The Best Websites to Sell Your Art

As an artist, finding the right platform to sell your artwork can be a daunting task. With so many options available online, it can be overwhelming to decide which website is the best fit for you and your art. It’s important to consider a variety of factors, including the size and demographics of the customer base, the fees and commissions associated with each platform, and the tools and resources available to help you promote and sell your work.

In this article, we will explore seven websites that are great options for selling your art online. Each website will be accompanied by a brief description and a list of the advantages and disadvantages of using the platform. By considering the pros and cons of each option, you can make an informed decision about which website is the best fit for your needs as an artist. So, without further ado, here are the best places to sell your art online.

Etsy

There are many examples of artists who have made a significant amount of money selling their art on Etsy. One such example is Melissa Jay Craig, a mixed media artist who has made over $1 million in sales on Etsy. Melissa started her Etsy shop in 2008 and has since built a successful business selling original paintings, prints, and other products featuring her artwork.

Etsy is an e-commerce platform that allows artists and artisans to sell hand-drawn or digital original artwork and prints. Founded in 2005, Etsy has grown to become one of the most popular online marketplaces for handmade and unique items. With over 2.7 million active sellers, Etsy has a large and diverse customer base of over 60 million buyers.

One of the key advantages of selling on Etsy is its strong brand recognition not just with artists, but with the public in general. Many people are familiar with the platform and trust it as a source for high-quality drawings and digital art. Thanks to this, the website is able to help attract potential art buyers to your shop, increasing your chances of making sales.

Thanks to the built-in payment processing, easy-to-use interface for sellers and buyers, and customer support the complete buying process is simplified.

Advantages of Selling Your Art on Etsy:

• Strong brand recognition: Etsy is a well-known and trusted platform, which can help attract potential art buyers to your shop.
• Large and diverse customer base: With over 2.7 million active sellers, Etsy attracts a large and diverse customer base, which can help increase your chances of making sales.
• Easy-to-use interface: Setting up and managing your art shop on Etsy is relatively easy, thanks to the platform’s user-friendly interface.
• Built-in payment processing: Etsy offers built-in payment processing, which simplifies the process of receiving payments from customers – allowing you to focus on creating your art.
• Range of features to help you sell: Etsy offers a range of features to help you promote and sell your art, including the ability to create a customizable shop and access to analytics and insights.
• Networking and community support: Etsy has a large and active community of sellers, which can be a great source of support and networking opportunities.
• Exposure: Being featured on Etsy’s homepage or in one of their curated collections can provide valuable exposure for your art.

Disadvantages of Selling Your Art on Etsy:

• Fees: Etsy charges fees for listing items in your shop and for each sale that you make. These fees can cut into your profit margins and may make it more challenging to turn a profit on the platform.
• Competition: With millions of sellers on Etsy, there is a lot of competition for buyers’ attention. This can make it more difficult to stand out and attract buyers to your shop, especially if you are just starting out.
• Limited control: As a seller on Etsy, you are subject to the platform’s rules and regulations. This can limit your ability to fully customize your shop or to operate it in a way that you see fit.
• Potential for intellectual property issues: There is a risk that other sellers on Etsy may copy or reproduce your artwork without permission, which can lead to intellectual property issues. Etsy has policies to address these issues, but it is still important to be aware of the potential risks.

Society6

Society6 is an online marketplace that sells a variety of products, including art prints, home decor items, phone cases, and clothing. It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company is known for its focus on supporting independent artists, who can sell their designs on Society6’s platform and earn a commission on each sale. Over the years Society6 has grown massively and now offers a wide range of products including wall art, throw pillows, duvet covers, and more. Customers can browse and purchase these products on Society6’s website or app.

Advantages of Selling Your Art on Society6:

• Exposure: Society6 provides a platform for artists to showcase their work and reach a wider audience. This can be especially beneficial for artists who may not have a large following or who are just starting out in their careers.
• Income: By selling their designs on Society6, artists can earn a commission on each sale. This can be a valuable source of income for artists, especially those who are just starting out or who are looking for additional ways to monetize their work.
• Convenience: Society6 handles all the production, fulfillment, and customer service for the products featuring the artist’s designs, allowing the artist to focus on creating new work.
• Flexibility: Artists can set their own prices and choose which products they want to feature their designs on. This allows artists to have control over their sales and how their work is presented to customers.
• Collaboration opportunities: Society6 works with various brands and organizations to create and sell exclusive collections, which can provide artists with the opportunity to collaborate and potentially reach a larger audience.

Disadvantages of Society6:

• Commission structure: Society6 takes a commission on each sale of a product featuring the artist’s designs. This means that the artist’s earnings may be somewhat limited, as they will only receive a portion of the sale price.
• Competition: Society6 has a large number of artists selling their designs on the platform, which means there is a lot of competition. This can make it challenging for artists to stand out and attract customers.
• Limited control: While Society6 provides artists with some control over their prices and the products their designs are featured on, the company ultimately has the final say over these decisions. This means that artists may not have as much control over their sales and how their work is presented to customers as they would if they were selling directly to customers.
• Potential for low sales: It is possible that artists may not see a high level of sales on Society6, especially if they are just starting out or if their designs do not appeal to a wide audience.
• Lack of personal connection: By selling their designs on Society6, artists may not have as much direct interaction with their customers as they would if they were selling directly to them. This can make it more difficult to build a personal connection with customers and may limit the ability to gather feedback and build a loyal customer base.

