• Cash In on Art

• Find Out What's Hot in Art

• Get Top Dollar for Your Art

• Ship Your Art

• Build Your Reputation

Cash In on Art

Cash In on Art

Many Art lovers successfully use eBay not only as a place to buy new and unique Art pieces, but as a way to fund their interest. Whether you are saving up for a new wall hanging for your home or you are in need of supplies to finish your latest masterpiece, selling on eBay is the perfect way to earn extra money. Swap out your unused pieces—that bronze sculpture sitting in the back room or that abstract canvas in the attic—and buy yourself a new treasure.

What's It Worth?

Already have an item in mind? Visit Art Seller Central to find out the average selling price on eBay. You can also search completed listings to see how others are selling similar items.

Find Out What's Hot in Art

Find Out What's Hot in Art

There are over 50 categories of Art on eBay, from limited-edition lithographs to marble sculptures. The following provides just a small sampling of the types of Art that you could sell on eBay. To get a real-time view of what’s in demand, what buyers are searching for, and what items are selling the most, visit Art Seller Central.

• Posters: Posters ranging from original vintage-style posters to contemporary posters are in demand. There are thousands of posters sold on eBay from every genre—from classic  stars such as Marilyn Monroe and James Dean remain popular—as do world renowned art pieces such as Jack Vettriano’s Singing Butler and quirkier posters such as Picasso’s The Dog.

• Prints: Prints are made with several different types of media, including metal, wood, stone, and silkscreen, each with a distinct look and feel. Artists often produce a run of many prints from the original media, unlike with paintings. These runs are either limited to a certain number or are open-ended. Antique prints are particularly attractive to collectors. They're often illustrations from old and rare books on topics such as architecture, botany, birds, history, and geography. Etching is a method of printing where an image is created using a sharp object, often a diamond stylus on a metal surface coated with wax. The surface is then treated with acid, which eats away at the metal areas that have been exposed. Giclees are high-quality reproductions that hold up well over time, created using a digital image of a piece of artwork, which is then printed onto canvas or watercolor paper using a high-resolution inkjet printer that produces very rich color. Found in both original and reproduced art, heliogravures use photographic transfer to create etchings on a metal surface. Lithographs and serigraphs are two of the more traditional methods of printing and reproduction, involving treating a stone or metal surface, often with a grease pencil, so that ink will adhere only to certain parts of the surface. The image is then printed onto wet paper from the stone. Serigraphy, one of the first means of printing and reproduction, involves using stencils to force a special paint through a fine fabric screen, originally silk but now usually polyester or nylon, to create an image.

• Paintings and drawings: Antique, modern, and contemporary paintings are popular in various media such as oil, watercolor, acrylic. Art Deco, abstract art, gouache paintings, Impressionist, pop art, Realism, and Surrealism are some of the many popular genres of paintings on eBay. Drawings in various media such as pencil, pen/ink, charcoal, and pastel are popular. Buyers are looking for all types of paintings and drawings of all styles—from the classic look of  antique drawings to very  modern and contemporary works.

• Photographic images: Photographs can range from classic black-and-white to stunning color and from antique or vintage to contemporary. Reproductions of work from infamous photographers such as Ansel Adams remain popular over the years. Historical photographs of years past are timeless and ever popular. Thousands of contemporary photographs of all subjects—nature and animals, cities and building, people and inanimate objects, and more—have been sold on eBay.

• Digital art: Art created by the world’s most talented graphic and digital artists is popular on eBay in many forms—digital files, canvas prints, posters, and more. You can even sell services such as web templates or logo creation.

• Self-representing artists: If you are a selling your own artwork, you can list under the self-representing artists category, no matter what media you use. Many art buyers like to know they are bidding on one-of-a-kind pieces not available anywhere else. This category includes work of various media and forms.     

• Folk art: Buyers are looking for works of art by artists who seek to express their cultural and ethnic roots. Pieces vary from paintings and sculptures, to carved boxes and hand-made quilts.

• Mixed media: Art that uses various media, including some that may not appear in more “traditional” artwork, such as crushed glass or paper are in demand. In this category you can sell imaginative pieces as collages or multi-dimensional paintings.

• Sculpture and carvings: Sculptures of all shapes and sizes are in demand, whether they are perfect for the garden, sit exquisitely on a fireplace mantle, or are small enough to use as a tabletop centerpiece. Sculptures can be made from  bronze, stone, marble, wood, and other materials.

Get Top Dollar for Your Art

Get Top Dollar for Your Art

Once you know what you’re going to sell, it’s time to think about how to attract Art buyers. Here are the top tips from eBay’s most successful sellers.

