How I Started Selling Prints of My Artwork

The Artist Formula: www.driesketel...
I'm sharing a personal journey that began over ten years ago when I realized that making art wasn't enough-I needed to start selling it. At the time, I was still in school, and I hated it. Quitting felt like a dream, but I needed proof that an art career was possible.
I remember sitting in front of my computer, terrified. What if no one bought my work? What if the art establishment laughed at me? What if my prices were too high, and I made a fool of myself? These thoughts paralyzed me, but I knew I had to start somewhere.
To make it easier, I uploaded a test doodle. To my surprise, it sold for $50, and I earned $25 after the gallery's commission. It was my first experience with passive income-I didn't have to ship or send anything because the gallery handled everything with print-on-demand.
But why is every artist so afraid to post their art online? A recent poll revealed that 78% of artists haven't even tried. It's obvious: if you’ve spent years creating art and never sold anything, the fear of failure is paralyzing. You don’t want to risk discovering that all your efforts were for nothing.
The solution is to relieve the pressure. Stop focusing on selling original art right away. Instead, use print-on-demand services. This way, you don’t need any inventory or upfront investment. When an order comes in, the service prints and ships it for you. It's 100% passive.
This method isn't about making the highest quality prints right away. It's about testing the market. Upload 30 pieces, see which ones sell, and then you can invest in higher-quality prints for the best sellers. This way, there's zero risk, and you increase your chances of starting to sell.
Avoid making huge upfront investments like renting an art studio or buying expensive printing equipment. Focus on minimizing costs and pressure. Artists often spend too much time creating more art out of insecurity instead of testing the market with what they already have.
If you're serious about selling your art, check out my online artist residency 'The Artist Formula'. It's a community where artists come together with one goal: to sell their art. www.driesketel...
Other links for the curious souls:
Website:
www.driesketel...
TikTok:
/ driesketels
Instagram:
/ ketelsdries
Love life, live love,
#DriesKetels #artist

[@ordinaryguy221]

This is exactlöy how I started. Galleries laugh about my art and now I am a selfemployed artist without evernever visiting an artclass or gallery collab. It is really important to find a own way and niche. As tip, just dont do prints. Give it value, means create limited editions handsigned and numbered, then it is art and not a poster and raises the value and interest. Well talked keep the good work going

[@driesketels]

great comment. will most certainly inspire a couple of artists who will be reading this.

[@patriciamedaris8552]

Dries who are some good platforms/galleries/print companies to sell on? I want to start selling but I am, of course, very nervous about not choosing a decent one. Love your channel, the information is excellent

[@driesketels]

You can do it! I have some videos covering this! Watch them and ask me your questions afterwards. You got this! Better to choose than to never choose.

[@patriciamedaris8552]

@@driesketels you are a wonderful person, thank you!

[@agnesschwerwacher1707]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤whouwww….love this🩷🩷❤️❤️❤️thank you soooo much for sharing all this precious info, Dries🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏✨✨✨🙏🙏✨✨🌸🌸🪷🪷❤️❤️🩷🩷🌷🌷🌺🌺🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊💙💙💙💙

[@PJsAllDayFR]

Your common sense approach is just what many of us 'hesitant artists' need to give us the courage to start selling. Thank you for being generous and sharing your hard-earned experience.

[@driesketels]

You are so welcome!

[@FreeSpiritinLightandLove]

❤ Thanks!

[@faith2691]

I'm not worried about people liking my stuff or not. What holds me back is not knowing which online galleries/print on demand services are trustworthy. Do you have a video on this? Thank you. It's nice to see logic being employed here 😅

[@driesketels]

Yes I have some videos on this but also, there is nothing wrong with testing it out. Do one print per print on demand shop you like, 5 shops in total, spend 70 on that or something and let the result be shipped to you and decide for yourself.

[@faith2691]

@@driesketels thank you

[@caroltodd1966]

Great advice but what is the best platform to sell print on demand?

[@teresakaczynski8780]

What’s a good place to use for print on demand? I have plenty of images to sell, but no idea what print on demand service to go with that’s good quality, reliable and affordable?

[@driesketels]

The Artist Formula outlines my complete step-by-step process to build a brand and drive traffic to your art prints so you can make money 'while you sleep'. www.driesketels.com/Artist-Residency

[@driesketels]

Price just went up so it will stay the same for the next couple of months for sure and indeed in the future it will go up again, not sure when yet. Hope to see you inside one day. Cheers!

[@jackieschmidt]

I want to know how you upload your art. I was told my art should first be photographed before it is ready for upload or making prints. Please give me some advice. Thank you

[@all-the-mores]

can you recommend any print on demand websites? would you suggest trying several sites or just one?

[@Engelhafen]

Thanks for your honesty and vulnerability

[@terryjackson8773]

I've sold several thousand dollars worth of art ranging from self printed cards and original artworks ranging from AU$50 - AU$2,500 (mainly through art shows... not galleries) and am still afraid and hesitant.

