Starving Artist No Longer: top sites to monetize your creative works
Share your work with the world (and get paid).
Per usual, Triumph received no financial compensation from Dot for writing this article. Straight from the heart, baby.
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At Triumph, we’ve been blessed to work with our fair share of talented creative clients. As you might expect, a common question among this artistic breed is “how do I monetize my work?” Perhaps you, dear reader, also have this question, and—if so—well done. Asking the right questions is always the first step to success (the second being grabbing a snack).
Your sketches are world class, but they aren’t worth anything (monetarily speaking, of course) sitting in your notebook. It’s time you got them out for the whole world to enjoy—and hopefully purchase. Thankfully, as with most things, the internet has a niche for that, and a rather intuitive niche at that. Artists no longer need starve. Instead, consider checking out one of these top tier marketplace options where, with just a few clicks, you’ll be ready to sell your art to the world.
Fine Art America
In addition to its classy name, Fine Art America (FAA) also boasts the world’s largest online art marketplace. On FAA, users from around the world can come together to share designs, acquire inspiration, and make a pretty penny in the process. All artists—regardless of skill level—are welcome to join, and registration can be completed in just a few minutes. Interested in using your sketchbook to fill your pocket book? Well then, FAA may be the place for you. Let’s dive into the details.
What can I sell?
After setting up a personal store on FAA, users can begin uploading and selling their original artwork, both in physical and digital-download format—whatever makes the most sense for your medium. Interested in expanding into the screen printing sphere? FAA also has options for you. Create your own new (or upload existing) designs in the FAA printing tool, and the site will instantly give you access to a wide-range of print on demand products. These nifty print options include custom framed prints, greeting cards, phone cases, tech accessories, home decor pieces, and apparel. FAA will handle all the shipping and handling, so you can focus on your craft (and your bottom line).
How can I sell?
One of FAA’s most enticing features is its robust sales channel options. With FAA, you can sell your art just about anywhere. Obviously, you can sell the OG way through the company’s original (and highly trafficked) website. They’ll be plenty of eyeballs there alone, but, the fun continues. FAA also allows users to sell through the firm’s new mobile app. Did we mention that the app comes complete with “on the wall” demoing, an IOS and Android camera feature that allows users to project their potential purchases onto their own walls? Well, it does. Pretty sweet, right?
Looking for something a little more old school? FAA has just the thing. Through the their retail partnerships with Deck the Walls, The Great Frame Up, and The Framing and Art Center, FAA can also offer physical copies of your artwork in over 150 brick and mortar locations throughout the United States.
This trifecta of sales would be sweet enough on its own, but FAA truly goes the extra mile (maybe mile and a half) with getting your products to market. In addition to the previous three sales channels, FAA also allows third-party website integration (allowing you to imbed your shop on any exiting website), a Shopify plugin (allowing you to link a Shopify store to FAA in seconds), and even custom white label website options. For a small fee, FAA will let you create your own premium white label website linked to their platform.
FAA offers an impressive amount of methods to connect your art with potential buyers. We can’t think of many more ways to market your pieces (outside of maybe something in space? Maybe.).
How about the cost?
Fear not, all of the amazing aforementioned features will not steal your profits (or your soul). Shop owners can set their own prices for each product (after seeing FAA’s internal fees—which vary by product), essentially allowing users to create their own profit margins. This same custom pricing method also goes for print on demand products.
For example, let’s say you upload one of your original paintings as a screen print design for custom pillow orders (hey, no judgement here). FAA will notify you that their base price (which in this example is fictitious) is $25. Perhaps you think very highly of your custom pillows and believe you deserve $30 in profit per unit. In that case, you can easily add a $30 markup to the pillows on your store. Customers will then be able to buy your plush pillow product for $55. The base fee will go to FAA, and that $30 markup will fill your bank account.
That same basic methodology will apply to any product you decide to list on the site. Best of all, FAA requires no maximum or minimum prices, allowing you to sell your work for as much or (hopefully not) as little as you think it’s worth.
Starting to get the picture? Then you can check out Fine Art America right here.
ArtPal
With bonus points for name creativity and reasonable rates, there’s no wonder why over 229,000 artists already sell their art with ArtPal. The creative juggernaut allows users to establish their own shops on the company’s enormous art auction site for free (our favorite price point). If there’s no expense, there’s no excuse, so let’s unpack a bit more of what ArtPal has to offer the aspiring creative.
Perk one: Create your free gallery
For those just getting started on ArtPal, creating a custom gallery is fast, free, and easy. The platform does not enforce minimum requirements for quality or quantity, so if you only have one piece to sell, or you medium is strictly doodles on pizza boxes, or both—you’re still welcome to setup shop on ArtPal.
Perk two: Sell any type of art
ArtPal truly is the platform of the people. Whether you are looking to sell paintings, prints, photography, sculptures, handmade jewelry, or diverse crafts, they have you covered. The site is also used by novice and veteran alike, so whether you are a new independent artist, an established professional, or a commercial gallery, ArtPal still has great features for you.
