Where To Sell Your Art Online
Where to Sell Your Art Online
If you haven’t started selling your art online, you should! By selling online you are opening yourself to millions of new customers from all around the world.
My first sale of my artwork was online to a woman in Switzerland. I couldn’t believe it but that never would have happened if I didn’t try to sell online. Many people are scared of scams, but these websites protect artists from that as payment is secure and made before anything is shipped.
There are many places where you can sell and display your art for free online while others may charge per listing or take a portion of each sale.
Here is a list of where I sell my paintings online. I will describe each of them and then give what I think are the pros and cons of them.
Each of the links in the titles below will link to my shop or profile on each of the sites so you can see what my shop looks like.
Click on any of the headings below to go to that website!
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Email me at brian@briansloanartist.com for more info.
Artfinder – Free
Artfinder is a free place to sell your artwork to a worldwide group of art connoisseurs. This site is a little more exclusive as you have to apply to sell on the website. The application is free but that means not just anyone can sell their work so the scam level is non-existent. People can follow you and see when you upload new artworks. Artfinder takes a 40% commission on any products sold for their free starter plans. If you pay a $5 monthly fee that commission is decreased to 33% (still a little high in my opinion).
I like the fact that not just anyone can sell on this website because that means the buyers are also more serious. I have sold a couple of paintings on this platform. The process went smoothly for each and it was easy to follow their policies. I also like the following ability because you can see it grow with each new painting. The only downside is the higher commission fee of 40% as some other websites take less.
If you decide to use Artfinder, or want to purchase a painting from me or someone else, use this link http://artf.in/kIzaxw and get $30 towards any painting!
Read my in-depth review of Artfinder here: https://www.briansloanartist.com/artfinder-review/
Or watch my in-depth review of Artfinder below or on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/qvWPeIXmpeA
Artpal – Free
Artpal is a website where you can list and sell your paintings for free. When you sell an original painting that you ship, Artpal takes a 0% commission fee (which is really good). When using their print-on-demand services, which allows you to sell prints in many forms, you set your own profits above and beyond the cost to make and ship that Artpal places on them.
If you would like your pieces to show up higher in searches, you can pay a small fee per listing.
I personally haven’t sold any paintings on Artpal but to have a free place to show my work, I can’t complain. Most of my views come from the United States but I have seen views from countries all around the world.
If you are looking to buy something on Artpal, use this link https://www.ArtPal.com?r=62135
If you are looking to start your own shop on Artpal, use this link: https://www.ArtPal.com/sellart?r=62135
Read my in-depth review about ArtPal here: https://www.briansloanartist.com/artpal-full-review-what-is-it-how-to-use-it-what-i-think-of-it/
Or watch my in-depth review of ArtPal Below or on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/JycaDI8mS1E
Artmajeur – Free & Subscription
Artmajeur is another free place to sell your art. Artmajeur has changed quite a bit since I made the video above so make sure to either read my new article about Artmajeur or watch the new full review video posted below. Free accounts can now have unlimited artworks posted but there is a 20% commission fee. There is a membership that you can purchase for $6.25 CAD a month that gives you some bonus features and a decreased commission to 15%. You can also sell on their print on demand section and digital licensing section. You set your profits and decide what you think is fair above their base price.
I have never sold on Artmajeur but have had inquiries about my works from people around the world. I have had over 10,000 views since joining. This is definitely a website to check out.
Feel free to read my full review of Artmajeur here: https://www.briansloanartist.com/artmajeur-review/
Or watch my in-depth review of Artmajeur at this link: https://youtu.be/OT8_XfHGssI
BBuzzArt – Free
I just recently joined BBuzzArt but the user interface is quite simple and I got a few followers pretty quickly after posting some artwork. It is free but you also must apply to sell on this website. Their commission rate is 30% per sale so this is one of the higher ones.
Since it is free, I think there is no harm in signing up and giving people just one more place where they can discover you.
Displate – Free
Displate is a printing service and not a place to sell original paintings. Prints of your paintings are made on stylish metal sheets. The photos that you upload must be of high quality in order to be used for printing. Their commission rate is very high as they make everything and ship it to your customers. You set your earnings above and beyond their cost to make and ship the print.
I just recently joined this site as well and have not sold anything yet. Like I mentioned before, the size of images must be very high so I actually only have a few items for sale on my shop so far. If you like the idea of metal prints, check this one out!
Etsy – Listing Fee
Many of you have probably heard or have used Etsy. Anyone can make a shop but there is a listing fee of $0.20 per listing. When you sell an item there is a 5% fee of the item total and shipping costs. So overall not that bad. Listings expire after 4 months but can easily be renewed.
