Sculptor selling commissions and gallery work

Private collectors, interior designers, homeowners wanting custom pieces, restaurants and offices, galleries, and local public art programs.

Sale price per finished piece, commission fees agreed up front (often with a deposit), and gallery sales where the gallery usually keeps a share. Smaller editions or prints of designs can add steady smaller sales.

• Skill in at least one sculpting material
• Design and visual sense
• Pricing your own work with confidence
• Talking to clients and galleries

• Check with your city or county about a business license and whether a home occupation permit applies
• Check your state's rules on collecting sales tax on art sales
• Welding, kilns, dust and solvents carry safety risks, so check ventilation, fire safety and your lease or HOA rules
• Get general liability insurance and insure valuable work in transit or on display
• Use written commission agreements covering price, deposit, timeline and changes
• Income can be uneven, especially in the first year

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $8,000, depending on your materials, studio setup and the equipment you need. Treat this as an estimate and price your own setup before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $3,000, depending on how many pieces and commissions you sell. These are estimates, and income can be uneven, especially in the first year.

Check with your city or county about a business license and whether a home occupation permit applies. Also check your state's sales tax rules on art, safety with welding, kilns and solvents, and your lease or HOA rules.