Handmade

Selling your paintings, drawings and art prints

Sell original paintings and drawings, and printed copies of your art, online, at markets and through cafes and galleries.

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

Artists with a body of work and a style people recognise, happy to share it online.

In South Africa: Strong in metros and tourist towns; online elsewhere.

What you need

  • A phone is enough to start
  • Works on everyday data
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 4 hours a week · age 18+
  • Graphic design (competent or better)

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.

What people charge

R790 to R1 090 per print

Published SA prices: limited-edition prints A4 R790, A3 R1,090 (Hilde Alet Malan). Printing costs A4 R155 and A3 R395 (Studio22), so the model takes R275 a print for printing. It assumes 5 paid hours for each print sold, since selling art takes time. Thin data: one artist's price list. These are example figures: change them once you know your own.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R300 to R5 000
Every month
Art materials, printing, framing, packaging.
Payment fees
Cash, EFT, Yoco, marketplace fees.
Margin
Good on prints once printing costs are covered.

How it is paid: Originals, prints and commissions. Our viability score for it: 48 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Choose 10 of your best pieces and photograph them in daylight
    • Order one test print and check colour
    • Success signal: a sold print or a paid commission

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • Photograph or scan your best work
    • Price originals, prints and commissions with your worksheet
    • Post your work with prices on Instagram and WhatsApp

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Take commissions with a deposit
    • Book one market or approach one cafe

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Release a small limited print run
    • Collect emails or WhatsApp numbers of buyers

Building a following takes time; commissions can come sooner. First income usually takes 14 to 150 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

Selling your paintings, drawings and art prints: from your first sale to steady buyers

23 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Home decorators, gift buyers, tourists, offices.

Original, local art for walls.

Is there demand?

SA artists publish print prices: limited-edition A4 R790 and A3 R1,090 (Hilde Alet Malan). Fine-art printing costs about R155 for A4 and R395 for A3 (Studio22).

InstagramMarketsCafes and galleriesCommissions (pets, portraits)

Getting customers

Instagram and markets; commissions from people who know your work.

Word of mouth and referralsDirect messagesListing on online marketplaces (Takealot, Bob Shop, Etsy, Teacha!)Partnerships with other businessesResponding to enquiries

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Underpricing originals
  • Printing too many copies before you know demand: print to order
  • Others copying your images: watermark online photos

Competition: High; style and consistency decide.

Room to grow: Prints and commissions grow it.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • You own the copyright in your work; do not copy others' characters or logos.
  • Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start selling your paintings, drawings and art prints in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R300 to R5 000. Recurring costs: Art materials, printing, framing, packaging.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 60 days, and between 14 and 150 days. Building a following takes time; commissions can come sooner.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.

What about tax and legal rules?

You own the copyright in your work; do not copy others' characters or logos. Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).

Sources (4)

Free tools for this

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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy