Do you want to make money by selling your art online? Today, we’re exploring the best places to sell art online so you can earn money from your passion!
Many people want to become artists but aren’t sure how to earn a living selling art. Maybe you already consider yourself an artist but have trouble making money with your art.
I’m sure you’ve heard the term starving artist, am I right? Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this post, we’ll show you how to sell art online and make money, so you can be free to pursue your passion and pay the bills.
As more and more people are selling products online these days, there are many websites dedicated to helping you do the same with your art.
Where you sell your art online depends on what type of art you sell. There are a wide variety of mediums that art encompasses. From drawing and painting to crafting and woodworking, chances are, if you’re doing it, you can sell it and make money online.
Here are some of the best websites and art marketplaces to help sell your art online.
1. Etsy
One of the most popular places to sell art online is Etsy. Since its launch, Etsy has helped thousands of artists and creatives go full-time with their art business. Yes, there are listing fees and a lot of competition, but there is also a massive, engaged audience on their platform. If you haven’t considered selling your art on Etsy, you should check them out.
Of course, with any online platform, you’ll want to put your best foot forward by including high-quality images of your creations. If you’re not sure how to set up your home photography studio — this post covers what you need to know to get stunning photos of your art projects.
Be sure to check out Melanie’s success story of selling handmade greeting cards on Etsy. She offers up great tips for getting started and being successful on the platform.
2. Artfinder
Artfinder is an online marketplace for independent artists to sell their original art—be it painting, photography, sculpture, illustrations, and more! This platform is marketed toward high-end art collectors. On the plus side, buyers are often more willing to pay a premium price for quality work. However, it also means Artfinder’s qualifications for sellers are a little more exclusive. You must apply to be a seller on Artfinder, and your application will be reviewed for quality and originality. Ideally, you will be self-represented and produce primarily limited-edition work, though it seems like there is some room for agent and gallery-represented artists.
Artfinder has three different seller plans ranging from $0-$12 per and commissions on all sales that range from 35%-42%. Check out their seller subscription plans here.
3. Big Cartel
Big Cartel has pricing ranging from free to $19.99 per month. The cool thing is that it’s a flat fee, and they don’t take a percentage of your sales. This one is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking to make money from your art.
4. Storeenvy
Storeenvy is all about discovering and connecting amazing brands, people, and products. And the best part is that you can sell your art for free using their platform. It’s pretty simple to set up. My middle daughter started her craft website when she was only 12 years old! Selling plans range from $0-$49.99 per month based on the number of listings you have.
5. ArtPal
With ArtPal, you can create an account for free and use their print-on-demand service or sell and ship your own art projects, keeping 100% of the profits. With their print-on-demand option, you set your own prices, and they add in the costs to print and ship items to customers. Artists on the platform are using the print-on-demand option to add their patterns, designs, and artwork to T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, scarves, and more.
6. Artmajeur
Artmajeur is an online marketplace based out of Paris, France, but it sells artwork worldwide. You can list paintings, sculptures, photography, drawings, multimedia, and more! Their payment plans include a free Basic Account, which takes a 20% commission, or a $7.41 per month Platinum Account, which takes a 15% commission.
7. Zatista
Zatista is one of the more popular platforms for selling original fine art. It’s been featured in many big-name publications like The New York Times, Apartment Therapy, and Architectural Digest. This makes it great for both sales and exposure, but it is also more exclusive in the artists it accepts—its current acceptance rate is only 5%. You must apply, and your artwork will be reviewed for quality, marketability, and the balance it brings to the site’s overall collection. It is free to join and list on the site, but Zatista takes a hefty 45% commission.
8. Fine Art America
On Fine Art America, you can sell wall art, home decor, lifestyle products like tote bags, phone cases, greeting cards, apparel, and more! With their platform, you can sell through their website, mobile app, and/or retail stores or choose to sell on your own website, Shopify, and more! Most of their selling and marketing features are free, but they also have a premium membership for $30 a year. With this platform, they’ll set the price for your artwork, and then you can adjust the price higher, which would be your profit. You can learn more on this page.
9. Society6
Another place to sell art online is Society6, which is a print-on-demand (POD) site where you can sell art prints, home decor, mugs, furniture, apparel, phone cases, and more. Just create an online storefront through their platform, upload your original artwork, and promote your work on social media sites like Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Artists earn 10% of every sale, and payments are distributed via PayPal.
10. Saatchi Art
On Saatchi Art, you can sell paintings, photography, drawings, sculptures, prints, and NFTs. To start selling, create an account, photograph your art, upload your images, and wait for the sales to roll in. Once a purchase is made, you’ll need to arrange the shipping of your artwork to the buyer. Once your artwork makes it safely into the hands of the purchaser, you’ll be paid within seven days via check, wire transfer, or PayPal. Saatchi Art takes a 40% commission on the final sales price.
