How to Sell Digital Drawing Online (Quick Guide)

Today, there are at least a million methods to make money online (trust us, we count them).

If you’re looking to start an online business – and make some money in the process – there’s no better starting point than starting with your own skills, hobbies and passions. If you have an artistic talent, this could be your opportunity to create an online empire – or, at the very least, earn a few extra dollars.

Many people sell digital drawing on the web. But, given the number of methods and options, this environment can be somewhat intimidating, if you are a beginner. But fear not! Our guide covers everything you need to know about selling digital art online. All you need to get started is what you already know how to do: create drawing.

Let’s get started!

What Types of Digital Drawing Can You Sell?

No matter what type of digital drawing you lean towards, there will always be a demand, so you can probably sell it online. Some common and popular artistic styles that flood virtual stores and e-commerce sites today include:

• 2D Drawing, such as photography, illustrations, digital paintings, vector art, pixel art, and concept art for video games and movies. It can even include scanned, or digitally recreated, physical art.

• 3D Drawing , such as computer graphics, mixed media, or architectural models.

• Animation , which can be used in video production, presentations, or even in interactive media such as video games.

• Branding kits , with logos, fonts, website designs, and other graphic design elements that companies use to build an online presence.

• Design templates , if you have design skills, it can be profitable to sell templates for websites, presentations, business cards, social media posts, or other uses.

• Fonts and typographies , for web design, or strengthening the brand image.

• NFTs , or non-palpable tokens. It is a popular way to sell digital drawing. You can include all types of drawing, although it is more used in unique or limited edition pieces

• Virtual and/or augmented reality Drawing, such as social media filters, immersive experiences, or digital objects.

Can You Make a Profit Selling Digital Drawing Online?

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Clear! Online drawing sales generated an estimated $13.6 billion in 2021 , up from $7.9 billion in 2020. More people are buying drawing online, so it’s definitely possible to make a profit selling digital art — and many people achieve it. But it may take extra effort, as well as skills, marketing knowledge, and sometimes some luck.

Below you will see some tips and strategies to maximize your profits:

• Develop your skills – The saying goes that practice makes perfect. If you want to sell your art, you need maximum quality. Invest time practicing your technique and developing your unique style. This way you will stand out and attract followers.
• Know your market – Different types of drawing sell better on different platforms. Do your research to understand which ones are most popular in the online stores you want to use, to see if they are right for you (we’ll get into that in more detail).
• Promote and promote your drawing – Don’t think that just because you publish your art, they will come looking for you. Use social networks, email marketing and other strategies to promote your work. And spend time building your brand image, with a solid portfolio. A consistent appearance and style will make you look professional and recognizable to potential clients.
• Diversify your income – As we will explain in more detail below, there are hundreds of ways to sell your digital art. Don’t limit yourself, or you will limit your profits! Try selling different products, such as drawing prints, t-shirts, or digital downloads; It also offers services such as personalized orders or tutorials; or sell your work on various platforms, to reach larger audiences.
• Take good care of your customers – If you provide great customer service and a person feels that you treat them well, they are more likely to become a repeat customer and talk about you to others. Respond quickly to each customer’s questions and comments, strive to resolve problems, and deliver quality products just in time.
• Take advantage of new technologies – For example, an NFT allows artists to sell their work at higher than traditional prices. But, remember that technology trends can be volatile and speculative. For example, there are experts who claim that NFTs are losing their popularity .

How Can You Know If Your Specific Drawing Will Sell?

You can not. There are no secret formulas. Also, if we are 100% honest, the drawing market is often unpredictable and subjective. But, you can improve your chances by constantly working on your technique, having a unique style that distinguishes you from other artists, and if you sell in different ways that attract the attention of different audiences. Marketing will also help you find the right audiences who love your work.

Also remember that you are not only selling the work of drawing itself, but the story and personality behind it. Building a strong personal brand and connecting with your audience can be key to achieving business success. Try to learn, experiment and perfect your drawing every day, and don’t be discouraged if sales take a while at first; Finding your target market and hitting the ideal pace can take a while.

How Much Should You Charge For Your Drawing?

