There are various platforms where you can sell art online, each offering unique advantages from art commission websites to print-on-demand to social media platforms. The marketplace you choose can have a significant impact on your online art sales. These platforms can also help you connect with art collectors and enthusiasts, build direct relationships with your audience, and foster a loyal community around your art. Read on for our best 10 websites to get art commissions.
1 – Artist-Focused Website Builders
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Websites don’t sell art; they are just a cash register. If you are looking for a silver bullet like FASO, FineArtAmerica, or Artist Storefronts, thinking that a cool website with built-in functionality will sell your art for you, you will be looking forever or will get swindled out of money trying. Many of these sites promise that they will bring customers to you, but most of their marketing budget is geared towards artists like you, trying to get you to sign up for an account. Check out reviews on Reddit from real customers before signing up. If you are wondering how to sell your art, it’s about having sellable art, building your skills, finding your voice, developing your brand, and networking.
2 - Website Builders
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What website builders can do for you is help you build a professional-looking website with great features. Many sites like this have partnerships with print-on-demand companies. Their integration will allow you to print your art on a variety of products and drop ship all around the world. We suggest you get samples of the products before releasing them to make sure you like the quality of the print.
A professional website or online portfolio is essential to sell art online. Your website is a reflection of your brand and a powerful tool for engaging with your audience and selling your artwork.
Your portfolio website is the foundation of your online platform and should include the following elements:
- Unique branding
- Your artist statement
- A diverse range of work
- High-quality images
- Your CV (education, awards, exhibitions, and other achievements)
- Engaging descriptions of each piece
- Contact details or a contact form
- A seamless way to purchase
Shopify
- Features: Shopify offers a dedicated, easy-to-use website builder with built-in e-commerce features. It offers customizable templates, a secure checkout, and the ability to manage inventory.
- Ease of Use: Shopify is user-friendly, particularly for those focused on selling products online. It might have a steeper learning curve than general-purpose website builders, but it provides robust e-commerce features.
- Pricing: Shopify has monthly subscription plans, and there's an additional transaction fee unless you use Shopify Payments.
Wix
- Features: Wix offers a drag-and-drop website builder with various templates suitable for artists. It provides features like galleries, image sliders, and customizable layouts. There's also an online store option.
- Ease of Use: Wix is known for its user-friendly interface and doesn't require coding skills. The drag-and-drop editor allows easy customization of the website's look and feel.
- Pricing: Wix has a free plan with a Wix-branded domain and ads. Premium plans, which allow for a custom domain and remove ads, start at a monthly fee. The eCommerce plan is necessary to sell art online.
Squarespace
- Features: Squarespace provides artist-friendly templates and a range of features, including image galleries, blogging, and integrated e-commerce capabilities. It's known for its sleek and modern designs.
- Ease of Use: Squarespace is user-friendly with a visually intuitive editor. It's a good option for artists who want a professional-looking site without spending too much time on customization.
- Pricing: Squarespace offers subscription plans with different features. It includes hosting, and there's an additional transaction fee for e-commerce transactions.
Cargo
- Features: Cargo is a website builder specifically designed for artists and creatives. It provides customizable templates, an image-focused interface, and features like password-protected pages for private portfolios.
- Ease of Use: Cargo is relatively easy to use, and its focus on visual content makes it suitable for artists. It's not as widely known as some other platforms but is worth exploring for its specialization.
- Pricing: Cargo has subscription plans with various features, including options for personal portfolios and business sites.
Format
- Features: Format is a website builder tailored for creatives, including artists and photographers. It offers customizable templates, e-commerce capabilities, and a client-proofing feature for artists who work with clients.
- Ease of Use: Format is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It's designed to showcase visual content effectively and allows for easy customization without needing coding skills.
- Pricing: Format offers subscription plans, including a free trial. Pricing varies based on the features you need, and there's an additional fee for e-commerce functionality.
3 - Meta
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Meta is the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. By having a business account, you can link these two social media platforms, allowing you to sell directly from a shop. You do not have to pay extra to set this up because it connects to a Shopify website (which will cost $29/month when paid annually).
You can still leverage social media without having a Shopify account. Social media provides a platform to showcase your art, connect with your audience, and sell your artwork. To create excitement around your art and drive traffic to your website, use storytelling to share the inspiration and experience behind each creation. Post content like:
- Countdowns
- Product previews
- Behind-the-scenes photos from your art studio
- Videos of the creative process
- Interviews with other artists or experts in your field
- Blog posts or articles discussing your inspiration or techniques
Social media can also help you connect with art collectors and enthusiasts, build direct relationships with your audience, and foster a loyal community around your art. Consider paid advertising and collaborations to broaden your reach significantly.
4 - WordPress
Photo by Justin Morgan on Unsplash
Creating a WordPress site will require you to be tech-savvy or hire someone who is. The advantage of a WordPress site is, it’s fully customizable (especially when you add on widgets and builders such as Elementor and WooCommerce). Artists can leverage the flexibility of WordPress and add features like galleries, blogs, and more. Additional expenses may include premium themes and extensions.
- Note: All sites will require you to purchase a yearly URL and yearly website hosting. Some builders include these in the price. Having your own URL with your name is a great way to say “I’m a professional” to your potential clients. If your name isn’t available, for example, JaneDoe.com, try a variation like JaneDoeArt.com or JaneDoeFineArt.com.
5 – Art Commission Websites
Public art commission websites are a great place to start looking for active projects. Entire sites are dedicated to listing these opportunities. You can find sites for individual cities, states, or countries. Search through government websites or use sites like www.publicartist.org, www.artistcan.org, or www.artrepreneur.com. You can create free accounts, search listings, and apply for opportunities. Some sites offer monthly upgraded subscriptions where you can store your high-quality photos, resume, and artist statement. Read all requirements before applying, and adhere to art commission rules to increase your chance of being chosen when applying and to avoid art commission scams.
Confidence is crucial when entering this market. The initial step for many art commission projects involves filling out an application. You will need to submit sample work or a portfolio. Develop a cohesive portfolio highlighting your distinct style and artistic voice. This clarity makes your work understandable to potential decision-makers. High-quality photographs of your artwork are crucial for promotional purposes and social media engagement. While photographing art might seem daunting, today's smartphones enable you to capture professional-grade images.
The process of filling out an application can be overwhelming, but having a strong brand, a professional website, and excellent photos of your work are fundamental steps for expanding into this new market. Make it easy to visualize how your art will serve their goals by having an online portfolio with pictures showcasing your art in public settings. Become trustworthy by creating high-quality work using high-quality materials, finish edges, frame your work, and include hanging mechanisms.
Create an artist statement, bio, and CV (a CV is a resume that includes dates of awards, commissions, shows, and work experience). To create, look at what other artists have in their CVs or use Chat GPT to generate. Having these ready ahead of time will help you when it comes time to fill out applications.
The best place to start looking for public art commissions is right in your backyard. Look for grants, funding, residencies, and awards that come out of your local region. Many projects will require that you be a local artist. These projects can be found on governmental sites.
If you are already selling your art locally, tap into that network. Consider joining local Facebook groups like business groups, the Center for Economic Growth, local organization profiles, and attend industry events you find listed online. Go as far as messaging creative-bent businesses to see if they have any upcoming art installation opportunities, and send them your portfolio. See if your area has an online listing of local artists.
6 – Artist In Residency Sites
Photo by Nicole Baster on Unsplash
One opportunity you may not have considered is applying for an artist residency. An artist-in-residence program is when an artist is invited to create work, offer their experience, and promote the organization over a set period at a particular location in a community environment. These agreements often come with a budget, commissions, and housing. A few sites that list opportunities are resartis.org, callforentries.com, artisttrust.org/resources/directory-of-artist-residencies.
7 - LinkedIn
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LinkedIn is a platform to connect with other professionals, such as curators and gallery owners. This is a great place to start if you are trying to figure out how to get your art into galleries. You can set up a resume and link to your network of past employers and co-workers. Listing your individual projects will work like a CV (a CV is an artist's resume consisting of dates, location, and a short description of all artist-related experience).
8 – Other Social Media Platforms
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Pinterest, TikTok, X (formally Twitter), BlueSky, Threads, and Reddit are considered fringe social media platforms to some. Although some of the fringe social media platforms can be controversial and may have an expiration date, they are a great place to find a niche market. Platforms like Reddit can be a great source of information but can also allow you to build a community of fans. Some of these sites might not be a part of your target market so they could be a waste of your time.
Note: For all social media platforms, make sure you are using hashtags and tagging to increase visibility. Example: for TikTok use #arttok
9- Print-on-Demand Sites
Photo by Bank Phrom on Unsplash
Some of these sites focus on art-inspired lifestyle products, allowing artists to showcase their designs on home decor, tech accessories, and apparel. Fee structures and features may change, so check the latest information on each platform's website. We suggest getting samples of products first to ensure you are offering high-quality products to your clients.
10 – Art Listing Sites
Photo by Oberon Copeland @veryinformed.com on Unsplash
Etsy is a diverse marketplace that caters to a wide range of artists and crafters. It's known for handmade, vintage, and unique items, including original artwork. Etsy charges a listing fee for each item, a transaction fee when a sale occurs, and payment processing fees. Specific fee percentages may vary. Etsy is well-known for its community feel, allowing artists to connect with buyers directly. It's also user-friendly and has a large customer base.
Saatchi Art, a platform for buying and selling original art and renowned for its curated selection of fine art pieces, is geared towards contemporary artists. It aims to connect fine artists with collectors and enthusiasts. Saatchi Art charges a 35% commission on sales, but there are no fees for listing and handling transactions. Artists set their prices for their works. Saatchi Art provides a curated platform featuring new artists alongside established names. They offer services like art advisory and the ability to sell limited edition prints.
Artfinder.com focuses on connecting artists with art buyers globally. It emphasizes discovery and supports emerging artists. Artfinder charges a 33% commission on sales. Artists can list an unlimited number of artworks for free. Artfinder uses a "taste profile" to help buyers discover art that matches their preferences. The platform also has a strong emphasis on promoting independent artists.
MakerPlace by Michaels allows creatives and crafters to list their work with a free basic account, list for free with a low 4% commission. One unique advantage of this platform is being able to offer a class to customers. *Read the fine print as some artists fear losing rights to their work.
Conclusion
You can successfully sell and share your art with your community through persistence, networking, and leveraging both physical and digital spaces. It all begins with having sellable art. You can’t achieve success unless you have sellable art first.
If you want to learn how to create art that you love and others love, start with developing your skills. To become the artist that you know you can be, we have created a one-year program that will help you do just that. Sign up for Milan Art Institute’s Mastery Program. You can join the waitlist with no obligation. Joining the Mastery Program waitlist gives you access to exclusive introductory materials. Join the waitlist here.
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