Whatever skill you have and are ready to put to use, you can make money online from it even if you are an independent artist. The internet provides a lot of marketplaces where you can showcase and eventually sell your product without even leaving your house.
However, for you to make money you should know where to look when trying to monetize your skill. Whether you are familiar with this method of making money or you are new to it, this article will provide you with enough information to help you make money from your skill as an independent artist.
- What is the Best Website to Sell Art on?
- How do you Price your Artwork?
- How do Independent Artists Market Themselves?
- Can you Make a Living Selling Art?
What is the Best Website to Sell Art on?
if you have your art ready and you will like a marketplace to sell them, below are 20 of the best websites where you can sell you art for money.
1. Etsy
Etsy is one of the most popular sites for buying and selling art and crafts. Etsy sellers offer everything from handmade furniture to vintage purses to one of a kind artwork.
Read Also: How do Digital Artists Make Money
Often, this artwork is priced to sell, so buyers not only have a lot of selection but access to some pretty good prices as well. Etsy has apps for iPhone and Android for those of you looking to buy and sell on the go.
2. Society6
Society6 is another popular website. Vendors can sell their artwork as prints, pillows, iPhone and Android cases, and t-shirts. For buyers, this site is a great way to get framed or unframed prints at a low price. Plus, if you find an artist you like, you can get their artwork in a variety of forms!
3. Zatista
Zatista is a great place to find original paintings, photographs, and mixed media artwork. This site allows you to refine your search by price, size, and type of artwork to ensure that you find just the piece you’re looking for.
4. IndieMade
IndieMade helps artists create professional looking websites in order to better sell their artwork. The site helps you set up your site and helps you attract potential customers, and since it’s designed specifically for artists the websites are all tailored to be as navigable and attractive as possible.
5. CollegeArtOnline
CollegeArtOnline is a place for students to sell their artwork. Because of this, the prices are often lower than they would be at a gallery, and each purchase goes towards supporting a budding artist. The site also allows student artists to sell their artwork.
6. Threadless
Threadless is another great site that allows you to buy and sell your artwork, but there’s a fun catch. Unlike some of the other websites listed here, this site does not allow you to simply submit any artwork you want. Instead, you submit your designs and if the Threadless team likes it, they’ll put it on their merchandise.
According to their website, many of their chosen artists have gone on to start a business themselves, so getting chosen is a major accomplishment!
7. Hey Prints
Hey Prints has tons of reasonably priced posters. That’s all the look of a high end painting without any of the cost! Plus, artists are encouraged to send in their artwork. The site emphasizes a partnership in which artists are able to get their art and name out there.
8. Redbubble
Redbubble is another great place to buy art in many different formats. Designs are available on t-shirts, stickers, hoodies, prints, tote bags, and phone cases. Artists can sell their artwork on the site for free.
9. INPRNT
INPRNT sells prints of submitted and approved artwork. With over 900 pages’ worth of prints available, the selection is huge. Artists interested in selling with INPRNT should make an account on the website and submit three pieces of art for review. If the people at INPRNT like what they see, artists are offered a chance to sell on the website.
10. Big Cartel
Big Cartel helps artists set up websites on which they can sell their artwork and crafts. The sites can be as customizable as you want, with options ranging from already-designed themes to sites that can be customized using code. Big Cartel also provides its users with statistics, which allow them to keep track of site traffic and sales. An iPhone app is available.
11. Displate
Displate sells unique artwork that is printed on metal sheets. The company also allows artists to sell their designs on Displate. All artists have to do is make an account and upload their artwork to the site. Once their art sells, they make a 25% commission. All profits are paid using PayPal.
12. Vango
Vango is a great place to buy original art. The company has high standards for the artwork that it will sell: it must be original, easy to hang, and not created digitally. Photography is currently not accepted.
For those who want to sell their artwork with Vango, simply create an account to get started. Artists keep 80% of the profits. Vango emails artists shipping labels to make shipping artwork faster and easier.
13. Craigslist
Craigslist isn’t usually known for its art and craft selection, but a lot of people use the site to sell their work. Buying and selling with Craigslist is simple. However, be wary of scammers — the site has gotten an iffy reputation over the years for being home to less than honest business practices.
14. Artfully Walls
Artfully Walls sells high quality prints and has a wide variety of artists, styles, and print sizes. Artists wishing to sell with Artfully Walls can do so at no cost. Each piece sold generates commission, and Artfully Walls is nonexclusive, meaning that artists can sell their artwork elsewhere.
