I'm an artist and want to start selling my own art online. What are my first steps, and which platform is best?

I'm an artist and want to start selling my own art online. What are my first steps, and which platform is best?

There is no single best platform. Most artists do well by starting small in one place, learning what sells, then adding a second channel.

The first steps matter more than the platform. Clear photos, fair prices and a simple way to get paid will carry you on any site.

Step 1: Decide what you will sell

Pick one or two formats to start. Each one needs a different setup:

• Originals, which sell once and need careful packing.
• Limited or open edition prints, which let you sell the same piece many times.
• Digital downloads, which need no shipping at all.
• Art printed on products such as mugs, shirts or stickers.

Prints are a common starting point, because one painting can become many sales.

Step 2: Photograph or scan your work well

Buyers judge your art from a screen, so the image is the product page. Use soft, even daylight or a flatbed scanner, and keep colors true to the real piece.

Take a straight-on shot, a close detail and one photo of the piece on a wall so buyers can judge size.

Step 3: Set your prices

Add up materials, framing, packaging, shipping and platform fees, then add something for your time. Look at what artists with similar work and size charge.

Write your prices down in one place. You will reuse them on every listing, post and invoice, and they should always match.

Step 4: Choose where to sell

Your main choice is between borrowed traffic and your own shop:

• A marketplace like Etsy, Saatchi Art or Artfinder brings shoppers who are already looking for art, but you share each sale and compete with many sellers.
• Your own shop on Shopify, Squarespace, Wix or Big Cartel gives you your own brand and customer list, but you have to bring the visitors.
• Print on demand services like Printful, Printify or Redbubble print and ship for you, with lower margins per sale.
• Social selling on Instagram or Facebook works if you already have followers who like your work.
• Local fairs, markets and galleries still sell a lot of art, and they help in rural areas where people know you.

Costs differ a lot. Big Cartel, for example, has a free limited plan and paid plans starting at $15 a month.

A simple path is to test demand on a marketplace first. Once people buy and come back, add your own shop so you keep more of each sale.

Step 5: Set up payment and shipping

Marketplaces handle checkout for you. On your own shop, you connect a payment processor and set shipping rates, packing rules and a return policy.

For originals, use rigid mailers or tubes and add tracking. For digital files, check that your shop can deliver downloads. Shopify, for example, supports selling digital art.

Step 6: Tell people every week

A shop with no visitors makes no sales. Post your work, your process and the story behind each piece on one or two social platforms every week.

Ask buyers and fans to join an email list, so you can reach them without depending on any single app.

Step 7: Check tax and benefit rules

Income from selling art can count as business income. The IRS says you generally must file a return if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more.

If you get Social Security retirement benefits and are under full retirement age, earnings can reduce your payments. The Social Security Administration counts net profit from self-employment, and for 2026 the limit is $24,480 a year.

Once you reach full retirement age, the SSA says earnings no longer reduce your benefits.

This page is general information, not tax, legal or benefits advice. If you get Social Security or other benefits, check with the Social Security Administration and a qualified tax professional before you start selling.