How To Sell Art Online & Make Money [Step-By-Step]

They say art is a window to the soul, but it could also be a door to new opportunities and financial stability for some.

As an artist, you no longer have to go to art galleries and exhibits to sell your artwork.

Thanks to the internet, there are many ways to sell and make money.

If you’re an artist looking to expand your reach and make some extra cash, here are some crucial tips on how to sell art online and make money.

Can You Get Paid to Sell Art Online?

Absolutely. There’s a huge market demand for different kinds of artwork, with some online marketplaces solely dedicated to artists and art buyers.

Some offer print-on-demand services, while others allow you to send your physical art pieces to buyers.

Regardless of which online platform you choose, there are tons of ways you can get paid to sell art online.

How Much Can You Make By Selling Art Online?

According to BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) reports, fine artists made an average annual wage of $69,870 in 2022.

Exactly how much you can make depends on your artwork’s quality and sales price, along with your marketing strategies.

As your artist’s reputation and online presence grow, you can generate more sales.

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Sell Art Online

The great thing about selling art online is that you don’t need much to start. Here are the basics:

• High-Quality Camera: Most platforms will require you to upload high-quality images of your artwork either with a professional camera or with your phone
• Reliable Internet Connection: You’ll need a reliable Internet connection to upload your artwork, create online stores, and manage your sales
• Packaging Materials: You might need packaging materials like bubble wrap, packing tape, and cardboard boxes to make sure your artwork is delivered safely (if you’re handling packaging and shipping)
• Artwork: The most important factor of all: your art! It can either be a physical product or a digital art file

Where to Get Paid to Sell Art Online

You can get paid to sell art online in many online marketplaces. Here are the best nine platforms with a considerable audience of collectors and buyers:

1. Etsy
2. Shopify
3. Amazon
4. Society6
5. Singulart
6. Artfinder
7. Redbubble
8. Zazzle
9. Displate

1. Etsy

Etsy is one of the best online platforms for reaching a wider audience, which means more potential buyers.

Hundreds of independent artists have used Etsy to create a full-time art business.

You can sell almost any kind of art on Etsy, but the most popular are vintage art products, craft supplies, and handmade art pieces.

As your Etsy store becomes more popular, you can enter other art markets and diversify your online business.

What Makes This Option Great

Etsy features a user-friendly interface, a customizable storefront, and built-in marketing tools.

You can reach a larger audience and establish your online presence, generating more sales.

• Typical Fees/Commission: 6.5% transaction fees
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal, Apple Pay, credit cards, and other 3rd party payment services

2. Shopify

Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms for independent artists.

It allows you to create your website and sell art pieces online.

Your Shopify store functions as an online gallery where art lovers and potential customers can add your art products to their cart and purchase them.

You can upload unlimited products and images for sale.

With Shopify, you get an ecommerce platform for making money, and at the same time, you can build your brand identity without having to make a separate website.

Many successful artists link their Shopify store to social media platforms to increase their customer base.

If you learn how to sell on Shopify, you could turn this into a full-time business.

What Makes This Option Great

Shopify gives you complete control of the website’s theme and design.

It has an easy-to-use website builder where you follow simple prompts to design your website according to your artistic taste.

• Typical Fees/Commission: 0.5%, 1%, or 2% for the Advanced, Standard, and Basic Shopify plans, respectively
• Typical Payment Methods: Credit card, PayPal, Meta Pay, Amazon Pay, and Apple Pay

3. Amazon

Amazon is another excellent platform for selling all kinds of art, such as handmade products, art prints, greeting cards, and more.

It categorizes your art depending on the type of art you sell, with each category having unique benefits.

For example, you can easily join the Amazon Handmade program for free and sell your handmade art pieces, but you’ll have to pay a 15% referral fee per sale.

Fine art, on the other hand, is more specialized and requires Amazon approval before you can sell your products online.

Fine art also comes with special referral fees based on the volume of your art sales.

You can pay anywhere from 5% to 20% referral fees, depending on where your sales fall between the $100 and $5,000 marks.

The more you sell, the smaller the referral fees become.

What Makes This Option Great

Amazon is one of the largest online marketplaces in the world.

Thanks to its huge audience and customer base, you can find or sell almost any type of art.

Amazon links art enthusiasts with emerging and mid-career artists who want to sell their original designs without going to physical galleries.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Referral fees range from 6% to 45%, depending on the item category, but usually around 15%
• Typical Payment Methods: Credit card, PayPal, Meta Pay, Amazon Pay, and Apple Pay

4. Society6

Society6 is a print-on-demand platform for artists who want to sell their designs, canvas, mugs, phone cases, home decor, and more.

Unlike other platforms, this online art marketplace is made especially for individual artists, designers, and art enthusiasts.

It’s easy to apply, and there are no upfront costs or fees.

All you have to do is upload your artwork.

