Can artists (illustrators) make a living by selling prints?

[ZZephyr]

I know some illustrators used to make money only by making & selling their art prints, but I don't know how difficult it is nowadays. If you're really popular you definitely could, but if you're, say, moderately good and just starting, is it still possible? How is today's art print market?

[joyous]

It's definitely possible.

You need to have the following things, listed in order of importance:

1) A good marketing scheme, or someone who can make one for you and get your name out there. You have to have a market, a theme song, a facebook and twitter page, and people singing your praises.

2) A supplier. Someone who prints your stuff for you and prints it on the cheap. Your supplier is important since the quality of the prints is the first thing people will look at and see after your marketing is done and finished with them. Limited prints are the way to go - Originals and 1off illustrations are very tough to market and have a very limited audience (Think Art shows and galleries) instead of getting out to the HUGE internet and global crowd you could otherwise have.

3) Talent. If your work looks good, you have this extra bonus point going for you. However, just like Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, you need not have talent to have success.