Whether an artist paints abstract paintings, realism, portraits or fantasy, there is plenty of opportunity that awaits artists looking to make money on the internet.
Selling Art on eBay
The world's favorite online garage sale has a huge original art market that goes from conservative landscapes to even erotic art. There are artists from all over the world creating names for themselves in a very supportive community of artists and collectors who are constantly coming up with new ideas and creations for the masses.
This is a prime niche for many avid and new collectors of original art and a very lucrative opportunity if an artist can fill their visual needs. Some artists are even able to make a living doing it, but must churn out at least one painting per day, which for most, is not nearly enough time for creative genius.
The artist's first step is to compare their art to original art being sold and decide whether they can compete. If the art is on par or exceeds the quality of the works of other artists, there's a good chance of making some money, if the artist is disciplined and can create fairly quickly.
When pricing original art, an artist must research the art similar to theirs. Although prices may be found to be on the low side, they must take into consideration the value of their work before setting a price they might regret. Art must be priced fairly, taking into account the time spent on the work, materials used and the actual quality and talent that went into making the art. A good rule of thumb for the artist to remember is to raise prices by 10-20% for every ten customers; this way, as their name becomes more known, they will gain more notoriety as an artist and in turn, the more money can be commanded.
There is also a charming little trend of ACEO buying and collecting, which stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. Measuring 2.5" x 3.5" they are quicker pieces for an artist to create and they can be a great supplemental income for an artist selling prints as opposed to originals. An ACEO artist can also get prints of this size duplicated from their larger works to sell as limited edition prints. It is better to do a limited edition as this increases the value according to the buyer's perception. An artist selling ACEOs or fine art prints on Ebay should start fairly low with a price similar to other ACEO originals or prints. Since eBay is all about the psychological bidding wars, everybody just wants to win; in turn, this increases value and price.
Selling Art on Etsy.comThis site is wonderful for the more crafty, homemade or vintage type of artist who likes to create arts and crafts by hand; the buyers here are more likely to buy things from a thrift or antique shop than your nearby department store. On Etsy, one will find handmade jewelry, ceramics, clothing and so much more but just like in a quaint boutique that someone comes across while driving cross-country, the treasures are found with time and patience.
Selling Art on Lulu.com
This site is for the artist who has a lot of artwork but doesn't want to sell any of it. This site gives all the tools needed to create your own art books, calendars, comic books, children's books or even poetry books! It is amazing the things that can be done with the right words and pictures; lulu.com can even publish the piece to get sold on Amazon.com and promoted all over the internet. On lulu, artists and writers make 80% of the profit which is a very lucrative proposition if the marketing and promotion is just right.
Promoting Yourself
Once an artist has their work online, they need to promote it and let other people know they exist. No matter how good an artist is, their work has a very rare chance of selling itself. They will need to answer other posts on message boards, create some topics and basically get themselves into the cliques of online communities. Through these message boards, people will get to know the artist and their work, maybe even becoming their most loyal customers! The chances of success increase dramatically for artists who know how to network.
Another way for an artist to promote their work is by writing blogs on eBay or responding to other people's blogs. They can even create their own blog through Blogger.com and setup the auction straight from there!
The one thing an artist must remember is not to get discouraged; the art market is in constant flux. Keep posting new works and you will see, people will pay attention. Knowing that someone loved your work so much to have it in their permanent art collection is a feeling unlike any other and one that should push you to create constantly, to fulfill your ultimate creative potential, whether you end up selling it or keeping it for your own private collection.
Maya Trimner - Maya L. Trimner is a food-allergy awareness activist and portrait artist. She manages mayashappyplace.com, a safe place for people with ...