Society6 handles everything else, from printing the art to shipping costs and money collection.

Artists get 10% of their art sales, except for art prints, where you can set a “markup,” which is your earning.

The amount of money you make depends on the popularity of your designs and the volume of your sales.

90% might seem like a steep commission fee, but remember, all you’re doing is uploading digital files of your designs.

Society6 handles everything else.

What Makes This Option Great

Society6 has a massive art community where artists can sell their original designs to a highly specific audience of buyers.

Unlike other ecommerce marketplaces, anyone visiting Society6 is already interested in art, improving your sales conversion chances.

In addition to print-on-demand services, Society6 offers built-in marketing tools, such as email marketing, social media integrations, and SEO optimization.

• Typical Fees/Commission: 90% commission fees (except for art prints)
• Typical Payment Methods: Credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, and Amazon Pay

5. Singulart

Singulart is an online art gallery that sells original pieces by emerging and established artists.

It’s one of the largest art marketplaces online, with millions of art enthusiasts and visitors per month.

Singulart has a strict application process with rigorous selection criteria where you must be nationally or globally recognized to become a Singulart artist.

When you get accepted, you’re assigned an expert liaison to help you create an online portfolio and guide you through every step.

With every sale you make, Singulart handles the packaging, shipping, and insurance costs.

What Makes This Option Great

Becoming a Singulart artist adds to your credibility and exposes you to an elite audience of collectors and buyers you don’t typically find on online marketplaces.

Singulart buyers can pay $300 to $10,000 for a painting, with some high-end sculptures going for over $25,000!

• Typical Fees/Commission: Negotiable but usually around 45%
• Typical Payment Methods: Credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers

6. Artfinder

Artfinder is one of the most popular platforms for art collectors, with a global audience of over 450,000 art enthusiasts and over one million monthly visits.

Artfinder has a fairly strict signup policy, though more relaxed than Singulart’s.

While independent artists don’t need to be nationally recognized, they have to offer top-quality artwork and follow an application process before selling their art.

You’re required to upload 4-6 high-quality images of your art along with links to social media accounts or a website showcasing your work.

Once accepted, you can choose from three different seller plans and start listing your art.

With each sale, you’re in charge of order fulfillment.

What Makes This Option Great

Artfinder offers built-in social media marketing tools to help emerging and mid-career artists increase their visibility.

More exposure translates to more sales.

They also offer professional photography assistance for artists who need help showcasing their artwork.

• Typical Fees/Commission: 35% to 42%, depending on which plan you subscribe to
• Typical Payment Methods: Credit cards and PayPal

7. Redbubble

Redbubble is another popular marketplace, similar to Society6, where you can get paid for your artwork.

It’s one of the top print-on-demand companies featuring over 700,000 artists and with over $100 million in sales since its 2006 launch.

Artists typically sell eccentric and quirky designs for home decor, clothing, stickers, and more.

This print-on-demand platform is known for its internet meme culture, so you’ll probably find designs relating to popular memes or current news.

Redbubble allows you to upload an image, and they’ll use it with different print-on-demand products.

That means just one image can be printed on hundreds of physical products, generating more sales.

What Makes This Option Great

You can capitalize on the Redbubble meme culture and create artwork relevant to trends and news.

Use viral content on different social media channels to create popular print-on-demand products and make quick sales.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Average 80% commission fees
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal or a bank transfer

8. Zazzle

Zazzle is another massive print-on-demand marketplace with over 1,500 products you can add your designs to and print on.

It features many art lovers and monthly visitors (over 25 million), which translates to more potential sales for you as an artist.

You can create a Zazzle store to showcase your art free of charge and set your selling price.

Zazzle gives you three ways to get paid selling art.

You can sign up as a:

• Designer: You upload the artwork, and Zazzle handles the printing and fulfillment of orders
• Maker: You make your art products and sell them through Zazzle, but you handle the fulfillment process
• Affiliate: You get paid for successful sales referrals even if you don’t have an art product of your own

What Makes This Option Great

Zazzle’s massive audience and customer base give you more exposure than most print-on-demand companies.

It offers tons of customization options for a wide range of print-on-demand products.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Ranges from 70% to 85%
• Typical Payment Methods: Check or PayPal

9. Displate

Displate is an online marketplace that specializes in printing artwork on metal posters.

The website boasts over 1.5 million designs by talented artists and over 3.2 million metal plates sold.

The metal posters are reversible, magnet-mounted, and uniquely designed to make a “wup-wup sound” when you spin them around.

Artists can sign up for Displate without upfront fees and upload their print-on-demand artwork.

The website handles the printing and fulfillment of orders while you get a cut of the sales.

What Makes This Option Great

Displate offers a unique print-on-demand service with a creative process for making metal posters.

It has a large and highly specific target audience you wouldn’t find through regular sales channels.

