How can I turn my original artwork into multiple revenue streams?

Don’t view your originals as single-sale opportunities. After creating an original piece, think about how to extend its reach: remove backgrounds to create designs for t-shirts, add text to make greeting cards, offer it as prints in various sizes, put it on mugs and tote bags, and other merchandise. This approach is especially valuable for time-consuming originals that command higher prices—not everyone can afford a $300-$3,500 original, but they might buy a $20 print or $25 t-shirt. At in-person events like concerts or festivals, people aren’t looking to carry home expensive wall art, but they’ll happily buy smaller items. Each original can generate ongoing revenue through multiple product variations, and this also serves as affordable customer acquisition—getting people into your ecosystem at lower price points.

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Asked by an artist with time-consuming original work · Answered by Karen Payton (sharing strategy); Patrick Shanahan (affirming approach) · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-08-29