Whether you’re a digital or traditional artist, there has never been more income opportunities available to you as there are today. Today’s artists can easily create a thriving online business while sharing their work with the masses.
Just How Easy is it to Sell Art Online?
If you decide to carry inventory and ship it yourself, things become a little more complicated and risky. Like any retail business, you don’t want to become stuck with stagnate inventory. Shipping and logistics are a headache and the cost of shipping alone in Canada is enough to make small businesses give up before they start.
You can remove both the risk and the shipping headaches by choosing print-on-demand (POD) with branded dropshipping. The best POD drop shipping suppliers will do everything for you, from creating products with your original designs to shipping them directly to the buyer. They integrate with online marketplaces and ecommerce platforms so you can manage it all with a few clicks.
When we’re testing new products or designs for clients, the first thing we recommend is drop shipping to test the market. After that, you can stock the most successful products yourself or continue on with dropshipping…or both.
Additionally, the larger POD wholesalers will have manufacturing and warehouses in multiple countries. You can choose to sell only in Canada, or easily and inexpensively expand your market globally.
Start Your Online Business Journey
[DISCLOSURE: We may receive compensation for links to products on this website.]
You’ll follow the typical route to starting an online business in Canada, with a few exceptions.
The typical journey to launching your own online art products business is as follows:
- Choose or narrow down your niche
- Create original art
- Select the formats and merchandise you want to sell. If you’re going through a POD supplier like Printful, all of the design tools you’ll need are available within the platform.
- Launch an online store through an ecommerce platform and/or marketplace. Your products can be added manually, or be fed into the site/marketplace using integrated tools provided by the supplier’s platform.
- Add your products to the ecommerce platforms and marketplaces you’ve selected.
- Start marketing with a blog, social media, email, influencers, and promotions (such as contests)
- Ongoing engagement with your customers
- Build ‘social proof’ by encouraging your customers to share reviews. Make sure you publish testimonials on social media and on your website.
Infographic provided by Printful
Top Types of Art Products Sold Online
The top three types of art products sold online are:
1. Wall Art
The market for wall art is worth billions of dollars. You can sell your art as paper posters or canvas prints for homes and professional settings.
2. Digital Art
Digital Art is downloaded, much like a photo would be. It can be sold for multiple purposes, from website graphics to templates, metaverse products, or customized items like greeting cards. It can be customized by you as an additional revenue stream, or be in a template format for the buyer to customize.
3. Unique Merchandise
Applying your artwork to merchandise is one of the most profitable ways to sell your art online. Just imagine your design on clothing, dishes, phone cases, home décor and so much more.
If you use POD dropshipping, it’s entirely hands-off! For example, you can add your designs to hundreds of products with a platform like Printful, which will then be shipped directly to the customer on your behalf. You’ll still be a creator with your own online business, but with half the headaches.
If you’d prefer to manage your own inventory, you can still order it easily from the POD supplier and have it shipped to you. Some even offer free shipping with a minimum order.
These options are always available to you, so you can change your strategy later if you want to.
You can also expand your income potential by providing complimentary services, such as customization or design services.
Success
The key to success is in the originality and quality of your artwork, as well as the demand for it. The cost to apply your art to original products will put your retail price point higher than generic product designs. People are willing to pay more for unique designs, but it must be exceptional to make it to their ‘gotta have it’ list. Chasing trends can be exhausting, but you’ll improve with practice and it’s often where the most money is.
Have you tried selling your art online? Please share your suggestions or questions in the comments below, or join us to discuss online art sales in the Online Business Canada Facebook group.
For weekly inspiration, insights, tips, and resources, sign up for the Online Business Canada newsletter!
7 Recession Proof Online Businesses To Start From Home
Expert help to choose, start, and run a successful online business!
“Almost 200 pages of pure gold…”
GET IT ON AMAZON
Or Other Major Ebook Retailers
——————————————
© CanadiansInternet.com – Content on this website may not be used elsewhere without expressed permission. Thank you for respecting the effort that we have put into our original content.
DISCLOSURE:Â We may receive compensation for links to products on this website. Â As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our content is provided for informational purposes only and does not guarantee results.
Last Updated on February 6, 2026 by Melody McKinnon, Online Business & Marketing Manager
Somehow it seems pretentious to put my art on things and expect people to want it. That’s ridiculous I know and I WILL GET OVER IT!! What sells best? Like wildlife or abstract or ????
I’d love to hear from artists who have made this work! Every time I look at it I get overwhelmed. It’s not that hard it’s just “unknown” if you will. If I could talk to artist entrepreneurs I’d feel better. Anyone????
I’m not sure my contemporary art would translate well on a mug LOL but maybe a tshirt! Or just a canvas print?
I’m testing some watercolour designs on mugs as we speak! Florals for now. I might do plates & tshirts next! Great home business idea for artists!
So many opps to sell art online but I’m still afraid people will steal my creations if I use them for merch. I’ve decided to start with a couple that didn’t take much time in case someone does steal it or AI picks it up. More as a test. It’s not that I think I’m so very talented but it seems everything gets stolen online by others who have no creativity or ethics.