Back in the day, it was difficult for artists to find places to sell their art. You either had to be included in a gallery or sell your art on the street.
But because of the Internet, there are many ways to sell your art online without leaving your studio. In some cases, you don’t even have to worry about shipping and fulfillment.
There are 3 ways to sell your art online.
- Sell Art On Your Own Website – Platforms like Shopify allow you to put up your own online store without any technical knowledge required.
- Use A Print On Demand Company – Print on demand companies take your designs and place them on white label products like bags, apparel and hats. You don’t have to pay any money upfront to have your goods manufactured. Everything is created on demand.
- Sell On An Art Marketplace – Art marketplaces allows artists and crafters to sell their goods online. Most marketplaces have large built in audiences of buyers who are ready to shop.
Here are the top 14 websites to sell your art online!
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How To Make Money Selling Your Art
Shopify
Shopify is an ecommerce platform that allows you to sell your art on a website that you own.
Starting a Shopify store is by far the best way to make money with your art because you own the platform and have full control over the look and feel of your site.
There are no referral fees and you can easily build a beautiful website to showcase your work to potential buyers and drive sales.
To create an online store with Shopify, you must pay a monthly subscription fee of $29-$299 depending on the plan.
Free credit card processing is included with Shopify Payments and there are no transaction fees.
For more information on costs, read this post on Shopify Pricing
Regardless of whether you sell on multiple platforms, you need to have a Shopify store to showcase your art.
Here’s how Shopify works.
- Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Shopify
- Select a template for your website
- List your products in your store
- Ship your art to the end customer when an order is received
Click Here To Try Shopify For Free
Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace that allows artists and crafters to sell their goods online. Launched in 2005, Etsy is a huge platform that boasts over 81.9 million buyers per year.
Because Etsy is so popular, you can expose your art to one of the largest audiences of arts and crafts enthusiasts in the world.
The best part is that mass produced products are not allowed on the platform.
Sellers can only sell products that are…
- Handmade by you and not mass produced
- Vintage products that are at least 20 years old
- Craft supplies used for product creation
Here’s how Etsy works.
- Sign up for a free account and list your products on Etsy’s marketplace.
- Ship your product to the end customer when a sale is made.
- Etsy charges a small listing fee and a 5% transaction fee when a sale is made.
Amazon
Amazon is one of the largest ecommerce marketplaces in the world with a 50%+ market share in the United States.
Everyone buys everything on Amazon including art and handmade products. Depending on the type of art you sell, there are different categories for you to list your products.
First off, you should sign up for an Amazon Handmade account which allows you to list your products for free. However, sellers are charged a referral fee of 15% when a sale is made.
Amazon also has a special section for fine art which requires explicit approval from Amazon.
Selling fine art has its own fee table as shown below.
- 20% for the portion of sales up to $100 (with a minimum Referral Fee of $1.00)
- 15% for any portion of sales greater than $100 up to $1,000
- 10% for any portion of sales greater than $1,000 up to $5,000
- 5% for any portion of sales greater than $5,000
For more information on costs, read this post on Amazon seller fees.
Here’s how Amazon works.
- You sign up for a free Amazon Handmade account.
- You list your products on Amazon for free.
- You ship the product to the customer when a sale is made.
- You pay Amazon a referral fee.
Society6
Society6 is a print on demand platform for artists to share their art and sell their original designs on an array of different products all over the world.
Unlike other print on demand companies, Society6 specifically targets artists, designers and art enthusiasts and specializes in selling art prints.
In addition to prints, Society6 also offers an array of other products including wall art, home decor, furniture, office, apparel and more.
There is no application process and anyone can sell on Society6.
Here’s how Society6 works.
- You upload your designs to your artist shop.
- You select a product to display your art.
- You sell your work on Society6’s marketplace and set your own price.
- When an order is placed, Society6 prints and ships it for you.
- You get to keep the proceeds minus the wholesale cost of goods.
Redbubble
Redbubble is a print on demand company that provides over 700,000 artists and designers from across the world a way to sell their art.
Unlike other print on demand companies, Redbubble specializes in quirky and uncommon designs which makes their marketplace stand out.
They also invest in socially responsible manufacturing practices to offset carbon emissions and provides worldwide shipping, free returns and 24/7 customer service.
Here’s how Redbubble works.
- You open up a Redbubble shop and upload your designs.
