Selling Art Online for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re an artist and have ever thought about selling your work online, you’re not alone. The internet offers a vast marketplace for selling art, but getting started can be overwhelming. As a beginner, it’s important to know the best strategies, platforms, and tips to help you successfully navigate the world of online art sales. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to start selling your art online, even if you’re just beginning.

1. Why Should You Sell Your Art Online?

The internet has opened up countless opportunities for artists to sell their work to a global audience. By selling online, you can bypass traditional gallery systems, set your own prices, and build your brand as an artist. Whether you’re a painter, digital artist, photographer, or illustrator, online platforms provide a place for you to reach people who are actively looking to buy art.

Global Reach: Your potential buyers aren’t limited to your local area or city; you can sell to anyone around the world.
Lower Overhead Costs: Unlike renting gallery space or setting up physical booths, selling art online often comes with minimal overhead.
Control Over Your Brand: You can create a unique presence online that represents your style, vision, and voice.

But how do you start selling your art effectively?

2. Where Should You Sell Your Art?

When you’re just starting, one of the most important decisions is where you should sell your art online. There are two main options: marketplaces and your own website. Both have their advantages, but each option requires different strategies.

Marketplaces (Etsy, Saatchi Art, Redbubble, etc.):

Etsy: Ideal for artists who want to sell physical art (paintings, prints, sculptures). Etsy’s marketplace is popular for handmade and vintage items, and it’s a great place for beginners to tap into an established community.
Saatchi Art: A high-end platform that focuses on original art. This site attracts serious collectors, so if your work is in the fine art realm, this could be a great fit.
Redbubble / Society6: These platforms let you upload designs, and they take care of the production and shipping of merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, and phone cases featuring your artwork.

Your Own Website (Shopify, Squarespace, Wix):

Building your own website offers you more control over your brand, pricing, and customer experience. Platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix allow you to easily set up an online store without needing any technical skills.

Pros: Full control over branding, higher profit margins, ability to build an email list.
Cons: You’ll need to drive traffic to your site yourself (through social media or advertising), and there are some upfront costs.

If you’re a beginner, marketplaces might be an easier entry point to start with, but eventually, having your own website will give you more flexibility and potential for growth.

3. Should You Sell Originals, Prints, or Both?

One of the first things to consider is whether you want to sell original pieces, prints, or both.

Original Artwork: Selling original pieces typically allows you to price your art higher, but it might limit the number of people who can afford to buy it. This is ideal if you’re creating one-of-a-kind works like paintings, sculptures, or exclusive digital pieces.
Prints: Selling prints allows you to create multiple copies of your artwork at a more affordable price point. This helps you reach a broader audience. You can offer different sizes and materials, such as canvas, posters, or framed prints.
Digital Art: If you create digital art, you can sell downloadable files (such as illustrations, patterns, or digital paintings). The benefit is no physical shipping, and customers get instant access to your work.

As a beginner, selling prints or digital art might be a more scalable option since they are easier to fulfill and reach a wider range of buyers.

4. How Do You Price Your Art?

Pricing your art can be one of the trickiest aspects of selling online. You want to make sure you’re being compensated fairly for your time, materials, and effort, but you also want to make sure your prices are competitive. Here’s how to approach it:

Research Comparable Art: Look at similar pieces on the platforms where you’re selling to get an idea of what prices are typical for your medium and style.
Factor in Your Time and Materials: Add up the cost of the materials used to create your art, plus the time it took you to create it. A common method is to multiply the number of hours spent on a piece by your desired hourly rate.
Consider Your Audience: If you’re targeting a luxury market, you can price higher. If you’re aiming for a larger, more casual audience, you may want to start at a lower price point to encourage more sales.

When you’re starting out, it’s best to experiment with different pricing strategies and see what works best for your audience. You can also consider offering limited edition prints for a higher price and open edition prints for a more affordable option.

5. How Do You Photograph or Display Your Art Online?

High-quality photos are critical when selling art online because potential buyers can’t see the art in person. Here are some tips to make your art look its best:

Lighting: Natural light is ideal for capturing your art. Avoid harsh artificial lights, which can distort colors.
Resolution: Make sure your images are high resolution (300 dpi or higher) so buyers can see the details.
Background: Use a neutral, clutter-free background for your art photos. A simple white or black backdrop is ideal, but make sure the focus stays on your work.
Angles and Close-ups: Take multiple shots, including close-ups to show texture or intricate details. If your artwork has a frame, show a photo with the frame and one without.
Lifestyle Shots: For prints or paintings, consider showing your art in a room setting. This can help buyers visualize how it will look in their own space.

For digital art, ensure your digital files are appropriately sized and optimized for both print and web display.

6. How Do You Market Your Art Online?

Once your art is online, you’ll need to promote it to attract potential buyers. Here are some beginner-friendly marketing tips:

Social Media: Instagram is the top platform for artists, but you should also consider Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook to showcase your work and build a community. Post consistently, use relevant hashtags, and engage with your followers.
Create a Blog or Newsletter: Build an email list and send regular updates about new artwork, promotions, or art-related news. A blog is a great way to share behind-the-scenes insights and personal stories about your creative process.
Collaborations: Work with other artists or influencers to expand your reach. For example, you could partner on a project or ask influencers to review your art or share it with their audience.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your online store and listings with relevant keywords to make sure your work appears in search results when people look for art online.

Marketing takes time and persistence, but consistently posting and engaging will eventually lead to increased visibility and sales.

7. How Do You Handle Shipping and Fulfillment?

When you sell physical art, you’ll need to manage the logistics of getting your work to your customers. If you’re selling through a platform like Etsy, some platforms offer built-in tools to help with shipping. Alternatively:

Shipping: If you’re shipping your artwork yourself, make sure to research proper packaging methods to ensure your art arrives safely. Use sturdy packaging like tubes for prints or boxes for larger artwork.
Print-on-Demand: If you’re selling prints or merchandise, consider using print-on-demand services like Printful or Gooten. These services handle printing, packing, and shipping for you, so you don’t have to worry about fulfillment.

For international orders, be aware of shipping costs and any import duties or customs fees.

8. How Do You Grow Your Art Business?

Once you start selling, focus on growing your art business by continually improving your offerings, increasing your visibility, and building a brand. Some ways to scale include:

Diversifying Your Art: Offer a range of products, from original paintings to prints, digital downloads, and even branded merchandise (T-shirts, mugs, etc.).
Building Your Brand: Develop a unique artist identity that resonates with your target audience. Your style, message, and story are what make you stand out.
Engaging with Your Audience: Keep your followers engaged by regularly sharing your creative process, offering exclusive deals, or running promotions like giveaways.

Conclusion

Selling art online as a beginner can be both exciting and overwhelming, but by following these steps and strategies, you can set yourself up for success. Start small, stay consistent, and be patient as you learn and grow your art business. Whether you’re selling on marketplaces or building your own website, the key is to keep creating and sharing your work with the world.

Are you ready to start selling your art online? What challenges are you facing, or what tips do you have for beginners? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

This beginner-friendly guide should help you get started on the right foot. Let me know if you want more in-depth advice on any of these steps!