I have had an Etsy shop for a few years now and have sold 10 paintings. Each experience has been pleasurable. You can purchase and print your shipping label right through Etsy and even get a slight discount on the shipping which is great. If you do mainly large pieces that sell for thousands of dollars, I would say Etsy is not for you. This is more of a handmade/craft type platform so I would say the majority of people aren’t looking to spend hundreds of dollars on paintings. I think the smaller and cuter, the better.
Feel free to read my full review of Etsy here: https://www.briansloanartist.com/etsy-review/
Or watch my in-depth review of Etsy at this link: https://youtu.be/oquMZNBQBQc
Fine Art America – Free & Subscription
Fine Art America is one of the largest platforms I have found where you can sell your art. This is a pro and a con. Just starting out makes it hard to be discovered but that also means more people use the site. You can sell your original artwork at 0% commission. That is a big plus. You can also sell prints, apparel, digital downloads, home décor, and much more. For each of those items you can set your own profit margin.
I have sold a few prints on Fine Art America and it was great. I didn’t have to do anything and I got paid for it! I have also been contacted for commission work through this site. If you become a member, which costs $30 a year (very cheap compared to other websites similar to this) you can get your own website, a shop widget for your website, and unlimited image uploads. Free accounts have a limit of 25 uploads.
Feel free to read my full review of Fine Art America here: https://www.briansloanartist.com/fine-art-america-review/
Or watch my in-depth review of Fine Art America at this link: https://youtu.be/iOPRywweUUE
Found Myself – Free
Found Myself is a free place to sell your art commission free. The more you interact with others on the platform, the more your art will be shown around the community. Digital copies and prints can also be sold here and you can set your own profit margin.
I have not sold on this website but my following is growing which I think is a success.
INPRNT – Free
INPRNT is a free platform where you can sell prints of your paintings, but not originals. You must apply and be approved by the community to sell on INPRNT which helps with the legitimacy of the website. INPRNT keeps 50% of the price to print and the other half is yours. You can set your own prices so you know how much you will be making. I haven’t sold on INPRNT but the interface is easy to use and I have enjoyed seeing the other art on the website.
Redbubble – Free
Redbubble is a free platform where you can sell your paintings as prints, clothing, décor, and much more. You set your own profits for each product and watch the magic happen. When a purchase is made, you don’t have to do anything. Redbubble creates and ships the product for you. I have sold some items on Redbubble and it was a smooth experience from the sale to when the money was deposited in my PayPal account.
Check out my full review of Redbubble here: https://briansloanartist.com/redbubble-review/
Or watch my review here: https://youtu.be/_22uT-CngV8
Saatchi Art – Free
Saatchi Art is a free online gallery where you can sell your art. There is a commission fee of 35% on each sale. However, they handle the cost of shipping, you only handle the packaging. They boast over 12 million page views a month and over one million social followers.
I just recently joined Saatchi Art and have been satisfied with the user interface and interaction I have had so far.
Feel free to read my full review of Saatchi Art here: https://www.briansloanartist.com/saatchi-art-review/
Or watch my in-depth review of Saatchi Art at this link: https://youtu.be/ebEN_HtWisQ
Society 6 – Free
Society 6 is similar to Redbubble as it is a place where prints, clothing, décor, and much more of your art is sold. This isn’t a place to sell originals. You set your profit margins on the different products and they take care of the production and the shipping of all products sold. I have sold a few prints on this site and have been satisfied with the transactions. It’s always a nice surprise to make some passive income!
Check out my in-depth review of Society6 here: https://briansloanartist.com/society6-review/
Or watch my video review here: https://youtu.be/CWt-eAY_Gwo
These are the sites that I have had experience with for selling my art online. I’m sure there are many more out there and I encourage you to list them in the comments and add your experiences with them! I would love to know of more places to sell my art online!
I also have volumes 2 and 3 of this article that include 24 more websites where you can sell your art online! Check them out by clicking on the photos below:
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about these sites or about my experiences with them, just let me know!
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Thank you for this list, it is very helpful.
No problem Sarah! I’m glad it could help!
Hi Brian, great information thank you! I have been selling my art regularly and have established a great community of local buyers. I have a home based studio with frequent visitors. I have a concern about online sites that take a sizeable commission. Won’t your local buyers go directly to their sites to purchase your art rather than contacting you directly? Their SEO is so strong that your own website may be much harder to find for local collectors, therefore the default online space to buy your work is their site… would love your thoughts on this. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment, Jodie! That’s awesome you have established a great community! I have actually found that local buyers just contact me directly and have never purchased from any of these websites even if that is how they have found me. Even though they are reputable websites, people always prefer buying directly from me if they can. Since search engines look at your location/etc. my personal website shows up to local buyers before these big market ones do. I also link my website and social media accounts in all these sites so people can find my website and ways to contact me very easily. For the websites that take sizeable commissions, my prices are usually higher than what one would find on my personal website. Some people say that that isn’t fair but that is why I put the link to my website so people can see the difference and buy right from me instead. I mean, if I were looking to purchase a piece of art, I would check first and try to purchase it directly from the artist. If the commission is low (many are 5% or less) than I just have the same prices as my website. Obviously, there are sites like Fine Art America, Redbubble, Society6 that put my art onto products that I can’t make myself. In those cases, I’m glad for people to buy directly from those websites!
