A complete guide to selling illustrations online

Are you good at drawing or illustration? Have you thought about turning your art into a source of extra income? Then you’re in the right place! These days, there are plenty of online options for selling or licensing your illustrations, and in this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular ones, including their pros, cons, and what you need to get started. Let’s dive in! 

Can you make money selling illustrations online? 

Absolutely! Selling illustrations is one of the most popular ways to earn money from home or generate passive income. How much can you earn? That’s hard to predict as it depends on a few key factors.  

Don’t expect to make a fortune overnight, as competition is fierce. But with the right strategy and a good understanding of the options available, it’s possible to stand out, make extra money, or even turn this side hustle into your main source of income. 

What matters most is knowing that it’ll take time, consistency, and a bit of patience. 

How to sell illustrations online: 5 ways to get started 

There are many ways to sell digital illustrations today, and each comes with its own benefits, challenges, and requirements. We’ll break down five great options you can explore based on your style, goals, and experience: 

• Your own portfolio with an online shop 
• Print-on-demand platforms 
• Selling digital downloads 
• Licensing your illustrations 
• Selling your original artwork and prints 

Let’s take a closer look at each one. 

Your own portfolio with an online store 

Having your own website where you can showcase your portfolio and sell physical or digital products through an online shop is the best way to maintain full control over your creations. You set the prices and keep all the profits, with no commissions apart from basic website maintenance. 

From your own website, you can offer downloadable files (high-resolution illustrations, vector graphics, etc.), made-to-order physical prints (signed prints, posters, postcards, etc.), custom commissions, or bespoke artwork. 

Even if you also sell your illustrations through other platforms, having your own portfolio website allows you to build and stay in direct contact with clients. This way, you can build loyalty, offer them new work or personalised commissions in the future, and create stronger relationships without relying on intermediaries. 

Pros: 

• Full control: you decide what to highlight, how to sell it, and how much to charge—no middlemen or commission fees. 
• Boosts your professional image: a well-designed site builds trust and sets you apart from other illustrators. 
• Versatility: you can add an online store, start a blog with relevant articles, include contact forms, social links, and more. 

Cons:

• Higher demands: takes time and dedication at the start to design, upload content, and keep everything up to date. 
• Extra promotional work: you’ll need to drive traffic yourself using digital marketing techniques like SEO, SEA, and SEM. 

What do you need to create your online portfolio? 

With the right tools, create an online portfolio is easier than you might think. Basically, to get started you’ll need to register your own domain (for example, your-name.com) and choose a hosting service. Then you’ll need a platform to design, edit, and publish your website. 

one.com’s Website Builder, for example, includes features specifically made for creating portfolios in just a few steps with no coding required. It uses AI tools that can generate entire pages and texts in just minutes, along with built-in e-commerce solutions, such as payment gateways with secure certificates.  

If you’re looking for something more advanced and have some experience, you can use content management systems like WordPress and add e-commerce plugins. 

Print-on-demand platforms 

Can you picture your artwork printed on T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags, phone cases, stickers, or home decor items? Print-on-demand platforms like Redbubble, Society6, and TeePublic provide a great opportunity to make money from your illustrations. 

These platforms work in a fairly simple way: you create an account, upload your illustrations in high quality, and if someone buys a product featuring your design, you earn a commission from the sale. 

Your profit margin will vary depending on the platform. On Redbubble, for example, there’s a base price set by them, and you get to choose your markup (they recommend around 20%). On Society6, margins typically range between 5% and 10%, depending on the product. With TeePublic, artists earn between $4 and $8 per sale depending on the product, although discounts can reduce your final earnings. 

Pros: 

• No upfront costs: you don’t need to print or manage product stock yourself. 
• Easy to get started: all you need is an account, high-resolution files, and a way to receive payments. 
• Global reach: these platforms attract buyers from around the world, giving your art international exposure. 

Cons:

• High competition: with thousands of sellers on each platform, standing out and making consistent sales requires strong internal SEO, marketing, or social media presence. 
• Lower profit margins: the platform takes a significant cut of the final sale price. Many also apply discounts automatically, which can further reduce your earnings. 

Selling illustrations as digital downloads 

Beyond physical print-on-demand products, there’s also a thriving market for digital downloads. In this case, you sell your illustrations as files that customers can download and use however they like. 

As an illustrator, you can offer all kinds of digital assets: wallpapers for desktops or phones, digital stickers, vector files for designers, templates for social media, website graphics, eBooks, and more. 

Just like print-on-demand, you’ll upload your files in high resolution to an intermediary platform and earn a commission each time someone buys your design.

Sometimes you can set your own prices, while the platform charges a fee or percentage. Popular places to sell digital illustrations include Etsy, Gumroad, and Creative Market. 

Pros: 

• 100% digital: no shipping or inventory management needed. 
• Passive income on multiple platforms: you can sell the same file hundreds of times. 
• Wide range of niches: from decorative art to design resources, there’s a market for almost everything. 

