How To: Start a Digital Art Business
Starting a digital art business is a fantastic opportunity for creative individuals who want to earn a living doing what they love. Digital art is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to advancements in technology that have made it easier to create high-quality, professional-looking art. In this article, we will discuss how to start a digital art business, including the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the most important things to do to ensure your success.
Structure of this article:
Advantages of starting a digital art business
Things you can sell as a digital art business
A step-by-step guide to help you get started
Disadvantages of starting a digital art business
The most important thing
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Advantages of starting a digital art business
There are a variety of advantages to running a digital art business, including:
Flexibility - One of the biggest advantages of starting a digital art business is the flexibility it offers. You can work from anywhere, and you can set your own hours. This is ideal for individuals who want to work on their own terms.
Low overhead costs - Starting a digital art business does not require a lot of capital. Unlike traditional art businesses, which require expensive materials and studio space, a digital art business only requires a computer and software.
Global reach - With the internet, your art can reach a global audience. This opens up new opportunities for sales and exposure, regardless of where you are located.
Diverse revenue streams - A digital art business can generate revenue through a variety of channels, including selling prints, licensing, commissions, and digital downloads.
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Things you can sell as a digital art business
There are a variety of things you can sell as a digital art business, including:
Prints: You can sell high-quality prints of your artwork on print-on-demand websites like Society6, Redbubble, or Fine Art America. These websites handle the printing, shipping, and customer service for you, allowing you to focus on creating new art.
Original artwork: You can sell the original digital files or physical prints of your artwork directly through your website or online marketplaces like Etsy. Make sure to price your work appropriately based on the time and effort it takes to create.
Commissions: You can offer custom digital art commissions to clients, creating personalized artwork based on their preferences and specifications. You can charge a flat fee or hourly rate for your time and effort.
Licensing: You can license your artwork to companies for use in advertising, product design, or other applications. Licensing agreements can be an excellent source of passive income, as you receive royalties each time your artwork is used.
Digital downloads: You can sell digital downloads of your artwork on platforms like Etsy or Gumroad. These can include high-resolution versions of your artwork, as well as digital brushes, textures, and other tools for other artists to use in their own work.
Merchandise: You can create merchandise featuring your artwork, such as t-shirts, phone cases, or stickers, and sell them on print-on-demand websites or through your own website. This can be an excellent way to reach a wider audience and generate additional revenue streams.
Courses and tutorials: If you have expertise in a particular area of digital art, you can create and sell courses or tutorials on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare. This can be an excellent way to share your knowledge and skills with others while generating income.
Remember, the key to success in selling digital art is to find a niche that you are passionate about, develop a unique style, and market your work effectively. By offering a variety of products and services, you can attract a diverse range of customers and build a sustainable business.
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A Step-By-Step Guide to Help You Get Started
Starting a digital art business online can be an exciting and rewarding venture. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Develop your skills and style
Before starting your digital art business, it's essential to develop your skills and style. Practice creating digital art every day, experiment with different tools and techniques, and take online courses or workshops to improve your skills.
Developing a unique style is also important, as it helps you stand out in a crowded market. Spend time experimenting with different techniques and styles until you find one that feels authentic and reflects your personality and interests.
Step 2: Set up your workspace
Creating digital art requires a computer and specialized software, so it's essential to have a workspace that meets your needs. Invest in a powerful computer, a graphics tablet, and industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop or Procreate. Nevertheless: it is entirely possible to start off you business with less sophisticated tools and software, so don’t let a tight budget prevent you from taking the first step. High quality and efficient performance become important once your business has grown to a substantial size.
Make sure your workspace is comfortable and well-lit. A quiet, distraction-free environment can help you focus and be more productive.
Step 3: Create a portfolio website
A portfolio website is an essential tool for showcasing your work and attracting potential clients. Use a website builder like Squarespace or Wix to create a professional-looking website that showcases your best work.
Make sure your website is easy to navigate, with clear and concise descriptions of your work and services. Include a contact page with your email address and social media links so potential clients can get in touch with you.
Step 4: Market your work
Marketing is essential for building a client base and generating revenue. Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter can be useful for promoting your work and reaching a wider audience.
Create a social media strategy that includes posting regularly, engaging with your followers, and using hashtags to reach a larger audience. You can also consider paid advertising on social media platforms to reach a targeted audience.
(Step 5: Protect your work)
Protecting your work is essential to prevent unauthorized use or theft. This includes registering your copyright and using digital watermarking or secure file storage.
