Sell Online
Where to Sell Art Online: Originals, Prints and Print on Demand
The best place to sell art online depends on what you sell. Compare Saatchi Art, Etsy, Fine Art America and print on demand, with 2026 fees.
· 9 min read
For painters, illustrators and makers
How to Make Money as an Artist: Build Several Small Income Streams From the Same Work
Very few artists live on original sales alone. Most combine originals with prints, commissions, digital downloads, licensing or teaching, so one piece of work can be sold in more than one way. The free method below shows how to pick the two or three streams that fit your art and your time, keep your copyright, and avoid the costly mistakes. Expect months, not weeks, before sales feel steady.
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- No experience needed
- 7-day guarantee
- Honest numbers, no hype
The short answer
To make money as an artist, sell the same body of work in several ways: originals and commissions for higher prices, prints and print on demand for lower-priced sales, and digital downloads, licensing or teaching for income that doesn't depend on one buyer. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that many artists hold at least one other job to support their art, so treat art income as something you build over months and years, not a quick switch. Results depend on your style, your audience and how consistently you show and sell your work.
Part of our honest guide to making money online.
Sound familiar?
Why most people never get started — or quit early
Your originals take weeks and sell rarely
One painting can take days or weeks of work, and when it finally sells, the income stops there. Pricing it high enough to cover your time feels impossible to justify to buyers.
Posting on social media hasn't turned into sales
People like and share your work, but likes don't pay rent. You're not sure whether you need a shop, a bigger following or a different kind of product.
You worry about copying, copyright and bad contracts
Commission clients ask for 'all rights', print sites have long terms, and you've seen artwork stolen and printed on T-shirts. You don't know what you're giving away when you sell.
Selling feels like it takes time away from making art
Listings, mockups, shipping, emails and fees eat into your studio hours, and you're afraid of becoming a full-time shopkeeper who rarely paints.
The turning point
Why this approach works for artists
The artists who earn steadily usually aren't the ones with one big break. They sell the same creative work in several formats, at several price points, to different kinds of buyers.
01
One piece, several products
An original can sell once, while you keep the copyright and can also offer prints, a print-on-demand design, a digital download or a licensing deal. Each format reaches buyers at a different budget.
02
Your copyright is the asset
In the US, copyright exists from the moment you create and fix a work, and selling the physical piece doesn't transfer it unless you sign it away. Knowing this lets you sell objects while keeping the rights that earn again later.
03
Streams matched to your time
Commissions and teaching trade hours for money; print on demand and downloads take setup time but no shipping. You pick the mix that fits your week instead of copying an artist with a different life.
How this is different: Most advice tells artists to 'just post more' or 'build a brand'. This approach starts from what you can sell, to whom, in what format and at what price, and treats your social media as a shop window rather than the business itself.
How it works
Your first steps
- 1
Sort your work into sellable formats
List what you make and decide which pieces could become originals, prints, print-on-demand designs, digital downloads or licensable images. Check our comparison of where to sell art online before you open shops everywhere.
- 2
Start with one high-price and one low-price stream
Pair something like commissions or originals with something cheaper and repeatable, such as prints or a print on demand shop, so buyers at different budgets can say yes.
- 3
Put your terms in writing
Before any commission or licensing deal, agree in writing on price, deposit, revisions, deadline and exactly which rights the buyer gets. Keep your copyright unless you are paid to give it up.
- 4
Show the work where buyers already look
Use marketplace search, a simple portfolio site, local markets and social media to send people to one place where they can buy. Track which channel actually produces sales, not just likes.
- 5
Review after three months and adjust
Compare income per hour for each stream after fees and costs. Keep what pays, fix what almost works and drop what drains your studio time.
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The skills involved
What you'll need to learn
Pricing originals and commissions
Turn materials, hours and your experience level into prices you can explain, with deposits and clear revision limits so commissions don't become unpaid extra work.
