What are some ideas to turn hobbies into income?

Long-time lurker, first-time poster – I'm hoping this incredible community can offer some guidance. I'm currently on the pre-med track, working towards my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. Up until now, all my jobs have been pretty standard resume-builders in line with my med school goals.

The thing is, applying to medical school is astronomically expensive (seriously, it's wild!), and my current part-time jobs just aren't cutting it. I'm also still in school, so my schedule is already pretty packed, making it tough to commit to a rigid work schedule. I really don't want to have to ask my parents to cover these application fees on top of everything else they're already doing for me.

Here's where my "other" passion comes in: art! I absolutely love to draw, paint, and anything creative. I've been doing it for years, and I guess I'm decent at it – I've won several awards at like competitions and stuff, and it's always felt incredibly natural to me.

So, I'm reaching out for ideas: Does anyone have experience or suggestions for flexible ways to make money through art? I'm looking for something I can do on my own terms, ideally with deadlines rather than set hours, to fit around my demanding student schedule. Think "side hustle" rather than "part-time job."

I've thought about illustrating for children's books, but I don't even know where i would start with that and it seems demanding.

I'm open to all suggestions, no matter how big or small! Every little bit helps!