Not every artist who paints wants a business. Plenty sell a handful of pieces a year to cover materials, make a bit of extra income, or simply because someone asked to buy a piece they loved. For that artist, the "best website to sell art on" question has a different answer than it does for someone building a full-time career.
What a hobbyist actually needs
Low admin, above everything else. A full e-commerce platform with inventory management, shipping rules, and a dashboard built for someone selling dozens of pieces a month is overkill for someone selling four pieces a year. The ideal setup is a storefront that stays live quietly between sales and needs almost nothing from the artist when nothing is happening.
Why commission still matters even at low volume
A 40% commission sounds like a rounding error on one sale. Across a handful of pieces a year it's still real money - and a flat monthly fee can end up costing a hobbyist less overall than a percentage-based marketplace, depending on price points and how many pieces actually sell.
Payment going straight to the artist, with nothing to manage
Solene Haus connects directly to an artist's own Stripe account, so a sale pays the artist immediately with no intermediary holding funds or requiring a payout request. For a hobbyist, that means no admin between making a sale and the money actually arriving.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best website for a hobbyist to sell art online occasionally?
One with minimal ongoing admin - no inventory system, no separate e-commerce setup, just a storefront that stays live between sales with payment connected directly to the artist's own account.
Is it worth setting up a website to sell art if I only sell a few pieces a year?
Yes, if the setup is low-effort and the ongoing cost is low. A flat monthly membership with no commission and no inventory management requires far less work than running a full e-commerce store for occasional sales.
Do hobbyist artists need to register a business to sell art online?
That depends on individual circumstances and is worth checking with the ATO, but the platform itself shouldn't add extra admin - a hobbyist should be able to list and sell occasional pieces without running complex store software.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best website for a hobbyist to sell art online occasionally?
One with minimal ongoing admin - no inventory system to manage, no separate e-commerce setup, just a storefront that stays live between sales and connects payment directly to the artist's own account. Solene Haus is built for exactly this at $29 AUD a month.
Is it worth setting up a website to sell art if I only sell a few pieces a year?
Yes, if the setup is low-effort and the ongoing cost is low. A flat monthly membership with no commission and no inventory management is far less work than running a full e-commerce store for a handful of yearly sales.
Do hobbyist artists need to register a business to sell art online?
That depends on individual circumstances and is worth checking with the ATO, but the platform itself shouldn't add extra admin on top - a hobbyist should be able to list and sell occasional pieces without running complex store software.
Solene Haus
The art world you deserved.
Zero commission. The Grid image protection. Collector relationships that belong to you.
Join Solene Haus