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As technology advances and more and more people move their lives online, it’s no surprise that art is now being sold online more too. Art has always predominantly been sold in the standard setting in galleries, however, even those are now trying their best to move with the times and take advantage of our now very digital world. 

That being said, if you’ve never sold art online then it can feel like a very daunting experience, after all – where do you start?

Guide On Pricing Artwork

Art Pricing Calculator

Create Your Own Artists Portfolio Website

Whether you choose to sell your art online via an actual online gallery or somewhere else entirely, it’s still incredibly important that you have your own art portfolio website built too. Aside from social media, there really is no better place to showcase your work and connect directly with potential buyers and lovers of your work. It’s also worth noting that an art portfolio website is yours.

You own that artists portfolio website completely unlike social media platforms that could essentially disappear tomorrow. Having a portfolio website is very much like having your own calling card online and is an excellent investment should social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram (unlikely though it may be), become a thing of the past.

Likewise, you may be finding great success with an online gallery but having all your paintings on one platform is akin to having all of your eggs in one basket – not a good idea. 

Guide For Creating Your Artwork Portfolio

Building a website is super easy these days too thanks to the likes of WordPress and other website building platforms. With the help of platforms like WordPress, you can have very little in the way of website design knowledge and still create something quite professional looking with all the necessary options available such as e-commerce options etc.

Host Your Website With Siteground – (Get 3 Months Free Hosting)

This website is built and hosted with Siteground Hosting, I highly recommend their hosting services which have great support and uptime. You’ll need to buy your own domain name to begin with, along with hosting. Hosting can be purchased from the likes of Site Ground Hosting (Get 3 Months Free Hosting). Siteground also allow you to register your artist website domain too!

Make It Easy Start With An Artists Portfolio WordPress Theme

Once you’ve got your domain and hosting, it’s then time to create your artists portfolio website. One of the easiest ways to do it is to purchase a website ‘artists WordPress theme’. These can be as little as $2 anywhere up into the $100’s but a great place to start is Theme Forest where you’ll find a selection of literally thousands ready for you to simply install onto WordPress and make into your own. There are even specific themes for art galleries and art portfolios making it even easier. Simply customise your colours and imagery and you’re good to go. This website is built on a theme called Salient which is extremely versatile and simple to work with.

Get Someone To Build Your Art Portfolio Website

If building an artists portfolio website doesn’t sound like your thing, don’t worry, it’s not for everyone. Building websites can be a tough ask especially for those who’ve never spent time on computers. It can often feel hugely daunting and stressful. Thankfully there’s a great way to take the stress out of it and that’s by having someone do it for you.

Use A Service Like Fiverr

While many associate web designers with huge prices, there are ways you can keep the costs down of website design and even SEO services and that’s through Fiverr. You can find a whole host of different services on offer along with a variety of different prices allowing you to pick someone within your own budget.

Quick, easy and very budget friendly. Likewise, if you have a much bigger budget, you’ll also find some much larger companies on there now that can create some seriously spectacular websites for you. Do note however, the more bells and whistles you want, the more you’ll likely pay. It’s also worth asking for a WordPress website that you can edit yourself as and when needed.

What About Print On Demand?

A great option for those wanting to print their digital art, designs or illustrations, you may want to consider print on demand.

Sell Limited Edition Prints With Point101

Point101 specialises in gallery-quality giclee printing, mounting and framing. They digitise original artworks and offer an intuitive preview and ordering system with white-label services for customers.

Sell Artwork With Printful

There are several companies that offer this service but the two that we’d suggest are Printful where you can create your own custom prints on everything from posters to tote bags.

Sell Artwork With Printify

Just like Printful, Printify allows you to use your own artwork to create your own custom prints on a whole host of products. Both of these platforms mean you being able to sell your products as sales come in, without having to shell out a huge amount of money purchasing custom printed t-shirts in bulk.

Platforms to Sell Art Online

Platforms to sell art online provide artists with a convenient way to sell their artwork. These platforms reach a wide audience and provide artists with an easy way to sell their artwork. Many platforms to sell art online also provide tools for marketing and promotion. This makes it easy for artists to sell their artwork and reach a wider audience.

