From Sketch to Sale: How I Sold My First Piece on Reddit

Bull rider 2020 by Merc McDowell

Selling original art online can feel a lot trying to get a stuck calf’s head out of a hay ring (that really happened) there’s effort, frustration, and a whole lot of guessing which direction to go. Over the years, I’ve tried sharing my work across different platforms, from Instagram and TikTok to Reddit. And while some places offer more engagement than others I just wanted people to see and appreciate something I put so much time and love into. I had an Etsy and a Redbubble before as a way to make sales but in the end those were not the right fit for my style or clientele. However, every once in a while I would get a comment or DM with an offer on a piece.

The first piece I ever sold on Reddit wasn’t the biggest piece I’ve done, but it was one I loved. It was only a 9x12 inch watercolor but was the first bull rider I had ever painted. I fell in love with the movement of the painting. I can still feel how proud I was of the piece.

I shared it in a Western art themed subreddit. It was a smaller, niche group compared to the bigger art communities, but one that seemed like a better fit for my subject matter. There is nothing wrong with posting in larger art communities but I wanted a very targeted audience.

I tend to get a decent response with a few comments and a few messages per post. Nothing like the response I get from posting photos in a western lifestyle subreddit but it was still encouraging. Some folks said they loved my work. A couple asked if I sold prints or originals. But here’s what I quickly learned: most people lose interest the second they find out a sale has to happen through direct message. No checkout page ensuring I wasn’t a scam just me and them figuring it out in chat. For a lot of people, that’s understandably a dealbreaker.

But one person didn’t hesitate about this bull rider. They messaged me directly, told me how much they loved the piece, and asked if it was for sale. I gave them the price, we sorted shipping details, and the payment came through without a hitch. Just like that, the bull rider had a new home and I had my first Reddit sale.

I don’t post art on Reddit much anymore. In the broader art subs, I worry my work would get buried. In the Western lifestyle groups, I’ve had better engagement but I share photography there, not paintings though I should change that. That said, I don’t regret posting my art there. That one sale taught me something important: the right buyer can show up anywhere. But you have to make it easy for them to say yes.

If anything, the experience reminded me why having a website matters. People need a clear way to support artists especially when they’re serious about buying. A solid storefront takes the friction out of the sale and makes it feel less like bartering in the DMs and more like investing in something meaningful as art is an investment.

So no, I haven’t sold dozens of pieces through Reddit. But I did sell one that mattered. And sometimes, especially in the early days, that’s all it takes to remind you that your work belongs in the world.

If you see me on Reddit say howdy,

MERC