Pricing your digital drawing can be complicated. There are many variables that you must consider. Here are some factors that could influence the decision:

• Time invested – Keep in mind how long it takes you to create your work. What would be a reasonable hourly rate? This can be a useful starting point.

• Skill Level – Artists with a high level of skill, fame, or years of experience often charge more for their work.

• Costs – If there are any costs involved in creating the drawing, such as supplies, software or hardware subscriptions, add them to the final price.

• Market Rates – Research what other artists with similar styles and experience levels as yours charge for work that is also comparable to yours. This way, you will have an idea of ​​what people would be willing to pay.

Safety Tips for Selling Artwork Online

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There are several potential risks associated with selling digital drawing (or any other product) online. Some of the main ones are scams, theft, and privacy concerns. Here, are some tips to protect yourself:

To protect yourself from scams

• Be wary of common scams, such as chargebacks, or buyers who want to pay using unusual methods. If something seems suspicious, be cautious.
• Use secure and reliable payment platforms. They will protect you and your clients.
• Clearly specify terms of service on your site or platform. Explain refund, exchange, and personal use policies (what the customer can do with your art).
• Keep records of all your sales and interactions with your customers. When facing a dispute or tax issues, they will be very useful.

To protect you from theft

• Use watermarks on all your original artwork. They can discourage people from stealing your images by reminding them that they need your permission to use them. They should not be big, nor steal the spotlight. Just protect your work.
• Use low-resolution images, or mockups, as previews. If you show your work online, low-resolution images will be fine for viewing, but not printing. This will also deter potential thieves from stealing from you.
• Include a copyright notice on your website, and in the image itself, if you can. This way, people won’t forget that your work is protected by law.
• Keep backup copies of all your original files. If your website, or the platform on which you sell your drawing, is hacked or blocked, you will not lose your original work.

To protect your privacy and personal data

• Be careful how much personal information you share online. Never give more information than is strictly necessary.

5 Methods to Sell Digital Drawing Online

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Digital artists have many ways to sell their art online, although in some cases, the exact type of drawing they use can limit them. We’ll show you some popular ways creators sell their digital drawing – however, remember that this is not a complete list, but rather a basic one. There are many additional ways to sell, especially if you have a particular type of art that moves in a specific niche, and appeals to a certain specific community.

1. Set Up An Online Store

Setting up an online store can take a lot of time and hard work on your part, but it is a great option. Especially if you are an artist with downloadable digital products for sale, such as digital drawing prints.

You can save time and effort when setting up your online store — for example, use a site builder like Wix or WordPress , instead of creating it from scratch. Then, install an eCommerce plugin, like WooCommerce , and start selling.

Or, you can save even more time by setting up a page within an existing online marketplace, like Shopify or Etsy. You can even combine options to increase your audience – creating a website and having a store on Etsy, to attract potential buyers, looking for products like yours.

So selling digital drawing in an online store can be a good alternative for artists with many works for sale, as well as for those looking to reach a global audience. Also, it is a great option for those who prefer to create works at their own pace.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Drawing in an Online Store
Pros	Cons
Scalability – Unlike physical products, a single piece of digital drawing can be sold unlimitedly, without increasing production costs. Flexibility – You can work on your own schedule, and from anywhere in the world. Lower costs – You will not need to pay for physical storage space, shipping, or materials. Global reach – Your online store will be able to reach customers throughout the world.	Competition – The online market for digital drawing is very competitive. Standing out can be difficult, as can attracting customers. Marketing – You will have to be in charge of promoting your store and products. This will be time consuming and may require skills beyond your artistic expertise. Customer Service – You will have to handle customer questions, complaints, and refunds. Digital Theft – There may be those who steal your digital drawing and reproduce, or display, it as their own.

2. Offer Commissions

Offering commissions involves creating custom works of drawing for specific clients based on their specific requests. Here we explain how the process works:

1. Inform on your site, social networks and other channels that you will receive orders.
2. If someone wants a piece, they will contact you to discuss what they want. Agree on details such as theme, style, size, deadline, and price.
3. Once the basic aspects have been agreed upon, formalize the agreement. Make a contract with the terms of the commission, with payment terms, delivery times, actions in the event of possible customer dissatisfaction, among others.
4. After setting terms, start working. You can show your progress to the client, for several moments. He may want changes or revisions.
5. When the work is finished and the client is satisfied, deliver the final digital files.

