Fine Art America Review | Pros and cons
What is Fine Art America?
Fine Art America is the world's largest online art marketplace and print-on-demand (POD) website in the world. It is a platform that seasoned professionals and budding artists alike find community and sales on. There is a wide variety of mediums on Fine Art America. There are you looking for a hippo and flamingo bath towel? Look no further. Or how about an Iphone Case with a monkey in a suit on it? You’re covered.
There are 4,976 Tote Bags, 19,385,855 t-shirts, and 18,855,815 Coffee mugs available to browse through. Variety is the spice of life right? So whats the issue? Well the issue simply is that with all that variety, there is a distinct lack of “Fine Art”.
Is Fine Art America legit?
Fine art America is a legitimate website, and not a scam. It was founded in 2006 and now hosts hundreds of thousands of artists from photographers, to illustrators alike who rely on Fine Art America to make a living. For the prospective art buyer, It can be a decent spot to pick up cheap home decor on formats like Canvas, or Metal for those who do not prioritize high-quality materials, experience, or a artist / client relationship.
Is it worth it though? Lets talk about that next.
Is Fine Art America really “Fine Art”?
While art is subjective, this is an easy question to answer. No. What happens when you open a marketplace for artists to upload their work to millions of people with very little standards? Saturation. As many fine artists can tell you, one of the most discouraging aspects of trying to sell your art in a larger marketplace is seeing those who put very little effort into their work succeeding the most. These days, you can just ask AI to generate you an image and you can churn through sales on a platform like Fine Art America. The real artist who takes time and meticulous thought into their work tends to suffer as a result. While Fine Art America may brand itself as “Fine Art” ask yourself, is a Monkey wearing a suit on an Iphone case for $25 “Fine Art”?
What is Fine Art?
As stated previously, fine art is subjective. The Dictionary definition of “Fine Art” is: “Creative art, especially visual art whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content.” Did that help? No, not really. Ultimately, fine art is something that should require a high degree of skill and technical ability. What makes it “fine” after all? If every Tom, Dick, and Harry could make “Fine Art”, it would- by necessity, cease to be “Fine.” While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there is some objectivity to the realm of Fine Art, and unfortunately- for the aspiring artist, Fine Art America will have you drowning in common, unsophisticated, and lazy products designed to simply sell high volume with no appreciation for the artform.
What is Fine Art Photography?
Fine art photography takes the principles of Fine Art, and applies it to the photographic realm. What separates a Fine Art Photographer from your Aunt Gertrude who just got a point-and-shoot for her 76th birthday? Well it primarily comes down to skill and technical abilities (Not to talk down on your Aunt Gertrude, of course).
Photography has been around for nearly 200 years at the writing of this article. It was not truly realized to be an artform until World-renowned individuals like Ansel Adams came onto the scene in the 60’s, bringing a revolution to the artform and solidifying photography as a legitimate art form.
These days however, everyone has access to a camera on their phone. Because of this, the fine art form of photography is at risk of oversaturation, and Fine Art America Is a contributing factor to this.
Simply put, Fine Art Photography is a unique artform that uses technical methods like composition, settings, and forecasting to create pieces of art that are not only objectively beautiful, but also timeless. The timeless quality is what sets them apart. Can your artwork be appreciated in 200 years?
From my camera to a final print, every step of the way is controlled by me. I forecast and plan the shot, I dial in my settings, I edit the photos, and I coordinate with the printer. The customer is always in direct communication, and I know what Is going on every step of the way. This provides an intrinsic value to my art that cannot be replicated on a mass marketplace like Fine Art America.
Can you make money on Fine Art America?
Well- its complicated. Have I made money in the past on Fine Art America? Sure. Looking back, do I think it was the best representation of my artwork? Not at all. All of the artwork on Fine Art America is simply given to them for free. You upload your art, and the buyer can decide how they want it printed. In some ways, that can boost your sales channels, but it also means you- as the artist, now have very little say in the quality and representation of your work. On top of that, your payout cuts are very little, and you have little say on how the whole transaction goes with a potential client.
So can you make money? Sure. Can you make a living? Maybe. If you are marketing something that is so widely accessible like a coffee mug that says “Dad Joke Loading…” you can make a killing. That's because there is no art involved in a product like that, and hence, no subjectivity to the beauty of it.
How do I sell my art as an artist?
The age old question, “how do I sell my art?”. Well firstly, If pour your heart and soul into your craft, and truly value it, do not put it on a mass marketplace like Fine Art America. Your stunning work will be drowned out by the noise of mass-produced junk that is easy to consume.