Help Buyers Find Your Items with Keywords

Keywords are a great way to attract buyers to your listing, especially when used correctly in your Listing Title. Listing titles are used by eBay’s search engine to pull up listings during a search. Use your 55 characters wisely, and try to anticipate what buyers will be searching for. Find out what is being searched right now with our list of Top Art Searches. Be sure to include common search terms like “art” and “painting,” when appropriate. State important characteristics of your item—artist’s name and title, medium, subject, style or country of origin, and production period. Of course, you should only include keywords that are relevant to the item you are selling. You can also search current and completed eBay listings to see what other sellers include in their titles.

In your Listing Description, make sure to include both basic information and details about your item. A good description is concise, well organized, and easy to read. Create bold section headlines, bulleted lists, and be sure to restate the information featured in your title plus more details such as dimensions, framed or unframed, condition, estimated value, artist history, and any other interesting features. You can also insert photos or links to videos that highlight the unique attributes of your item. Think about your listing from the buyer's perspective. The more information you provide, the more likely the buyer will be to place a bid on your item.

Here are some abbreviations commonly used by other sellers to describe their Art. Make sure you only use a term when you are sure it applies to your item.

• COA: Certificate of Authenticity. If your item was produced in limited quantity, it may have been sold with a Certificate of Authenticity stating important information such as artist, production number, production limit, and date. Some COAs can be granted by third-party graders and authenticators.

• O/C: Oil on Canvas. Any work that uses oil on a canvas as the primary medium.

Do Your Research

If you don’t know much about your piece of Art, a little research can help you understand what you are selling. Look on your piece for any signatures, markings, or titles. Try to learn about the artist—style, time period, country of origin, other notable work. Find out if your piece is an original or if it is a reproduction.

When selling a rare piece of art that is potentially worth a lot, it may be worthwhile to get your item appraised and authenticated. Authenticating your Art not only provides you with a good estimate on expected sale price, but it also builds buyer confidence. Third-party graders and authenticators are qualified, experienced professionals who pledge to provide unbiased opinions.

Note:Opinions expressed by evaluators are theirs alone. eBay does not examine items listed on its site and does not have the expertise to evaluate items. eBay cannot guarantee the findings of any evaluator — authentication and grading are difficult, often subjective matters where experts themselves occasionally disagree. Each of the companies listed on the Opinions, Authentication, and Grading page that provides authentication and/or grading services is an independent company, and eBay is not responsible in any way for any action, inaction, opinion or service in connection with these companies. You should review the credentials of each company and use your own judgment before using any company's services.

Showcase Your Art with Great Photos

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words! Photos are the closest you can get to putting your Art in the hands of potential buyers. Here are some tips on how to best represent your item:

• Choose the Right Background: Use a contrasting, solid backdrop. By placing your Art on a solid black or white backdrop, you draw a buyer’s immediate attention onto the item. This is easily achieved by hanging a bed sheet or placing poster board behind and under the item. Use a plain, colored fabric backdrop to make your item stand out. Most importantly, avoid background clutter that can distract buyers or confuse them regarding what you are selling.

• Cover All Angles: Take pictures from multiple angles and distances, zooming in on important details. Make sure you highlight any signatures, branding, dates, frame or painting style with a close-up picture. Zoom in to show textures. Include photos of any flaws, tears, or marks to give buyers a clear idea of what they are bidding on—this helps build a buyer’s confidence in your item.

• Use Proper Lighting: Natural light tends to give the best representation of color—however direct sunlight can have the nasty effect of unwanted shadows. Find an area that receives indirect sunlight. Try taking your item out on a sunny day and photograph it in a shady area. If you can't seem to find an area like this, or would prefer to use indoor lighting, try surrounding your item with desk, overhead, or floor lamps. Above all, avoid using your camera's flash which causes distortion and shadows, especially if your piece is behind glass.

• Always Add Gallery: Including a gallery photo with your listing is extremely important for success. You can attract attention to your item with a photo next to your listings in search results. In addition, when a buyer uses “Gallery View” to look at search results, your listing will be shown. Your gallery picture should be a very clear, uncluttered view of your item. Since it is the only photo visible on search pages, make sure it provides a good representation of your item.

Maximize Profits with Low Priced, No Reserve Auctions

Auctions are a great way to create excitement around Art pieces, which in turn develops into a bidding frenzy among buyers—which could result in a higher selling price for you. The keys to a successful art auction are to get your first bid and encourage bidders to continue bidding.

• Low Starting Price: Getting that first bid is critical, as other buyers are generally more likely to jump in if they see there are already bids on an item. To do this, many sellers prefer to set an opening bid below what the item is actually worth. Try beginning with a low starting price—such as 99 cents—to jumpstart bidding activity.

