Shopify for artists: sell originals, prints and commissions

Original, print or commission

These three sales behave differently, so the store treats them differently. An original is a single item: once sold, it is gone, so quantity is one and the page should switch to 'sold' while still showing the work. A print comes in editions or open runs, with sizes and papers as variants. A commission is a conversation, not a cart item.

On Shopify, originals are products with inventory set to one. Prints use variants for size and frame. Commissions can be a request form that opens an email thread, or a deposit product that the artist invoices after agreeing the brief.

Keep sold works visible. A gallery of sold originals shows prices achieved and demand, and gives visitors a reason to join the mailing list for the next drop.

Store features that suit art

Print on demand is useful for open-edition prints and merchandise, but a limited edition you sign by hand is better fulfilled from your studio. The store can mix both.

Shipping art without losing money

Shipping is where artists lose margin. Glass, frames and large canvases need strong packaging and often insurance. We set up shipping rules by size, flat rates for prints and a quote-on-request option for oversized originals. Tubes for rolled prints and boards for flat ones can each be a rate class.

Returns for original art need a clear policy. Many artists allow returns of prints in good condition and treat originals more carefully. State your terms and check with your lawyer about consumer rights in the countries you sell to. Sales tax or VAT depends on where you and the buyer are located, so get an accountant's input before launch.

Our Shopify launch checklist covers the tax, shipping and policy pages.

Where Shopify may not be the right fit

If you sell a few pieces a year and want a portfolio first, a simple portfolio site with a link to a marketplace or Stripe payment links may cost less. If you rely on marketplace discovery, such as Etsy, keep that shop and add Shopify for returning buyers rather than replacing it. If your site is mainly a portfolio with occasional sales, WordPress with WooCommerce can also work. See Shopify vs WooCommerce.

Shopify's value is when you want a checkout, a customer list and several product types on one system, and you are willing to pay a monthly plan and app fees for that.

How the project runs and price

1. BriefWe review your body of work, typical price points and how you ship.
2. DesignA theme set-up that lets the images lead, with a gallery, shop and about page.
3. BuildProduct structure for originals and prints, shipping, tax, payments and policies.
4. TestA test order for each product type, on phone and desktop.
5. HandoverA walkthrough so you can add a new work in a few minutes.

Projects start at $1,500 and our rate is $30 an hour, as set out on the Shopify development page. A small gallery store sits near the minimum. Custom edition tools, many variants or migrating from another platform add scope. See Shopify store cost.