I've been to a few art shows and sold a number of framed pieces of my artwork.
I've also applied to a good number of art festivals (in the Digital Artwork category) and was turned down because they had so many applications. I don't know how they allocate spaces to each category. Were the Digital Artwork spaces were filled by better artists? Or were the spaces taken up by traditional-media artists and the art festival didn't have the space for digital artists?
Or did the art festival not want to "branch out" by accepting Digital Artwork?

I think the real question isn't whether someone has made money with their art, but what steps did they take to get there.
Anyone can list their art for sale, sell one piece, and say they "made money", but I want to know how the artist who made an image which "looked like a beginner" (as you said) can get a gallery showing and charge $2000 for his art? The gallery wouldn't put that price on the piece if they didn't think it was worth that amount.
Who did they talk to, to get into the gallery? Or was the artist approached by the gallery? What did the artist do to come to the attention of the gallery?

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