11. Creative Market
Another online art marketplace to explore is Creative Market. They specialize in stock photos, graphics, fonts, illustrations, templates (both print and digital), mockups, and more. With Creative Market, you can start for free, but I do believe they have a vetting process for creators. According to this seller, they take a 40% commission for each sale that you make. However, you can set your own prices, and your products do not have to be exclusive to Creative Market, so you can sell the same items on multiple platforms.
12. Spring
If you want to sell your designs on T-shirts, hoodies, canvas, tote bags, and more, check out the print-on-demand company Spring. With Spring, you can start your own eCommerce store quickly, easily, and for free! Just sign up for an account, upload your designs, pick your products, and start selling online. Spring takes care of all the printing and shipping of items, and you can upload your original artwork or use elements from their online design library.
Check out this post for more print-on-demand companies that allow you to design and sell your art on t-shirts.
13. Printify
If you want to use a print-on-demand company but prefer to sell on eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Etsy, or eBay, consider using Printify. With this POD company, you’ll choose which products you want to sell, design your mockups, then publish your products to one of the platforms mentioned above.
When you sell an item, Printify will print and ship the product to your customer directly. Printify has free and paid plans for creators, and you can choose from over 800 products to put your artwork on, like, mugs, T-shirts, stickers, hoodies, and more.
Other Places to Sell Art Online
You might be wondering if there are ways to sell art online and make money without using an arts or crafts marketplace. Having your e-commerce site to sell your art is recommended, but there are other ways you can bring in the cash. There is no shortage of ways to sell your art online from social media platforms and subscription platforms!
14. Instagram
My daughter sells art directly to her followers on Instagram. All that’s needed is a way to collect payments, such as PayPal or Stripe. She posts pictures of already completed digital art, and people message her when they want to buy. You can also apply for Instagram Shopping, where customers can shop directly from your images.
15. Facebook
Groups are still popular on Facebook, and as an artist, you can create a community of art lovers that you can get your newest creations in front of any time. Again, a payment processor is all you need here. You can also sell on the Facebook Marketplace, which is usually local sales. You can meet up in person and accept cash or checks. Lastly, if you already have a Facebook Business Page, setting up a shop that allows you to sell directly on Facebook is a breeze.
16. Start a TikTok or YouTube Channel
I don’t know about you, but I love watching artists create their artwork on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. I find it very relaxing to watch how these beautiful creations are made. Starting a video channel for your art is an excellent way to reach new buyers, and it’s totally free!
Just create your account, shoot some videos while creating, and place to link to your art shop or portfolio in your profile. Once you reach certain thresholds on these platforms, you can start earning money from creator funds, advertising, and sponsorships.
17. Patreon
Artists can make money from their art on Patreon through a subscription-based model. Fans pay for exclusive experiences and behind-the-scenes content. Create art on your terms and keep 90% of the profits. Patreon keeps 5%, and transaction fees are around 5% as well. There are a variety of ways you can earn on this platform. I would recommend visiting their site and looking at examples of how people are making money with Patreon.
18. Shopify
With most of the sites listed above, you’re likely to notice a particular trade-off: either a high barrier to entry or a fair amount of work to market yourself. If you’re already doing much of the heavy lifting to market yourself (SEO, social media, advertising, etc.), consider setting up your own online store and selling directly to potential buyers. Shopify is easy to use, and monthly plans start at $29 per month.
19. Start Your Own Blog
If you enjoy writing, filming, photography, and documenting your creative processes, starting a blog can be an excellent way to make money from your arts and crafts.
Jennifer Maker earns millions selling Cricut patterns and DIY tutorials on her self-titled blog. Julie Bonner earns a living from her crocheting blog, I Can Crochet That, where she has patterns and tutorials. On Kaleidoscope Living, Tasha Agruso does remodeling and home decor updates while selling her Designer in a Binder and colorful art prints.
There are so many ways to earn money from a blog, from affiliate marketing, brand sponsorships, and working with an ad network to selling art online!
With blogging, you’ll need to spend a little money on your domain name and website hosting, but it’s a versatile and fun way to make money with your creative genius! If you are ready to start a blog, check out these simple steps to get started.
Selling Art Online Wrapup
Selling art online and making a profit from your artistry has never been easier! There are many online art markets that are free to join if you’re working on a budget. Of course, when you start a business, you’ll need to educate yourself on best business practices. As an art entrepreneur, you’ll be responsible for managing your finances, marketing your business, bookkeeping, and self-employment taxes. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this post for common steps new business owners need to take.
Please consider sharing if you found it helpful, and leave your additional ideas in the comments; we’d love to hear them!
Originally published November 7, 2018. Content updated May 2023.
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