Here are some practical steps you can take to start selling your art:
Start a website: This is VITAL for getting your name out there.
Prioritize SEO: Google needs to know to recommend you when people make searches for artwork. Find Keywords, build backlinks, create content, and drive your name higher in the rankings.
Sell at marketplaces: Art shows are a great way to get your name out there, build a clientbase, build an email list, make money, and have fun! This does have a rather high barrier to entry though, booths and tents are expensive.
Grow a brand on Social Media: Even though most of your clients won't be the social media type, social media is a great way to build a brand and connect with fellow artists. there's always more to learn!
Sell in local cafes and galleries: This one is simple. Reach out to local cafes, coffee shops, and galleries to pitch your work to them. Be confident in the value your art provides.
Is Fine Art America Worth it?
While I hope this article provided some insight into my perspective, ultimately the decision is up to you. Unfortunately, many artists do their art as a hobby or a side hustle. They simply don't have the time to pour into Website design, SEO, Client sales, and all debacles that come with starting a business. If that is you, a mass marketplace might be a good start to build some revenue, and save up before you dive into the art world.
If you are looking to purchase Fine art, stay away from Fine Art America. Look for independent and well established artists like myself who provide real, intrinsic value to our customers and will be with you every step of the way. From planning our shot, to getting it delivered to your door. Customer service will always be prioritized. That is something that you wont find on Fine Art America.
Reviews of Fine Art america
There are plenty of reviews of Fine Art America on many third-party websites like Trust Pilot. I highly recommend you pour over those reviews before you consider buying or selling on Fine Art America. These reviews can be illuminating on the issues artists and clients alike have faced. The majority of negative reviews you will see is a seeming lack of communication between the artist and the customer. This is where purchasing from Independent artists can be a huge benefit.
Pros and Cons of buying prints from Fine Art America
Ultimately, you have to weigh your priorities as a consumer and a artist. Do you value customer relationships? Maybe stick to purchasing from independent artists. Are you just looking for something cheap and easy? Or are you a busy artists who just wants to sell on the side? Maybe look into Fine Art Photography and its alternatives more seriously.
Pros:
Affordable prices
wide range of printing options from canvas, to metal, to towels, etc.
Cons:
Photos are usually of lower quality, since Fine Art America limits file size uploads
The artist will likely struggle to be discovered in the vast see of consumer goods on Fine Art America
The vast majority of photographers are not on Fine Art America
Customers will likely have to search through thousands of results to find a specific artist / print they are looking for
little customer - artist relationship building opportunities
Benefit of purchasing from Darin Deveau Photography
Unlike many POD stores like Fine Art America, I offer a limited, highly curated release of photos that are made in limited runs. Not mass-produced consumer gunk like what is all too often on Fine Art America
High Quality artwork that lasts
Unlike mass-produced “artwork”, all of my prints are made on the highest quality of materials with the highest standards of post-processing to ensure every file, and every print is a masterwork. I offer prints on the highly-sought-after LumaChrome Acrylic from Nevada Art Printers in Las Vegas, ChromaLuxe Aluminum and more. All of these mediums have a remarkable color fidelity and quality guarantee you wont find on Fine Art America.
Unique and original pieces
all of the photographs you see on this page were taken by me, Darin Deveau. All of them. This means that as a client, you are receiving a photograph from a professional photographer who can provide real value through high quality artwork that has been hand crafted and curated from the moment of conception. All of my pieces are my own unique work, and I take great pride in each print.
Direct client relationship with the artist
As an independent artist, customer service is my #1 priority (aside from taking photos, of course). I take deep care to ensure every one of my clients and collectors have strong, open communication with my on any and all topics that they need assistance on. Whether it be determining what prints would be best for their spaces, determining what mediums meet their needs best, and ensuring that all limited-edition prints are signed and numbered by me personally.
A secure purchasing process
My purchasing process is designed to be as easy and seamless for a client as possible. You can pay with a debit card, credit card, paypal, apple pay, google pay, the list goes on. Furthermore, all of my purchases are through a 100% secured check-out process that is safe, and encrypted. Ensuring that your information will NEVER be shared / hacked / leaked.
A secure shipping and handling process
All of my photos are guaranteed to arrive safe and undamaged. In the event a rare instance occurs where there is damage to a print, a full refund / reshipment will be offered to the client at NO additional cost to them. Larger, and / or prints framed in Roma Moulding are shipped in a wooden crate, ensuring safety, and security in transit.
