How to Sell Your Art Online (Even if You’re a Beginner)

How to Sell Your Art Online (Even if You’re a Beginner)

Step 1: Pick your offer (start narrow)

Decide what you’ll sell first so your store feels focused:

  • Originals (one-offs)

  • Limited/open edition prints (shipped by you or via print-on-demand)

  • Digital downloads (wall art, brushes, Procreate sets)

  • Commissions (portraits, pets, interiors)

You can expand later, but a tight initial offer helps your product pages, pricing, and marketing feel cohesive.

Step 2: Choose your primary sales channel

You’ll likely use one primary storefront (marketplace or your own site) and one or two secondary channels (social + newsletter). Choose the primary based on fees, audience fit, and how much control you want (see “Most Profitable Platforms” below for specifics and fee references).

Step 3: Price correctly (include all the “hidden” costs)

Build a simple spreadsheet and include:

  • Materials (paper/canvas, ink, varnish)

  • Time (your hourly rate x hours)

  • Packaging & shipping supplies

  • Marketplace/platform fees (transaction + commission + ads)

  • Payment processing + taxes (if your platform doesn’t handle them)

Examples:

  • Etsy charges 6.5% transaction fee on item price + shipping (plus listing/processing, and optional Offsite Ads). Offsite Ad fees are 15% if you did <$10k last 365 days, 12% if ≥$10k; capped at $100 per order. Art marketplaces like Saatchi Art and Artfinder take ~40–45% commission (they fund marketing/returns and handle some logistics). 

  • Gumroad takes 10% + $0.50 per sale on your own links (more if a sale comes via their Discover). Since Jan 1, 2025 they act as merchant of record and manage sales tax globally.

Knowing these numbers upfront prevents “surprise” losses.

Step 4: Prep your art for e-commerce (quality = trust)

  • Photography: shoot in bright indirect light; include 1 straight-on image, 1 detail, 1 lifestyle (framed/in-room).

  • Specs: title, medium, dimensions, weight, year, edition size, certificate info.

  • Framing & care: note options (mat/frame), archival info, and care tips.

Step 5: Create high-converting listings

  • SEO title: lead with subject + medium + size (“Minimalist Line Art Print – A3 Giclée”).

  • First 160 characters: a benefits-focused summary (shows in search snippets).

  • Bullets: size options, paper/ink quality, shipping window, return policy.

  • Tags/keywords: subject (e.g., “botanical”), style (“modern minimal”), room (“living room wall art”).

Step 6: Set up fulfillment (and save your time)

  • Ship yourself: best margin for originals/limited editions; use rigid mailers, corner protectors, COA.

  • Print-on-demand (POD): auto-fulfills prints/canvas via integrations (e.g., Printful/Printify with Shopify), trading some margin for convenience and scale. (You’ll still pay your store’s fees + POD base cost.)

  • Digital: instant delivery—zero shipping, high margins.

Step 7: Make it easy to buy (trust signals)

  • Clear returns/exchanges policy

  • Processing & delivery windows

  • Multiple payment methods

  • Social proof: testimonials, “in the wild” photos

  • About page with headshot and artist statement

Instagram Shopping can be a great “front door,” but you must meet Commerce Eligibility (policies, supported country, trustworthy presence, accurate info, etc.). 

Step 8: Promote with a simple weekly system

  • One platform first (e.g., Instagram Reels + Stories): share process clips, studio moments, framing ideas; link to one featured product.

  • Email mini-list (ConvertKit/Mailchimp): 1×/week—new art, behind-the-scenes, early-bird drops.

  • Collabs: interior designers or micro-creators who align with your aesthetic; offer affiliate codes.

Step 9: Track what works and iterate

  • Monitor which subjects/sizes sell best; double down.

  • Test price points (e.g., introduce a smaller “gateway” size).

  • Retire low performers; bundle digital packs; offer limited runs to increase perceived value.

The 5 Most Profitable Ways/Platforms to Sell Art Online

1) Your own Shopify store + Print-on-Demand (for scale & control)

Best for: Artists who want a brand, own the customer list, and scale with minimal manual shipping.
Why it’s profitable: You control pricing, upsells, bundles, and email capture. POD fulfills automatically, so you can focus on marketing and new designs.
Costs to watch: Shopify plan, payment processing, and POD base + shipping. You keep marketplace commissions out of the equation and build long-term asset value (your audience).

2) Etsy (huge buyer intent + built-in search)

Best for: Prints, originals, and digital files with strong search demand.
Why it’s profitable: Massive traffic and gift-buying intent; faster first sales if your SEO/photos are strong.
Key fees: 6.5% transaction fee; optional Offsite Ads of 15% (<$10k/yr) or 12% (≥$10k); offsite fee capped at $100/order. Plan your margins accordingly.
Tip: Use Etsy to discover winning designs, then graduate bestsellers to your own site where margins improve.

3) Saatchi Art (high-end originals & curated buyers)

Best for: Mid-to-high-ticket originals and limited editions seeking a global collector base + advisory exposure.
Why it’s profitable: Saatchi has art advisors/traffic; they handle parts of logistics for prints; collectors are conditioned to premium prices.
Commission: 40% on originals; for open-edition prints, artists receive 60% of profit after production costs. 
Angle: Also consider their commissioned projects feature for bespoke pieces. 

4) Artfinder (originals with marketplace marketing)

Best for: Original works and limited series at mid-range price points.
Why it’s profitable: Niche audience comes to buy art; 2025 added a tiered annual bonus (2–7%) for artists earning $26.5k+/yr—nice upside.
Commission: 40–45% depending on plan. No commission on shipping. Bonus program is new in 2025. 
Tip: Price to preserve margins; highlight authenticity, COA, and storytelling.

5) Gumroad (digital art, brushes, printables)

Best for: Digital downloads, tutorials, zines, PDF coloring books, Procreate/Photoshop brushes.
Why it’s profitable: High margins (no shipping), instant delivery, simple storefront. As of Jan 1, 2025, Gumroad handles global sales tax as merchant of record, reducing admin overhead.
Fees: 10% + $0.50 per sale on your links; higher if sold via Gumroad Discover. 
Tip: Pair with Instagram/TikTok tutorials; collect emails; launch themed packs monthly.

What about Patreon? It’s strong for recurring income (less “per-piece” sales, more memberships). In 2025 Patreon announced a new 10% standard platform fee for new creators from Aug 5, 2025; legacy rates differ. Viable for behind-the-scenes content and monthly drops, but not a storefront replacement. 

A simple launch checklist (copy/paste)

  1. Pick your first offer (e.g., 5 best prints + 1 original).

  2. Choose channel (Shopify+POD or Etsy to start).

  3. Photograph each piece (straight-on, detail, lifestyle).

  4. Write SEO titles + 150-character intros.

  5. Set prices with fees and shipping baked in.

  6. Publish 6–10 listings to start (varied sizes).

  7. Add policies, About, and contact.

  8. Post a 5-day launch on socials (teasers → reveal → behind-the-scenes → customer Q&A → last-call).

  9. Collect emails; send a weekly “New in the Studio.”

  10. Review analytics; double down on subjects/sizes that sell.

Final tip

Start where your buyer is already shopping (Etsy / Saatchi / Artfinder) or where you can own the customer (Shopify + POD). Price with fees in mind, ship or fulfill reliably, and build email early. That combination—focused offer, the right platform, and consistent marketing—is what makes selling art online both achievable and profitable.

Back to blog