The online art market currently accounts for 8.4% of the total, up from 7.4% in 2015. In other words, the importance of selling art online has never been successful.
There is a common misperception that the only way to make a livelihood as an artist is to sell your work to a gallery owner in the hopes of making a profit.
Nevertheless, that is only one of many methods to make a living from your work. The continuous innovation and expansion of technology have substantially boosted the convenience of doing business.
Even great news: setting up an online gallery and selling your art has never been simpler.
Artists used to be severely restricted regarding how, when, and where they could sell their work.
Yet, owing to the internet, it has never been simpler for artists to share their work with art enthusiasts around the globe—as well as to sell that art and support their businesses.
You’ve worked hard to develop your work; now it’s time to let it shine! This guide will show you everything you need to know to sell art online successfully.
Sell art online India
The Indian art market is now enjoying its finest business success, with a turnover of approximately 6 crores in 2022. This knowledge should be kept ready if someone informs you that there are better times to sell paintings online.
Whether you’re a professional photographer, a graphic designer by trade, or an experimental artist, there are more ways than ever to share and sell your work online.
According to Amruta Rokade of Guzelin, art as a business needs to be addressed.
“All artists should invest time and effort to make a career out of their art. Engaging with your audience is very important, and so is marketing your work.”
There are several online platforms for selling your work as an independent artist, ranging from Etsy and Zazzle to Creative Market and Instagram, not to mention your online stores.
Follow along to learn how to make money selling art online in 2023. Here’s how you can begin:
- Brush up on your digital art technical expertise.
- Brush up on your digital art technical expertise.
- Create your online store.
- Propose customised artwork
- Conduct art workshops and provide tutorials online
How to sell art online and make money in India?
Art and crafts hold the first position in the e-commerce industry for conversion rates.
Before we begin, here are some pointers on how to sell art online and build a successful eCommerce business.
Patience is rewarded. On the first day of business, don’t expect a large order. It is essential to set up initially.
A solid network and practical social media marketing abilities will help you pave the path to selling art online.
1. Choose what art to sell and how to sell art online India
First, you must pick what to sell and how to offer it. It is because there are several methods to sell art online, and determining what and how you will sell it is a vital stage in the process.
Not only can you sell your original artwork, which is unique and hence usually has a higher price tag, but you can also sell digital files or prints of your work to leverage your time further and make money multiple times with one piece.
You may also make money selling other people’s artwork online if you create a network of artists and a website where they can sell their work.
Original Art for Sale
You might sell unique artwork if you are a painter or work with charcoal or other professional materials. It would be fantastic for anybody to purchase because people enjoy having unique artwork to decorate their homes. Because these goods are handcrafted, you may charge a premium price.
Sell the artwork of other artists.
If selling your work succeeds, you may begin hosting other artists in your shop. It would give your clients additional options and allow you to promote other emerging artists.
It is perfect for people with significant networks of fellow artists and those who are very skilled at marketing, as both will be critical in driving visitors to your site and selling paintings.
Offer copies, prints, or digital files for sale
Whether you work with digital art or want to make the most of your time by selling copies of your original photography or art, you may sell prints in various sizes.
Prints and digital files often sell for less than originals, but they provide artists with a viable option to make money again with a single piece of artwork.
Others may also desire T-shirts, mugs, or even notebooks with your artwork on them. Print-on-demand providers such as Qikink may make this procedure quick and straightforward.
The best thing about print on demand is that there is no cost, so you don’t need to spend many t-shirts or hoodies to sell.
Products are only produced when an order is placed. Furthermore, you may set up print-on-demand services to automatically create and dispatch orders whenever you make a sale.
2. Use social media to sell your art online
Your art also conveys a tale about your brand. It must be sold! Create social media profiles like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, and post your work there.
Most importantly, you must sell a tale. You may also hold online lessons to attract attention to your artwork.
Instagram is a popular social media platform for selling art online.
Here are other platforms to promote your art online.
Tumblr
Dribble
Telegram
How to sell on social media?
- Spend money on sponsored posts.
- Increase your following.
- Keep your fans engaged by posting stories and responding to comments daily.
- Establish a business account and track your daily progress.
- Produce high-quality content
- Upload high-quality images of your artwork.