Preparing art files for print and download
Scan or photograph work at high resolution, correct colour, and export files at the sizes and aspect ratios that print sites and download buyers need. See our guide to print on demand wall art.
Copyright and licensing basics
Understand what you own, what a buyer of an original does and doesn't get, how a written license or work-for-hire agreement changes that, and how to respond when someone copies your art.
Choosing marketplaces and print partners
Compare fees, payout timing and terms across art marketplaces, Etsy and print-on-demand services, including whether a site claims rights you don't want to give.
Product photos and listings that sell
Show scale, texture and framing in photos and mockups, and write titles and tags with the words buyers actually search for.
Running a small audience you own
Collect email addresses from buyers and followers so a new release or open commission slot reaches people directly, without depending on a social media algorithm.
Basic business records and taxes
Track sales, fees, materials and shipping, set money aside for taxes, and know that art sales are generally taxable income once you sell regularly.
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Realistic expectations
Ways to make money as an artist, compared (ranges, not promises)
| Income stream | Upfront cost | Typical time to first sale | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original artwork | Materials, framing, shipping supplies | Weeks to months; depends on audience | Each piece sells once; shipping and damage risk |
| Commissions | Low | Can be quick if people already know your work | Trades hours for money; needs clear written terms |
| Prints you order yourself | Moderate (printing stock, packaging) | Weeks | Unsold stock and packing time |
| Print on demand | Low | Weeks to months; search traffic builds slowly | Thin margin per item; quality you don't control |
| Digital downloads (printables, brushes, patterns) | Low | Weeks to months | Easy to copy; needs many listings to add up |
| Licensing your art | Low | Months; deals take pitching | Contracts matter; payment can be slow |
| Teaching classes or workshops | Low to moderate | Weeks if you have local or online contacts | Takes time away from your own work |
Illustrative ranges; results vary widely by style, audience, price point and time invested. Marketplace fees and terms change, so check each platform's current fee page before you list.
Is it right for you?
Who this is for — and who it isn't
This is for you if…
- Painters, illustrators, printmakers and digital artists who already make work regularly and want it to pay more reliably
- Artists with a day job who want two or three income streams that fit evenings and weekends
- Hobby artists who are ready to test whether people will pay for their work, starting small
- Artists who want to understand copyright, commissions and licensing before signing anything
This is NOT for you if…
- Anyone hoping to replace a full-time salary with art sales within a few months
- Artists who don't want to spend any time on photos, listings, emails or bookkeeping
- People planning to sell copies of characters, logos or other artists' work, which can get shops removed and lead to legal claims
- Anyone looking for help with art technique itself; this is about the business side of selling art
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From readers of the ebook
What buyers told us
“I found some interesting ideas for earning extra income in my spare time.”
Emily S. · ebook buyer “The examples helped me think about how I could use my skills for freelance work.”
James M. · ebook buyer “I liked exploring extra-income options that could fit around my studies.”
Olivia R. · ebook buyer “The information gave me a starting point for planning a small side project.”
William A. · ebook buyer “I felt more organized after outlining what I could offer and how much time I had available.”
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Shared by buyers who agreed to publication. These are individual experiences, not typical results, and none of them describes earnings. See our earnings disclaimer.
Who's behind this
Why trust Getback
Getback publishes free, practical guides on making money online and managing it well. We show real costs, realistic timelines and the trade-offs most “gurus” skip — and we never promise income. Read how we research and update every guide in our editorial policy.
Go deeper
Compare every path before you commit
The ebook
The Honest Guide to Making Money Online
A practical, beginner-friendly ebook about realistic ways to earn money online. Instead of promising quick or guaranteed income, it explains how each method works, what it may cost to start, the skills involved, common mistakes to avoid and practical first steps.
- Freelancing & remote work
- Side hustles
- Affiliate marketing & content
- Digital products & selling online
- AI tools & automation
- Other legitimate paths — compared honestly
How the ebook fits: The ebook is not an art-business manual: it doesn't teach technique, pricing originals or getting into galleries. It compares the online income paths artists usually add, such as digital products, print on demand, selling online and freelancing, with their startup costs, skills and common mistakes, so you can choose which stream to build first.