Thanks for this site. I want to sell my my paintings.
You’re welcome. Best of luck!
Thankx Dear,
I’m a cancer servior and an Artist. I have many collections of paintings and many ideas about art. I want to do something unique and approved to myself of the world. Please help me coz I’m a new user and don’t know how to participate and use my skill.
Thank you for this very helpful list!
No problem Marce, I’m glad it could be helpful!
Hi dear iam artistfrom iraq ihope partecpation
Welcome! I hope this list helps you sell your art!
Thankyou. I’ve always wondered about the succes or non success of these sites. Just one question… if your selling one more then one site do you advertise the same paintings on every site or do you try to a différant verity on each site?
You’re welcome. That is a good question. There are some sites I do no advertising on at all, such as Redbubble and Society 6. Yet in the last month, I have sold a few products. I will advertise my Etsy shop on Pinterest because there are a lot of good boards to share Etsy products. Some sites, like ArtPal, will automatically tweet a painting a day if you want it to. I usually just advertise my own website and if people come across my other ones by using those platforms then that is a bonus! I think just getting your art out there in as many places as possible is one of the most important parts of selling online. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Fab list. Can you re-post so I can share please.
Thanks! What do you mean by re-post? Like on my Facebook page? There are buttons on the side and the bottom of the article where you can share it across different social media platforms!
As my wife is a starting artist, this list was very helpful to us; thank you very much; however, the information on Artfinder is somewhat confusing to us: Artfinder takes a rather large commission of 40% and yet they oblige the seller to keep the marketprice of a painting similar to the marketprice of the same painting on other (competing) selling platforms. As you know, not all selling platforms take such a large commission (sometimes even 0%). In fact this means that , if we would select a marketprice (as well as price to artist) which is “reasonable” to us on other selling platforms, we would be obliged to sell it on Artfinder for a “price to artist’ which is far below the ‘price to artist on other sales platforms (even up to 40% difference). If we would select a ‘price to artist’ at Artfinder that is reasonable to us, we would be obliged to select a market price on other platforms that appears to high to us. Conclusion: the combination of a high commission and the obligation to keep the market price constant on all competing sales platforms appears unattractive to us. If our analyses is correct, we would prefer not to use Artfinder
I agree with you that Artfinder does take a large commission. Because of that large commission, my paintings are priced higher on Artfinder than other sites. It is similar to being in an actual gallery where prices would be marked up so that the artist still gets their share of profit after the gallery takes a commission fee. This is why I encourage people to buy right from me so that there is no commission fee because I can offer the lowest price.
I appreciate your comment and interaction. Best of luck to you and your wife!
Thank you for this list!
No problem! I hope it helps!
This is great information, thanks for taking the trouble to research these sites and to share your findings. I’m looking to get started selling my art: originals and prints on demand. This will really help me choose which site to go for.
Thanks for checking it out Nick! Let me know if you have any questions!
very nice list! hi. which in your opinion would be the top three sites to sell prints? I’m looking for art places online where I can just upload and sell without shipping and packaging etc.
Hi Willow! Thanks for reading!
If I was to choose threes sites that do all the packaging and shipping for me I would choose Fine Art America, Redbubble, and either Society6 or Saatchi Art.
Very informational. I like it.
Thanks for reading!
Im curious as to the quality of products that the sell-on-demand websites produce. Id be interested in a compare and contrast video of the products from these websites from the buyers point of view.
print-on-demand*
Thank you for your patience in my response!
I am very curious as well. I have been tempted many times to order one things from all of these websites to show the difference.
Maybe I still will sometime. It just gets pricey!
Hello Brian,
You are doing a great service through your posting and prompt responses.
I have a query. How many pieces of original paintings (traditional/folk/ethnic paintings) can be sold and in what period of time, by simultaneously listing in different marketplaces. Yes, it depends on the buyers, but from your experience and perspective you may please give an estimate.
Thanks
Nagaraj
Thanks for the comment.
It’s really hard to give an estimate. At times, I’ve had multiple pieces sell across different platforms within a few months. Other times, I’ve gone 4 or 5 months without selling one original on any platform. Part depends on the pieces, price, size, and the demand for the work. Selling online is tricky. It’s a very saturated marketplace so getting noticed can be difficult. People need to see your art if they are going to buy it.
I don’t know if any of that helps. I hope it does a little.
Appreciate your swift response. Thanks. Nagaraj
Well done on helping fellow artists. For those in the UK, ukartistsonline.com is free with two optional upgrades.
Thank you for the addition of those websites!