The idea of pursuing art as a profession is not as romantic and easily attainable as it may appear to those who are unfamiliar with this field.
Merely sharing your work is insufficient; you must invest time in selecting appropriate online platforms and marketplaces that offer favorable terms, have an engaged target audience, and meet other important criteria for selling art and commencing your online business. Although it may require extensive research, luckily we have performed this comprehensive evaluation on your behalf!
Many artists have shifted their focus from “how to sell digital art” to “where to sell digital art” due to the overwhelming availability of options, causing confusion and a sense of being lost. While having your own store or website could be beneficial, what if it is just a passive income strategy? Instead, one can use existing marketing tools to sell their artwork projects by simply creating the work.
Sticking to the idea of efficient time and effort spending and having a vast experience of working in graphic design ourselves for years now, we’ve made a list of the best marketplaces for online sales.
Regardless of the domain you choose for earning money, such as creating digital illustrations, graphic design assets for various software, or manufacturing your own physical products, there are numerous options available to choose from.
In order to save you time on researching platforms for selling digital artwork, we explored the topic which encompasses not just market research but also the community it involves and the profitable terms of use it entails.
Best Places To Sell Digital Art Online
1. Creative Market
Our first platform for selling art online was Creative Market. Despite numerous changes, the core remains intact – it remains a magnificent space for selling art online! The website offers a vast array of digital downloads for users to purchase, including graphics, templates, fonts, brushes, web themes, and photos. Releasing an item and making modifications no longer require staff approval, eliminating the need for waiting.
In addition, you have the ability to determine a fair price for each product sold on Creative Market! The platform assists shop owners in advertising their merchandise through newsletters, seasonal sales, a curated selection featuring top-notch items, and numerous other methods.
Monitoring everything in your shop is extremely simple due to the clear statistics and analytics provided. These tools allow you to observe trends and buyer behavior in order to accurately determine the areas in need of improvement.
Furthermore, the company has introduced a convenient feature that combines a shop with Dribbble portfolio, resulting in significant time savings. Given that Dribbble serves as a constant source of inspiration for numerous creators, it is unquestionably advantageous to exhibit and directly sell recent creations on the platform.
When it comes to revenue, new store owners receive 85% of the share during the initial growth phase. However, once they establish themselves as successful merchants, Creative Market will take 50%. This change in percentage is purely business-oriented and does not involve personal matters. Despite this, Creative Market remains one of the top platforms for selling art online.
2. Envato Elements
Selling graphic designs can be done on a subscription-based platform with a large online community. Users can receive unlimited downloads for a set price. This platform offers more than just graphics, themes, and templates. It also allows for the publishing of videos and audio files, making the process of selling art online enjoyable.
You don’t have to engage in the complicated licensing system for your digital files because there is a commercial license that covers everything.
If you sell your digital art on Elements, you don’t have to handle customer support or promote your products. The Elements customer support team is there to assist you with technical issues and marketing. Begin uploading your art to Elements and receive a 50% share of the revenue.
3. Design Cuts
Customers are attracted to a large number of discounts and good deals. Therefore, if you are considering selling art online and thereby benefiting your community (without discussing financial matters), it is advisable to contact Design Cuts using their form. The team responsible for curating consists of friendly individuals who are always willing to assist with any inquiries.
The process of uploading is straightforward and simple; you don’t need to manually choose the product tags or be concerned about their accuracy. In case you have overlooked something or made an error while adding previews, files, or descriptions, the review team will either label your submission with the issue or send you an email.
If you are unsure about where to sell your artwork or how to present your brand, portfolio, or collection of works, as well as whether it aligns with the platform’s concept, you can refer to the Product Academy page. This page offers a series of 9 free video guides that cover everything from setting goals to actually selling your items.
4. Dealjumbo
Visit Dealjumbo to sell your art online and have your products showcased in the next discounted bundle or deal! This website is a valuable resource for graphic designers, offering numerous profitable deals that everyone will appreciate.
With the help of a team of professionals, we bring you the latest and most unique collections that will greatly enhance your sales. These deals are very appealing to many customers who are introduced to various authors/studios for the first time. Therefore, it is an excellent chance to gain attention and successfully sell your products and digital goods.
For years, we have been cooperating with Dealjumbo and we have great admiration for the website’s support team. They consistently display thoughtfulness, friendliness, and a welcoming attitude, which is extremely valuable, particularly when it comes to using an online platform for selling art for the first time.
5. Etsy
Etsy is an essential mention when discussing platforms for selling art online. Established in 2005, this immensely popular e-commerce site serves as the ultimate destination for various artisans, designers, painters, and artists to exhibit their creations, engage with prospective buyers, and conduct online art sales.