15. Nuvango
Nuvango sells prints, stretched canvases, and skins for iPhones, iPads, Samsungs, iPods, laptops, and Kindles. Artists are encourage to sell their artwork on the site with a free account, plus 20 percent of every sale. Nuvango takes care of production and shipping, so artists are left to doing what they do best: creating more art.
16. Skreened
Skreened sells a wide variety of t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel. Those looking to buy on the site can search by what’s popular or trending, or by using the topic filters provided. Artists can sell their artwork by setting up a free shop with Skreened.
17. deviantART
deviantART is a very popular site that offers a large selection of artwork, including prints, photographs, and other artwork. Popular categories are listed on the site for fast browsing. Artists can sell their work on deviantART using a free account.
According to the site, deviantART is the largest art community in the world, so artists can expect to get a lot of attention on the site.
18. Smitsy
Smitsy sells original artwork, including paintings and sculptures, as well as prints. Artists wishing to sell on Smitsy must submit a resume, artist statement, and 3-5 images or a link to a website portfolio.
19. Houzz
Houzz sells home goods, from cookware to lighting to rugs to tables. If you’re in the home design business and want to sell with Houzz, create a free vendor profile to get started.
20. Luulla
Luulla sells a wide variety of clothing, jewelry, phone cases, and accessories. There’s even a “Below $20” section for all of the bargain hunters out there. Those wishing to sell on Luulla can either opt for a pay as you go plan, which involves paying $0.20 per listing, or a monthly plan, that costs $9.90. Each has a 4.5% selling fee.
How do you Price your Artwork?
Pricing artwork is one of the most complex tasks that emerging artists face, especially when they first begin to work with galleries and start to establish their art business. It’s easy to see by reading art business articles and books on art marketing that the opinions of the experts on how to price your artwork vary.
To make it even more complicated, some artists sometimes price with their emotions. Some artists overprice their work in order to impress viewers, hoping to make the artwork look more valuable. Sometimes this works, but usually only when the collector is naive or when the artwork is spectacular and gets the attention of serious collectors.
So, how do you start setting the prices for your artwork so you can get the salary you deserve? If you don’t have a consistent history of selling your art in a particular price range or in a particular market, follow these seven rules to get started.
Do your research on comparable artwork
Bless the internet, we now have access to a whole bunch of data that makes setting our prices a little easier. Put your research cap on and start looking for artists that have similar work to what you are currently producing.
How much do these artists charge for their work? Is there a pattern in this pricing?
Seeking out artists who have similar work will give you a better idea of what you can and should be charging. Make sure you are making an honest evaluation of your work and then comparing it to artists with a similar style, working in a similar medium, with a similar amount of experience, as well as selling within a similar geographical region.
Next time you are at a dinner party with your artist friends, lean into that stereotype of money-talking artists and pick the brains of your successful peers. Ask them how much they are selling their work for and why. Open and honest discussions about money will help guide you and ensure that your pricing is on track.
Give yourself a living wage
There is no faster way to burn out than overworking and underselling yourself.
Creating artwork isn’t cheap. There are expensive materials, equipment, and studio space to take into account.
Think of a reasonable hourly wage that you would feel comfortable with and work backward. The US Dept. of Labor lists the average hourly wage for a fine artist as $24.58—use this to help you estimate. Be diligent when recording how long a work takes you and then factor in the cost of materials and overhead.
Of course, when you are just starting out, something might take you much longer than a master in your field. On the other hand, when you have mastered a discipline, it might take you a much shorter time to complete a work and you will be able to demand a much higher price for it.
In short, this isn’t a fool-proof method, but it is a good way to get started in gauging the worth of your work.
Once you settle on a price, be consistent
If you aren’t currently working with a gallery, make sure you are comparing your work to artwork that is also being sold directly from the artist. Galleries often mark up works by 50% or more.
However, if you do have representation and you’re thinking of selling work from your studio at lower prices than your gallery, think again.
Galleries put time and energy into their sales and generally aren’t happy to learn you’ve been selling work for a lot less. Take it from Art Biz Coach Alyson Stanfield, they will drop you like it’s hot.
What’s more, other galleries could learn about this and be less inclined to work with you. Make sure you have set prices that are generally the same for your studio and your galleries. That way people can purchase your work from your studio or the gallery, and you can maintain a positive relationship with your galleries.
That said, with more and more people buying artwork online and directly from artists on Instagram, you might not have to take this commission into consideration if you are cracking the online sales market.