Make sure to include copyright notices on your website and social media platforms, and consider using a service like DMCA.com to monitor and enforce your copyright.
However, this may not be the most important thing to do when you’re starting out. You can worry about this later, once your business has reached a substantial size.
Step 6: Sell your art
To sell digital art and products, you won’t need a physical location. There are numerous ways to channel your sales. Here is a list of three of the most popular platforms to sell digital art, along with their advantages, disadvantages, and what kind of digital art they are best suited for:
Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/)
Advantages: Etsy is one of the most popular online marketplaces for many artists, and has a large and engaged community of buyers. They offer easy-to-use tools for setting up your own store, including the ability to create custom listings and track your sales and revenue.
Disadvantages: Etsy charges fees for listing and selling items, as well as processing payments. Competition can also be stiff, as there are many other artists selling similar products on the platform.
Best suited for: Etsy is well-suited for digital art that is intended for personal use, such as printable art or digital downloads of custom illustrations or designs. Lifestyle and organization templates are also very famous on the platform.
Society6 (https://society6.com/)
Advantages: Society6 is a print-on-demand website that handles the printing, shipping, and customer service for you, allowing you to focus on your craft. They offer a wide variety of products to choose from, including prints, tapestries, and home decor items that you can have your designs printed onto.
Disadvantages: Society6 takes a percentage of each sale, and artists have limited control over pricing and product options.
Best suited for: Society6 is best suited for artists who want to sell prints and other products featuring their artwork without having to handle the production and shipping themselves.
Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/)
Advantages: Redbubble is similar to Society6 in that it is a print-on-demand website that handles production, shipping, and customer service for you. They also offer a wide range of products to choose from, including clothing, stickers, and phone cases.
Disadvantages: Redbubble takes a percentage of each sale, and artists have limited control over pricing and product options.
Best suited for: Redbubble is best suited for artists who want to sell a wide range of products featuring their artwork, from clothing to home decor items.
Each platform has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the one that best fits your goals and the type of digital art you create. Some artists may find success by selling on multiple platforms to reach a larger audience.
In addition to these online marketplaces, it's also worth considering selling digital art through your own website or social media platforms. This can give you more control over the sales process and allow you to build a more personal relationship with your customers.
Make sure to price your art appropriately based on the time and effort it takes to create, as well as the value it provides to the buyer.
Step 7: Network and collaborate
Networking and collaborating with other artists and professionals can help you gain exposure and opportunities. Attend industry events, join online communities, and reach out to other artists for potential collaborations or partnerships.
Collaborations can help you reach a wider audience and gain new skills and techniques. They can also lead to new business opportunities and revenue streams.
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Disadvantages of starting a digital art business
As with everything, there are disadvantages to running a digital art business, too, that you should keep in mind. Here are three:
High competition - Digital art is a popular and growing industry, which means that there is a lot of competition. It can be challenging to stand out from the crowd and gain recognition.
Intellectual property concerns - Digital art is easily copied and shared, which can lead to copyright and intellectual property concerns. It is important to protect your work through legal means and secure digital file storage. Also, be sure not to incorporate any work into your own art that may be copyrighted!
Technical challenges - Digital art requires technical skills and knowledge of software and hardware. It can be time-consuming and frustrating to learn and keep up with the latest technology.
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The Most Important Thing
Developing a unique style in digital art is essential if you want to stand out from the crowd and attract a loyal following. A unique style not only sets you apart from other artists but also helps to establish your brand and artistic identity.
Creating a unique style takes time, effort, and experimentation. It involves exploring different mediums, techniques, and subject matters to find what resonates with you. You should also take the time to study other artists' work and techniques to gain inspiration and insights into different styles and approaches.
When developing your style, it's important to let your personality, interests, and experiences shine through. These personal elements can help to give your artwork a distinct voice and create an emotional connection with your audience.
One way to develop your style is to start by focusing on a specific theme or subject matter. For example, you may choose to focus on nature, animals, or pop culture. As you develop your skills and techniques, you can start to experiment with different mediums, such as digital painting, vector graphics, or 3D modeling.
Another important aspect of developing a unique style is to be consistent in your approach. This means developing a recognizable visual language that is consistent across your artwork. This could be through the use of color palettes, line work, or other stylistic elements that are unique to your work.
Developing a unique style in digital art takes time and effort, but it is essential if you want to stand out in the crowded digital art market.
Conclusion
In order to succeed in the digital art industry, it is essential to produce high quality work that has a unique appeal to your target audience. By consistently following the detailed steps, artists can establish a thriving digital art business. The most important thing is always: create and stick to your unique style.