Looking to boost your catalogue? Consider taking advantage of ArtPal’s print on demand options. Simply create, scan, or upload your custom design and let the professionals take care of the rest. ArtPal will screen print your work onto a wide variety of products, only charging you wholesale, and allowing your gallery to keep the rest of the profits. Best of all, ArtPal also handles shipping and fulfillment, allowing you to focus on what you do best: bringing beauty into the world (or that pizza box thing from earlier).
Perk three: sales are free and easy
This is not a drill. ArtPal charges no sign-up fees, no monthly membership fees, and does not take a commission on your individual sales. Instead, their business model earns revenue through those aforementioned print on demand services. It’s an extremely clever revenue strategy and, as alternative revenue strategists ourselves here at Triumph, we salute you, ArtPal. Oh, and don’t worry, ArtPal also won’t limit the amount of product you can list for free. Space in your gallery is unlimited, so go crazy.
Perk four: get paid instantly
As a wise man once said, “aye—must be the money.” ArtPal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, eChecks, and PayPal. The company quickly processes your shop’s sales transactions and then deposits the money directly into your account. Easy, breezy, financially secure—cover girl.
Feeling some inspiration coming on? Then head on over to ArtPal right here.
Etsy
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Etsy is the elephant in the room for a room that is already full of artistic elephants. When it comes to selling creative products, it’s a behemoth, a category killer, and whatever other cliché superlative you might prefer. That said, while it’s great for many, it doesn't fit the needs of all artists, which is why we’ve decided to relegate it to the number three spot on our list. But, my goodness, it is one heck of a number three.
For those unfamiliar with the site (or app), Etsy is one of—if not the—biggest online creative marketplaces in the world. If you can think it up (or even if you can’t), you can probably find it on Etsy. Personalized cheese boards? Check. Limited edition feline glass art? Yep. Hand-crafted tie-dye mermaid sculptures? You betcha’.
This massive creative Oktoberfest is great for some, but not for all, as the large company structure and increased exposure opportunities bring with them substantially higher transaction fees. Are you interested in paying a little more for best-in-class service? Then Etsy just might be the place for you. Let’s talk some more creative shop.
Etsy seller tools
With Etsy, shop owners enjoy access to powerful business tools that will help fuel your creative fire. After signup, you will be able to design your own custom website powered by Etsy. Give your listings a unique flare to help attract customers and close sales. Setup is rather intuitive and the entire process should only take a matter of minutes.
In addition to hosting your shop, Etsy also offers a Seller App to help you manage orders, edit your listings, and communice with customers from anywhere. With these efficient features, you can spend less time pulling out hair and more time doing what you love—creating art (or whatever you call those pizza box doodles from before).
Etsy shipping requirements
Remember earlier when we said that Etsy wasn’t necessarily for everybody? Ahoy, welcome to one of those creative caveats. Unlike the other sites on our list, that offer print on demand and digital download options, Etsy’s business model places the burden of shipping squarely on the shop owner (translation: you). If fulfilling your own orders seems like the type of thing that fits your lifestyle—fantastic! Etsy makes it as economical as possible with printable discounted postage labels available directly on your account. However, if you don’t have the time to make sure everything fits and ships, consider reading back through some of those print on demand options from earlier.
Etsy Pricing
Shop owners can choose from one of two plans: Etsy Standard (the most common) and Plus (minus five points for name creativity). The standard plan carries no monthly fee and comes with all of the features outlined above. For an additional $10 a month, users can upgrade to Etsy Plus to unlock advanced shop customization tools, upgraded marketing features, and a monthly ad allowance.
Now, standard may not have a monthly fee, but it’s still going to cost you. Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee per item, and these products listings are active for four months or until they sell—whichever comes first. After four months, you will have to re-list the item and repay the small fee.
In addition to listing fees, Etsy also charges a pretty penny per transaction. From each sale price (including the shipping) Etsy subtracts a 6.5 % transaction fee. If you use Etsy Payments as your preferred processor, they’ll hit you with an additional 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee. Losing 9.5% per order can start stacking up fast, and is certainly something to consider if your adventure’s margins are currently thin. Etsy Plus customers are subject to the exact same rates.
Willing to pay a little more to be featured in the big leagues? Then paint your way over to Etsy right here.
Now that they’re flowing, make sure not to spill your creative juices
Regardless of your muse, there’s still a place to turn your artistic dreams into a lucrative reality. Creative expression is a beautiful thing and even cathartic for many people, so why not give it a whirl? With a little elbow grease, and some water pastels, you can even turn your side studio into a bonafide business. When you hit it big, let us know—we may grab a few of your pieces to put up in our office (or on our fridge).
As always, feel free to Ask Triumph with any additional questions and consider Supporting the Team.
All views expressed in the article are opinions of the author and should not be misconstrued as professional consulting or legal advice. Users are responsible for verifying all information before taking action, and Triumph Group LLC is not responsible for any outcomes. Pursue subjects at your own risk. Seriously, man. It’s your life.