Separate feelings from facts
This is a hard one. However, it’s not easy to justify your prices to a potential buyer by saying you just really like it. If there is a particular piece that you just feel really strongly about, is especially meaningful to you, or holds sentimental value, consider keeping those works for yourself.
With all the time, creative effort and emotion you invest in your work, it’s easy to get attached. Take a step away from your work after you finish it to gain some perspective.
Then, approach your pricing as you would any other product. Some artists like to use a sizing formula. Pricing your work needs to be predominantly based on its physical attributes and not on personal value.
Have work at multiple price points
Some new customers might shy away from higher priced art. Smaller, less expensive pieces are more approachable. They are also more attainable for buyers who can’t afford more costly works.
For example, a young buyer might not have the funds for a $3000 painting but can afford a $300 one. They still get to take a piece of your art home and fall in love with your work. When they have a higher art budget in the future, your art will already be top of mind.
Prints are a wonderful way for buyers to feel like they are taking home a piece of your art. Though a print is not the original work, it can still be a decent size. And it is much more affordable. It’s a way for tentative buyers to get their feet wet. When they are more comfortable, they can upgrade to a more expensive artwork.
The more people who buy your art, the more exposure it will get. More people will see it, talk about, and want to know more about you. This means there is also a higher chance of more people wanting to buy your work.
Your range of price points can foster goodwill—people will be happy they can bring home one of your creations—and bring sales back to you.
Be transparent with your prices
Having to ask for a price is an automatic red flag in a collectors mind. It sets off alarms that you might be changing your prices based on who is asking, their perceived level of interest and their perceived level of wealth. Having your prices up front, available and available on your sales platforms demonstrates your integrity.
Additionally, if you hate talking about money, it helps you avoid a lot of potentially uncomfortable conversations. Putting that information up front puts all the heavy lifting decision making on the buyer. It gives them time to decide which piece is within their budget and then they can approach you ready for the easy transaction.
One easy way to show your work that gives your buyers confidence is through Artwork Archive’s public portfolio page. It allows you the control over which information you can make public, links with your most up-to-date inventory, and gives potential buyers the options to contact you directly.
Stand confidently by your prices by providing evidence
Whether you sell a lot of work or are new to space, have confidence in yourself and your prices. If you don’t, buyers will figure it out quickly.
The next time someone asks you why a piece is so expensive (which they always will), have a prepared answer. Show them that you’ve been regularly selling comparable art for that same amount.
Talk about, or print out provenance records, that show the similar sales you have made from galleries, dealers, and out of your studio. People want to be able to justify their purchase with cold, hard evidence. They want to know they are spending their money wisely.
Put their mind at ease by showing them that other people have made similar purchases, that your work is valued and the way that you price your work is methodical and fact-based.
When you take the time to properly and realistically price your work, you can stand behind the price. If the buyer wants to go below that, you’ll be ready to justify your price. Confidence does wonders and will help you come home with the money you deserve.
How do Independent Artists Market Themselves?
You can read tons of theoretical marketing articles and often none of them make sense for your art career. Sometimes it’s nice to hear tips from artists who’ve been in the trenches, tested the theories, and come out successful on the other side.
Maybe you’re wondering how to find more buyers for your artwork or deciding if a blog is worth your while. Or, you’re simply in the market for some fresh art marketing ideas.
These Artwork Archive artists—including Lori McNee and Jeanne Bessette—are here to help, sharing some art marketing strategies they’ve used to grow their art making into a thriving career.
1. Randy L. Purcell: Expand Your Market
Randy L. Purcell understands the importance of building a network outside your own art scene. Randy is involved in different community groups and a business group and he shares “it’s helped me tremendously. Because of that, I know people who don’t normally collect art, but might buy my work because they know me and want to support me.”
Randy’s connections also helped him land an exhibition at the Nashville International Airport.
2. Nan Coffey: Get Social (Media)
During our interview with Nan Coffey, she told us she’s interacted with tons of “rad” people from around the world–people she’d never have met if it weren’t for social media.
Her words of advice to other artists: “If you haven’t already, set up your social media. Just start showing your artwork and getting out there.”
Nan recently reached out to her 12,000+ Facebook fans and asked them to tell her about themselves. She incorporated 174 of their answers into her latest project.
3. Jeanne Bessette: Express Your Art in Words
Anyone procrastinating on their artist statement? Jeanne Bessette champions writing about your artwork because “people want to know what motivates an artist to create. They love knowing more because we do something they feel is special and it is.”
She claims that being able to express your art in words can do nothing but help you in your art career.
You can read Jeanne’s fantastic artist statement here and hear some wise words from the artist’s sister on the subject.
