Do you have a valuable landscape painting or portrait that doesn’t fit with your home aesthetics anymore?
Well, you can’t stash it in the basement or give it to someone if it cost you a fortune to buy!
You can handle this dilemma by learning the right way to resell art, which is what this article is all about.
By offering your art for sale on a trusted online platform, you ensure you get a price suitable for its value without leaving the comfort of your home.
Is It Possible to Resell Art?
Of course. If auction houses exist to enable people with precious items like rare artifacts and jewelry to resell their possessions, why shouldn’t it be possible to resell art?
Depending on the popularity of different artists and the ever-changing trends, the art market is incredibly dynamic. Art collectors and enthusiasts are willing to spend hefty amounts on art pieces, whether they’re sculptures, paintings, or NFTs.
Even statistics back this up—the global art market procured around $68 billion in 2022 alone! If that’s an indicator of anything, it’s that the market is ready to embrace art in every shape and form.
What Kinds of Art Sell Well?
The following art mediums, themes, and forms are currently popular:
- Pop art
- Minimalist art
- Oil or acrylic portraits
- Landscapes
- Abstract art
- Fine art and decorative art
- Antiques
- Contemporary sculptures
- Jewelry
- Photographs (animals, urban, architecture, and people)
- Digital art
What Is the Value of Art?
From a philosophical point of view, the value of art (or artistic value) has several sides. Some of which are aesthetic, political, cognitive, and moral.
Since these factors vary according to each person’s preferences, opinions, cultural background, and principles, each group of people will value art differently. As a result, you’ll have to ensure that the art you’ll be reselling is marketed toward the right audience if you want a high monetary value.
This can still be good news because artists and art collectors know how to appreciate art. You’re bound to find people ready to pay unimaginable amounts of money to buy a certain painting or sculpture!
Some parameters to determine your art’s pricing include:
- The art’s history and background
- Current trends
- How tough or masterful the technique is
- How challenging it was to obtain the materials
- Material prices
Does Art Lose Value Over Time?
No. Unlike other products we buy as consumers, art keeps its value over time. Not only that, but the value of art increases the more time passes.
Solid evidence of this argument is how vintage furniture, jewelry, vases, and similar items are always sold at high prices at auctions. The older they are, the more money they’re usually worth.
Things to Consider When Reselling Art
It’s time to keep some points in mind before going down the route of reselling art.
- Condition of the art: Some art forms (like jewelry or decorative items) should be in top-notch condition to get you a better price. Take note of that, be transparent about it when writing the description, and show it in pictures.
- Target audience: Research the market to find the perfect target audience that will appreciate the art you’ll be selling. Determine your customer demographics to use them in your marketing strategies later.
- Competition: Study your competitors to understand their strategies for selling art successfully. Pay attention to their marketing approaches, the pictures they take to draw in more customers, etc.
- Artist connections: Establish relationships with artists by visiting forums, Facebook groups, and websites for freelance artists. This can give you a better idea about pricing, art niches, best selling approaches, and more.
- Price: Determine your art’s value by doing extensive market research before settling on a price.
- Selling platform: The online marketplace should provide your art with the proper level of exposure to find potential buyers.
Where to Resell Art
Settling on the perfect online platform to showcase the art you want to sell can be tough. Below is a list of the top three locations that can help your art find a suitable buyer base.
1. Etsy
Besides being a go-to option for selling handmade goods, Etsy allows you to sell vintage items and resell art.
Founded in 2005, it’s one of the most popular and user-friendly destinations for first-time sellers.
What Makes This Option Great
Etsy has a huge base of users and buyers that your art will be exposed to. In 2022, the number of active buyers was a roaring 96 million on this platform!
- Fees/Commission: 6.5% of the total cost of the sale as a transaction fee
- Payment Methods: Some bank transfer services, Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit and debit cards, Etsy Gift Card, Etsy Credit, Etsy Coupon, and PayPal
2. eBay
Another well-known place for reselling art since its launch in 1995 is eBay. Once you look at the impressive pieces offered in the art category, you’ll understand that it’s the perfect candidate for reselling art.
What Makes This Option Great
Besides its great reputation, eBay excels in having minimal restrictions on the products you sell on it. Plus, it’s a trusted website with various support channels, especially for beginners.
- Fees/Commission: Between 5% and 15% (depending on the sale price)
- Payment Methods: PayPal, Apple Pay, credit card, debit card, and Google Pay
3. Facebook Marketplace
Don’t underestimate the power of Facebook Marketplace when it comes to providing your art with the exposure it needs. The platform is an awesome choice for people who aren’t tech-savvy thanks to its ease of use and simple interface.
What Makes This Option Great
You don’t have to set up a new account on the e-commerce platform if you already have a Facebook account. In addition, Facebook Marketplace lets you promote artwork on your profile and Facebook groups.
- Fees/Commission: Flat selling fee of $0.40 for sales equal to or less than $8 or 5% for orders above $8
- Payment Methods: PayPal, credit card, and debit card
What You’ll Need to Resell Art
Here’s everything you should acquire before you start your online art reselling journey!