Accepting commissions can be a good option for artists who enjoy interacting directly with their clients, or working on custom projects. Also, it can be for artists specialized in a certain art, and in demand for personalized work such as portraits, brand designs or concept art for games and movies.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Drawing Offering Commissions
Pros	Cons
Higher Prices – A personalized piece of drawing commands higher prices than a massive piece. Client Relationships – Working directly with clients can lead to long-term relationships and repeat business. Variety – Each assignment is a unique project. Your work will always be interesting and challenging.	Time – Commissions require more time and detail than massive pieces. Schedule time to speak and coordinate with the client, especially regarding possible revisions. Customer expectations – Customers often have specific expectations. Satisfying them can be quite a challenge. Inconsistent income – Income depends on the demand for work you have.

3. Sell Your Art as NFTs

NFTs appeared on the digital drawing scene in 2014, but became very popular in 2020 and 2021, following a huge increase in sales of high-profile (and high-value) NFTs . Selling your art as NFTs involves creating unique tokens on a blockchain, which represents ownership of a certain piece of digital drawing.

What you need to do is create your drawing as usual and then mint it (minted process), or, create a new token within that blockchain, which represents your art. This typically involves uploading your artwork to an NFT marketplace, adding metadata (name and description of the artwork, as well as your artist name), and paying a fee in cryptocurrency.

You can then sell your NFT, either at a fixed price or through auctions, seeking the highest bidder. When someone purchases it, the token representing your artwork will be transferred to their digital wallet. This transaction is recorded on the blockchain, so the sale will have a permanent record.

Selling drawing as NFTs can be the alternative for digital artists looking to explore new technologies, or who want to sell their work in a marketplace that allows sole ownership. It’s also attractive if you create works that can benefit from being linked to a blockchain, such as interactive digital drawing, or that changes over time.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Drawing as NFTs
Pros	Cons
Provenance and ownership – A blockchain gives you a clear record of the ownership and provenance of each piece of drawing, which is attractive to buyers. Potential for high prices – Some NFTs have sold at extremely high prices, although this is more of an exception than a rule. Secondary Sales – Many NFT contracts include a special feature, where the original artist receives a percentage of future sales of the NFT they created. Then, you can continue to profit from your drawing if it increases in value over time.	Costs – Minting an NFT can be expensive, as it usually involves paying a fee in cryptocurrency. These can be volatile and high. Environmental impact – Minting NFTs and maintaining a blockchain requires great computational power, with a great impact on the environment. Market Volatility – The NFT market is relatively new and volatile. Their prices may fluctuate. It may lose popularity. Technical complexity – You need to understand the technology behind blockchains and cryptocurrencies; a barrier for some artists.

4. Sell Canvas Prints and Decorations

You can sell digital drawing, too, physically. For example, there are canvas prints, murals, posters, cards, stickers and other decorative elements. This means that you can convert your digital creations into tangible items, capable of being displayed.

For this, it would be good for you to partner with a printing company. You can choose a local print shop or an online service. Some, like Society6 or Redbubble, will also help you with sales and shipping. Start by uploading and selecting the works to offer, set prices, and write descriptions for each product.

Selling digital drawing in physical form can be a great option if you want to reach a larger audience. Although some people are comfortable purchasing digital drawing, many others prefer something physical, to display and enjoy. Also, if you are an artist whose work lends itself to being displayed in physical products, such as illustrations, typography, or graphic designs, this option may be ideal.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Drawing as Physical Prints
Pros	Cons
Broader appeal – Physical products attract a wider audience than digital drawing. Higher price points – Physical products are typically more expensive than digital downloads. Passive income – If you use a print-on-demand service that handles sales and shipping, you will already have your passive income source set up.	Printing costs – Printing your drawing has extra costs, which lowers your profits. Quality Control – If you use an external printing service, you may have less control over the final quality of the product. Shipping and Handling – If you handle sales yourself, you’ll have to deal with packaging, shipping costs, and issues like damage or returns.

