Swipe a finger and access art

Staff members pack works for sale on the Ywart mobile-art platform.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Jin says one of the main reasons the online art market is taking off is that it is almost impossible for ordinary Chinese to buy art sold through traditional sources like galleries and auction houses. The convenience of mobile payment and fast delivery make the apps an easy way for millions of mobile users to access art easily.

"In the West, even people living in rented apartments buy art for decoration or just enjoyment. And, now, with people in China getting bigger houses, they are spending money on decorating them," says Jin.

Jin, who leads a team of about 20, says the number of registered users on his app has continued increasing since it was launched last year. Most are from big cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

"We need to be patient. It takes time for people to buy art for home decoration," he adds.

The mobile-art platform works for young artists, who sell prints of their works as it lets them sell their works at affordable prices.

Meanwhile, the sale of limited-edition prints also does well on Ywart, an online art platform that also has an app.