Consider posting an illustration portfolio online (try cargo collective or a paid wordpress account) and trying freelance illustration through Elance or another service.

Also you could paint for one of those services that place paintings in hotels and other places like Deljou.

And consider community art grants or working in art and education in the community.

Follow your nose and stick to your guns!

Inspirational:

What I learned from Amanda Palmer’s The Art of Asking | A geek with a hat