Grow Your Email List & Find Your Ideal Customers

June 11, 2013

Grow Your Email List

Why is growing your email list so important?

When someone joins your email list, it is a sign of trust. These people are your ideal clients/customers. They are showing interest in you and your products. Let’s face it, people won’t necessarily visit your blog every day, and may not see your posts on facebook and twitter throughout the day either, but they will check their email several times throughout the day. It is the perfect way to make sure your content is seen.

Studies have also shown that through regular contact you can develop a relationship with your visitors. In fact, it usually takes around 6 contacts before a visitor will begin to consider your offers.

By sending a monthly newsletter with useful information, offers and some free gifts to your list, they will begin to see YOU as an expert. This builds trust and greatly increases your chances of them buying a product or service from you.

I recommend a professional-looking monthly newsletter that includes all announcements reguarding what’s new on your blog and in your business. The content needs to be full of great information in order for your clients/customers to look forward to reading your newsletter every month. Do you have a new video to watch, new products to see and new articles to read? Include inspirational quotes and stories. Use photos to help make your newsletter more personal so they get to know you.

Sending emails is an inexpensive way to stay connected to your ideal clients/customers. On top of the monthly newsletter, you may have an announcement to send out reguarding a sale or important article they need to read or maybe to inform them of a show you are doing where they can come and see you.

Be careful not to send too many emails each month or you will run the risk of being a nuisance and they will stop reading your emails and possibly unsubscribe all together.

How do I acquire email addresses for email marketing?

Simply ask. When a customer is purchasing from you at your retail location or at a show, ask them to join your email list
Have "join my monthly newsletter" printed on your business card with your blog address
When at retail shows or trade shows, have a clipboard where people can sign up
Ask customers to refer you to their friends and family
Give away something free on your blog in order to collect emails addresses, this is called an "opt-in"
In your monthly newsletter, include a "forward to a friend" link
In your email signature, include a link to your newsletter opt-in form on your blog
Include an opt-in form on your facebook fan page
Collect business cards when at meetings, shows, etc and ask permission to add them to your list

How do I create opt-ins & a newsletter?

I use AWeber for my email marketing. They offer everything you need to do monthly newsletters and a host of other benefits. Here’s a list of reasons I prefer using AWeber.

Unlimited lists in the one account – some providers charge per list. I have my blog list of customers/clients & also a list of retail stores that purchase my patterns.
Unlimited emails – some services charge per email that you send. I can send as many as I want each month to as many lists as I want.
Autoresponders – put together a sequence of emails that you want to send readers so that when they sign up for a mini course they get them sent out in an order and timing that you choose. For example, I could put together a 6 week free mini-course on the basics of licensing that would get sent out to readers once a week over 6 weeks. It’s a great way to connect people into your course and add value for readers.
Deliverability – your emails won’t bounce back or be labeled as spam meaning more people will get your emails.
Text and HTML Emails – I like to send HTML emails with photos, artwork, etc. AWeber offers many templates to choose from in order to make your newsletter more interesting. For those readers who can’t get HTML emails there is the option to send a text version too.
Opt-in or Sign-up Forms – AWeber makes it easy to create these forms and integrate into your blog. You can have many different opt-in forms in order to track how you collected your email addresses. For instance, I have "Newsletter", "June Give Away", Free Original Painting" so I know how my potential customers signed up.
Analytics – AWeber has many ways to track the activity of your subscribers use of your newsletter. Not only can you track which links in your newsletter get clicked (very very handy) it allows you to
- split test different versions of your newsletter to see which works best
- to see how different web forms on your blog perform
- to track what time of day readers open emails and click links
- to send emails only to certain subscribers (based upon what they’ve clicked previously)
- to track where on your blog readers are going after they click on a link
- and the list, goes on and on
Blog Newsletters – You can turn your RSS feed into a newsletter. It allows you to send these updates not only daily but weekly, monthly etc and to have more control over how they look.
Customer Service – They will help you transfer your previous lists to their system. It can be a bit of a process because they have safeguards in place to stop Spammers from using their system. They have a live customer support instant messaging service which operates most hours which is very helpful.
Integration – I integrated my Paypal account and Facebook fan page with my AWeber account. Now when someone purchases something from my blog, their email is automatically added to my AWeber list. My Facebook fan page now has a form for people to sign up for my newsletter.
Free Trial – There are many more features that I’ve not even discovered or tested yet, but you can test them for yourself. AWeber offers a free month long trial so you take your time and make sure this is the path for you.

