How to Start an Art Blog Today & Why You Need One

Start an art blog today and showcase your artwork professionally!

If you’re an artist of any kind, making a website to showcase your art is pretty much always a good idea. It’s easier than ever to create an art website, and quite affordable, too.

In this article, I’ll explain why starting an art blog can help you build your career as an artist.

Learn why having your own website is better than relying on social media alone, and how an art blog can make you money in ways you may not have considered.

**This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you for products you purchase via this website. For more information click here.**

To make your art pay the bills, you have to think about ways you can sell your art. And to sell your art, you must market your work far and wide for the world to see. You gotta put yourself out there!

Art isn’t always the easiest thing to sell, but if you are committed, passionate, and inspired to learn how, you will find success in making money selling your art. There are many paths to success as an artist.

In this post, learn how to start an art blog and how a blog can help you market and sell your work. Learn how art blogging can boost your confidence as an artist, and allow you to expand your creative offerings.

Starting an art blog isn’t as hard as you may think, even if you have no technical skills. It will take you some time and effort to create, but a blog or art website is a long-term plan for success.

Put some energy into your art blog now and grow it at your own pace. You will have your art blog for years to come and can continue to add to your blog bit by bit.

7 Reasons to start an art blog

1. Affirm yourself as an artist

It can feel funny to call yourself an artist. There are so many of us and we are all so different.

I’ve never hesitated to identify this way, even at times when I wasn’t creating anything. But I know a lot of people feel unsure about saying I am an artist.

I believe being an artist is more than what you can produce- it’s a feeling from deep inside. I encourage you to go ahead and claim the identity if it feels authentic to you.

That being said, your website is another way to claim your space in the world as an artist. And to affirm your identity.

You can pull together aspects of who you are as a creator- your influences, your actual work, your community, media ties, and more, all in one place.

Your art website is a way to say to yourself and the world “Yes, I’m an artist.” Not only in your bio or “about” page but also in the overall aesthetic.

2. Build your name or brand professionally

In addition to using social media, you can use an art blog to showcase your artwork.

Start an art blog to build your brand, get your name out into the world, and showcase your art portfolio all in one spot.

There are many ways to market your art on your blog. On this website, I include links to my art in certain blog posts.

You may want your site to be 100% about art. Or art plus other topics. When making your blog, you can create different pages or categories for your artwork. Create pages about who you are, what your work is about, where it’s been featured, contact information, and so on. Everything about your art identity can look organized, authentically you, and visually appealing.

The blog portion of your website can contain blog posts about your latest work, your favorite art products, techniques, and anything else you’d like to share.

The bottom line is that a website makes your art and personal image look professional and curated. That point alone is an excellent reason to start an art blog.

3. Sell your artwork and make money

Sell your art direct

You can list your artwork to sell directly from your website using eCommerce plugins (online selling software you incorporate into your website) such as WooCommerce or Send Owl.

You can create blog posts of your art pieces, including multiple photos and maybe some words about your creative process or the materials used.

Then, stir up interest on social media and simultaneously drive traffic to your website with SEO.

Use SEO (search engine optimization) to get your articles and artwork seen on Google. Create Pinterest pins for the Pinterest search engine. Promote on social media such as Instagram.

Affiliate marketing

You can sign up to make a bit of money off the products you recommend with affiliate networks such as Amazon Affiliates or Share-a-Sale. (Blick Art Supplies go through Share-a-Sale.)

Then when someone buys some art supplies through your affiliate link, you’ll receive a small commission.

For example, if you’re sharing your mixed media art piece, why not write a few sentences about how you created it, and what materials you used with affiliate links.

Here is an example of a blog post that utilizes affiliate links: How to Start an Art Journal for Beginners

You can monetize an art website with ads easily. For this, you will need to grow your blog traffic. Do this by learning search engine optimization. The best course on SEO I’ve taken is Stupid Simple SEO.

Once you have 10,000 visits per month you can apply to Ezoic which is the ad company I started with. They are great for bloggers with less traffic.

As your traffic grows, you might want to move on to Mediavine for ads. They are who I use now because I like the look and prestige of their ads even more.

Courses, ebooks, and other ways to expand your offerings

Do you know what your art will look like in 5 years? What new forms it may take? You may want to write an ebook, design an art course to sell, create digital art, put your art on products, or try some other new creative thing. As artists, many of us like to shift mediums because we are easily bored.

You might say Nah, I’ll never create ebooks or products. That sounds boring/hard/not my jam.

Well, you never know. If you would have told me when I was younger that I’d have a website one day, I would have thought you were insane. Back in the day, I thought computers were for nerds. I got a D- in Computers 101. And now here we are, LOL nerd life is great.

Anyway, who knows what kinds of opportunities will exist for art in the future online? HUGE AMAZING ONES, I’d venture to bet! It’s fun to imagine what kinds of unimaginable paths technology will take.

The bottom line? You can sell all kinds of things on your website beyond what you are creating now. The future, both near and far, holds infinite possibilities. Set yourself up for your future now and let the ball get rolling.

4. Use your art blog to grow an email list

An email list is an important component of your website. It’s your lifeline to your supporters. I’d recommend setting one up as soon as you create the basics of your blog.

You can use your email list to communicate with all of your interested buyers and fans. Let them know about sales you may be having, where you’ll be exhibiting, some insider art tips, and more.

You can promote your affiliate products or any products you create. You can nurture a relationship slowly over time. Stay connected to die-hard fans who tell their friends and family about your work.