- Connect with well-known artists.
3. Sell artwork on your eCommerce website
There may need to be more than just selling artwork on social media, especially if you intend to stay in business for a long time. Thus, it’s up to you to select a trustworthy, low-cost online store platform to assist you in selling your artwork.
It is the ideal approach to display your skills under one roof. Start uploading your paintings and designs on your website to show off your exceptional talent.
You must improve the website for it to be searched by Google. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to do it! Employ a freelancer to accomplish it.
How to Choose the Best Online Store to Sell Art?
If you need more time, here’s a quick start guide to get you started.
- Make sure your online shop is easy to use.
- Shipping and labeling services are available.
- Offers email marketing and lead-generating solutions.
- SMS and email marketing are available.
- Minimal maintenance costs
- Have a dependable eCommerce payment gateway and customer service infrastructure in place.
4. Sell your artwork and designs on other websites
Producing a brilliant piece of art is simple, but finding a potential buyer is not. It is when third-party websites come into play. Several websites may assist you in selling your artwork at reasonable pricing.
You may be painting while traveling the world and earning money online. All you need to do is register on third-party websites and begin selling your ideas and artwork online. Several websites require a small fee to sign up. As a result, you may select your preferred website appropriately.
Here are a few places to start selling your artwork:
Society6
Redbubble
Zazzle
Art Web
Artsy
Spreesy
5. Take part in art exhibitions
To make money from art shows, you must first create appealing work for people to purchase. After that, you can participate in exhibits such as art fairs, galleries, or online art auctions.
When you enter an exhibition, your artwork is shown and available for purchase. You’ll also need to figure out how much your painting is worth and how much it will cost to participate in the exhibition.
Promote your artwork online as well to boost your chances of finding buyers.
6. Make use of online auction sites
One of the most basic methods of making money by selling your paintings is through online auction platforms.
Set up an account with an online auction site such as eBay or Etsy to earn money. Just submit photographs of your artwork and provide relevant descriptions to attract possible buyers.
Set a reserve price for each artwork to ensure you earn the desired price. After listing your artwork, start advertising it online through social media platforms, blogs, and other means.
Maintain track of offers and respond to any queries from possible purchasers.
Lastly, once the auction has concluded and your artwork has been sold, please pack it securely and ship it to the buyer.
7. Art galleries for sale
To make money selling art in galleries online, you must first create a portfolio of your work. Photographs, sculptures, paintings, sketches, and other art pieces can be included.
When you’ve developed a portfolio, you may contact galleries specializing in selling artwork. You may also advertise your artwork on social media and other digital channels to find possible buyers.
Galleries that did not engage in online sales in 2019 joined the online market in the majority in 2020, with 72% reporting online sales of paintings, prints, photography, drawings, and sculptures.
After you’ve made relationships with galleries and customers, you may begin negotiating rates and deals and making sales.
8. Take part in art competitions
You must first identify a competition with a monetary prize to earn money online by participating in online art contests.
After finding an eligible competition, you must create artwork that fulfills the competition’s guidelines. You will get a monetary award if your artwork is chosen as a winner.
9. Provide art courses
Teaching painting online is an excellent method to supplement your income. Artists can create a website or blog to give tutorials, classes, and courses.
You may also use video conferencing services like Zoom or Skype to teach painting remotely. Artists may supplement their income by creating and selling art-related materials such as digital downloads, eBooks, and physical objects.
You may also provide one-on-one instruction or individual video courses.
Lastly, affiliate marketing may be used to promote art-related items and services.
Sell digital art online and earn money
Selling your artwork online has never been simpler! Just identify your target market and begin marketing your product. Set your pricing, locate a customer, and you’re ready to launch your online business.
When selling your artwork online, you must carefully price it. There is no one method to tell an artist how much their item is worth. You must, however, only consider your artwork. The price is solely determined by the masterpiece you have made.
According to Statista, digital art purchases will rise in 2021, with the art industry in the United States alone valued at $13.3 billion. It is safe to predict that the favorable trend of selling art online will continue.
Thus, for those who enjoy graphic design, now is the time to get in on the action and start selling.
Where to sell digital art online?
