A Portland painter transformed her rainy morning rides into art — and her art into a thriving side hustle.
Challenge
For years, Ursula B. worked long hours bartending and doing catering gigs to pay her bills while she pursued her true passion — painting.
Every day, she cycled through the misty streets of Portland, Oregon, surrounded by bridges, skyline reflections, and rain-slicked streets. The city inspired her, but inspiration alone wasn’t paying rent.
She wanted to find a way to turn her art into income without abandoning her creative vision.
Action
Ursula decided to study what sold. During catering jobs in Portland’s luxury homes, she noticed the artwork hanging on clients’ walls — abstract landscapes, muted tones, and textured canvases. She took mental notes, realizing that while her personal art was figurative, buyers preferred urban scenes and atmospheric cityscapes.
Instead of giving up on her own style, she adapted it. She started small — printing postcards and mini art prints of Portland’s skyline and selling them on consignment in local cafes and boutiques.
Her first few sales gave her confidence. Using her service industry connections, she began getting her art displayed in more shops and coffee houses. From there, her work evolved into murals for local businesses and custom commissions.
Her early investments were minimal — about $300 a month for supplies and a small studio space. Within months, she was making $400–$500 a month in sales. As word spread, that number kept climbing.
Result
Five years later, Ursula’s creative business now earns between $4,000 and $7,000 in monthly revenue, with around $5,000 in net income. Her murals decorate some of Portland’s most visible spaces, including projects for Travel Portland and TriMet (the city’s public transit agency).
Customers can still buy her art for as little as $2 on a postcard or as much as $2,000 for an original painting.
And her commute? Still inspiring — but now it’s also profitable.
Lesson
Ursula’s success came from a blend of creativity and observation. Instead of rejecting the commercial side of art, she learned from her audience and adjusted her approach — without compromising her authenticity.
Her story is a powerful reminder that “selling out” isn’t about making art that sells. It’s about abandoning what you love. Ursula never did that — she simply found a way to make her art connect with the world around her.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.