Creating an email list is super easy. I use Convertkit for my email list since it has many features I like, such as the ability to create multiple opt-in freebies. Or, you can try a free email marketing service such as MailChimp. (It’s free with less than 1,000 subscribers, then you pay.)

The most important thing about an email list and why you need one? It’s yours, and no one can take it from you. Unlike social media algorithms, which change all the time.

5. Social media can be unreliable

You will always have communication with your fans, friends, and customers because of your email list.

When you have news to share, and you send a newsletter, your people will get it in their inboxes. Unlike a post on Facebook or Instagram, which may or may not show to people, depending on algorithm factors.

When you start an art blog via professional web hosting like Bluehost, you own your website. You own all the material on it, your email list, and any ad space you’d like to sell. You don’t own squat on Instagram or Facebook. They own you.

On your website, you control how and what you sell. You won’t get canceled if that’s a concern. And you can sell whatever you please, no matter how bizarre. I’m thinking of those motorcycle jackets made out of Kombucha SCOBY. Art can get pretty weird sometimes.

6. Your art blog can help other artists

When you have your own art blog, you have the power to help other artists and friends gather the courage to put their work out there, too. You set an example, you help blaze a trail, and you demonstrate what’s possible.

So many people are afraid to take risks or to face the unknown. (Like making an art website or putting their art out there in some way.) When you create something new, like your own website, you inspire others to give more of themselves and try new things, too.

And what’s more, you can teach your valuable technical skills and art marketing skills to help others. You can pay it forward.

Understanding how the interwebs work behind the scenes is such a terrific insight. You gain so much valuable knowledge when you create an art website and learn about art marketing online. Blogging is an extremely important skill.

7. Start an art blog for empowerment as an artist

In time, your website subscribers will grow, your technical skills will grow, and your income will grow.

It’s an amazing feeling to know that you are steering your future in a direction where you can make a living with your art, writing, and/or any creativity. It feels so empowering.

That being said, it’s important to remember that as creatives we can’t value ourselves based on what we are producing or earning. We want and need to put out our work, but we must have a healthy mindset in doing so. Embrace your uniqueness as an artist, a human, and someone who’s learning to create and share art online. Go easy, keep a positive growth mindset, and have fun with your art blog.

Yes you can start an art blog

Starting your own website is doable. Blogging is simply a skill you learn, and it becomes easy in no time.

When I started my site, I hadn’t the foggiest idea of what I was doing. Neither do many people who start their own website from scratch. No biggie, don’t let that stop you.

Blogging is a learning curve that serves you well to learn if you want to earn money as an artist or artist/entrepreneur.

How to start an art blog

To set up your art website, you need paid web hosting. (Why free hosting is no good is discussed in a moment.)

Web hosts make websites accessible to the world wide web, (www.)

The web hosting I recommend starting with is Bluehost.

Bluehost is one of the top web hosting services worldwide and costs only $3.95/mo. *Frequently, they lower the price to $2.95, so check it out to see what the current price is.

I like Bluehost because it is reliable, affordable, easy to use, and offers excellent customer service. They have real people who answer the phone when you call and will help with questions.

You can go to Bluehost.com to register your domain name and sign up for your web hosting package. It’s easy to sign up.

First, click “get started.” Then choose “basic plan” (that’s all you need.) From there you will enter your chosen domain name and your billing information. Done. You now have a website. Woohoo!

Going forward, you don’t need a whole lot of tech skills. You will learn along the way. Don’t worry, if I can learn, so can you!

Tips on choosing a name for your art blog

Make sure the name you want is free to use with a simple Google search.

Sometimes website domain names will be parked, meaning someone owns that website name with the intent not to use it, but to sell it. I’d recommend finding a new domain name unless you’re very intent on that name.

As an artist, sometimes you’ll want your domain name to be your name. IE RebeccaBrooks.com. Other times, you may want a different branded name. Either way, make sure the name is memorable, easy to read, and easy to spell.

Tips for choosing a website theme

Your theme is the framework for the design of your blog.

Get a fast-loading theme. That is the most important tip I can give you. I use the Kadence theme and I have tweaked it to make it load faster. Other fast themes include Astra, Neve, and Generate Press to name a few.

A word on free web hosts:

You don’t own your site with a free web host.
You can never sell your site should you ever want to in the future.
The companies that offer free web hosting can put ads on your blog without your permission and profit from those ads without paying any money to you. Because again, you don’t own that site.
They have little to no customer support.
They’ll send you endless “upgrade” notices that cost money because their services are sub-par to begin with.
They can cancel your website whenever they want because they own it, not you.

Free planner for bloggers and entrepreneurs

For a fun way to plan for blogging success, grab the free PDF printable entrepreneurial planner below!

Perfect for any artist who wants to grow their art blog or business.

Final thoughts for artists who want to blog

I hope this article has helped you to understand all of the excellent reasons to start an art blog!

I cannot tell you how much of a relief it is to have creative outlets such as blogging to keep me sane. Blogging, Etsy, journaling, and more are happy places where I can release infinite creative energy.

I know how it feels to be creatively stuck and not engaging in art. It’s the worst!

For sure the frustration of not creating something is worse than the push it takes to get started creating. That’s why I think it’s important it is to push yourself. To expand your creative energy and your perception of what you can do. And blogging is just another one of those things you can do.

Blogging is fun, and satisfying, and you can make money. It’s relatively easy to get started, and you don’t need to be a tech wizard.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

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