Art is everywhere, which could pose a problem if you want someone to notice yours.
Thank God for the internet then, right?
In this blog/guide, we will show you how to sell art online and how to collect payments for your artwork. It’s not as difficult to sell art, as much as it is to get it noticed by your target audience.
So, let’s get started.
Selling art online: How to get started
The Indian art market is currently experiencing its best financial performance after having clocked a turnover of nearly ₹6 crores in 2022. This information is to keep handy in case someone tells you this is a bad time to sell art online.
Here’s how you can get started:
1. Update your knowledge of the technicalities of digital art
2. Create social media accounts to promote your art
3. Set up your own independent online store
4. Commission customised artwork
5. Upload tutorials online and conduct art workshops
8 Tips on how to sell art online in India
Before we get started here are some tips to sell art online and start a successful eCommerce business.
Patience pays off. Do not expect a bulk order on the first day of business. It’s important to set up first.
Effective social media marketing skills and a good network will help you pave the way to selling art online.
#1 Sell your art online using social media
Your artwork tells a story about you as a brand too. Sell it! Set up social media accounts like Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook and upload your work.
Most importantly, sell a story. For example, Tyler Street Art has earned itself the nickname of India’s ‘Banksy’, after a graffiti artwork caught the public’s attention (and approval).
Soon, the artist took to social media to showcase all the graffiti work he does and attract attention from people. The result – over 65,000 followers! Tyler Street Art stands up for what art originally was meant for – revolution. What started as unique street art is now morphing into politics, and it is grabbing eyeballs!
While Tyler’s graffiti wins hearts on Instagram, he sells merchandise on the Instamojo online store. Follow artists’ accounts on Instagram and join online communities recommended by other artists.
If you need free social media marketing tips, we have a whole ebook you can take help from. Download it by clicking on the image below.
You can also conduct online tutorials to grab attention to your art, like Nikhat Sheikh.
How Nikhat Shiekh sells her art online with beautiful tutorials
There are ASMR videos on the internet – from cooking shows to voiceovers, take your pick. But did you know that art could be a part of ASMR too?
Meet Nikhat, a painter and artist from Bhilai, India who records her artwork process in the most satisfying manner.
Nikhat sells her creative process. Through her videos on Youtube and IGTV customers believe in the quality of her brushwork, her attention to detail and the time she invests in creating artwork.
Do you want to start your own online store? Get started for free and create an online store.
#2 Sell art from your eCommerce online store
Selling artwork online on social media alone might not be enough, especially if you plan to be in the business long-term. So, it’s up to you to find a reliable, low-cost online store platform to help sell your artwork.
You can set up your own eCommerce website with Instamojo. We offer a free version so that you can start selling online easily. Start your online store now to stay on top of the eCommerce trend!
When you start building your eCommerce website, choose a theme that suits your niche. Make sure it is both artistic and minimal.
Here are some theme suggestions for an art store:
How Guzelin sells art online on Instamojo
Guzelin has been with Instamojo since the launch of our online store! The art brand, started by ex-IITian Amruta Rokade showcases watercolour prints handmade by the artist herself.
Thousands of artists in India sell their art prints on the Instamojo online store. Like Guzelin.
Güzelin has been a loyal customer of the Instamojo store for over 5 years. On finding her inspiration to set up her online store, she says:
“I decided to take up a career in the arts and began posting my artwork online. The response was so encouraging that I created a Facebook page to share the same. After getting requests for prints and originals, I decided to start an online store to meet the demand.” – Amruta Rokade, Artist and founder of Guzelin artworks.
How to find the ideal online store to sell art online
How do artists like Guzelin find a store like the Instamojo premium online store? She asks around.
If you do not have the time, here’s a quick checklist to help you get started.
- Make sure your online store is user-friendly.
- Offers shipping and labelling services
- Provides emailing services and lead-generation tools
- Offers SMS and email campaigns
- Low maintenance fee
- MOST IMPORTANT: Have a reliable eCommerce payment gateway and customer support system
The premium store on Instamojo comes with all these features. Amruta vouches for it too!
” A friend suggested I use Instamojo, so I tried it and found it to be very user-friendly. The best part is the support – super quick and helpful! The user experience is amazing – I’ve uploaded my works on Instamojo and also embedded the payment system on my website. I like that Instamojo verified my KYC documents at the earliest, unlike competitors in the market. Plus, the team there is friendly and supportive.” – Amruta Rokade, Guzelin
To know more about how to choose an eCommerce platform for your small business, read this blog post.
#3 How to find a reliable printing agency to sell art
If you are a graphic artist or digital illustrator, there are tools online to help you digitalize your art. If you need to sell prints, find a reliable printing company that gets your art printed for a reduced amount – depending on the order size.
Here are a few online printing software/companies you can check out to get your illustrations/artwork printed:
- Printo
- Gallerist
- Photojaanic
- Kulture Shop – A different model, this website helps convert your art prints into merchandise you can sell like t-shirts ad mugs!
Related read: Get some expert advice from the founder of Brush Story, an artist selling digital prints online.
#4 Sell art faster with custom orders
Annada Menon, an illustrator and digital artist grew her art business with custom orders. Once word got out about her art, Annada came to realise that customers who loved her work, wanted her art to feel more personalized to them.
She put her fingers and brush together and soon began to design and draw art onto objects of utility – such as postcards, coasters and posters.
“ I didn’t set the store from the perspective of mass production of products. I want people to own my work but every person should have a different design in hand.” – Annada
Apart from taking custom orders, Annada also handled bulk orders every month. She sought the help of the Instamojo bulk payments request features to take care of this issue.
#5 Take care of logistics
Art is expensive, priceless and fragile. Therefore, it is important to rely on a trustworthy shipping partner to take care of your product packaging and well, shipping. With Instamojo, you get the option to choose from a number of trusted shipping partners.
#6 Diversify
If you are selling art, be bold and sell it creatively. Sell your art on mugs, clothes, bookmarks, as posters, wall decor or even coasters. Artists like Annada Menon use their skills as an illustrator to diversify their field of work and began printing their art on several daily-use objects! Odd Trunk is another fabulous example.
#7 Conduct webinars and workshops
Amruta Rokade also emphasises building trust with your customers.
“You need to develop a certain level of trust between the buyer and the website. Ensure that your website is trustworthy and provides a good experience to customers.”
Nikhat Sheikh conducts regular workshops and webinars on her Instagram channel – nikhatillustrations. To keep your customers engaged, it’s good to share a little trivia, tips and advice with them about your art.
According to Amruta Rokade of Guzelin, art as a business is neglected.
“All artists should invest time and effort to make a career out of their art. Engaging with your audience is very important and so is marketing your work.”
FAQ on how to sell art online
1. Can I earn a lot of money selling art?
In India, the art market is thriving. Art is not limited to paintings, you can use your creativity to sell merchandise too. Because of eCommerce, it has become easier to show your art to new people and to ship your artwork to your customers anywhere in India.
2. Do I need to sell physical art only?
You can easily sell digital artwork online. Learn how to sell digital products here. You can use digital publishers to get high-quality prints of your artwork or you can directly sell them as digital products to your customers.
3. How do I start selling art?
You can start building your gallery online on social media. Once you have established a community and target audience, you can start setting a price on your art. You can also start your own website to come across as professional and passionate about your work.
4. How much should I sell my art for?
As an artist, you can decide on a margin for your artwork after consulting with professionals and your community. Apart from that, also add your expenses for stationary, canvas etc. Remember, if you are shipping the artwork to your customers, you should also include shipping charges.
