Many artists have heard of Patreon, but if you’ve never explored it, it can seem a little mysterious.
The simplest way to describe it is as a membership platform. People who enjoy your work can choose to support you with a monthly subscription, and in return you decide what you’d like to share with them. That might be videos, blogs, tutorials, sketchbooks, workshops, podcasts, downloadable PDFs, or simply behind-the-scenes access to your practice. There are no rules. It becomes whatever you want it to be.
For me, Patreon feels very different from social media.
Social media often feels like standing on a busy street trying to catch people’s attention as people scroll past. Patreon feels more like inviting people into your studio. They’re there because they genuinely want to be there, and that changes the relationship completely. It has become a home for my creative practice, where I can share not just finished paintings but the thinking, experimenting and curiosity behind them.
One of the things I value most is that Patreon combines many of the features I’d otherwise need several different platforms for. I can write long-form blog posts, upload videos, share downloadable PDFs, create online courses, organise everything into collections, and even sell products through the shop. When I publish something, Patreon emails my members automatically, so I don’t have to manage a separate mailing list just to let people know there’s something new.
It also allows you to link your website and social media directly to your page, so it can sit alongside your existing online presence rather than replacing it – a central hub that connects everything rather than competing with it.
The tier system is also very flexible. You can keep things simple with one membership level or build several tiers offering different experiences. Patreon also offers a free membership tier, which I think is a fantastic addition. It gives people the chance to get to know your work before committing financially and provides another way to stay connected with those who simply want to follow what you’re doing.
More recently, Patreon introduced Quips, which work a little like a private social feed. I use them for quick updates, works in progress, asking questions and sharing thoughts that don’t need a full blog post. It keeps conversations flowing between larger pieces of content and strengthens the feeling of community.
When I first started my Patreon, I wasn’t sure whether anyone would be interested. Like many artists, I assumed people mainly wanted to see finished artworks.
Instead, I’ve found that people are often more interested in the process. They enjoy the studio, the sketchbooks, the experimentation, the questions, the mistakes and the discoveries that eventually become finished work. Sharing that side of my practice and being relatable has become just as rewarding as sharing the artworks themselves.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that Patreon isn’t really about asking people to support your art. It’s about giving people something they genuinely value.
For me, that’s meant creating workshops, courses, sketchbook tours, artist interviews, exhibition visits, creative prompts, life drawing sessions and behind-the-scenes videos. My aim isn’t for people to paint like me. It’s to help them become more curious, more observant and more confident in finding their own creative voice.
Consistency has probably been the most important factor in growing my Patreon. I don’t post every day, but members know I’ll keep showing up. That regular rhythm builds trust over time, and Patreon rewards consistency far more than occasional bursts of activity.
Financially, Patreon has brought a degree of stability. It doesn’t replace selling original work, but recurring monthly income supports the quieter parts of my practice, the reading, sketching, experimenting and research that often happen long before a finished piece exists.
It’s worth remembering that Patreon isn’t passive income. Members stay because you continue creating value for them. I think of it as another part of my creative practice rather than a separate business. Like making art itself, it grows through consistency and care.
Patreon does charge a percentage of your membership income, along with payment processing fees, so you don’t receive the full subscription amount. For me, that’s a worthwhile trade-off for everything it provides: secure payments, video hosting, memberships, emails, community tools and an ever-growing archive of content, all in one place.
Another thing I’ve appreciated is that Patreon itself keeps evolving. The platform regularly introduces new features, runs free online seminars and training sessions, and actively asks creators for feedback. It feels like a platform that’s growing alongside the people who use it rather than standing still.
Practical tips I’d share
- Think long term. Patreon grows through trust. Mine certainly didn’t happen overnight. It’s more like planting a garden than opening a shop.
- Don’t start with the lowest possible tier. Leave yourself room to introduce a lower-priced supporter tier later if you decide you’d like one.
- Use the free membership tier. It’s an excellent way for people to discover your work and stay connected before becoming paying members.
- Schedule your content. This has been one of my favourite features. I often batch-create videos or write several posts in one go, then schedule them to be released over the following weeks. It means members receive regular content even when I’m busy making new work.
- Build a library rather than a feed. Unlike social media, your content doesn’t disappear. Every workshop, article and video becomes part of a growing archive that new members can explore at any time.
- Start small and make it sustainable. You don’t need multiple tiers or hundreds of posts on day one. A manageable, consistent offering is far better than trying to do everything at once.
- Ask yourself what people already come to you for. Rather than wondering what to hide behind a paywall, think about the questions people ask you most often. Those conversations often become the foundations of a meaningful Patreon.
For me, Patreon has become much more than another online platform. It’s where I can share the slower, quieter and often messier parts of being an artist. It’s a place for conversation rather than performance, for process rather than polish, and for building a community around curiosity.
That’s why it has become one of the most rewarding parts of my creative practice.
Would you like to follow Nade’s creative process and support her artistic journey? Visit What Nade Made on Patreon to explore her latest work, behind-the-scenes content, workshops and creative updates.
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