style illustrations
- Fantasy or sci-fi landscapes
- Spiritual and cosmic themes
- Boho and minimalist wall art
- Motivational poster designs
- Pop culture mashups
- Aesthetic Instagram art
- Pet portraits and animal mashups
Use Artistly AI to input keywords like:
“Vintage astronaut floating through a galaxy, retro style”
Or
“Cute anime cat holding a ramen bowl in Tokyo”
Let the AI do the magic and tweak until it’s perfect.
✅ Step 3: Prepare Your Art for Sale
Once you generate your art, you’ll want to clean it up and prepare it for selling. That includes:
- Upscaling the resolution using tools like Upscayl or Let’s Enhance
- Removing backgrounds (for t-shirt or sticker designs)
- Converting to high-quality printable formats (JPG, PNG, PDF)
- Bundling themed sets (e.g. 10 mystical portraits for Etsy)
Pro tip: Create collections or bundles. People pay more for themed packs.
✅ Step 4: Pick a Marketplace to Sell Your Art
Here are a few places where beginners can list their AI art and make money:
🛍️ 1. Etsy
Great for selling printable wall art, stickers, and digital posters.
Set up a shop and offer digital downloads. People love instant art!
🧢 2. Redbubble / TeePublic / Zazzle
These are print-on-demand platforms where your art can go on:
- T-shirts
- Stickers
- Phone cases
- Mugs
You upload the design, they handle printing, shipping, and customer service.
📱 3. Instagram / Pinterest
Use these platforms for promotion and traffic. Post your AI creations and direct people to your Etsy or Gumroad store.
💻 4. Gumroad / Payhip
Perfect for selling digital products like:
- Wallpaper bundles
- Poster sets
- Icon packs
You can even set up email capture to grow a list of art buyers.
🖼️ 5. Shutterstock / Adobe Stock
Some AI-generated art is now accepted on stock photo sites, as long as you have the rights. Read their terms carefully and check if your tool (like Artistly AI) grants commercial use.
✅ Step 5: Price Your Artwork Right
Digital products are great because you sell them over and over again. Price suggestions:
- Individual digital print: $4–$10
- Wallpaper bundles: $5–$20
- T-shirt designs: $10–$30
- Complete art packs (e.g. 20 pieces): $15–$50
Set discounts for first-time buyers, offer bundle deals, and upsell!
🔥 Why Use Artistly AI?
Let’s talk about the real cheat code here.
Most beginners struggle with clunky interfaces, generation limits, or lack of ownership when using free AI tools. But Artistly AI is built different:
- 🔓 Commercial rights to sell every image you generate
- 🔁 Unlimited generations – no credit limits
- 🧠 Easy prompt system – just describe what you want
- 🎯 Built-in templates for popular art styles
- 💰 No hidden fees or subscriptions
You can literally generate an entire product line in one sitting.
This is the tool we recommend for anyone starting from scratch.
💡 Tips to Succeed in the AI Art Game
- Stay consistent. Post new art weekly or even daily.
- Follow trends. Use TikTok, Pinterest, and Etsy’s search bar to find hot niches.
- Brand your store. Use a consistent art style, logo, and colors.
- Offer freebies. Use a free download to attract email subscribers.
- Use SEO. Include keywords in your Etsy titles and product descriptions.
📈 From Side Hustle to Serious Income
Some creators are making $500 to $5,000+ per month selling AI-generated art. Here’s how it scales:
- Create once, sell forever
- No shipping, no inventory
- Multiple marketplaces
- Cross-promote using social media
The more art you list, the more potential revenue streams you build.
And when you’re using the right tool like Artistly AI, the process becomes 10x faster and easier. That’s how you move like a top gee in the game.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Selling AI-generated art is one of the smartest and easiest ways to make money online right now. You don’t need to be an artist. You just need the right idea, the right tool, and a bit of creativity.
Ready to start?
👉 Grab Artistly AI here and start generating sellable art in minutes.
You don’t need to tell anyone it’s AI—just let the artwork speak for itself.
🚀 Your Move
The internet is full of noise. But those who take action win.
Set up your shop. Create your first 10 pieces. List them for sale.
And let AI do the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
This side hustle? It’s beginner-proof.
And now, it’s your turn.