There are many different platforms to sell art online, so it is important to choose one that is right for you. Some factors to consider include:

  • The type of artwork you sell
  • The price you charge
  • The audience you want to reach

With so many options available, there is sure to be a platform to sell art online that is perfect for you.

Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace that specialises in handmade and vintage items. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it has a large audience and is easy to use. Additionally, Etsy offers a variety of tools to help artists promote their work, such as social media integration and marketing tools.

Fine Art America

Fine Art America is an online marketplace that sells prints, posters, and other merchandise. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it offers a wide range of products and has a global reach. Additionally, Fine Art America provides artists with a variety of marketing tools, such as discounts for bulk orders and the ability to create coupon codes.

Saatchi Art

Saatchi Art is an online gallery that sells original artwork. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it offers high-quality customer service and has a global reach. Additionally, Saatchi Art provides artists with a variety of marketing tools, such as the ability to create an artist profile and the ability to offer discounts on artwork.

Redbubble

Redbubble is an online marketplace that sells prints, posters, and other merchandise. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it offers a wide range of products and has a global reach. Additionally, Redbubble provides artists with a variety of marketing tools, such as the ability to create an artist profile and the ability to offer discounts on artwork.

Society6

Society6 is a website that sells prints and other merchandise. It’s perfect for artists, because it offers so many products with the ability to market their work through profiles or discounts on goods!

DeviantArt

DeviantArt is an online community for artists that also sells artwork. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it has a large audience of potential buyers and offers high-quality customer service. Additionally, DeviantArt provides artists with a variety of marketing tools, such as the ability to create an artist profile and the ability to offer discounts on artwork.

ArtFire

ArtFire is an online marketplace that specializes in handmade goods. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it has a large audience and offers high-quality customer service. Additionally, ArtFire provides artists with a variety of marketing tools, such as the ability to create an artist profile and the ability to offer discounts on artwork.

BigCartel

BigCartel is an online marketplace that specialises in selling art prints and other merchandise. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it offers high-quality customer service and has no listing fees or monthly fees. Additionally, BigCartel provides artists with a variety of marketing tools.

Zatista

Zatista is an online gallery that specialises in original artworks from contemporary artists. It is a great platform for artists to sell their work, as it offers a wide range of services to help promote and sell their art.

Social Media To Promote Artwork

Just because you have a website however, it doesn’t mean people will find you. You need to make active steps towards driving traffic to your site and one of the best ways to get people to your website, SEO aside, is to ‘get social’. Social Media is at the forefront of quite literally everyone’s lives, whether they realise or not.

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are perhaps some of the most well known social media platforms out there but they are by no means the only platforms out there. In fact, there are actually art dedicated social media platforms out there including ArtStation and Deviantart. 

You might also want to consider showcasing your art on the likes of Etsy and Fiverr as well as Red Bubble and Twitch. Then it’s simply a case of staying active and connecting with like minded individuals. Ask questions, showcase your work and engage with as many people as possible to keep your pages active. This will all help towards driving people to your website.

You may also try live streaming on YouTube and Facebook, which will give you a chance to build more of an audience. The more viewers and fans you have, the better your chances are of getting discovered by someone who can help you get your work out there. Make sure to test your webcam before you start streaming. If it doesn’t work properly, it can be extremely frustrating and could put people off watching your videos.

But How Do You Price Artwork?

Once you have your website and your social media pages sorted, you’ll no doubt want to make decisions regarding pricing but how exactly do you price art? Thankfully, it isn’t as hard as you think it is and that’s all thanks to a little something called an Art Pricing Calculator.

You’ll find an art pricing calculator here at Hickman Design. The calculator has been designed to make pricing your art work simple and easy. It allows you to cover all bases from time to materials and even salary as well as allowing you to put in your desired profit margin. It even allows you to price up digital artwork too. 

