Should I put all my artwork on merchandise, or be selective about what I offer?

Be selective and curate what you put on merchandise. Not every piece of art translates well to mugs or other products, and you don’t want to cheapen your brand. Choose pieces you believe are the best fit for merchandise specifically. Then, communicate this to your audience by explaining that you ‘curate’ what you sell—that you’ve thoughtfully selected which originals work best as prints and which pieces are ideal for merchandise. This increases perceived value. You can always tell interested buyers, ‘If you’d like a piece that isn’t currently available as a print, reach out and I’ll see what I can do,’ which makes them feel special.

---

Asked by an artist deciding which work to put on merchandise · Answered by Juan · Office Hours · 2026-05-28