Cons: 

• Limited file protection: once downloaded, your artwork can be shared freely (though some platforms may include usage restrictions). 
• High competition: marketplaces like Etsy or Creative Market are saturated with illustrators, so it can be hard to stand out. 

Licensing your illustrations 

Licensing an illustration means granting a company the right to use it under specific terms. This is a common model on stock image platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, iStock, or Alamy. You’re not selling the image itself, but the rights to use it for various purposes—social media posts, editorial content (like magazines or books), advertising campaigns, and more. 

Licensing models vary depending on the platform and the license purchased by the buyer: 

• Royalty-free licenses involve a one-time payment, allowing the buyer to use the image multiple times without paying additional fees. In this case, the illustrator earns either a fixed fee or a percentage of the initial sale. 
• Rights-managed licenses are more restrictive. The buyer pays based on how, where, when, and for how long the image will be used. These can bring in more money for exclusive or specific uses, though they’re less common. 

Payouts are typically based on royalties per download or usage, and they can vary greatly depending on the platform and the buyer’s subscription plan.  

To generate steady passive income, you’ll need a large, diverse portfolio of images that are downloaded regularly. It also helps to stay aware of what’s in demand, such as trending themes, niche topics, seasonal content, etc. 

Pros:

• Non-exclusivity: most stock platforms don’t require exclusive rights, so you can upload the same illustration to multiple sites. Some do offer higher payouts in exchange for exclusivity. 
• Scalable model: the more images you upload, the greater your earning potential. 
• Massive reach: these platforms attract millions of users worldwide, offering exposure to clients you might not otherwise reach. 

Cons:

• High volume needed: earning substantial income through this model requires producing a large number and variety of illustrations. 
• Low payouts: standard royalties are often just a few dollars (or even cents) per download. Without high sales volume, earnings may be modest. Some platforms also require a minimum balance before you can cash out. 
• Saturated market: these platforms thrive on massive quantity, meaning your work is competing with millions of other illustrations from thousands of contributors. 

Selling original art and prints 

If you create original works on paper or high-quality signed prints, you can sell them directly through platforms that connect artists with buyers around the world. In this model, uniqueness and exclusivity are key selling points that add value. 

This option gives you more control over your materials and pricing. On Etsy, for example, you can upload your listings, set your own prices, and handle shipping yourself. The platform takes care of payment processing and provides promotional and management tools. 

Another popular platform is Artfinder, which focuses exclusively on handmade original artwork. Digital illustrations are not accepted. To sell on Artfinder, you’ll need to go through an application process where your portfolio is reviewed. Once approved, you can create a seller profile, upload images of your artwork, set prices, and manage orders. Commissions typically range from 40% to 45%. 

Pros:

• Artistic value: these platforms focus on original art with unique appeal. 
• Higher profit margins: buyers on these platforms are often willing to pay premium prices for one-of-a-kind pieces. 

Cons:

• Original-only policy: only physical, handmade works are accepted. 
• Higher entry requirements: some platforms require approval to sell. You’ll also need to take care of shipping and packaging your work properly. 

Can you sell AI-generated illustrations? 

Technically, yes, you can sell illustrations created with artificial intelligence (AI). However, it’s a rapidly evolving space, and there are some legal and ethical considerations to keep in mind. 

First, you need to check the terms of use for the AI tool you’re using. Some platforms, like Midjourney or DALL·E, allow commercial use of the generated images, while others may impose restrictions. Certain tools may even claim partial ownership or licensing rights over the content you create with them. 

Also, keep in mind that AI models are trained on vast datasets that include millions of existing images, many of which may be copyrighted. If your illustration ends up being too similar to a copyrighted work, you could face legal issues. 

As for selling platforms, most do allow AI-generated illustrations, but usually under certain conditions. Adobe Stock requires a clear label identifying content as ‘AI-generated’. Etsy also allows it, as long as there’s human involvement and proper labelling. Shutterstock does not accept AI-generated content from contributors, although it has its own AI image generator. 

So, if you’re planning to sell AI-generated artwork, make sure you carefully read the terms of both the AI tool and the marketplace platform to avoid legal issues that could affect your earnings. 

Selling illustrations is possible: diversify your channels and build your portfolio 

There are more ways than ever to sell your illustrations and make real income from your art. From print-on-demand products to digital downloads and image licensing, the opportunities are out there for any illustrator ready to take their work to the next level. That said, as with any creative and independent venture, it takes consistency, patience, and dedication. 

You can use multiple platforms at the same time to diversify your revenue streams and reach different audiences. Still, beyond third-party tools, having your own online portfolio is the most professional way to showcase your work, free from commissions or platform restrictions. It also lets you connect directly with clients and build long-term relationships for future commissions or exclusive collaborations. 

With our Website Builder, creating your illustration portfolio website is fast, simple, and affordable. You can display your best pieces, sell physical or digital products with no external fees, and manage everything in one place. Start today!