- Customers find and purchase products that they love with your designs on them.
- Products are made to order and shipped anywhere in the world.
- You keep the proceeds minus the wholesale cost of goods.
Fine Art America
Fine Art America is one of the world’s largest art marketplaces and print on demand providers all in one and they’ve been in business since 2006.
Without any technical knowledge required, artists and photographers can upload their images and have their art placed on hundreds of different print on demand products for sale.
When an order is placed, Fine Art America takes care of the printing, the framing, the matting, the packaging and the shipment so the artist does not have to do a thing.
Fine Art America has over 16 product facilities worldwide and all products carry a 30 day money back guarantee.
They also provide artists and photographers with the necessary sales and marketing tools to grow their audience of buyers. Currently you’ll find over 100K artists with over 10 million images for sale on their platform.
The best part is that Fine Art America offers a free plan where you can sell on their platform at no cost. They are upfront with their print on demand pricing and you set the prices for your products.
Here’s how Fine Art America works.
- You create an account on Fine Art America and create a profile.
- You photograph and upload images of your artwork.
- You choose which products you would like your artwork to be placed on and set a retail price.
- Fine Art America takes care of order fulfillment when your art is sold.
- You get to keep the proceeds minus the wholesale cost of goods.
UGallery
UGallery is a service and online marketplace that represents emerging and mid-career artists from around the world. UGallery is a curated platform and they only accept specific artists that are a good fit for their audience of collectors.
All art sold on UGallery is split 50/50 but they cover all of the costs of packaging and shipping the artwork.
If you are accepted as a artist, UGallery will promote you as an artist via SEO and social media marketing. They also have a thriving email list of buyers and a strong content marketing strategy to attract visitors.
As a UGallery artist, you will also be invited to participate in special exhibits and press opportunities.
The only downside is that UGallery requires exclusivity on all artworks and they discourage the use of other online marketplaces.
Here’s how UGallery works.
- You must fill out an application which costs $5.
- You create an account on UGallery and create a profile.
- You photograph and upload images of your artwork.
- When your art is sold, you package your work in custom art boxes provided by UGallery. You are not responsible for shipping costs.
- You get charged a 50% commission for the sale.
Saatchi Art
Saatchi Art is marketplace of emerging artists where you can sell and get exposure for your art. Currently, Saatchi Art offers over 1.4 million original artworks with nearly 100K artists on their platform.
Saatchi Art is also a global company that represents artists from over 100 different countries.
The main value add of Saatchi Art is the exposure. Their website gets over 1.6 million unique visitors per month with over 1.1 million followers on social media.
Saatchi Art also sends printed catalogs to over 1 million households and participates in over 18 international shows and fairs.
Here’s how Saatchi Art works.
- You create an account on Saatchi Art and create a profile.
- You photograph and upload images of your artwork.
- When your art is sold, you schedule a date and time for a courier to pick up your sold artwork. The collector is responsible for the shipping costs.
- You get charged a 35% commission for the sale which means you get to keep 65%.
Artfinder
Artfinder is an online art marketplace that connects independent artists to consumers worldwide. Their mission is to build a world where artists can make a living doing what they love.
Artfinder currently has a global audience of 500K art lovers and their website gets over 1 million visits per month.
What’s great about Artfinder is that they carefully curate their artists for quality and it’s 100% free to sign up and sell your art for up to 30 pieces.
Even though there is no upfront cost to list your art, Artfinder takes a 33% or 40% commission when a sale is made. The amount of commission paid depends on your plan.
On higher plans that are not free, commissions drop to as low as 33%.
Here’s how Artfinder works.
- You create an account on Artfinder and fill out an application. You must submit 4-6 examples of your work and give links to other media pages of your website. Artfinder requires an online presence or website representing your work that demonstrates your dedication.
- You photograph and upload images of your artwork.
- When your art is sold, you are responsible for the fulfillment of your orders.
- You get charged a 33% or 40% commission for the sale depending on your plan.
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Zazzle
Zazzle is one of the largest print on demand companies in the world with over 1500 products to print on.
They boast over 30 million monthly visitors which gives you access to a huge audience to show off your art.
Because Zazzle has such a large installed base of users, your art will get much more exposure compared to other print on demand companies.
There are 3 ways to make money on Zazzle.