Saatchi Art

Saatchi Art is an online art gallery that was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company’s mission is to make it easy for people to discover and buy art from emerging and established artists around the world. Saatchi Art offers a wide range of original artworks in various styles and mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, and drawing. Customers can browse and purchase these artworks on Saatchi Art’s website or app.

In addition to selling original artworks, Saatchi Art also offers a selection of limited-edition prints and art-inspired products, such as phone cases and tote bags. The company works with a number of artists, galleries, and other partners to curate its selection and showcase a diverse range of styles and perspectives. Saatchi Art also offers various resources and services for artists, including marketing and promotional support, to help them reach a wider audience and sell their work.

Advantages of Selling Your Art on Saatchi Art:

• Increased Exposure: Saatchi Art provides a platform for artists to showcase their work and reach a wider audience, potentially increasing the visibility of their art and helping them to attract more customers. 
• Non-exclusive policy: This means that you’re free to enter into similar agreements or arrangements with other parties and earn even more income.
• Receive 65% on every artwork sold: Fair commission structure so you get to keep a large amount of the profit.
• Painless Shipping: All you need to do is package the artwork and cover the cost of the packaging materials – Saatchi Art handles the rest.
• Art Advisory: Potential to get selected by their curators for recommendation to a wide range of clients, from designers to architects to emerging and seasoned collectors.

Redbubble

Similar to Society6, Redbubble allows artists to sell their artwork as prints and other products. Redbubble handles production and fulfillment and offers a wide range of products for artists to choose from.

Advantages of using Redbubble:

• Convenience: Redbubble handles production and fulfillment, so you don’t have to worry about getting products made or shipped to customers.
• Variety: There is a wide range of products available to choose from, allowing you to capitalize on your artwork and reach larger audiences.

Disadvantages of using Redbubble:

• Lower profit margins: When compared to other similar options, the payout structure doesn’t allow you to take as much of the profit from selling your artwork.
• Usage Rights: A major downside is that Redbubble owns the rights to the products created using your artwork.

ArtPal

This website allows artists to create their own online galleries to sell their artwork. ArtPal handles payment processing and offers a range of features to help artists promote and sell their work.

Advantages of using ArtPal:

• Full control: ArtPal allows the artist the ability to have full control over their online gallery.
• Built-in payment processing: ArtPal offers built-in payment processing, which simplifies the process of receiving payments from customers – allowing you to focus on creating your art.

Disadvantages of using ArtPal:

• Commission structure: ArtPal charges a commission on all sales made on the platform.
• Not well-known: The platform is not as well known as some others in this space, which may make it more difficult to reach large audiences and get your artwork seen.

DeviantArt

This online community is a great place for artists to showcase and sell their work. DeviantArt offers a range of features to help artists promote and sell their artwork, including the ability to create an online store.

Advantages of using DeviantArt:

• Large and active community of artists: DeviantArt has a large and active community of sellers, which can be a great source of support and networking opportunities.
• Access to tools: DeviantArt offers a wide range of tools that are available to artists to help promote and sell their work.

Disadvantages of using DeviantArt:

• Commission structure: DeviantArt charges a commission on all sales made on the platform.
• Content focus: The platform is geared heavily towards digital art, so it can be harder for analog artists to find their place.

FineArtAmerica

This website allows artists to sell their artwork as prints, phone cases, and other products. FineArtAmerica handles production and fulfillment and offers a range of features to help artists promote and sell their work.

Advantages of using FineArtAmerica:

• Convenience: FineArtAmerica handles all the production and fulfillment for the products featuring the artist’s designs, allowing the artist to focus on creating new work.
• Access to tools: FineArtAmerica offers a wide range of tools that are available to artists to help promote and sell their work.

Disadvantages of using FineArtAmerica:

• Lower profit margins: When compared to other similar options, the payout structure doesn’t allow you to take as much of the profit from selling your artwork.
• Usage Rights: A major downside is that FineArtAmerica owns the rights to the products created using your artwork.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, there are many great options for selling your art online. Each platform has its own unique features and benefits, as well as potential drawbacks, and it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each option before deciding which one is the best fit for you. Whether you’re interested in selling original artwork, prints, or other products, there is a website out there that can help you reach your target audience and achieve success.

It’s also important to keep in mind that selling art online is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on your goals and needs as an artist, you may want to consider using multiple platforms in order to reach a wider audience and maximize your sales. For example, you may want to use Etsy to sell original artwork and Society6 to sell prints of your art.

Finally, it’s crucial to remember that selling art online is a continuous process. It takes time and effort to build a successful online art business, and it’s important to stay up to date with trends and best practices in order to stay competitive. With the right platform and a little bit of hard work, you can successfully sell your art online and reach a wider audience than ever before.