- Good-quality camera: You’ll have to capture all the details of the art you want to resell to grasp the attention of potential buyers.
- An account on the platform you’ll sell the art on: No matter which online marketplace you choose, you’ll need to have an account ready before listing your art piece on it.
- Packaging supplies: Buy cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and labels so that your art is ready for shipping as soon as someone orders it.
How to Resell Art: Step-By-Step Instructions
Now that you’re prepared for reselling art online, here are all the steps to follow for a hassle-free first-time experience.
Step 1: Take Clear and Attractive Pictures of the Art Piece
The first step in our tutorial is to set the piece of art somewhere with good lighting to photograph it. We recommend you put it in indirect natural light so that all the fine details appear in the picture in an eye-catching way.
Some simple guidelines for taking great pictures of your artwork include:
- Don’t snap the shot from an angle.
- Put your art on the wall or a flat surface.
- Don’t edit the picture too much so as not to change the natural coloring of the art piece.
- Minimize the existence of sharp shadows and glares.
- Always go for higher resolutions that show the best details in your art.
- Don’t forget to get some close-ups, too.
Step 2: Sign Up to Your Chosen Online Marketplace
The next step is as easy as visiting the website where you’ll be reselling your art and registering for an account. Usually, this includes providing a username, password, address, phone number, and billing information.
Remember to carefully read the terms and conditions as well as selling policies. Also, take a look at the e-commerce site’s rules to ensure the item you’ll be selling won’t be taken down later.
After confirming your account via email, you can finally set up an online store or list your artwork immediately without doing so. It depends on the platform you’ve chosen.
Step 3: List Your Art on the Platform
The process of listing artwork on an online marketplace is straightforward. You’ll only need to upload the pictures you’ve taken, write a compelling description, and choose proper tags.
We recommend you include as many relevant tags as possible to help interested buyers find their way to your art.
You might also consider writing an artist statement to elaborate on the art’s value and meaning.
After ensuring all the necessary details are included in your product listing, you can let it go live with confidence!
Step 4: Follow a Few Marketing Strategies
You don’t have to be a marketing expert to get your resold art more views. Here are some beginner-friendly approaches that you can give a shot:
- Post about the art on your social media accounts, like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
- Consider using SEO marketing techniques.
- Try Google Ads or Facebook Ads.
Step 5: Package and Ship the Art
Once someone contacts you about buying the art piece, grab your packaging supplies. Wrap your art piece securely and ensure it doesn’t jostle in its box so that it reaches the customer free of scratches and creases.
Finally, settle on a trusted shipping company to deliver the package to the buyer’s address.
Can You Make Money Flipping Art?
Yes!
You can become successful by launching an art resale business without leaving your living room.
What Is an Art Resale Business?
An art resale business involves running an online or physical store that specializes in reselling art.
You can contact people who want to resell their art and charge them for securing sale opportunities.
Is Reselling Art a Good Way to Make Money?
Reselling art can be a fantastic way to make money as a side hustle, but it can have its cons, too.
Pros of Reselling Art
- Art usually holds its value for years.
- Starting an online store doesn’t need much capital money.
- Many people would like someone else to handle reselling their art.
- Each piece of art is unique, which lets you drive the sale price up.
Cons of Reselling Art
- It may be slow in the beginning until you get recognized.
- Your online presence must be consistent.
- The competition is high in the art category across various platforms.
- The self-employment taxes tend to be high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to two questions that may be circling your mind after reading our tutorial on reselling art.
Is Tracing Art Illegal?
The act of tracing art itself isn’t illegal, as it helps you practice your artistic skills. However, the final result isn’t considered art.
What’s against the law is reselling traced art because it’s a copy of original artwork. It’s a copyright violation.
Is It a Good Idea to Sell Art?
Selling art online or in a physical store is a good idea for many reasons.
There’s a wide base of buyers who love and appreciate different forms of art. Plus, today’s technology makes it simple to showcase, promote, and receive easy money selling artwork.
Similar Tutorials to Check Out
Do you have other items in your household that you no longer need? Here are some similar guides to help you resell them in a heartbeat!
- Resell Furniture: Learn how to resell a lightly-used sofa, dining set, or bed if you’re renovating.
- Resell Home Decor: Your home accessories, like a grandfather clock, dish set, or wall decor are great items to resell if you know how to do it right!
- Resell Mattresses: Buying a new set of mattresses, but your old ones are practically brand new? You can offer them for sale at rewarding prices by following this tutorial.
Wrapping Up
Having a piece of art collecting dust in your attic isn’t an ideal scenario. Your best course of action is to learn how to resell art to help it find a new home and earn some money at the same time!
Even better, you may consider running a business that revolves around art resale. Either way, our hassle-free guide has provided you with the necessary steps to go both directions.
If you like the information that we shared with you, let us know your opinion in the comments. Also, feel free to send this article to anyone who might be interested.