Growing your email list is key to growing your business! Create an opt-in that people not only want but they can’t live without. This is the first step to massive lead generation and big list building.

Always remember, you are building a community through social media, your blog and your newsletter. Don’t use these platforms to just sell products. You want to engage them with interesting and useful content so they look forward to receiving your emails. Once they get to know you and trust you, they’re more likely to purchase something from you.

So get to building your list today!

Was this article helpful to you? What email marketing platform do you use and why? Thanks for participating!

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Simple Storage Solutions for Artists

June 6, 2013

What does one do with a mountain of drawings that accumulate over years?

I have a simple storage solution that will help.

For the past 15 years of licensing my art, I have created hundreds of drawings. My sketchbooks hold all my thumbnail sketches and doodles which I also save, date and store in a cupboard…. but once a thumbnail sketch comes to life as a full-size drawing, there is another method of storage that can be critical to your business.

It may help you if I explain my creative process. I first create thumbnails, little 3×4 rough sketches. I then decide how large the original painting needs to be which is largely determined by who I am painting it for, a calendar, greeting card, etc. I then enlarge the thumbnail sketch to the size I want using my photocopier. Then I take graph paper and trace the image using my light box. This is where I fine tune the drawing by adding more detail, squaring up the sides, adding a border, etc. Once I am satisfied with the drawing, I trace it onto watercolor paper and I’m ready to paint!

In my earlier article "How to Organize Your Artwork" I offered tips for storage of your original artwork but storing your drawings should be done differently.

I use large office envelopes from Uline and label them according to subject matter, for example, Christmas, Christmas Country Bears, Snowmen, Baby, Angels, Northwoods, Floral, Country Bears Calendar, etc. Then file them alphabetically by subject in clear totes with lids. (just make sure you order envelopes that will fit inside the totes you have)

This storage solution has been very helpful throughout my career. Why, you ask? Let’s say, for example, a licensee loves your snowmen and asks you to paint a sampler-style painting using several snowmen. Go to your "Snowmen" envelope and lay out all your drawings on a table and create a sampler using existing art. Maybe you created a successful Floral/Gardening fabric line and you get a request from a licensee to mock up a table top program featuring plates, mugs, bowls and various serving pieces. Pull the drawings from your "Floral/Gardening" envelope to give you inspiration. Especially when the art has already proven to be successful.

Here’s another great tip. After you have accumulated many drawings, you can re-purpose and revitalize some of the older images. For instance, my gift bag licensee needed new art quickly to show one of his clients in an upcoming meeting. Since I was under a time constraint, I went to my storage of drawings and pulled out my "Christmas" envelope. I decided to re-purpose "Top Hat", which was created for my Country Bears calendar. I switched out the bears for snowmen, changed the color palette, added new wording and, voila, I had a new image for my gift bag licensee! Just be sure you make enough changes to the original piece that it takes on an entirely new look.

country bears, kogut, christmas, snowman

"Top Hat" created for Country Bears Wall calendar

winter, snowmen, kogut

"Happiness" was re-purposed from "Top Hat" for gift bags

You don’t have to re-invent the wheel every time you paint. However, I wouldn’t do this so often that all your art starts looking all too familiar. It is best to wait until you have a substantial library of drawings and pull something you created two or three years ago. Which reminds me of another important tip, write the date on all your drawings! By doing this, you will know how long ago you created an image and if it is time to refresh, revitalize and repurpose it.