- Social media influencers searching for branding kits
- Old businesses interested in rebranding
- New enterprises that require company branding
- Graphics for web designers
- Art collectors, art enthusiasts, and online galleries
- Other designers and artists
- Online stores
What art sells best online?
Landscape Paintings
Landscape views are universal; everyone can connect to and appreciate them. As a result, it’s an easy decision when purchasing art since purchasing a landscape painting is similar to buying a particular perspective that people want to have.
It might be caught in an amateur snapshot, but it has more excellent aesthetic value because it’s a well-designed composition with a creative handmade touch.
A landscape is the most natural and appealing choice for many possible art buyers.
There are numerous landscape options: seascape, cityscape, jungle, mountaintop, aerial, or panoramic — a landscape is the most natural and appealing choice for a wide range of potential art buyers.
Abstract Paintings
The meaning of abstraction varies from person to person. As a result, many people buy it because when you hang an abstract painting on your wall, it may be perceived simply as color, form, and texture mixing.
Abstract art has a symbolic approach, making it ideal for individuals who want to create a ‘united aesthetic’ in their homes.
Figures and Nudes
People will always like gazing at others, whether in a work of art, photograph, or person. Nudity and figure art pieces range in style from abstract and impressionism to realism and semi-realistic.
Although this art theme exists solely for aesthetic and artistic objectives, there may be better choices for the workplace. Yet, if you specialize in this field, you should be prepared to promote your work outside social media.
These platforms have several community restrictions on this topic, most of which aim to suppress it.
Original art or art prints: what sells better?
Prints often outsell original masterpieces because they are less expensive. The most popular prints are limited-edition prints.
When artists limit the prints they will make and number each print, they attract buyers who want to feel like they’re getting the best of both worlds: something somewhat original but less expensive than an actual, still “small-batch” and not entirely mass-produced.
Conclusion
Creating the type of art you want to do while still earning a living is easy. The internet allows you to sell directly to your followers while also reaching out to new audiences of potential buyers.
You may eliminate the middleman and become the only distributor of your work. Online art sales have immense potential, and with intelligent and strategic use of the Internet, the possibilities are unlimited.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to sell your art online?
- Choose a method for selling your artwork
- Select where you want to sell your artwork
- Showcase your artwork
- Pricing your products
- Package and ship your orders
- Keep an eye out for competitors
- Advertise your art gallery.
How to sell mandala art online
Here is how to sell mandala art online
- Sell on social media platforms.
- Sell on merchandise using your art.
- Work on a commission basis for original artwork
- Pop-up selling at art fairs, conventions, festivals, or exhibitions
- Workshops and Course
How to sell my vector art online
Scalability is one of the most significant advantages of vector art. A vector design may be printed practically anywhere — and on any surface — without losing quality.
It means uploading one file and applying it to dozens of products, such as t-shirts, mugs, pillows, shower curtains, and paper products, for individuals who use print-on-demand services.
You can also sell on platforms like Adobe, Fiverr, Upwork, Society6, and Threadless.
Where can I sell my art online?
The best places to sell artwork online are
Etsy
Amazon
Saatchi Art
Ugallery
Shopify
Pixoa
Turning Art
Society6
Zazzle
What are the popular online platforms in India that artists commonly use to sell their art?
Artists in India can sell their art on popular platforms like Etsy, Zazzle, Creative Market, Instagram, and online stores.
Are there specific art-focused online marketplaces that cater to artists in India?
Artflute, Mojarto, Artzolo, and Indianartideas are some art-focused online marketplaces catering to artists in India.
Can you provide insights into the audience and reach of these platforms to help artists target their desired customer base?
Online platforms provide valuable insights into their audience and reach, enabling artists to target their desired customer base. Artists can also utilize social media and email marketing to promote their work and drive traffic to their online stores.
How do these platforms handle payment processing and ensure secure transactions for both artists and buyers?
These platforms handle payment processing and secure transactions through payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Razorpay. Facilities like SSL encryption and two-factor authentication are also provided to ensure safe and secure transactions for both artists and buyers.
With over 6+ years of experience in the industry, Ayushi excels in building strong customer relationships and guiding clients toward growth as a Brand Partnership Manager. She enjoys sharing her experience in her content.
