While it is difficult to make a living working as an artist, there are ways to use your painting talent to make enough money to support the fine art you really want to create. Get to know local interior decorators‹they may know high-end clients who want specially painted details in their homes. You can also provide portrait-painting services for clients who want formal paintings of their children, pets or themselves.

Calligrapher
From hand-written envelopes to individually designed placecards, calligraphers are in high demand for events from weddings to gala dinners. You can also expand your business by hand-lettering gift items, such as a framed poem from one sweetheart to another or certificates of appreciation. If this is something you want to do, it is important to strike up good relationships with wedding and event planners who can refer your services to potential customers.

Singer
Turning your talent for singing into a business might not be easy, but it can be extremely rewarding if you like to perform. You can offer your voice for weddings and parties, and perhaps can pick up contracts with local Italian restaurants that have Opera Nights, when strolling singers serenade diners. Of course, you can also seek out more traditional singing gigs, including paid soloist or section leader work at a local church or synagogue, jobs with local professional singing groups, or becoming the lead or backup singer for a local professional band or orchestra.

Craftsperson
The fine art crafts movement is definitely alive and well in the United States. People of all income levels want to beautify their home with lovely, unique decorative objects. Whether you are a talented woodworker, jeweler, metalsmith or fabric painter, you can make a comfortable living by selling your wares at the many craft shows that are held each weekend. Although you may have to spend some start-up funds to create some sample pieces, you can use those pieces to acquire orders (and up-front payment) for more work.

Actor/Actress
This is another great opportunity to put your creative talents to work for other people. If you look like a celebrity, you could hire yourself out as a celebrity impersonator for corporate events and other entertainment functions. There's also a big demand for actors and actresses to play characters or clowns at birthday parties and other events for children. If you can work up a funny character and market yourself, and you enjoy working with children, that might be a way to go. Another way to act for money is to audition for and get parts in local professional productions, although there might be some costs involved with this. Often, professional actors and actresses are required to be a member of an actors union, which means paying dues and other expenses.

Writer
From web content to print material, there are words around you every day. Someone has to write those words, and it might as well be you! It costs very little to start a writing and editing business, particularly if you conduct most of your transactions via e-mail. By surfing many of the electronic job boards on sites like www.iUniverse.com , www.sunoasis.com or www.mediabistro.com, a savvy writer can bring in a number of freelance contracts. Another good way to drum up business is to find print materials, such as menus at your favorite restaurant, a newsletter at your local community center or the brochure for a nearby garden center, write a bid letter suggesting ways you could improve the material, and send it to the business. Many times those materials are written by a freelance writer, and if you¹re a better copywriter than they are, why shouldn't you get the business?