Friday Finds #9: Sites Where Artists Can Sell Art Online

Artists are often great at creating, but would most of the time feel uneasy when selling. Promoting their art can even bring awkwardness because people expect artists to give items for FREE or with a DISCOUNT all the time. This is true, especially for their relatives and friends. Thus, making the artist run out of capital.

If you are an artist, a hobbyist, or whatever new millennial word you want to call yourself, you’ve probably reached that point of having tons of artworks scattered in your house and yet do not know what to do with them next. You try to sell them, no one buys, until, to make the story short, you just give your artworks during birthdays and other events as presents.

While you might say that it is okay and that creating is something you like doing without anything in exchange, it is a different story once you start establishing your business. You still are generous with you art, of course. Like giving away and serving people through your skills in many ways, but to test the waters of entrepreneurship, which I know you’d love to venture as an artist, here are top sites where creatives sell their art, at least not physically, but digitally. You know, until you get the in and outs of selling without the need to negotiate with people for now since prices are set in these sites.

This post is for:

• People who love art.
• People who keep creating new things.
• Creatives who are currently looking for a way on how to earn through their art.
• Those who are looking for ways to make their art at least earn an income because their parents are constantly telling them that there is no money in it. You know, just to prove them wrong. 
• Creatives who have already started a small online shop and have finally seen the need to expand.
• This is also applicable for photographers because most of these sites offer spots for photographers to sell their photos as well.

1. Creative Market For Artists

The moment you sign-up, you can start uploading your designs whether they are stickers, illustrations, mock-ups, website themes, photos, templates, etc. You’ll also receive freebies or free downloads upon signing up. Uploading your digital items are free, unlike other sites where you have to pay for membership first, but they will get a percentage for every sale you make, which I think is fair enough. Once your design is uploaded, you’ll put a price for your item for 3 options:

Personal use-People purchasing the for personal use license can use your items for personal purposes only. It means they cannot use your item and sell it to other people or use it for business.

Commercial use- Items can be used by the buyer for business purposes to a limited number of sales (around 5,000).

Extended use– If the digital product will be printed massively like for (books, restaurant materials, global companies, television, etc.)

Here are samples of Creative Market themes for WordPress which designers and developers have uploaded for sale.

2. Dealjumbo

Just like Creative Market, Dealjumbo offers a platform where artists can sell their art for free upload and a percentage will be received for every sale.

Dealjumbo website 
Check out their free bundles

3. Etsy

A lot of people are on Etsy. Even physical products can be sold online on Etsy. I once tried Etsy when I was starting around 5 years ago, it did not work for me that time because  there were only few users from Saudi Arabia back then and if someone would order from outside the country, I’d have difficulty shipping my products to them. Now that I have digital or products, I’m slowly trying to check out how I can activate my store again in Etsy. I am a frequent buyer in Etsy. So, if you are thinking if people buy digital products, I am telling you YES. haha Most people who work in social media and digital marketing would buy licensed digital downloads for their companies and brands to avoid legal issues in the long run. I want to emphasize this because, I’ve witnessed many people being dragged in legal cases because they have used a photo or an art on their sites which they knew they downloaded for free, but turned out was under a commercial license. People with evil motives use this to drag people in the court until they are paid. Such a tricky scam and it left the victims sleepless and penniless. It was so bad.

That is why I always tell creatives that if they are earning from their craft and would like to use another person’s art or photo, you might as well just by the license to be safe. That is if you already are in business, but for personal use, blogs, social media use, then go ahead, use the free ones.

If you have a store in ETSY, leave the link in the comment section for me to check out. I am always on the look out for unique and beautiful designs and use them for my shop.

4. Instagram

Instagram, being a very visual platform, is a great place to showcase your products in. It serves as your online portfolio for clients to see.

How to do it:

• Start uploading good quality photos of your work.
• Use #hashtags to describe the category of your post. This is how people find you in Instagram and how you are recommended by Instagram to people. If you are shy to use so many hashtags when posting, you can post without a hashtag first, then edit it later or after a day, then add the necessary hashtags.
• Follow people of the same niche.
• Drop unique and meaningful comment and appreciate works of other people. Doing these helps them check your profile and maybe follow your account.
• Collaborate with other instagram users by tagging them or mentioning them in your stories. When you receive mentions, their followers (at least some) – starts noticing you.

Once your account has established a good number of followers and interaction from people of the same niche, then you can start selling some of your work there. Or sometimes people and companies notice you and they start asking you for commissioned work where you’ll get paid. Like Abbey Sy who was commissioned to do some of Toblerone’s designs because of her lettering skills.

5. Facebook Page

Facebook, like Instagram, is very visual but also gains more interactions. The best thing about Fb pages is the use of link. In Instagram, you can only put link of your site by putting them in the bio, lazy people don’t click that. In stories, you can use the SWIPE UP only if you have more that 10, 000 followers. In Facebook, you can endlessly share different links that are related to your niche as well. This attracts more people to come to your page and notice your work.

6. Have Your Own Website

Having a website is very vital for any company whether big or small. It will cost you around 100 dollars including all the hosting, theme, and all the other expenses, but your online presence is more organized and professional-looking, compared to other social media platforms. You can put all the other information needed from location map to articles about your milestones from time to time.

If you are looking for a feminine theme for your website, you can select from Angie Makes’ WordPress themes. They are all so cute, plus, the support will always be there. It means, when you need assistance upon setting up the theme, they are just a message away and they’ll help you. For most artists, the technical part is a headache, in Angie Makes, they will guide you until you are fully satisfied with your site.

View the cute feminine themes by Angie Makes

7. Spoonflower

I love this site. I haven’t maximized it yet, but I’m planning to this year. Upload your illustrations here and you can see your designs come to life as they become designs of fabrics and household items like bed covers, pillows, bed sheets, curtains, and more. Once someone orders a product with your design, Spoonflower will be in charge of the orders to be delivered to the buyer’s house. This is perfect for artists who want to see their work on fabric as surface patterns. Spoonflower gets a percentage for every sale. You also get a percentage as well. However, if you want your profit to be higher, you can also order the products, and just sell it in your shop by adding the necessary cost. This is also a safe way to make sure the customer gets the products because they are already in your hands.

8. Udemy

Now, if you are an advanced or a professional artist, then Udemy or other online knowledge resources is the place for you. You can make tutorial or instructional videos for people who want to learn more about the field you are an expertise in. Udemy, skillshare, John Academy, and Coursera are great places to start. You can even create your own Youtube channel where you can teach the techniques and share your process to the beginners of the same niche. This way, you are helping people because you have mastered the craft. Those viewers and followers who really like your art, would support you by buying your art and other products you’ve produced, whether digital copy or not.

Was this helpful? Be sure to follow my blog as I post more articles for creatives in the future.

If you are new here,
Friday Finds is a themed post on my blog where all the helpful sites, products, or apps I’ve seen around are featured.

Previous Friday Finds:

Friday Finds #1: Worksheets, Websites, and Weddings
Friday Finds #2: Photos, Baking Videos, and Tutorials
Friday Finds #3: Calligraphy, Community, and Creativity
Friday Finds #4: Blogs, Books, and Boys
Friday Finds #5: Homeschooling, Free Worksheets, and Designs
Friday Finds #6: Mobile Apps | McDo + Moleskine+ Amino + Influenster
Friday Finds #7: Youtube Channels, Great Reads, & Filipinos For Kids
Friday Finds #8: Verusca, Hannah P., Taina, Sukkari Life, and Pathways Jeddah