Ten Tips for Building Your Brand as an Artist

In order to be a successful artist, you need to have a strong brand. Your brand is what sets you apart from the rest of the pack and allows you to build a loyal following. It’s essential to put time and effort into building your brand if you want to achieve long-term success. Here are ten tips for building your brand as an artist:

1. Define your target audience

Who do you want to reach with your art? Once you know who your target audience is, you can tailor your branding strategy to appeal to them.

2. Create a memorable logo

Your logo should be simple and eye-catching. It should be something that people will remember and associate with your brand.

3. Use social media effectively

Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a wider audience and build relationships with potential customers. Make sure you are using it effectively by posting interesting content, using hashtags, and engaging with other users.

4. Develop a strong visuals game

People are visual creatures, so make sure your branding visuals are on point. This includes everything from your website design to the photos you use on social media. Pay attention to detail and make sure your visuals are consistent with your overall branding strategy.

5. Have a professional website

Your website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your brand, so make sure it’s a good one! Invest in professional website design and make sure the site is easy to navigate and informative.

6. Stay active online

In order to keep people interested in your brand, you need to stay active online and keep them updated on what’s going on with you and your art business. This means regularly posting new content, engaging with followers, and promoting any news or events related to your brand.

7 (optional). Use traditional marketing techniques.

In addition to digital marketing, don’t forget about traditional marketing techniques like print ads, direct mailers, or even TV commercials (if you’re feeling really ambitious!). Any exposure is good exposure when you’re trying to build a personal brand!

8. Keep it professional

Personal branding is all about presenting yourself in a professional light, so make sure everything associated with your name and art business conveys that image . This includes everything from the way you communicate online to the way you dress for events .

9. Be passionate about what you do

When it comes down to it, people can tell when someone is passionate about what they do—and they’re more likely to buy from someone they believe in ! So make sure your excitement for your art comes across loud and clear in everything you do.

10. Be patient!

Rome wasn’t built in a day , and neither is a strong personal brand . It takes time , dedication , and consistency to develop a loyal following , so don’t get discouraged if things aren’t moving as fast as you’d like . Just keep plugging away at it , and eventually , you’ll reach the level of success you’re striving for !

Building a strong personal brand takes time, dedication, and consistency, but it’s worth it if you want to achieve long-term success as an artist! By following these ten tips, you can start developing a solid branding strategy that will help set you apart from the rest of the pack. Remember—anything worth doing takes time, so be patient and don’t get discouraged if things aren’t moving as fast as you’d like at first!

Which is better? Open edition art reproductions or limited edition art prints?

When it comes to selling art, you might be wondering whether open edition or limited edition reproductions are the better option. Keep reading to find out the pros and cons of each so that you can make an informed decision when selling your artwork!

Open Edition Art Reproductions:

  • Pros: Can be found for relatively cheap, easy to find online or in stores
  • Cons: Often seen as lower quality, not as exclusive
  • Best For: People on a budget or those who want to test out owning art before investing too much money

Limited Edition Art:

  • Pros: Higher quality, more exclusive feeling because there are fewer prints / copies available
  • Cons: More expensive, hard to find unless you know where to look
  • Best For: People who are willing to invest more money in their art collection or those who want a unique piece for their home.

So, which is better? Open edition or limited edition art reproductions? The answer depends on what people are looking for and how much your customers are willing to spend. If they want something cheap and cheerful, then open edition prints are probably the way to go. However, if they’re willing to invest more money in your art collection and want something exclusive, then limited edition prints are the way to go. Whichever route they choose, they will sure you find something that brings them joy every time they look at your artwork!

Luke Hickman

Author at Hickman Design

Luke Hickman is a printmaker and artist with over 15 years of experience. He studied at Norwich University, graduating with a BA (Hons) Fine Art, and has worked in both the commercial printing and digital marketing industries for over 7 years. Luke’s work revolves around the idea of creating art that can illustrate a story with topics covering war, politics and history.

Read Full Bio

Affiliate Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you purchase. These commissions help with the running costs of this website, if you do purchase via one of the product links many thanks it is greatly appreciated!

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