4. Debra Joy Groesser: Share Your News(letter)
When we asked Debra Joy Groesser about her marketing strategies, she instantly brought up her monthly newsletter–and with good reason. She sells a work off every single one!
She also mails a paper newsletter a few times a year. She “was in real estate for ten years and morphed that contact list into [her] artist one.” Debra revealed, “It’s a very effective way to stay in contact with my collectors, friends, and fans.”
5. Lori McNee: Show Your Personality
If you were to ask any artist about the power of social media marketing, it should be painter and Huffington Post #TwitterPowerhouse Lori McNee. Lori recommends sharing your artistic world with your fans.
She states, “You need to focus on building your personal brand, then you can market it. Share your personality, a little bit about your life, and what you’re creating in your art studio.”
It’s definitely working for Lori, who has 101,000+ followers and counting on Twitter.
6. Lisa McShane: Bring People in With a Blog
Lisa McShane started her blog, 1000 Paintings, when she first began her full-time painting career. According to Lisa, “A blog is a great way to interact with other working artists as well as supporters.”
She also points out that “having an active blog associated with your artist website increases its rank in search results.”
Lisa writes about her latest artworks, her dreamy new studio on Samish Island, and artist resources.
7. Peter Bragino: Build Your Tribe
One of Peter Bragino’s friends–who also happens to create artwork for Disney–gave him the idea of branding and tiering his prices and products. Peter creates options, like prints, that people can afford and shouts it from the rooftops.
Peter claims, “The more traction you have, the bigger tribe you can build.” You can explore Peter’s fantastic e-commerce website and see how he’s building his tribe at Bragino.com.
8. Lawrence Lee: Stay Current
Lawrence Lee has been a working artist for over forty years and knows the importance of staying abreast of the latest marketing technology.
He shared this wisdom with us: “Give yourself every advantage you can as an artist since not many people can make a living creating art. Stay up-to-date on the best ways to use social media and video streaming.”
Lawrence does live streams of himself painting in his studio to give collectors and supporters a unique vantage point. He’s also created a members-only club for his art fans and gives them exclusive access to his LeeStudioLive channel.
Can you Make a Living Selling Art?
These days, every artist wants to learn how to sell artwork online. It used to be that you could only sell your work through a brick and mortar gallery, and give them a substantial cut of your profits. While many artists still take this route, more and more are choosing to sell artwork online as well.
Selling online has its own unique challenges, though, such as visibility, conversion, and, of course, turning a profit. However, with a good eye, a creative streak, and a little hard work, you can sell art online successfully, and make money
So if really you can make a living as an artist like we have seen already, it is now time to put in the work needed to succeed. Below are some thing you need to do.
1. Prepare to Sell Art Online
First thing’s first. You’ve made great work. Show the people what you’re making and selling.
Take Great Photos of Your Art
Get together high-quality images of your work, for each piece that you aim to sell. Some artists are content for their images to make the rounds on social media anonymously, but generally speaking, it’s important that you are always credited for your work.
To ensure attribution, watermark your images or add an unmistakable signature to them. This will ensure that every time someone sees the image online, they will know where it came from.
Price Your Work
Next, create a price list. In theory, you should be able to charge the same amount that a gallery would, and maximize your profits. However, the cost of buying art online is often lower.
Research what similar artists sell their work for online, factor in your time and expenses, and price accordingly. Keep an eye on the cost of shipping as well- remember that art can be both bulky and fragile, which may result in more expensive shipping.
2. Where to Sell Your Art Online
Just like finding the right gallery to display your art, you will want to find the venue to showcase your work online Above we have already mentioned 20 websites where you can showcase and sell your artwork. Here is more.
Many artists make the initial mistake of trying to sell artwork online primarily through social media or join marketplaces. These may be the right fit for you, depending on where you are with selling your art. It can also slow your growth and cut into your profits long term, so do your research.
When you sell primarily through social, as with Gumroad, you limit how your customers can interact with your artwork. Social media apps generally require you to close out of a link before being able to continue using the app, and don’t always make it easy to save or return to the product page later.
This means that unless a customer has a credit card in hand the moment they find your artwork, they are unlikely to complete the purchase.
Another common mistake that artists make is jumping into a big ecommerce marketplace like Etsy. This creates a challenge with name recognition among their own customers because customers simply think of the artwork’s source as “Etsy” or “Amazon,” rather than the actual artist.
Artists who sell on marketplace sites may be plagued by anonymity, and when they do succeed in making consistent sales, high transaction fees can slash their profits dramatically.
