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I Tried Selling AI Art Online — Here’s What Actually Happened

written by; Gurmail Rakhra, Rakhra Blogs

Posted by: Rakhra Blogs | moneyearnrakhra.blogspot.com

Introduction: Can You Really Make Money Selling AI Art?

Let’s be honest—AI art is everywhere. From dreamy portraits to surreal landscapes, AI-generated images are flooding platforms like Instagram, Etsy, and Redbubble. Tempted by the buzz, I decided to give it a go myself. With no formal art background and just a laptop, I started selling AI art online to see if it could become a real income stream.

The results? Surprisingly insightful. Whether you're curious about using AI art generators like Midjourney or DALL·E, or you’re exploring side hustles in 2025, this post breaks down what actually happened when I tried selling AI art online—the wins, the mistakes, and the lessons I wish I knew earlier.

https://moneyearnrakhra.blogspot.com/2025/06/I Tried Selling AI Art Online Heres What Actually Happened.html

Step 1: Choosing the Right AI Art Generator

To start selling AI art online, I needed quality art—and fast. I tested a few popular tools:

Midjourney: Best for artistic, moody, detailed illustrations. My top pick.
DALL·E 3 (OpenAI): Great for abstract, clean visuals and very beginner-friendly.
Leonardo.ai: Super customisable with more control over prompts.

I stuck with Midjourney for its painterly aesthetic that people seem to love on platforms like Etsy and Instagram. Prompting took a little practice, but I eventually got the hang of it by searching trending prompts and tweaking them to fit my niche.

🎯 Tip: Don’t just generate random art. Focus on a theme—like fantasy landscapes, futuristic cities, or botanical prints—that you can build a brand around.

Step 2: Finding a Market for AI Art

Before uploading anything, I researched where AI art actually sells. Here’s what I discovered:

Etsy: High-quality, printable wall art does well. Buyers want art for home décor.
Redbubble: Lower margins but great for stickers, phone cases, and apparel.
Creative Fabrica: Good for selling AI art as clip art or digital assets.
Instagram + Gumroad combo: Works well if you build an audience first.

I chose Etsy and Gumroad to test my AI art side hustle. Etsy offered organic traffic, and Gumroad gave me full control over pricing and delivery.

Step 3: Creating a Collection of Sellable Prints

Instead of selling one piece at a time, I built curated bundles like:

"10 Zen Landscape Prints"
"AI Watercolour Flowers Set"
"Space Fantasy Art Pack"

These were all generated using consistent prompts in Midjourney, ensuring a cohesive look.

✅ Pro Tip: Make sure your art is print-ready (300 DPI, correct dimensions) and mock it up using Canva or Smartmockups. Visual presentation makes or breaks your listing.

I added descriptions like:

“This downloadable wall art pack features 10 unique AI-generated zen landscapes, perfect for your home, office, or meditation space.”

This gave each bundle a clear use case and improved my chances of being found through search.

Step 4: Pricing, Licensing, and the Ethics Question

AI art pricing is tricky. Here’s what I learned:

On Etsy: Digital download bundles sell for $3.99 to $15.99
On Gumroad: I offered a Pay What You Want model with a $5 minimum

The key is value perception. My bundles had 10+ images, so $10 felt fair.

As for licensing—Midjourney allows commercial use with a paid subscription. I made sure to check usage rights before listing anything for sale.

And the ethics? It’s a valid concern. I always noted in my product listings that the art was AI-generated and edited by me for quality. Transparency helps you build trust.

Step 5: Promotion Without Paid Ads

I didn’t want to spend a dime on marketing—so I leaned into organic strategies:

Pinterest: I created pin designs with Canva and linked them to my Gumroad store.
Instagram Reels: Behind-the-scenes clips of prompts and final artwork got solid engagement.
Reddit: I contributed to design and side hustle subreddits, offering tips (not spammy promotions).
Medium & LinkedIn: I wrote case studies about AI art creation with links to my shop.

And of course, I published a breakdown on Rakhra Blogs to reach other creators like you.

💬 Bonus Tip: Adding an automated share button for platforms like X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook makes it easier for your audience to promote your listings.

What Actually Happened: The Results After 30 Days

So, how much did I make?

Total Revenue: $147.50
Listings Created: 6 bundles
Marketing Cost: $0
Top Platform: Etsy
Top Product: Watercolour Floral Pack ($9.99 per download)

Not life-changing—but definitely promising for something that ran passively after setup. I spent around 10 hours creating and promoting everything, so the hourly rate wasn’t bad.

More importantly, I now had a repeatable system to grow from.

Lessons I Learned from Selling AI Art Online

Quality beats quantity – 3 beautiful bundles sold better than 10 rushed ones.
Niches matter – Nature, space, and minimalism themes performed best.
Presentation is everything – Mockups and clean Etsy listings make a big difference.
Keep improving prompts – The better your prompt game, the better your product.
Passive doesn't mean automatic – It takes upfront effort, but the results are worth it.

Conclusion: Is Selling AI Art Online Worth It?

Absolutely — if you treat it like a real creative business, not just a side experiment. AI art selling online in 2025 is still early, and there’s plenty of space for creators with a thoughtful approach.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, student, or someone just curious about AI tools, this is a low-cost way to dip your toes into online income.

👉 Ready to try it? Start with a theme you love. Make 5 images. List them. Promote gently. Rinse and repeat.

And if you’re ready to share your journey or need help crafting your first bundle, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s Connect!

💡 Read more digital income tips at Rakhra Blogs
📢 Share this story on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Medium
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Tried selling AI art online? I did it for 30 days—see what worked, what flopped, and how to start your own AI art shop in 2025.