Still doesn't seem like this project is particularly well planned-out.
Are you perhaps talking about one of the sites that sells independent AND larger-company games side by side? Because I think you'll find that the $40+ games are not made by one or two people in a bedroom. (Speaking as someone who does make and sell games in a bedroom, so it's not like I'm knocking that. )He set the price and linked me to a sight where other indie visual novels were being sold, most ranging upwards of $40 and have sold several copies.
It's not reassuring to anyone who might get involved if you don't appear to know anything at all about the existing industry. Nor if your definition of success is "selling several copies".
(Also, have you set some money aside to pay for a proofreader? While it is absolutely possible to tell an entertaining story and still have problems with things like here/hear and sight/site, it is something that you need to clean up before trying to sell the finished product.)
Don't despair - it is possible to get sprite artwork done on a tight budget. It may not be the best spriting ever but you can do it. However, you need to pay up front and you need to lay out exactly what you need done. If you have a basically complete script at this point, you should be able to do that. Write down every piece of art you need. Cut corners if you have to. Figure out a reasonable minimum of art in order to make the game playable - it is possible to upgrade it later.
Then get the money together to pay an artist at a set per-piece rate. After all, if you're sure it will quickly make the money back after launch, you should be able to advance a little. A lot of indie developers fund their first game out of their own credit cards.
Even if the rate is not very good, you will have a MUCH better time finding artists on art sites if you can list out what you want and pay them for it as the work is done.