The biggest advantage and disadvantage for artists is Etsy’s popularity. By being part of its online marketplace, you have the opportunity to showcase your work to a massive worldwide audience consisting of craft and art enthusiasts, which is one of the largest audiences found on the internet.
On the other hand, due to its popularity as a platform for selling art, it is also home to a large community of independent artists, both established and emerging, who are striving to earn a livelihood from their artwork. Consequently, this can pose difficulties in gaining recognition and getting exposure for your art among the targeted audience online.
In order to market your art on Etsy, it is necessary to establish your own online store on the platform, known as an Etsy shop, where you can exhibit your artwork. After setting up your shop, you can proceed to display your products by including top-notch photographs, and initiate promotional activities to generate sales. Fortunately, Etsy offers a range of resources to assist you in reaching the appropriate target audience for your art.
Etsy charges a small fee for listing items. If your artwork sells, you will be required to pay a 5% transaction fee and a 3% + $0.25 fee for payment processing. If you wish to advertise your products on Etsy or other platforms, additional advertising fees apply.
6. Amazon
These days, art is also purchased by people on Amazon along with almost everything else.
If you want to sell art online, you have multiple options with the world’s biggest online retailer. They offer various platforms, such as Amazon Handmade, specifically designed for homemade and crafted items. Additionally, they have a dedicated section for fine art where partner artists can showcase and sell unique paintings, drawings, watercolors, and photographs.
Depending on where and how you choose to sell your products, Amazon has various fee structures available.
To use Amazon Fine Art, you must first obtain approval from Amazon. Once your approval is granted, you will be charged $0.99 per unit sold, as well as a referral fee ranging from 5% to 20% based on the total cost. For a detailed breakdown of these fees, refer to Amazon’s seller pricing page.
7. Fine Art America
One of the world’s largest online art marketplaces is Fine Art America, which should be considered if versatility is what you seek.
Fine Art America offers a combination of a traditional gallery model and a wide range of print-on-demand services. Whether you wish to sell your original artwork online or provide the option for others to turn your art into various forms such as art prints, T-shirts, iPhone cases, or greeting cards, they have everything you need.
The process of selling art on Fine Art America involves the following sequential steps:
- Open an account
- Upload photos of your artwork
- Choose which products to feature
- Set your prices and you’re ready to go
Fine Art America sets a base price for each product when it comes to pricing. After that, you can add a markup which will be your profit when the product is sold. When it comes to selling digital downloads, you get to keep the entire asking price. Fine Art America, however, requests a 30% markup which they retain as a commission. If you happen to make a sale on an original artwork, you will keep the entire amount of the sale.
8. Saatchi Art
If you are seeking exposure, Saatchi Art might be the ideal platform for you as it boasts a vast audience as an online art gallery and marketplace.
Saatchi Art attracts around 1.6 million visitors per month, resulting in approximately 12 million page views. Moreover, they boast a considerable following of almost 500,000 on Facebook and over 650,000 on Instagram. It is worth noting that Saatchi Art’s reach is not limited to a single country, as it can facilitate online art sales on a global level. Up until now, the platform has successfully sold artwork to collectors residing in more than 80 countries worldwide.
To commence selling on the Saatchi Art online art gallery, you simply need to establish a profile and subsequently capture and upload images of your artwork. Once a piece of your work is sold, your only responsibility is to package it accordingly. Saatchi Art will take care of shipping and retain a 35% commission from the sale.
9. UGallery
If you have always had the dream of having your artwork displayed in a prestigious gallery, you should think about selling on UGallery. UGallery carefully selects paintings, illustrations, sculptures, prints, and photos that are designed to captivate genuine art enthusiasts and collectors.
This carefully curated art gallery and online art market also has a strong commitment to featuring new, exciting art.
In order to maintain novelty and excitement, UGallery solely showcases artwork created by emerging and mid-level artists, ensuring that the art presented is both unique and exclusive. Essentially, UGallery seeks to replicate the encounter of attending and purchasing art from a luxurious gallery, but in a virtual setting rather than a physical one.
To begin the process, artists must submit digital copies of their artwork, an artist statement, a completed application, and a $5 application fee to UGallery, which follows a highly selective application process.
If your application to exhibit at UGallery is approved, they will handle the marketing of your art to their audience. In the event of a sale through UGallery, the proceeds will be divided equally between you and them. Additionally, their team will provide you with a specially made box to package your artwork for the buyer, and they will bear the expenses related to packaging and shipping.
