For aspiring artists, the internet is an important source of inspiration, community connections, and sales opportunities. However, it can also be an overwhelming place to search for the right platforms and websites. For many years, DeviantArt has been a community where artists can connect, share their work, and make sales.
As the internet has grown and many new art marketplaces have popped up, DeviantArt has remained a site where you can sell your art. However, it caters to certain types of art and artists, so other platforms might be more appropriate to sell art.
If you are curious how DeviantArt works, how you can sell your art on the site, and how commissions work, read on. We discuss the current state of DeviantArt, how the selling process works, and offer a few other platforms where you can sell your art.
How Do I Sell My Art on DeviantArt?
To sell your art on DeviantArt, you first need to set up an account with the website. There are different account levels and the account you choose determines what you can sell. The levels are:
Core: This is the basic membership level. With this level, you pay a 20% fee to DeviantArt for download sales and the maximum price you can sell your art for is $100. This account comes with 20GB of storage. The cost is $3.95 a month or $39.95 a year.
Core+: This plan is the one recommended by DeviantArt. The fee for digital sales is 12% and you can price your art to a maximum of $1000. With this account, you get 30GB of storage. It is $7.95 a month or $79.95 a year.
Core Pro: If you are an established artist, this plan might be the one for you. DeviantArt charges 10% in fees with this plan and you can price your work up to $4000. It comes with 50GB of storage. The cost for the Pro plan is $14.95 a month or $149.95 a year.
Every account comes with Core Lounge access, DeviantArt Protect to check for similar work, and custom sections.
Once you set up an account, you are able to sell digital and print editions of your art. You upload your art to your account; customers can browse your work, and place an order.
Is DeviantArt Good for Commissions?
While DeviantArt is a great place to post your art online for sale, you can also use it to get commissions from customers. You can indicate on your page that you accept commissions to let potential customers know that you are available for that service. You can add this information to your bio.
However keep in mind that online communities rely on developing a network of relationships with the other users. If the only thing you do is advertise commission rates in your bio then you will not have much luck.
How Do I Get Commissions on DeviantArt?
DeviantArt makes it easy for you to get commissions by including a commission page in your shop. It is simple to add information to the commission tab. To add a commission to your page, all you need to do is select “Add New”. The image you upload on a commission listing will be the main image for that commission.
Since commission work is designed in consultation with the customer, you might not feel like you should put up an image. However, this is an excellent way to show the work that you can do on commission. In the listing, you should share the information you want potential customers to know about how you work,such as:
The type of work you offer
Your price
Extra information, such as your dos and don’ts as an artist
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Providing all this information upfront will set clear expectations between you and your customer, hopefully setting the stage for a smooth commission process.
DeviantArt Commission Prices
Just as with any other art you sell on DeviantArt, you set the price you want for your commissions. Remember, you are putting a lot of time and effort into your work and you want to make sure that the price you set for your art reflects that. Don’t undersell yourself. This can have a negative effect, as customers might see a low price as a sign of low quality.
Please click here to read this article I wrote about pricing your art
To set your price, figure out how much time you would spend creating that artwork and how much your hourly wage should be. Never go below minimum wage. So if the minimum wage in your area is $12 an hour and you spend 4 hours creating the art, charge $48. Don’t feel like you need to stick to the minimum wage rate if you want to charge more. Just don’t charge less.
As you become more successful and sell more work, it is absolutely appropriate to increase your prices. Even Picasso had to start out selling low at the beginning of his career. The more art you create the more experience you are getting and that will show in your work. This makes a price increase reasonable and fair.
When you sell commissioned artwork on DeviantArt, you will pay a percentage as a fee to the site. The amount depends on what level of account you have. Consider this fee when setting your prices, as it will lower the amount you receive for your work.
Does DeviantArt Own My Art?
When you post your art on DeviantArt, you retain all rights and ownership of your work. There have been concerns in the past over DeviantArt’s submission policy, but as the site has said itself, “DeviantART does not retain any ownership nor right to ownership of any artwork posted to deviantART.”
This means that DeviantArt cannot license your work to third-party vendors and you are the only person authorized to sell your work and make money off it. If you are still concerned, read the submission policy, which makes it clear that DeviantArt cannot use your work without your consent.
Is DeviantArt Dead?
When DeviantArt was first established, there were not many other places online where artists could sell their work. As a result, it was a popular place for artists to gather and set up shop. Nowadays, however, there are many more websites for artists to sell their art, not to mention the popularity of social media in the art world.
This does not mean that DeviantArt is dead. There are still opportunities to find customers interested in buying your art. However, you shouldn’t rely on it as your sole source of sales and income. It’s important to reach customers where they are, rather than wait for them to find you. This means posting on a variety of platforms.
Can I Make Money on DeviantArt?
Despite the fact that DeviantArt is not the marketplace it once was, it is still possible to make money on the site. Before you join, it is important to research the website and the art being sold there to see if you are a fit. There are certain images that perform better than others, such as anime drawings. If you feel like your art fits DeviantArt’s niche, you should register.
DeviantArt wants its users to understand that the primary purpose of the site is to connect artists with other artists. Therefore, if you want to make money on the site, you need to reach out to people who don’t regularly visit DeviantArt. Market yourself and your work on social media, telling customers where they can find your work for sale.
What Is the Best Platform To Sell Art?
While you can sell your art on DeviantArt, you might find more success on other platforms. Here are a few of our favorite platforms for selling art:
ArtFire: Similar to Etsy, this marketplace allows you to reach customers without the hassle of setting up your own website. It helps your work be discovered on search engines and has great customer service. You can also make connections with other artists and learn new skills.
Artnet: This website was founded to make connections between contemporary artists and buyers. One feature of the site is the option to put your art up for auction. There is also a price database of sold art going back to 1985, which can be a useful tool for pricing your work.
Society6: This platform offers print-on-demand services, so you can see your work put on t-shirts, coffee mugs, and traditional prints. The website sets the prices but for prints and canvases, you can set your own royalties.
Social media is also an excellent way to reach customers and make a brand for yourself. There are many ways to sell your art online. It takes a lot of work, but once you figure it out, you can be very successful.
DeviantArt is a Good Place To Start
If you are new to the art world and are looking for a community where you can grow your skills and explore selling your art, then DeviantArt is the right place for you. This is especially true if your art fits a niche that the site specializes in. Once you are more experienced, you may find more success on other marketplaces. Don’t limit yourself to one site if you want to succeed.