[@driesketels]

recently read this quote somewhere, don't remember who or what. "Bravery is not not being afraid. It's being afraid as f£ck and doing it anyway" or something along those lines. Fear is always going to be part of it. Great comment. Thanks for sharing!

[@AR-mu4zq]

First people have to know you exist. I post to social media and only 1 friend notices but i know my work is quality. There have to be other waya than posting to instagram.

[@driesketels]

First people have to know you exist. Driving traffic is a crucial element! There are other ways then IG. Good luck with that Andrea!

[@SakuraPinkBrush23]

Thanks for the business sense you've offered for the art community. Also, the NO EGO approach, and just having us hear about your journey is VERY INSPIRING/ENCOURAGING!!!

[@driesketels]

My pleasure! And thanks for the nice compliments.

[@creativesolutionstoart]

I make and sell wire, wrapped jewelry, and now that Summers here, one of the stores that I sell from is doing outside markets once a month. I thought, “why not bring some paintings as well?“ Other people have also asked me to. So I was thinking about bringing prints and not quite sure How to do that. So this on demand thing, I guess I could get prints and have them sent to me so I can bring them to the art market? How would you go about doing this? I was just going to do 8 x 10 or 11 x 14 so people could Easily carry it unframed in plastic poly bag with a backboard.

[@ameliacorin7383]

@creativesolutionsandart Go for it, the prints are a wonderful idea! Also include some merch of your favourite artwork like fridge magnets, stickers, T shirts, blank journals, jigsaw puzzle, key rings, mugs etc (whatever resonates) to include with your jewellery & prints in your market stall. Used to make jewellery & am more focussed on my art work now. Though have earrings & wire wraps that I need to sell. Thanks for your comment! It reminded me that I have other crafts to include with my artwork. Do check out Sugarboo &Co: sugarbooandco.com/collections/custom-art

[@calmingchannelbillbistak]

I am in my 9th year of attempting to make my best offers. Nothing. I have prints on demand on Artspan. Still nothing. My attempts include other platforms that have helped online much in the same way since 2016. Nothing. The world works weirdly or I have emptied myself into this effort for nothing. I have killed my babies (i.e. fave works) off and scaled down to under 35 works. I am about to scale down even further. Currently, I have made offers to those I know. 2024, is it the beginning, or the end. IDK

[@driesketels]

Let's go for 2024. I wish you the best! You deserve it after 9 years!

[@robm8067]

Thanks so much for this Dries! Thanks for sharing your story of vulnerability. This is the common sense kick in the butt I needed.

[@GulfIslandRock]

Yes the prints or pieces I think will sell are not the ones … usually the ones I least like sell. Lol go figure!😂❤what print on demand site do you use? I live in canada … salt spring island, bc.

[@3h33am]

Hey Dries, thanks for the insight. Do you have a recommendation for a high quality POD provider? I’ve done some testing and the prints are generally pretty low quality. Thanks in advance!👋

[@ItsMeSadeNYC]

Thanks!

[@Cletten]

That was a very long rant for not even recommending any good on demand print services. I have been doing it for years on various platforms and they've absolutely been robbing my profits. The margins they keep are extortionate!

[@wakeupuk3860]

And this one as, as stated on your other YT, I have worked in industry, taught Business Studies at college level and was a freelance trainer running a business.

[@chocher9873]

you are so helpful, I've probably progressed more with your pep talks than ever in the last couple of years.

[@17fim]

I actually started to do the dropshipping approach, I just need to do more marketing.

[@genesmolko8113]

My problem isn't this, I even made a website. My problem is no one seeing it and it seems the way to make that happen is I have to create some sort of social media presence, ugh. I just want to share my artwork and make a little on the side, I don't want to start trying to talk to the internet, spending all that time getting that going. But maybe that's the only way.

[@natomiltary4573]

Perfect timing for the video, working on a piece right now that I want to sell prints off, thanks for the encouragement and words of advice Dries. I'll be sure to try out the print on demand.

[@driesketels]

print on demand is the safest way that costs least amount of money for sure! Good luck.

[@dollimelaine]

@@driesketels Which site do you suggest sell on? I did Fine Art America and it was a bust. i sold things but they took a ridiculous percentage.

[@MkayKaye]

This is extremely encouraging. I'm surprised when people come over and leaf through my practice pieces and want them. Thank you. I really needed this today 💗

[@MelvinMartin-w1e]

Your profanity demeans your message.

[@khalidrashid3838]

thanks for the intro to your course!!! some great tips buddy!!--- lol you are so right about those classes with 45 years olds too!

[@tomholden2510]

What art are you trying to sell, where's your portfolio ???

[@ItsMeSadeNYC]

Great video. I agree! I've been thinking about this but from the angle of being the drop shipper for artists' prints. I think it would be great if I can do this with artists from all over.

[@LB22222]

Totally agree. I was hesitant, struggling to work out the options - until I emailed an online poster sales company (The Poster Club) with my photographic work... and now they sell my prints for me without doing anything. The commission is quite high, but I've made over £1200 in the past year without doing a thing, and that's just from 4 of my images. Make it EASY, and then build your confidence. I'm now selling other images direct to people for £150 each, dropship orders, and will set up my own shop on my website soon that will all be automated. Listen to this guy.

