My neighbour two doors down is a regionally known full time professional painter hustling between teaching and shows and creating works that start at a few thousand dollars and sell at those prices.
But a few years ago the artist's agent brought an offer that was too good to refuse - license some works to a high end retailer for Giclee prints. It provides a real base income that pays the mortgage and the heat and the water bill.
For those not familiar with the term "Giclee"[1], it's faux-French for "Serious art collectors will pay us more if we use a made up French term instead of inkjet."
But a few years ago the artist's agent brought an offer that was too good to refuse - license some works to a high end retailer for Giclee prints. It provides a real base income that pays the mortgage and the heat and the water bill.
http://www.gicleeprint.net/pricing.asp?servcat=2&medid=11