
If you're an artist looking to sell your work online, there are many platforms to choose from, each with its own fees and features.
Redbubble is a popular choice for artists, with over 20 million items sold in 2019.
Etsy is another well-established platform, with over 39 million active buyers in 2019.
Saatchi Art is a great option for emerging artists, with a curated selection of artists and no commission fees for sales under $200.
Online Art Selling Sites
Etsy is a go-to website for DIYers and artists, with a massive art subcategory where you can easily locate different media, such as art prints, paintings, and/or illustrations.
To sell on Etsy, you'll need to create your own shop, list your products with high-quality photos, and market your art to attract buyers. Etsy charges a small listing fee, as well as a 5% transaction fee and a 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee.
Fine Art America is another popular online art marketplace, boasting a global audience and print-on-demand technology. It offers both traditional gallery-style sales and extensive print-on-demand options, making it a versatile platform for selling your art.
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Here's a comparison of the fees for Etsy and Fine Art America:
UGallery is an online art market that curates a selection of original and exclusive art from emerging and mid-level artists. It's a great platform to showcase your art and connect with potential buyers who are looking for unique and high-quality pieces.
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Digital Downloads
Digital downloads are a great way to sell your art online. You can sell your images for Personal or Commercial usage.
Fine Art America makes it easy to sell digital downloads. You upload your photos, set your prices, and you're good to go. You receive 100% of your asking price for digital downloads.
Here's a quick rundown of how it works:
Fine Art America adds a 30% markup for other products, but you keep 100% of the sale for original pieces.
Online Art Selling Sites
Online art selling sites offer a platform for artists to showcase and sell their work to a global audience. Etsy is a widely-used marketplace that has been around since 2005, making it a go-to destination for artists, designers, and crafters.
Etsy offers various tools to help artists reach their target audience, including marketing and advertising options. However, it's a competitive space, so artists need to put in extra effort to drive traffic through social media marketing and advertising.
One of the advantages of selling on Etsy is that you have a built-in audience interested in handmade objects and willing to pay a premium for them. However, Etsy charges various fees, including a 5% transaction fee and a 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee.
Fine Art America is another popular online art selling site that offers a global audience and print-on-demand technology. It's a great option for artists who want to sell their work on a wide range of products, including home decor, wall art, and apparel.
Society6 is a print-on-demand platform that offers one of the largest assortments of products in the industry. Customers can discover your art across various categories, including furniture, tech accessories, and home decor.
Here are some key features of popular online art selling sites:
UGallery is an online art market that carefully selects original and exclusive art from emerging and mid-level artists. It's a great option for artists who want to showcase their work in a prestigious gallery setting.
Fine Art America offers a simple process for selling art, including opening an account, uploading photos of your artwork, choosing products to feature, and setting prices. When it comes to pricing, Fine Art America sets a base price for each product, and you add a markup, which you keep when the product sells.
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Domain Name
Having your own domain name is a game-changer for online art selling sites. It gives you a professional and memorable address for your website, like your own name tag.
You need to purchase and configure your domain name, which can be a bit of a hassle, but it's worth it.
Features and Tools
Setting up an online art shop is a breeze with most platforms providing straightforward tools for setting up a shop, listing products, and managing inventory.
These tools make it easy to get started, even for those who aren't tech-savvy. Most platforms have a user-friendly interface that guides you through the process.
Built-in marketing tools, such as advertising options, promotional discounts, and social media integration, help sellers promote their artwork effectively. This can be a game-changer for artists looking to reach a wider audience.
With these tools, you can create a professional-looking online presence without breaking the bank.
Image Generator for Better Shopping
With Pictorem's powerful image generator, you can give your customers a more immersive shopping experience. This tool allows them to see your artwork on various products and in different environments.
You can choose from different online gallery styles to personalize your unique gallery, making it easier for customers to find what they're looking for.
The image generator is a free feature, making it accessible to artists and designers of all levels. This means you can experiment with different ideas and styles without breaking the bank.
By selecting the specific range of print sizes to sell for your artwork, you can cater to customers with different needs and preferences. This flexibility can lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction.