[@dollimelaine]

This is such a great video Dries! Thanks so much for being you....Now get the hell out of here!

[@driesketels]

hahaha nice one

[@davemenard5089]

Do you only teach? I’ve looked at your videos and websites and can’t find you actually make art.

[@photobizmethod]

Yep, I did a poll and 75% FA photographers don't have an email list because they feel that they're work isn't good enough :(

[@johnii7896]

The only reason I hesitated to put art online is theft, so I waited until I copyrighted it.

[@kimhayden1212]

You don’t need to copyright your work it is automatically copyrighted upon completion and signature. I recommend you take or have someone take a quality photograph to keep track of your work. Best wishes.

[@williameiffert494]

Another fine video, informative, honest and with real conviction, thanks Dries.

[@driesketels]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@williameiffert494]

@@driesketels Always do!!

[@navyboymommygramma]

Why don't we put o7r art up for sale? Because art is subjective and we all know it. Even if we like the art we make, we feel like we are the ONLY ones who willever likevit, so we hide it away and make MORE HAHAHAHA

[@earthempresstv]

you are too right and I think about this alot...what holds me back is that my brand is somewhat high-end my collectors are very particular and I tested out a couple and the quality seemed low and I feel the only away I could offer prints is to hand embellish them and then ship them myself all which takes so much time and defeats the whole purpose... and then I worry that I would lose out on selling my originals which go for between $3K and $10K (a decent investment I just wish to sell MORE) b/c ppl could get prints, but another concern is that wouldn't sell enough prints to make it worthwhile ie my audience isn't big therefore volume would be low...

[@SakuraPinkBrush23]

Thanks!

[@driesketels]

Thanks for your generosity Sakurapinkbrush23

[@dannybowden5296]

How do you upload your art, assuming it's made by hand and not digital? Thank you.

[@dayoffnow]

@dannybowden5296 You have your art pieces professionally photographed or scanned, which creates a digital image of it. Then you can sell prints or giclees with a print-on-demand shipper.

[@dannybowden5296]

@@dayoffnow Thank you, Dries!

[@Chaoslorden]

Prints is what I had in mind for using what I have already painted and sold. But I don't have a great idea of what good platforms there are out there these days. I'm located in Sweden but of course want to sell all over the world. I guess I'll have a date with my computer tonight and Google some print on demand clients!

[@barrystevenyoung4818]

So where did you do the print on demand? Doing the art is the purpose of doing art. I have a day job so money isn't so important. But if there's no money to lay down I wouldn't mind trying your idea.

[@AlexandreDesane]

encore une masterclass

[@driesketels]

welcome

[@chetloggins8203]

Print on demand is fine if you don’t care how accurately your works are reproduced.

[@scleo1959]

This was so helpful! Thank you for discussing this important topic. You shed a lot of light on the things I have done wrong, lol.

[@TheLeoTV]

I find taking a representive and good photo is a bit hard.

[@KendoLarks]

Just subscribed sir thank you for your advice sir

[@mell3749]

well this popped up in algorithm at right time

[@DeirdreBaker-zo9gl]

New subscriber great info 🙌💫😁

[@beverlyaten1775]

Thank you for this video. Good thought process, winning strategy for making a start. NOTHING is more motivating than success. 99.9% will not live like Van Gogh, and who would want to?

[@driesketels]

Good luck with the start!

[@drewlott9046]

just what I needed thanks!

[@driesketels]

Glad I could help!

[@dollclique8616]

Hi! Thank you.

[@driesketels]

Welcome!

[@barrysmith8186]

Just subscribed! Great information

[@ChrisAcheson]

As hard as it is to hear: the content affects the views; not the thumbnails or titles. Same as with the Art. Know what I mean? Improve the content (Art) and not the drive to sell.

[@driesketels]

I want to agree with you so badly but this is just not my experience. I have to disagree

[@markcandlin2635]

Thanks Dries, as always from you a positive vibe! What is the best platform to sell print on demand of my work?(I hope its not etsy!)

[@driesketels]

Real answer = it depends. => The platform that feels best for you at this moment trusting that you are smart and capable of making a decision is probably the one to go for. Good luck

[@davidportch8837]

Great advice as always Dries... many thanks...

[@Maha1J]

💗🌷

[@jansakal]

Just what im dealing with now 😂 thanks

[@driesketels]

You're welcome

[@jackblacksash]

Thanks Dries!

[@elizabethbarsanti4297]

Bravo!

[@ashokseebaruth]

💯

[@christinegalysh7433]

Thank you and all the best.

[@driesketels]

Same to you!

[@ahetzel9054]

Interesting how you'll give us a link to buy your course for $300 instead of just telling us a couple of good print on demand websites..

[@driesketels]

If you are interested in a couple of good print on demand websites just search it up on google and don't buy my course or any course for that matter.

[@45artpm27]

🖼️🎨🖤

[@driesketels]

let's go