Create a Personalized Ecommerce Site
Instead, consider building a proper online store. This way customers will be able to easily navigate the site, explore and connect with your work, compare different items, share and save items, and return later to complete their purchase.
It also makes it easier for you, because you’ll know that people buying your art have a simple and secure way to submit payments securely and directly from your site.
Choose an online store builder with pre-designed themes and templates, with generous customization options. This way you will be able to tailor your online store to compliment your work so that it serves as a perfect frame.
Our online store builder makes creating and customizing your store easy, and any artist will appreciate the beautifully designed themes available to choose from.
This gives you a better shot at converting customers. Selz also offers options for digital products that will let you sell artwork like streaming videos alongside your drawings, sculptures, or photos.
Features like abandoned shopping cart emails capture sales that would have otherwise evaporated. Transaction fees? Absolutely nonexistent with paid plans.
Choose a plan that works for you and your budget to maximize your profits. Looking for help starting your e-commerce business? Our Do-It-For-Me plan covers it all.
Frame and Display
Now that you have images of all your artwork, go ahead and get to work creating product pages for each piece of art.
Your Artist Statement Has a Purpose
Create categories to organize your artwork. Simplify your selection by creating variants of certain products, such as different sizes for prints, or colors for sculptures. Add images and a brief product description that includes details like the piece’s dimensions and medium.
It may seem counterintuitive to upload work that is no longer available, but consider creating product pages of these and marking them as “sold” or “sold out.”
This allows your customers to see more of work, and build a stronger connection to your portfolio. At the same time, it adds a sense of urgency, reminding your customers that your work is unique, desirable, and limited.
Sell Prints of Your Artwork and Other Multiples
It’s also worth noting that since you sell artwork online, rather than in a physical gallery, you have an advantage. You don’t actually need to ship anything.
Photographer Ronnie Goodwin uses Selz to sell digital downloads of his work, encouraging buyers to use the high-quality files in a variety of creative ways, from printing them for wall art to adorning coffee mugs. This way, he is able to shift his focus from traditional fulfillment to constant creativity.
If you choose to go this route, for example, and you think your artwork would look great printed on a t-shirt, you don’t necessarily have to get into selling clothes online. You can simply make this suggestion in the product description, and let your customers do the rest after checkout.
Invite People to See Your Work
When you’re showing work in a gallery, anyone who walks in will see it. When you sell artwork online, it can be hard to stand out. With a little research and hard work, you can use social media and SEO to increase your artwork’s visibility, ultimately attracting more potential buyers.
Start on Social Media
Platforms like Instagram, Tumblr, and Pinterest run on eye candy and can be a great way to get discovered by aesthetes. While you can choose to sell directly through these platforms, it’s more important to utilize their ability to share and connect. Think carefully about where you send your social media followers to when they’re ready to buy.
It’s also worth using sites like Behance or Foundwork, which allow artists to share their projects and discover others. While you may not connect with many potential buyers and actually sell artwork online here, you will be able to connect with other artists and curators. Visibility is key in online art sales, so having your work shared by others can make all the difference.
Build Online Relationships with Other Artists
Your relationships with other artists can help you to enrich your SEO. When fellow artists provide links on their site back to yours to show their appreciation for your work, they actually improve your search engine ranking.
Read Also: How can a Fine Artist Earn Money Online?
Consider starting a blog where you can use specific, clear writing, and link to your artwork for sale. This will also improve your SEO, and you can also sell directly from your blog.
Connect with Your Local Art Scene
Selling your art online allows you to connect with buyers all over the world. However, there is something to be said for being part of your local art community. Use hashtags and location tagging to let people know where you’re coming from. You may be surprised by how many consumers will go out of their way to support a local or regional artist.
You might also be able to connect with buyers who enjoy visiting your area and want a piece of art as a souvenir. At the same time, emphasizing your location shouldn’t deter sales to distant collectors who also love your work.
Don’t be afraid to get out of the house and reach out, as well. Leave a few well-placed flyers and business cards at popular neighborhood cafes and event spaces, directing people to your website. A tangible invitation like this can introduce people to your work who might never have stumbled upon it otherwise.
Conclusion
There you have it! You’re armed with the tools to reach and connect individuals to your art and maximize your profits. The truth is that there is a lot of money to be made as an independent artist, but all this will happpen only if you put in the work necessary.
Choose the right marketplace to showcase your work, do not be deceived by different platforms that promise unimaginable figures, reach out to other artist and your friends on social media and you will be glad you did.