Exporting your generated images and listings is a breeze with Pictorem, allowing you to import them onto any platform with ease. This saves you time and effort, and helps you reach a wider audience.
User-Friendly Tools

Setting up an online shop or listing products can be a breeze, thanks to the straightforward tools provided by most platforms, making it easy to manage your inventory and get started.
Ease of setup is a top priority for many sellers, and fortunately, most platforms deliver on this promise.
Organizing your gallery with unique categories is a great way to present your products in an optimal manner, making it easy for buyers to find what they're looking for.
Using tags and categories can increase the discoverability of your products, making it easier for buyers to find relevant listings and increasing your chances of making a sale.
Built-in marketing tools, such as advertising options, promotional discounts, and social media integration, help sellers promote their products effectively and reach a wider audience.
Online platforms are often optimized for search engines, improving the visibility of your listings and helping potential buyers find your products through organic searches.
Choose Product Type

Choosing the right product type for your artwork is crucial for showcasing it in the best possible way. You can opt for Fine Art Matte Paper, Poster Print, or even Custom Frame to give your art a professional finish.
Fine Art Matte Paper is a popular choice among artists, as it brings out the subtle details of the artwork. Poster Print is a great option for those who want a more affordable and easy-to-produce product.
Custom Frame is a great way to add a personal touch to your art, allowing you to choose the exact frame style and color that complements the piece. Canvas Roll and Stretched Canvas are ideal for artists who want to create a more textured and dimensional look.
Acrylic and Brushed Metal are two other product types that can add a unique touch to your artwork. HD Metal is a great option for those who want a high-quality, durable finish.
Wall murals, Wood Print, and Puzzle Print are also available product types that can help bring your art to life in different and creative ways.
Watermark Selection
Watermark Selection is a feature that lets you protect your artwork with multiple choices. You can decide on the type of watermark you want to add.
Having multiple options means you can choose the one that best suits your needs. This flexibility is especially useful if you're creating art for different purposes or audiences.
You can select from a variety of watermark options to ensure your artwork is protected. This feature is a great way to safeguard your creative work.
Adding a watermark can also help you track the usage and sharing of your artwork. This can be helpful if you're sharing your art online or with others.
Sorting Option
You can manually select the sorting of your art by dragging and dropping it to display your preferred art on top of your page.
With this feature, you have the flexibility to choose how your art is organized, allowing you to showcase your favorite pieces prominently.

You can also make the sorting of your art automatic, using options like popularity and most recent uploads.
This means you don't have to spend time manually rearranging your art each time you add a new piece, making it a convenient and time-saving feature.
The automatic sorting options also help you see which pieces are gaining the most attention or which ones you've recently uploaded, giving you valuable insights into your audience's preferences.
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How to Appraise
Appraising your art is a crucial step before selling it online. To get an accurate estimate, consider the materials, time, and effort you put into creating each piece.
Saatchi Art takes a 35% commission on sales, so you'll want to factor that into your pricing. This means you'll need to set your initial price higher to account for the commission.
To determine your art's value, research similar pieces by other artists and consider factors like the size, medium, and overall quality of your work. UGallery splits the proceeds equally between you and the buyer, so you'll want to set a price that reflects this.
Society6 handles printing, shipping, and fulfillment, but you'll only earn 10% of each sale. This means you'll need to price your art accordingly, taking into account the costs and potential revenue from other sales channels.
Marketing Features
Pictorem offers built-in marketing tools to help sellers promote their artwork effectively. These tools include advertising options, promotional discounts, and social media integration.
You can use Pictorem's advertising options to reach a wider audience and drive more sales. Promotional discounts can also help incentivize customers to buy your artwork.
Pictorem's social media integration allows you to share your artwork directly with your social media followers. This can help you build a community around your art and drive sales.
With Pictorem's image generator, you can give your customers a better shopping experience. This free tool allows customers to see your artwork on various products and in different environments.
You can also use Shopify to create a visually appealing and user-friendly e-commerce site to exhibit your creations. Shopify offers a range of features, including website templates and marketing tools, to help you establish your online shop quickly and effectively.
