Introduction: Why No One Is Buying Art Commissions Anymore

Hi, I’m Punni. I spent an entire year testing the art commission market online—social media, ads, funnels, you name it. If you're wondering why you can't sell art commissions in 2025, this article will explain everything I’ve learned and give you strategies that might still work in today’s saturated digital art market.

The Harsh Truth About the Art Commission Market in 2025

A year ago, a friend said:

“If you’re broke, just open art commissions.”
It sounded simple. And completely failed.

Let’s break down the old strategy:

• Post "Commissions Open"
  
  

• Share portfolio samples
  
  

• Wait for DMs
  
  

• Wait… and wait… and wait…
  
  

No orders. Not even questions. Just silence (and maybe a few scammers).

Strategy #2: Funnel Website + Ads = Still No Clients?

So you try what marketers suggest:

• Build a fancy funnel website
  
  

• Run Meta (Facebook/Instagram) ads
  
  

• Spend $10/day → Get 1,000–2,000 visitors
  
  

• Result? Zero sales.
  
  

People then blame your funnel, your website, your style, your résumé, your energy… anything. It doesn’t matter—the problem is deeper than that.

90% of Inquiries Are From Scammers

Here’s what you’ll see in your inbox:

• “Can you draw my son and our dog for $400? I sent payment, check spam.” (Scam!)
  
  

• “I’m Danish Lord Heinrich, I want to buy your NFT.” (Also a scam.)
  
  

If you’ve tried selling commissions, you already know. Scammers outnumber real clients.

Why Some Artists Get 200,000 Views (Hint: It’s Not Talent Alone)

You see popular artists with insane reach. You think:

“I just need to go viral.”

But the truth? They pay for visibility.

Organic reach on Instagram, Twitter (X), or TikTok has been dying for 5–8 years. Big artists boost posts. That’s how they get exposure—not because of luck or talent alone.

Commission Groups Are Artist-Echo Chambers

You join Discord servers, Facebook groups, and Reddit threads titled “Commissions Open.” But 95% of the members are other artists. Not buyers. No sales happen there—only mutual frustration and silence.

Why Art Commissions Don’t Sell in 2025: The Real Reasons

1. The Main Audience Has No Money

Teenagers are the primary audience for custom commissions. But:

• They don’t have disposable income
  
  

• They can’t justify spending $100+ on art
  
  

• They prefer AI or templates
  
  

2. AI Replaced Basic Art

For $20/month, people get Midjourney, DALL·E, or similar AI. Why pay $200 when they can type “anime couple hugging under cherry blossom” and get 10 variations instantly?

3. The Market Is Flooded

Too many artists. Too many offers. Too many styles. And no clarity.

Clients are overwhelmed and confused, so they don’t buy.

How to Actually Sell Your Art in 2025

If you want results, here’s what’s working:

✅ 1. Sell Other Products With Your Art

• Use illustrations to promote:
  
  

  • Merch (T-shirts, stickers)
    
    

  • Digital products (books, comics, wallpapers)
    
    

  • Courses (drawing tutorials, how-to videos)
    
    

✅ 2. Focus on Popular Fanart

Draw characters from games, anime, or franchises people already love. It increases engagement and shareability.

✅ 3. Drop Commission Prices (or Don’t Offer Them)

Most commissions sell at $30–50 today. Not sustainable without scale. Offer them only as extras—not your main service.

✅ 4. Offer Free Art Strategically

Gift bloggers or influencers a free piece in exchange for visibility. Not always effective, but better than nothing.

✅ 5. Boost Posts or Go Manual

• Budget $300–$1,000/month for ads to get quality leads.
  
  

• OR send 30–50 personalized messages a day on platforms like Discord, forums, or social media (no spam).
  
  

Final Thoughts: Art Is a Business Now—Act Like It

Every market has a barrier to entry—money, time, or reputation.

If you're not ready to spend money on ads, spend time building relationships. Comment on others’ posts, share valuable content, and show your process.

Don't expect “open commissions” to work anymore. That ship has sailed.

Want More Help?
Download our free guide: "10 Ways to Monetize Your Art Without Commissions."
Or join our Discord for indie artists.