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The Honest Guide to Making Money Online
Today's price is shown at checkout in your local currency. Payment and delivery by Hotmart.
Check the price →
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7-day money-back guarantee. Not for you? Ask for a refund within 7 days through Hotmart and get every cent back.
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Go through the lessons. If you decide it isn't for you, request a refund within 7 days through Hotmart and you get your money back, no questions asked.
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The Print on Demand starter checklist
Every step to get started, a 7-day plan, the numbers to track and the scams to skip — on two printable pages.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a living as an artist?
Some artists do, but it usually takes years and several income streams. The BLS reports that 58% of craft and fine artists were self-employed and notes that many have at least one other job to support their art, so planning for part-time income first is the realistic route.
What art sells best online?
Work that fits a clear buyer and use tends to sell better than general portfolios: wall art for specific rooms or themes, personalised commissions, and practical digital downloads. Our guide to where to sell art online compares platforms by what you sell.
Do I lose my copyright when I sell a painting?
No, not by selling the physical piece. Under US law, owning the object is separate from owning the copyright, so the buyer gets the painting and you keep the copyright unless you sign a written transfer. In the UK, copyright is also automatic and doesn't need registering.
How do I make money with art if I have no followers?
Start where buyers already search: marketplaces, print-on-demand sites and local markets, plus commissions from people who know you. A following helps later, but search-based selling lets you test demand without one. If you also use AI tools, read our guide on making money with AI art for the platform rules.
Is print on demand worth it for artists?
It can be a low-cost way to sell prints and merchandise without stock, but the margin per item is small and you don't control print quality. Read how print on demand works and order samples before you rely on it.
What exactly is The Honest Guide to Making Money Online?
It's a beginner-friendly ebook that compares realistic ways to earn money online — freelancing, remote work, side hustles, affiliate marketing, digital products, AI tools, selling online and other legitimate paths. For each one it explains how it works, what it may cost to start, the skills involved, common mistakes and practical first steps. It's an overview to help you choose, not a specialist manual on a single method.
Who is it for?
Beginners who want an honest map before they spend time or money — people with a job, students, parents at home — and who are willing to put in consistent effort. It is not for anyone looking for a shortcut.
How long until I see results?
It varies a lot and depends on your skills, effort, market and execution. Many beginners need weeks to months of consistent work before earning anything meaningful, and some never do. Anyone promising fixed results or timelines is not being honest with you.
How much does it cost?
The price is shown at checkout in your own currency, as a one-time payment. Several of the methods in the ebook can be started with little or no money beyond a phone or computer; paid tools are explained with their real costs before you decide.
How do I get it after buying?
Payment and delivery are handled by Hotmart. After checkout you receive an email with access to the ebook, available right away.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes. You have a 7-day money-back guarantee under Hotmart's refund policy. If it isn't for you, request a refund within 7 days of purchase and you get your money back.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. It's a digital ebook you can read on a phone, tablet or computer.
Is this legit or a scam?
The ebook is sold through Hotmart, a large digital-products platform, and comes with a money-back guarantee. It doesn't promise income — it explains methods, costs and risks so you can decide for yourself.
How to Make Money as an Artist: Build Several Small Income Streams From the Same Work
Very few artists live on original sales alone. Most combine originals with prints, commissions, digital downloads, licensing or teaching, so one piece of work can be sold in more than one way. The free method below shows how to pick the two or three streams that fit your art and your time, keep your copyright, and avoid the costly mistakes. Expect months, not weeks, before sales feel steady.
Check the price →
Secure checkout by Hotmart · 7-day money-back guarantee
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Earnings disclaimer: Results vary from person to person and depend on effort, market and execution. This is educational material and does not guarantee earnings. See our full earnings disclaimer.