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Whenever I feel stressed or just want to pass the time, I bring out my handy-dandy coloring book! I might sound like a kid, but hear me out. Coloring is such a cheap hobby that also feels relaxing. It also brings out my creative side, which helps when I need a bit of inspiration to blog.
I know you might feel the same way about coloring, and I’m sure a lot of people have extreme talent in this hobby! So, what if I told you that you can actually get paid to color?
That’s right, if you’ve got the knack for colors and art, you can make it into a side hustle or full-time gig!
Of course, you can’t just color on paper randomly and expect money to appear out of nowhere. There are amazing, creative jobs in the coloring industry you can now get into. The opportunities are endless, ranging from becoming a color specialist to a graphic designer.
If you don’t know where to start, I’ve got you covered with this ultimate list!
PIN THIS: I’ll be updating this post so make sure to pin this image here and save it to your Pinterest board. That way you’ll be able to come back to this page to learn how you can get paid to color!
1. Coloring Book Artist
These are awesome jobs for introverts, which involve creating beautiful coloring books for kids and adults alike! If you’ve got the talent for creating original line art and want to try your hand at making coloring books, this can be a great way to make money with coloring books.
In fact, it’s one of the best things to sell on Etsy, with customers looking for printables to gift kids or themselves!
Whether you want to do mandalas for stress relief, animals from famous fables for kids, or holiday-themed art, there are so many types of coloring books that are easy to create and popular among many people! You can use tools like Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, or even Canva to make fantastic line art.
Selling your coloring books is a breeze, you don’t need to work with a publisher. Try posting and selling your work by selling printables on Etsy or Gumroad, as well as self-publishing on Amazon KDP.
2. Start A Coloring YouTube Channel
You might be shocked by how popular the coloring niche is on YouTube!
There are tons of people obsessed with watching mukbangs and ASMR videos since it feels relaxing. The same goes for watching people color!
For those who want to get paid to color online, try starting a coloring YouTube channel where you can film yourself coloring or share reviews of coloring tools. From there, you can earn from YouTube Ads, affiliate links, getting brand deals, or even selling your own coloring books.
That said, if you know how to make money on YouTube, you also need to grow your channel, which starts by creating engaging and high-quality content. For instance, if you plan to do ASMR “Color With Me” videos, use relaxing music. Or, you can also share tips about your coloring process and techniques!
I recommend checking out popular coloring YouTubers like Kimmi The Clown or Sarah Renae Clark, so you can get inspiration and learn more about what type of content to roll out.
3. Manga/Comic Colorist
While you’d think that illustrators are the ones responsible for coloring comics, there are colorists hired to help make the process quicker and more efficient. Colorists would digitally color black-and-white comic panels for webtoons, manga, or western comics using software like Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint.
If you love comic books and have a talent for coloring, then this is the ultimate dream job where you can utilize your hobbies to make money! Plus, it’s an excellent way to make money online, since there are many companies looking for freelance colorists. Begin your job search from platforms like UpWork, Fiverr, DeviantArt, and Art Station!
Don’t know where to start? If you’re a complete beginner, I recommend that you first broaden your knowledge in the art of digital coloring. This means learning more about shadows, lighting, and the purpose of coloring in the art of storytelling. You can also gain more clients by doing fan art to build your portfolio.
4. Color Line Art for Digital Artists
Just like manga and comic books, there are digital artists who are looking to hire talented people for coloring jobs. Some digital artists tend to outsource the coloring stage, especially if they are creating a significant amount of artwork.
It’s an excellent side hustle from home where you can do tasks on your own time, without leaving the house. While you can find freelancing gigs from Upwork and Fiverr, digital artists also look for colorists from platforms like Twitter (X), Reddit art communities, and DeviantArt.
It’s worth beefing up your portfolio, so you’ll want to start collaborating with beginner artists to gain more experience. It will be a win-win situation for you and the artist! I also suggest using reputable tools like Medibang Paint, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita, which make rendering line art even easier!
5. Interior Designer
I know it sounds like interior design isn’t related to coloring at all, but hear me out. Color plays a very important role here. After all, colors are a major part of what makes or breaks a space. You’ll be choosing paint colors, deciding what textiles to use, considering furniture palettes, and much more!
If you’re interested in this career path, it’s worth majoring in interior design. That way, you gain experience and work as a professional interior designer in reputable companies, or even create your own business. Or, if you prefer doing this part-time, there are freelance jobs and staging opportunities you can take on.
If you want to get paid to color as an interior designer, short courses from Udemy, Skillshare, or community colleges can lead to freelancing opportunities.
Start with 3D design software like SketchUp or Roomstyler to build your portfolio, and showcase your mock designs on Instagram and Pinterest to attract a large audience.
6. Graphic Designer
Being a graphic designer goes beyond just coloring, but mastering color is still a major part of the job! That’s why this is one of the best jobs for creative people.
It’s a visual communication role that demands strong color theory, as colors influence emotions, branding, and how people perceive your message. It’s not just about aesthetics — the way you combine colors can make or break the entire design.
Expect to be working on designs like logos, ads, product packaging, and social media graphics. Not only should you have excellent creativity skills, but you also need to know how to use design software and tools like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Figma.
When starting out, try to reach out to small businesses and bloggers who might require your services. That way, you can assist with their branding, and they can help get your foot into the door of graphic design!
7. Makeup Artist
Do you love experimenting with makeup and want to bring out people’s beauty even further? Then, becoming a makeup artist can be one of the best weekend jobs for you!
A job as a makeup artist is more than just putting makeup on. It’s all about exuding your creativity, artistic expression, and, of course, knowing what colors suit different skin tones and events.
There are different types of makeup services you can offer, from bridal trials and Halloween makeup, down to airbrushing and glam tutorials. Just make sure you have both the experience and tools to begin with, including makeup kits, lighting, and a good camera to take before and after photos.
Besides that, there are various ways you can break into the industry, such as working with bridal or editorial photographers, freelancing, or working under a company.
If you’re freelancing or collaborating with photographers, you can gain clients by showcasing your looks on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where you can gain more traction. StyleSeat is also a good place to set up your own business and offer your services!
8. Nail Technician
Do you have a passion for nail fashion? Then you’ll love being a nail technician!
This can be your ultimate work-from-home job where you’ll spend your days working with colors, from blending nail polish, hand-painting designs, and creating gorgeous ombre effects your clients will love!
It’s also an excellent business idea for stay-at-home moms since you can run a home-based or mobile business that operates on your schedule. That way, you’ll have more time with the kiddos AND earn from your hobby!
To begin your career path as a nail technician, I recommend showcasing your detailed nail art videos on TikTok, where you can get potential clients. If you specialize in creating press-on nails, you can offer customized products on Etsy for extra income! Some of the more popular trends to focus on are chrome nails, gel art, and designs with seasonal themes, like Christmas or summer nails!
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