So, while Ambadas’ abstracts will soon be printed in a sketchbook, the deep red and black of Sujata Bajaj’s canvas have inspired a satin scarf, while Velu Viswanadhan’s and Jogen Chowdhury’s creations are printed on posters. If Atul Dodiya’s kitschy canvases can be mailed as postcards, Illoosh Ahluwalia’s collection Soni Kudi is available on mugs and clocks.

“A product centred on an artist’s creation is also artwork. It acts as a souvenir and a collectible for those who can’t afford to buy the original,” says Parul Vadehra, director of Delhi’s Vadehra Art Gallery which recently brought out cards with Paramjit Singh’s paintings (a set of 25 cards and envelopes is priced at Rs 1,000), and published a set of eight posters of Jogen Chowdhury for Rs 2,500. The gallery is now planning to open an art store in the Capital next month. “It will have our previous memorabilia on sale. We are also looking at a new range, including products like paperweights,” says Vadehra.

Ashish Anand, director of Delhi Art Gallery, also brings out art objects. While Jai Zharotia’s works were printed in a diary, Laxman Pai’s came out in a set of six coasters. “These objects are a means to popularise art. The cost is minimal, between Rs 200 and 300,” says Anand, who has the Ambadas’ sketchbook lined up with an exhibition next month.

With the originals priced astronomically, reproductions are also popular in the art mart. Chawla Art Gallery rolled out a portfolio of works by four artists – F N Souza, Satish Gupta, B Prabha and Sanjay Bhattacharya – a couple of months ago. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Dhoomimal Gallery published a limited-edition portfolio. Priced at Rs 6,000, it had prints of 10 artists, including Anjolie Ela Menon, Jamini Roy and J Swaminathan.

For Rohit Gandhi, owner of Palette Art Gallery, being a fashion designer was an advantage while designing a scarf based on Sujata Bajaj’s oil on canvas. “The vibrant colours in her creations were perfect for a scarf,” he says.