When it comes to custom deck art, one of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to go freehand or use stencils. The answer? It depends on your style, your tools, and who you’re selling to.

🎨 Freehand Designs: Organic, One-of-a-Kind

Freehand painting with acrylic pens or brushes gives your work a raw, artistic vibe. It’s ideal for abstract art, portraits, or expressive pieces where small imperfections add to the charm.

• ✔️ Unique = more valuable to collectors
• ✔️ No prep work needed
• ❌ Harder to scale if you’re producing in volume
• ❌ Higher skill requirement for clean results

📐 Stencils: Clean, Repeatable, Etsy-Friendly

Stencils are perfect for logo-style designs, pop art, or geometric layouts. They’re also beginner-friendly and great for batch production if you want to list similar boards.

• ✔️ Consistent results with less effort
• ✔️ Easy to mix colors without detail mistakes
• ❌ Can look mass-produced if overused
• ❌ Requires prep and cleanup

💡 Best of Both Worlds?

Some of the best-selling decks combine both — a stenciled base with freehand detail on top. You get clean lines *and* that custom feel buyers crave.

Want more ideas for selling painted decks on Etsy, Facebook, or at pop-up markets? Check out the full guide: How to Make Money Selling Painted Skateboards.