• No Reserve: Be careful when setting a reserve price. Buyers will often lose interest in an item if they place a bid and find it doesn't meet the reserve. Because they do not know the reserve price, they may assume the seller is simply asking too much for the item. To prevent this from happening, try listing your item with "No Reserve." Items sold with "No Reserve" typically attract more buyer interest, as buyers know that they will actually win the item if they are the high bidder.

• Accept PayPal: Buyers want to know that they are protected when making a purchase on eBay. By accepting PayPal payments, you can build buyer confidence and protect yourself. PayPal instantly transfers payments to a bank account of your choice and notifies you when a payment has been received. Best of all, PayPal offers free online tools to make managing your payments easier. You can even purchase shipping labels and track your shipments.

Ship Your Art

Ship Your Art

Specifying reasonable shipping and handling costs in your listing is essential for smart selling—and it improves your search ranking when buyers sort by total cost. Never leave a buyer wondering how much shipping will cost.

Calculate Shipping Costs

Often times, shipping costs will vary by distance. To make sure your shipping charges reflect this, incorporate a shipping calculator into your listing. With the shipping calculator, eBay can automatically calculate the shipping cost for your buyers based on the size and weight of your item and the buyer’s location. You can also program the calculator to add in the cost of packaging materials and your handling fee.

Select a Service Option

If you are selling larger items such as large framed prints or sculptures, freight shipping might be the easiest and cheapest way to get your Art piece to your buyer. Freight shipping is usually reserved for items over 150 pounds, and is available in the United States and Canada. Find out more at the Freight Resource Center.

To protect both you and your buyer against loss or damage during shipping, consider purchasing shipping insurance for your package—especially for higher priced items. Shipping insurance is available through most postal carriers, and can be purchased while you pay for postage. You can factor in the cost of shipping insurance into your shipping cost—but make sure you state in your description that you are doing so. Buyers want to know that they are paying extra for shipping for a good reason. Shipping insurance generally covers both lost and damaged items.

Package Your Art Securely

After your Art sells, you are ready to ship it off to its new home. Make sure you package your item safely and securely. Use bubble wrap, foam, or other packaging materials to make sure your item is not damaged during its move. If you take an item apart to ship it, include a list of pieces and instructions on how to put it back together. Here are a few steps to think about:

• Wrap It: Individually wrap items and provide lots of cushioning (bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, corrugated dividers, or crumpled paper). Be careful if you choose to reuse newspaper—the ink can rub off and damage your items. If you use foam peanuts, be aware that they may shift in transit, so overfill your box. Remove any glass and package it separately wrapped in glass-skin or plastic to avoid scratches. If any pieces could be damaged by water, make sure you wrap them with a layer of sealed plastic. Place any flat prints, posters, or photographs that cannot be bent in between two large pieces of cardboard and tape tightly. Protect edges of frames by cutting foam or cardboard to fit. Remember, wrap and pack firmly—you don’t want to hear any rattling!

• Box It: If the item is on the smaller side, you can order free USPS Priority Mail boxes right on eBay—the United States Postal Service will even deliver them right to your door for free! For larger items, use a corrugated box with rigid sides, intact flaps, and plenty of room for cushioning on all sides. Don't exceed the maximum gross weight of the box (usually printed on bottom flap).

• Seal It: Use strong tape designed for shipping, rather than masking tape, cellophane tape, string or paper over-wrap. Once you’ve sealed up your package, you can pay for shipping and print shipping labels right from your PayPal account. You can even request a pickup from USPS or UPS, saving you a trip to the Post Office or UPS location.

Build Your Reputation

Build Your Reputation

Communication is the key to a successful transaction. Make sure you’re available before, during, and after the sale. Answer any questions about your item promptly. Include a thank you note in your package—it’s a great way to surprise and delight your buyer and encourage them to leave you positive feedback.

Always Leave Feedback

Feedback is extremely important for all eBay users. Consistent positive feedback lets buyers know that you manage transactions well and that you care about your reputation. One way to ensure good feedback is to communicate well, represent your item truthfully in your listing, and be polite. Also remember your buyer’s feedback score is as important to them as yours is to you—so be courteous, thoughtful, and truthful when leaving feedback.

Express Yourself

Be more than just a username to your buyers. Introduce yourself through your About Me page and MyWorld. Add pictures, keep track of your favorite buyers, and tell the community about your interests and collections. Show your expertise by writing Reviews & Guides. Connect with other Art traders and artists on the Art & Artists Discussion Board. Remember, be yourself—and have fun!

Sell for a Cause

Support your favorite cause and enhance buyer trust and loyalty at the same time. eBay Giving Works listings tend to sell at higher final prices, because buyers are more willing to purchase, and often pay more for, items that benefit a nonprofit. Get more exposure and receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donations!