Setting up a Shopify store requires a monthly subscription fee. You'll also need to set up a way for your customers to pay when they buy your art, with transaction fees ranging from 0.5 to 2% if you use an external payment gateway.
Technical Integration

If you're planning to sell art online, you'll want to consider the technical integration options available to you.
Pictorem provides technology options for seamless integration to your website, making it easy to get started.
To ensure a smooth online art selling experience, you can rely on Pictorem's technology solutions, which are designed to work seamlessly with your site.
Tech Integration for Your Site
Pictorem offers technology options for seamless integration to your website. This means you can easily connect their solutions to your existing site without any hassle.
Their tech solutions are designed to work together with your website, providing a smooth and efficient user experience. This is especially important for businesses that want to provide a seamless experience for their customers.
Pictorem's technology options can be customized to fit your specific needs, ensuring that the integration process is tailored to your website's requirements.
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Upload to Amazon
You can upload your art to Amazon through their Handmade section, which is perfect for sellers of unique and original pieces. Amazon Handmade verifies sellers, but don't worry, it's free to list your art.
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To get started, you'll need to be approved by the platform. Amazon Handmade verifies sellers and not everyone will be approved, so be patient and don't get discouraged if you have to wait a while.
The good news is that there are no hidden fees when you sell your art on Amazon - only a 15% flat fee deducted from your sale. This fee is a great deal, considering you can reach a huge market of potential buyers.
Amazon offers various fee structures, but for Amazon Handmade, the referral fee is a flat 15% per sale. This means you know exactly how much you'll be paying, and it's a small price to pay for the exposure you'll get on Amazon.
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Security and Protection
Online art selling sites prioritize the security and protection of both buyers and sellers. You can put your artworks inside password protected categories, making it exclusive and private.
Secure transactions are the norm on most platforms, providing a convenient way for buyers to purchase artwork and ensuring sellers receive their payments reliably. This secure process gives both parties peace of mind.
Password Protection
Password protection is a great way to safeguard your exclusive artwork collection. You can put your artworks inside password-protected categories, making it accessible only to those with the right credentials.
This feature is perfect for collections that are by invitation only. It adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that only authorized individuals can view or access your artwork.
By using password protection, you can control who sees your artwork and when. It's a simple yet effective way to maintain the integrity and value of your collection.
Certificate of Authenticity
A Certificate of Authenticity is a crucial document that provides proof of a product's legitimacy. Pictorem offers this service for each sale.
This certificate is completed by hand, which adds a personal touch and ensures that it's not a mass-produced document. A unique traceable number is included in the certificate.
The certificate also features a hologram, which adds an extra layer of security and makes it difficult to replicate.
Marketplaces and Platforms
Many online platforms have a large user base, increasing the likelihood of attracting buyers interested in unique and expensive artwork.
Online marketplaces like Amazon Handmade offer a global reach, allowing artists to access a broad audience of potential buyers.
To sell your art on Amazon Handmade, you need to be approved by the platform, which can take some time, but once you're in, there are no hidden fees - just a 15% flat fee deducted from your sale.
This access to a global market is a huge advantage for artists looking to sell their work online, and can be a game-changer for those who are just starting out.
Global Reach:
With the rise of online marketplaces and platforms, artists can now reach a global audience and sell their art to a broad range of potential buyers.
You can sell your art to more than 200 countries worldwide, giving you a massive potential customer base.
Online platforms offer access to an international market, allowing artists to showcase and sell their work to a diverse group of people.
This global reach can be a game-changer for artists who want to share their talents with a wider audience.
Artists can now connect with potential buyers from all over the world, expanding their market and increasing their chances of success.
Established Marketplaces
Established marketplaces offer a vast and dedicated audience for artists to showcase and sell their work. Many online platforms have a large user base, increasing the likelihood of attracting buyers interested in unique and expensive artwork.
eBay, for instance, has a vast audience, making it an excellent platform for artists to add to their sales channels. It's easy to list your work on eBay, and you can even increase the reach of your art by selling digital downloadables.
Online platforms offer a broad audience, allowing artists to reach a wide range of potential buyers. eBay's comprehensive policies regarding artwork allow artists to sell their original artwork lawfully, among other benefits.
Saatchi Art is another established marketplace that boasts a large audience, with around 12 million page views and 1.6 million visitors monthly on their website. They've sold to collectors in over 80 countries to date.
Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is an excellent platform for online sellers of homemade art. You can apply to sell your unique and original pieces, but be prepared for Amazon to verify you first.
The approval process can take some time, and not everyone will be approved. In some cases, people have to wait for a while before they get approved.
The good news is that there are no hidden fees when you sell your art on Amazon. You'll only pay a 15% flat fee deducted from your sale.
Listing your art on Amazon Handmade is free, and the platform showcases homemade items to a large audience.
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Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that simplifies the process of selling art online.
You can create a visually appealing and user-friendly e-commerce site to exhibit your creations, whether they are art prints, print-on-demand products, crafts, or other forms of artwork, to potential buyers and generate revenue for your business.
Shopify offers a range of features, such as website templates and various marketing tools, to help you establish your online shop quickly and effectively.
To build and host your art shop, you'll pay a monthly subscription fee.
Transaction fees range from 0.5 to 2% if you choose to use an external payment gateway.
Shopify offers a free 90-day trial, so you can try building a website and selling your artwork on your own, risk-free and at no cost.
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Payment Security
Payment security is a top priority for online art selling sites. Most platforms handle payment processing, providing a secure and convenient way for buyers to purchase artwork.
Reliable payment processing ensures sellers receive their payments on time. This builds trust between buyers and sellers, making online transactions feel more secure.
Secure transactions are handled by the platform, eliminating the need for buyers to share sensitive financial information with sellers. This added layer of security gives buyers peace of mind when making online purchases.
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Guides and Tutorials
If you're new to online art selling, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
Redbubble is a great platform for artists who want to sell their work as prints, home decor, and other products.
To get started on Redbubble, you'll need to create an account and upload your artwork.
Redbubble charges a base price for each product, and you can set your own royalty rate.
Society6 is another popular platform for selling art prints, home decor, and other products.
On Society6, you can upload your artwork and set your own royalty rate, just like on Redbubble.
Etsy is a marketplace for artists to sell their work, including handmade and vintage items.
To sell on Etsy, you'll need to create a shop and list your items for sale.
Etsy charges a listing fee and a transaction fee for each sale.
Saatchi Art is an online gallery that allows artists to sell their work directly to collectors.
To get started on Saatchi Art, you'll need to create a profile and upload your artwork.
Saatchi Art charges a commission fee for each sale.
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Gigs and Opportunities
Etsy is a great platform for artists, with a wide variety of options for buyers at any price point. From vintage prints to handmade decor, you can sell just about anything on Etsy.
Artists shouldn't have too much trouble setting up a working storefront fairly quickly on Etsy, but make sure to have high-quality product listing photos. Taking advantage of the variety of tools Etsy makes available to its artists is also a good idea.
Saatchi Art is another global online marketplace that's similar to Etsy, but it focuses on higher-end prints, photographs, and sculptures. Customers from all over the world regularly visit the site, making it easy to set up an account and begin selling your pieces.
Setting up an account on Saatchi Art is relatively easy, and their artist's handbook is a great resource for getting started. It's filled with insights and tips to help you succeed on the site.
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eBay is a massive international online marketplace with millions of customers each month, making it a good alternative to more traditional sites. However, artists may have to work harder to attract the right target audience on eBay.
To succeed on eBay, consider learning how to attract more buyers to your online art shop, which can be done with the right marketing strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is selling artwork online profitable?
Selling artwork online can be profitable, but its success depends on various factors in a competitive market. To achieve online art business profitability, consider reaching a broad audience and creating unique, eye-catching pieces.
What type of art sells the most online?
Based on universal appeal, landscapes and compositions tend to be top-selling art types online, often featuring serene and recognizable scenes that resonate with a wide audience.
Featured Images: pexels.com


