Sell art lesson plans and art teaching resources
Art teachers buy projects that work with real classroom supplies and real class sizes. This guide covers what sells, how to handle artwork images and student work, and how to send your art lesson plans.
Short answer: To sell art lesson plans on TeachLessons, apply with the short form, then email your final files, previews and thumbnails to support@stifo.de. Use only artworks in the public domain or images you made or licensed, and show student work only with permission. You set the price and keep 70% of net revenue.
What art lesson plans do teachers buy?
Many art teachers see hundreds of students a week across several grades, often with one planning period. They look for projects that are tested, scale to a class of thirty and fit a 45- or 50-minute slot.
Step-by-step projects
A finished example, numbered steps with photos or drawings of each stage, a materials list and timing across several sessions.
Artist and movement studies
A short, readable introduction to an artist or movement, looking questions and a related project. Works especially well with public-domain artists.
Sketchbook prompts
A year of drawing prompts, warm-ups and observational tasks. Teachers use them as bell-ringers and early-finisher work.
Elements and principles
Worksheets and posters on line, shape, color theory, value and composition, with practice tasks.
Sub plans
Art lessons that a non-specialist can run with basic supplies and no mess. Always in demand.
Assessment tools
Rubrics, artist statements, self-reflection sheets and critique formats for each grade band.
Can I include famous artworks in art resources I sell?
It depends on the artwork and the photo. Art teaching relies on images, so this is the rights question that matters most in your subject.
- Older artworks. Paintings by artists who died long ago are generally in the public domain as works. Many museums publish high-resolution images of such works with open reuse terms. Check the terms on the museum's site and keep a note of them.
- Modern and living artists. Work by artists who died more recently, or are still alive, is usually protected. Do not put their images in a resource you sell. You can still name the artist, describe their style and link students to a museum page.
- Photos of artworks. A photo you found online may belong to a photographer or a museum with its own terms, even if the painting is old.
- Characters and brands. Drawing tutorials of cartoon characters or brand logos are a trademark and copyright risk. Teach the technique with original subjects instead.
Your own photos of your own example pieces are the safest images of all, and they show buyers what the finished project looks like. TeachLessons does not check resources for third-party rights; you are responsible. Copyright basics for teacher-authors explains public domain in general terms.
Can I show my students' artwork in previews or resources?
Student examples are powerful in art resources, but they need care. Resources must contain no personal data of real students.
- Get permission before you use any student's work, following your school's rules for using student work outside the classroom.
- Remove names, signatures, initials, class codes and anything that identifies the student.
- Crop out faces, school uniforms with logos and backgrounds that show your classroom.
- When unsure, make your own examples at different skill levels. Many art teachers do this anyway, because it shows a realistic range.
What should an art lesson plan include?
A plan that a colleague can teach without contacting you is the goal. From experience, these are the parts buyers notice when they are missing:
| Part | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Materials list per student or per table | Teachers order supplies months ahead and need quantities |
| Substitutions | Not every room has acrylics or a kiln; suggest cheaper alternatives |
| Timing across sessions | Art projects often run over three to six lessons |
| Set-up and clean-up notes | Saves the teacher from discovering problems mid-lesson |
| Safety notes | Sharp tools, hot glue, spray fixatives and allergies |
| Differentiation | Simpler and extended versions for different ages or abilities |
| Rubric | Clear criteria help with grading and parent questions |
Name the age band honestly. "Grades 3-5" or "KS2" tells buyers more than "all ages".
How should I prepare files and previews for art resources?
Art resources are often image-heavy. Compress photos before you build the PDF so the file stays manageable; the limit is 100 MB per resource, and smaller files are easier for teachers to open on school computers. Slide presentations with step photos work well as PPTX or Google Slides, alongside a PDF handout.
Previews and thumbnails as PNG or JPEG are required. Show the finished example, one step page and the materials list. Square thumbnails work best: a single clear photo of your finished piece with the project name and grade band. See how to make previews and thumbnails.
Decorative fonts and clip art need commercial-use licenses too. Using clip art and fonts in resources you sell covers what to check.
How should I price art lesson plans?
Price by how much planning and testing went into it. A project you have taught many times, with step photos, a rubric and substitutions, is worth more than a one-page idea sheet. You set your price in US dollars; our optional suggestion is at least $4.99 for a single resource.
| Art resource | Example price | Payout per sale |
|---|---|---|
| Elements of art worksheet | $3.00 | $2.04 |
| Step-by-step project with rubric | $4.99 | $3.39 |
| Artist study with slides and project | $10.00 | $6.79 |
| Year of sketchbook prompts | $20.00 | $13.58 |
Check other prices with the payout calculator.
How do I send my art resources to TeachLessons?
- Apply with the short application form (about five minutes, no files).
- Complete the documents we email you. The Resource Rights Checklist asks about images, so have your image sources and license notes ready.
- Send one email to support@stifo.de with documents, files, previews and thumbnails, or one shared folder link for large image files.
- Go live once we have set up your product pages and author page. There is no extra approval round, so send final versions only.
If your art projects double as STEAM activities, also read the STEM and STEAM guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use museum images of famous paintings?
Many museums publish images of public-domain works with open reuse terms. Check the terms for each image and keep a note; other images may have restrictions.
Can I sell a lesson about a living artist?
Yes, but do not include images of their work. Describe the style, name the artist and link students to an official source instead.
Can I show student artwork?
Only with permission and with no names, signatures, faces or other personal data of real students.
Can I sell drawing tutorials of cartoon characters?
It is best not to. Characters are usually protected by copyright and trademark. Teach the same technique with original subjects.
Which file format is best for art lessons?
A PDF for handouts and plans, plus a PPTX or Google Slides file for step-by-step slides. Put them in one ZIP.
What do I earn on a $4.99 art project?
You earn $3.39 per sale, paid monthly by the 15th via PayPal in US dollars.
Ready to sell your teaching resources?
Apply with the short form. We email you the seller documents, you send your final files with previews and thumbnails, and we set up your product pages, your author page and landing pages. You keep 70% of net revenue, with no fees and no exclusivity.
Keep reading
General information about the TeachLessons Seller Program, not legal, tax or financial advice. The signed Seller Agreement sets out the binding terms. Questions: support@stifo.de.