5 Pros of Selling Physical Art 

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Many artists are selling digital art today to help them make a living from their work. Advances in technology have made it easier to create and sell digital art. However, there are definitely some advantages to selling physical art. Physical art is often perceived as having a higher value because it is tangible. Original artwork is coveted, and we have an innate desire to want to possess it. 

1. You can sell original art, prints or both

You may choose to sell your original art, reproductions of it, or both. If you’re a fine artist who uses classic mediums, you may choose to sell originals at high price points. Digital art can be reproduced without any loss of quality so it is good for selling prints and merchandise with a desktop DTF printer. Commission work is another option where you make a custom art piece for a customer. 

Selling digital art needs some skills, though, so you need some guidance for that. Once you know how to sell digital art, the best way to get sales would be to turn it into physical art prints. To turn your digital art into art prints, you can work with a print-on-demand company. It will only make prints when a customer places an order, so you don’t have to store art or keep inventory. It will also handle packaging and shipping for you.   

2. It has a higher perceived value than digital art

Consumers still tend to think of physical art as being more valuable than digital art. When they hold it in their hands, they can fully appreciate it. They are so used to seeing digital art every day that holding a physical print is a pleasurable experience. They can hang it on a wall and admire it on a daily basis. It is not necessarily the case that digital art is mass-produced and doesn’t take time to create, but this is still the perception of many people. 

3. You can sell it for a higher price 

It is always difficult to put a price on art. If you price it too high, it doesn’t sell. If you price it too low, it won’t be worth your time and effort. It is always important to look at what other artwork like yours is selling for. You have to take all your expenses into account when setting your price.

This includes materials, framing, shipping etc. The time you spend creating it also plays a role. For your original art, you can charge a higher price. You can also decide to sell a limited quantity of prints at a higher price point or unlimited prints for a lower price.

4. You can sell physical art online

The great advantage of selling any kind of art today is that you can sell it online. There are many websites and online galleries where you can list your physical art. You will have to pay a commission, and this is usually based on the retail value of your artwork. Some galleries cater to established artists and charge more commission. Saatchi Art takes 35% commission. Others are more geared toward artists who haven’t established a name for themselves yet. 

You can also sell your physical art from your own website. Squarespace is an all-in-one solution many artists use to create a website. You can also easily create a free website using WordPress. An advantage of setting up an Etsy shop is that you have many interested consumers who already use the platform. 

5. There are many ways to sell physical art

As an artist today, you can choose a variety of different ways to sell your physical art. You can sell directly to customers from a website or store. You can sell it indirectly through a gallery, agent or retail partner. Depending on your style and medium, you can choose the right channel for your particular audience. Running your own online shop eliminates the middleman and keeps your costs low. Galleries can expose your work to new audiences and have access to resources and professionals that help to promote your work. 

Conclusion

The advantages of selling physical art include being able to sell original art or prints online in many different ways. You can charge a higher price for physical art than digital art, as consumers still see it as having more value.