Displate has partnered with global brands, such as Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and Nasa, which shows how popular the marketplace is.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Average 50%
• Typical Payment Methods: Credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay

Why You Should Consider Selling Art Online as a Side Hustle

Selling art is a great side hustle that can become a full-time business with effort and dedication.

Here’s why you should consider this side gig:

• Access to a Global Audience: Selling art online helps you reach customers all over the world, increasing your potential sales
• Low Startup Costs: You can avoid startup costs such as rent, utilities, and other expenses associated with physical art galleries and exhibitions
• Increased Exposure and Visibility: Online marketplaces can increase your exposure and help you build your reputation as a talented artist
• Passive Income Potential: Some print-on-demand companies can take your art designs, print them on different products, and handle order fulfillment, which means you can turn this into a passive income stream without effort

Problems With Selling Art Online for Money

Selling art online might be a great side hustle, but there are a few potential problems you should keep in mind before jumping in.

• Difficulty Establishing Trust: Some buyers are hesitant to purchase art online due to authenticity and quality concerns, but as your reputation and art gain traction, this problem decreases.
• Risk of Damage in Transit: Fragile art pieces may be damaged during transit, leading to lost sales. Some print-on-demand companies handle the fulfillment and insurance of artwork, minimizing your risk as an artist.
• Competition: The online art marketplace is highly competitive, with thousands of artists vying for art buyers’ attention. You need to stand out.
• Pricing Pressure: The online art business is highly price-driven, which means you might need to lower your prices to make a sale. This could slightly reduce the value of your art.

How to Get Paid to Sell Art Online: Step-By-Step Instructions

Getting into the online art business is easy.

All you have to do is follow a few simple steps:

1. Decide on the What and How of Your Art

The first step is to decide what artwork you will sell online and how you will sell it.

You can sell your original art pieces (in physical form) or copies, prints, and digital files.

Original art pieces generally have a higher selling price because of their uniqueness, while other forms are easier to replicate and sell.

More importantly, you need to decide if you’ll be selling your art directly to buyers or through print-on-demand companies.

2. Register Your Art Business

The next step is to register your art business.

If you’re running your art business yourself, you can choose between sole proprietorship and limited liability company (LLC) business models.

You’ll need to decide on a name for your business.

That’s the first step in starting a business.

Pick a name that describes your artwork and highlights something unique about it.

Once you’ve registered your art business, you’ll get an employer identification number (EIN) that allows you to open a business bank account.

You might need a business license in some cases, and what license you need to sell online depends on your state.

3. Pick Your Sales Channels

The next step is joining different online marketplaces and listing and selling your art.

You can start with a few of the nine online platforms in this article, and as your artwork gains traction, you can join more websites.

Remember the cost of signing up for each website so you don’t spend too much upfront before your sales come in.

Things to Consider When Selling Art Online for Money

Before you start selling art online for money, you should keep a few considerations in mind:

1. Calculate Your Costs

Before you set a selling price, you’ll need to calculate your total costs for each art piece.

Your costs can include design, order fulfillment, and listing fees.

Some websites will handle order packaging and shipping, minimizing your initial costs, but they’ll take a large commission fee.

2. Maintain Healthy Profit Margins

To set your profit margins, you’ll need to start with your total costs and add a markup accordingly.

This is the source of your profit.

Consider average market prices and your expected sales volume based on demand.

At first, setting smaller profit margins to encourage more sales and generate traffic for your art is better.

Once you gain popularity as a talented artist, you can increase your profit margins on unique, original art pieces.

3. Marketing Strategies

With the high competition in the art community, you’ll need to market your online business to help it grow.

Some of the best ways to market a small business include social media, email marketing lists, and digital marketing tactics.

These methods can help shine a light on your art and brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Put My Art on Products or Merchandise?

Yes.
The easiest way is through print-on-demand companies like Redbubble and Zazzle.

All you have to do is upload your digital art, and they’ll print it on different types of merchandise and print-on-demand products.

Do I Need a Website to Sell Art Online?

While you don’t need a website to sell art online, it’s better to have some sort of online portfolio displaying your work.

This gives you extra credibility and authenticity as an artist and increases your chances of making a sale.

Similar Ways to Get Paid

Selling art online is an excellent way to make money, but you can try other business ideas.

Here are a few examples:

• Get Paid to Workout: An excellent way to make money and reach your fitness goals at the same time
• Get Paid to Read Books Aloud: Explore opportunities to narrate and read books aloud while earning money through different platforms
• Get Paid to Shop: Make online and in-store purchases as a side hustle and earn extra income

Wrapping Up

Your artwork should be a form of creativity and a source of pride.

But there’s no reason it can’t be a lucrative side hustle or a full-time business.

If you follow the steps in this article, you can showcase your masterpieces to the world and supplement your income at the same time.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and if you liked the article, share it so others can benefit as well!