What: FineArtAmerica is a print-on-demand site that allows artists to upload images and sell their art on prints, puzzles, greeting cards, pillows and other products
Expected pay: Set by you
Husl$core: $$$$$
Commissions & fees: vary by product
Where: Nationwide
Requirements: art to sell
Review
FineArtAmerica is one of the oldest and largest print-on-demand operations in the U.S. Launched in 2006, the site now represents roughly 500,000 artists, who sell their drawings, paintings and photographs on everything from prints to puzzles.
With most products, FineArtAmerica sets a base price that represents the cost for the site to produce and ship the product to the customer. The artists adds their mark-up to come up with a final price. The site suggests standard — and relatively modest — mark-ups. For instance, it suggests you set your mark up at $10 for a 36″ x 27″ print, which will sell for $208. If you, instead, want to earn $50 on that sale, the print will cost $248.
Other products
However, the site also offers a few services that don’t involve putting your art on a product, such as digital art licensing. With digital licensing, the artist sets the base price and FineArtAmerica adds a 30% commission for the use of its licensing services.
In addition, it offers artists the ability to make their art available to digital streaming. This service sends art to “digital frames” that subscribers can view much like they view movies on Netflix.
If the artists agrees to provide their art for these frames, they’ll earn royalties based on the number of minutes their art is viewed. The royalty rate is minuscule. But the only downside to clicking “yes” is if you think these digital frames might cause you to sell fewer prints. Our guess is that the opposite is true. If someone likes your art enough to view it regularly, they’ll probably buy.
Payments
Artists are paid for items that are sold after 30 days to accommodate FineArtAmerica’s 30-day return window. Payments are made on the 15th of the month for sales made prior to the 15th of the previous month.
Commissions & fees
Artists can set up on the site for free. However, if you want some premium services, such as your own artist website, the site charges a $30 annual fee.
Recommendations
There are several fine print-on-demand sites, including FineArtAmerica, Society6 and RedBubble. We see no reason to limit yourself to signing up for just one.Â
That said, FineArtAmerica provides a wide array of ways that you can market your art through their site, including connecting your social media accounts and helping you set up your own site with their premium membership. If art is more than a side hustle for you, we think this site’s premium membership is well worth the modest cost. This site also stands out for offering an extraordinary smart-phone app that allows customers to see your art on their walls.Â
Recommended reading
Photographer Ana Ramirez does a great job showing some ways to boost sales in this blog post.Â
*1/14/2021
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I was never paid for the sales I made!
Well shoot. I was about to join till I saw this. Was your issue ever resolved?
Thanks for the review. I also was thinking about selling some of my Photography with them.
Do NOT use these guys… terrible company. Untrustworthy as can be. At this point I’m worried they may have even stolen my images. Still waiting on payment from them too.
Nobody manning the website. I’ve asked eight times for help. Totally sucks.
So I set up my page but how does one know someone is using your art? I’m new and a friend suggested I post my handsome dogs pic. I’m kinda lost. Where does payments come in at. I see some of yall said Paypal but where do you set this up at? Just little confused. Thanks for all the help.
I’ve been a premium member for years and have sold some artworks. My current complaint is a complete lack of technical support. I’ve submitted a question about a feature that hasn’t been working correctly for a while and I keep getting unsatisfactory answers to the question. You can only contact them through an online form. Member support seems almost nonexistent.
Has anyone posted on their twitter page. Most companies do check their plateform for trends and activity at times. This is important to analysis and marketing going forward. Also, there is the FTC-Federal Trade Commisdion. They accept complaints and comments about any business, online or brick and morter that operate and sell a service or product within the United States air space or boundary. Peace in the mind to all.