The internet has changed the way artists sell their work. Painters, sculptors, photographers, and digital artists now have more ways to earn money from their art than ever before.
Online marketplaces have removed a lot of the gatekeepers that used to keep talented artists away from potential customers. You no longer have to depend on a gallery or know the right people to get your work in front of buyers.
Of course, that creates another problem. There are a LOT of talented artists selling their work online now, so it can be hard to stand out.
A big part of getting started is figuring out where the people who might buy your art are actually shopping! There are a ton of choices, and they don't all work the same way.
So I put this article together to show you five places artists are using to sell their work online right now and what you should know about each one.
5 Places To Sell Your Artwork Online
If you want your own store, Shopify is the one I'd start with. Etsy already has shoppers, INPRNT handles printing and shipping, Artfinder focuses on original fine art, and Artistree is set up for custom commissions.
Shopify – Build Your Own Art Store
If I wanted to build a real online art business, Shopify is probably where I would start.
With Shopify, you get your own store. Your paintings, prints, photographs, or digital art aren't sitting on the same page with hundreds of other sellers competing for the same buyer.
You can choose how your store looks, set your own prices, add the products you want to sell, and build a name around your artwork. You don't need to know how to build a website from scratch, either.
Shopify is probably most ideal if you already post your art on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, or somewhere else. You can send people straight from those accounts to your own store.
I saw artists talking about this when I checked recent discussions, too. Some said they like having their own Shopify store because they have more control and don't have to rely so much on Etsy or another marketplace deciding which products show up in search.
The downside is that Shopify doesn't come with a built-in crowd of art shoppers. You'll have to bring people to your store through social media, Google, email, or whatever you use to promote your work.
Personally, I prefer the idea of putting that work into a store you control.
Right now, Shopify lets you try it free for 3 days, and after that you can continue for just $1 a month for 3 months.
Go here to check out Shopify, or read my Shopify review and overview for more information.
Etsy – Reach People Who Are Already Shopping
Etsy is still one of the first places I'd suggest looking if you have no following at all for your art as of now.
People already go to Etsy looking for handmade and creative things to buy. You don't have to convince them to visit an art store because they're already shopping on there.
Artists sell original paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, custom portraits, digital downloads, and all kinds of other artwork there.
Etsy gets plenty of complaints these days unfortunately. Sellers talk about the competition, fees, AI-made products, and mass-produced items showing up beside their handmade work, and all of that is causing real problems.
But, I still found artists saying Etsy brings them sales. Some said it remains a major part of their income, and there are artists using Etsy as part of a full-time business.
You'll need good pictures of your work on Etsy, clear titles and descriptions, and keywords people are actually using when they shop. Having a certain style or type of art can also make it easier for the right customers to find you on there.
Etsy charges a listing fee as you probably know, and they take a percentage when something sells, so you'll want to account for those costs when setting your prices.
You can read my Etsy review for more information, or go here to browse Etsy.
INPRNT – Sell Prints Without Doing the Shipping
INPRNT is a good choice if you want to sell prints without printing, packing, and mailing every order yourself.
You upload your artwork. When somebody buys a print, INPRNT makes it, ships it, and handles the customer service.
This is a good idea for digital artists, illustrators, photographers, and traditional artists who can make a decent digital copy of their work.
One thing I kept seeing in artist discussions was praise for the print quality. Artists seem to like INPRNT when they want their customers to receive a nice fine-art print instead of something that looks cheap or mass-produced.
Artists currently get 50 percent of the sale price on standard fine-art prints. INPRNT sells other products too, and the amount you earn depends on what is sold.
I wouldn't expect INPRNT to bring you all your customers, though. Artists often share links to their INPRNT shops on social media and send their own followers there.
You'll also have to apply and get accepted before you can open an artist shop.
Go here to apply to sell your artwork through INPRNT.
Artfinder – Sell Original Fine Art
Artfinder is aimed more at artists selling original work at higher prices.
The site sells original paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, and other fine art from independent artists around the world.
I found mixed opinions about a lot of art-selling sites while researching for this update. With Artfinder, I did find artists saying they had made a number of real sales there over the years, so I decided it should still be listed.
You have to apply before opening a shop. Artfinder wants to see your artwork, information about you, and usually an art-focused website or social media account.
The fees aren't cheap, though.
Its free Starter plan currently takes a 50 percent commission when something sells. Paid plans lower that percentage, but then you're paying for the plan too.
Because of those fees, I would mainly look at Artfinder if I were selling original pieces at higher prices. I wouldn't choose it for cheap downloads or low-priced prints.
Go here to learn more about selling your art on Artfinder.
Artistree – Take Custom Art Commissions
Artistree is made for artists who take custom orders.
Think pet portraits, character art, illustrations, drawings of people, and other pieces someone hires you to make just for them.
Artistree gives you one place to collect commission requests, manage clients, and keep track of orders. That can be a lot easier than trying to handle everything through Instagram DMs, email, and several different payment apps.
I kept seeing good comments from artists who use it. Some said they moved most of their commission work to Artistree because it was easier to keep everything organized there.
Artistree won't find all your customers for you. You'll probably still need to show your work on social media, Reddit, Discord, or other places where people can see what you make.
Then, when someone asks you to make something for them, you can send them to your Artistree page to place the order.
If people already message you asking, "Can you make one of these for me?" Artistree could make those orders a lot easier to manage!
Go here to check out Artistree.
To Sum Up
The sites above are only a small sample of the places artists can sell their work online. You don't have to pick one and stick with it forever, either.
For example, you could take custom portrait orders through Artistree while selling original work or prints through Shopify, Etsy, Artfinder, or INPRNT.
One thing I noticed again and again while reading what artists are doing now is that the selling site is only part of the job. Most artists still have to put their work where people can see it, through social media, local events, an email list, or other places.
The more people who see your art, the better your chances are of making sales and getting custom work.
Good luck!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.