- Designer: You upload your art and sell your own print on demand products on Zazzle’s marketplace. Zazzle handles printing and order fulfillment.
- Maker: You manufacture your own products and sell them on Zazzle. Makers must handle their own shipping and fulfillment.
- Affiliate: You earn a commission by referring sales to Zazzle regardless of whether it’s your product.
Here’s how Zazzle works.
- You create an account on Zazzle and make a profile.
- You decide which type of seller you want to be. You can mix and match different product types.
- You photograph and upload images of your artwork and select what products you want to print on.
- When a product sells, Zazzle takes care of order fulfillment.
- You get to keep the proceeds based on the royalty rate you specify.
Pictorem
Pictorem is a free print on demand platform to sell your art online. They handle production and fulfillment so you can focus on your craft.
Pictorem is known for their high quality production of printed art including canvas, acrylic, metal framing and more.
Their gallery service is 100% free for any artist who wants to sell reproductions of their art online with an amazing selection of high quality art print finishes.
They do not take any commission or require exclusivity.
Here’s how Pictorem works.
- You create an account on Pictorem and create a profile.
- You photograph and upload images of your artwork.
- When an art print is sold, Pictorem takes care of order fulfillment.
- You get to keep the proceeds minus the wholesale cost of goods.
Singulart
Singulart is a platform that provides artists with the necessary tools to manage the sale of their own works of art. They showcase artists from all over the world and make sure that their artists get recognized.
The application process for Singulart is extremely strict. Singulart artists must be nationally recognized for their work or have been awarded prestigious art prizes or appeared in national and specialist press.
If you are accepted into Singulart as an artist, they will help you further your brand and popularity.
Here’s how Singulart works.
- You must apply to join Singulart. They select artists with national recognition and global potential.
- Once accepted, you create a profile and create your online portfolio of art.
- You are paired with an expert liaison who guides you through the process.
- Your art is exposed to over 3 million collectors per month. You get to set your own prices.
- When you make a sale, Singulart will cover shipping, packaging and insurance costs.
- You get to keep the profit minus a negotiable commission rate.
Displate
Displate is a print on demand company that prints art on collectible metal posters that are reversible and look amazing when hung on a wall.
Their technology is unique, magnet mounted, durable and reversible on your wall. There is no other company that offers the same printing and mounting technology online.
As an artist, Displate allows you to upload your own designs to be printed and sold on their platform. They also provide a free marketplace where you can sell your designs to over 50 million people every month.
Here’s how Displate works.
- Submit your portfolio to Displate and apply for an account.
- Photograph and upload images of your artwork.
- When an art print is sold, Displate takes care of order fulfillment.
- You keep the proceeds minus the wholesale cost of goods.
Minted
Minted is a design marketplace that sources art from a global community of independent artists that are printed and sold on canvas, home decor and stationery.
They allow creatives and artists to monetize their art by placing their designs on products that are in demand by consumers. All artists have their own hosted stores on Minted and earn a commission for every sale.
The process for becoming an artist on Minted is crowdsourced and they uncover designers by running design competitions. Artists submit their work and the Minted community votes to determine what to sell.
Here’s how Minted works.
- Download a challenge kit and submit your art to a Minted design competition.
- Enjoy advice and feedback from the Minted community.
- If your art gets selected, it will be sold on various products on Minted.
- You earn a commission for every sale that is made with your art.
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Steve Chou is a highly recognized influencer in the ecommerce space and has taught thousands of students how to effectively sell physical products online over at ProfitableOnlineStore.com.
His blog, MyWifeQuitHerJob.com, has been featured in Forbes, Inc, The New York Times, Entrepreneur and MSNBC.
He's also a contributing author for BigCommerce, Klaviyo, ManyChat, Printful, Privy, CXL, Ecommerce Fuel, GlockApps, Privy, Social Media Examiner, Web Designer Depot, Sumo and other leading business publications.
In addition, he runs a popular ecommerce podcast, My Wife Quit Her Job, which is a top 25 marketing show on all of Apple Podcasts.
To stay up to date with all of the latest ecommerce trends, Steve runs a 7 figure ecommerce store, BumblebeeLinens.com, with his wife and puts on an annual ecommerce conference called The Sellers Summit.
Steve carries both a bachelors and a masters degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Despite majoring in electrical engineering, he spent a good portion of his graduate education studying entrepreneurship and the mechanics of running small businesses.