5. Sell Merchandise

Selling merchandise related to your drawing and brand means turning your digital creations into products such as t-shirts, mugs, stickers, cell phone cases, diaries, planners, and more. For this, many artists use Print on Demand (POD) Services like Redbubble, Society6, or Printify. These platforms handle the printing and shipping of products, making the process more accessible and manageable.

To begin, choose the products to display; The options are practically limitless — anything you can print to display your drawing. Then, set up the store and start selling.

Artists with a community of followers will find it easier and more profitable to sell merchandise, as their fans will want to support them more and show their affection. Also, artists who make work that fits well with merchandise (with bold, eye-catching designs or trendy themes) can succeed with this approach.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Drawing as Merchandise
Pros	Against
Broad appeal – Many prefer tangible products, rather than digital works of drawing. Brand Positioning – Branded merchandise will help publicize your drawing and increase the visibility of your brand. Fan Interaction – Fans appreciate the opportunity to support their favorite artists by purchasing merchandise related to them.	Quality Control – If you use an external service, you may have limited control over the quality of the final product. Inventory Management – ​​If you don’t use a print-on-demand service, you will need to manage inventory. It will take time and work. Lower profit margins – External services and production costs will take a portion of your profits.

How to Sell Your Digital Drawing Online: A Step-by-Step Guide

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So, do you feel ready to turn that artistic passion of yours into an art business? The tips we saw here will help you when it comes to establishing yourself online and selling.

1. Create Your Drawing!

First things first, let the creativity flow! Make something you are passionate about and others would like to see on their digital or physical walls, such as digital paintings, vector drawing, or 3D models.

2. Prepare Your Digital Files

Did you finish your creation? It’s time to check that your drawing is suitable for the online market.

For digital downloads, save your work in a high-resolution, universally accepted format, such as JPEG or PNG. But if you sell merchandise or prints, check that the resolution of your work is high enough that it looks sharp and vibrant when printed. In addition, we advise you to use previews, or thumbnails, of your work, with enough quality to be eye-catching, but not so high that they will be stolen and then published elsewhere.

3. Choose a Sales Platform

In this guide we already examined some of these platforms. You can use one, or several at a time — it all depends on how much time and effort you want to dedicate to selling your drawing and what audience you want to reach. But, if you are looking to reach a fairly wide audience, it is best to use several platforms at the same time.

Whether you are creating your own website; a page (or store), in an online drawing market; NFTs; or turn your drawing into merchandise, this will take time — It is important that you compare different platforms, decide how much participation you want, and determine if the business model you will choose supports passive income, using print on demand (POD) services, or commissions personalized, that involve you in every step.

4. Upload Your Drawing

This step is like hanging your drawing, like a painting, in a virtual gallery. Make sure each piece looks its best, using high-quality thumbnails. Write interesting, clear descriptions, and add some fun details — about your inspiration and process, or about the context of the work. And remember to give a decent price to your work! When pricing your work, estimate your time and effort, as well as the price of similar works.

5. Promote Your Own Work

Lastly, you are not just selling your drawing – you are selling a story, YOUR story. So, unleash your inner influencer and tell people about you and your work.

Use social media, start a blog or newsletter, collaborate with other artists, or participate in online communities. Go behind the scenes, share your successes (and your failures — everyone loves authenticity in an artist!), and interact with your fans.

If you make niche art, which appeals to a certain target audience, look for where that audience tends to gather online, such as forums, certain sites, or communities. It can also be useful to invest in search engine optimization (SEO) for your website, or your online storefront. This way, people will be able to find you more easily in search engines when searching for specific terms related to your drawing.

Final reflection

Deciding how to sell your digital drawing online is essentially like creating art – there are many paths you can take, but there is no 100% effective route to success. Each case is different. However, we trust that the tips in this guide will give you some clarity on the best ways to turn your artistic passion into a profitable business. We wish you good luck!