Set aside time every day to sketch….this is the most important rule in the licensing industry. Fresh ideas are inspired and will come through sketching, however, from time to time there’s certainly nothing wrong with giving past work new life. Work smarter, not harder is a great model for anyone in business!

Give me your feedback, please. Let me know if this tip was helpful to you. Comment below!

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Create Your Own PDF Catalog

June 4, 2013

catalog, ebook, create yours, art, presentations, licensing, photography

How to Create a PDF Catalog using Pages

Take a look at the kind of PDF catalog you will learn how to create with my new ebook.

Press Here

Who can benefit from PDF catalogs?

Artists, Craftsmen, Designers and Photographers, that’s who!

Artists can use them to email to multiple potential licensees.
Periodically send PDFs of new art to existing licensees to keep them up-to-date.
Email your catalog to art agencies when searching for representation.
Send them to your collectors to show them your new originals for sale.
Send catalogs as art submissions to multiple galleries.
They are not just for 2-D visual artists; sculptors, furniture designers, jewelry designers, clothing designers, etc will also benefit.
Are you a crafter? Take photos of all of your current crafts for sale and create a catalog to send to all of your customers.
Also for artists and crafters, use these product catalogs as show submissions.
Great for photographers! Need something professional to send to potential customers? Make a catalog of your photos by subject matter; weddings, family, graduation, etc.

Once you are familiar this program, you can use them for other purposes, such as:

Create an annual family "catalog" to share family photos with captions and stories from the year.
Hosting a silent/live auction? Create a catalog of the auction items and email to all potential buyers to entice them to come to the auction.
Private and parochial schools can use them to help promote their school and boost enrollment.
The ideas are endless!

Get yours now for only $5 and get a leg up on the competition!

Press Here for purchasing information.

I need your help! What are you struggling with? What can I help you to accomplish? Comment below and let’s move forward together!

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How to Get Started in Art Licensing

May 30, 2013

How to Get Started in Licensing part 2

If you are planning to self-represent, you may be asking yourself, "how do I go about finding manufacturers and how will I know if they are a good fit? (By the way, if you are planning to work with an art agency, one of their obligations is to connect you with manufacturers that are a good fit so you can focus on creating art)

You can find manufacturers in four different ways.

Licensing Industry Publications, such as, License! Global magazine. They highlight "The top 150 Global Licensors" each year. However, this publication is mostly for the "biggies" of the licensing world, such as, celebrities, sports stars, famous cartoon characters, etc. See part 1 of this article for other publications.
Retail Stores….go to Target, Hobby Lobby, local gift shops and research product. Look at the products featuring licensed art and ask yourself, "would my art be a good fit for this type of product?" Let’s face it, if you can’t visualize it then you can’t expect a manufacturer to visualize it either. Keep a pen & notepad with you and jot down the names of the manufacturers that you want to approach with your art then research them online. Note: If the manufacturer’s name isn’t available on the product because of private labeling, there will be an importer’s number on the product. Look for the RN (plus a five digit number), write it down and then you can research the manufacturer on the internet by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s website and putting in the RN number.
Trade Shows. This is a fantastic way of researching products featuring licensed art. Here is a link to the 2013 Trade Show directory. If there is one near you, make it a priority to attend. You will have to have the proper credentials to enter a trade show so make sure to check the requirements for a buyer’s badge before just showing up.
The internet. As I mentioned in part 1, Surtex. They have a scrolling list of attendees on their home page listing all the manufacturers that attended Surtex looking for art to license. Another excellent place to look is AmericasMart Exhibitor’s Catalogs.

I suggest you pick only a few product categories to focus on in the beginning. Product categories span from gift bags, stationery, gift books, calendars, fabric, to figurines, wall decor, ceramic tabletop and on and on. Don’t overwhelm yourself, pick the categories that best suit your art for starters.

When researching a manufacturer, take a good look at their existing product lines.

First of all, do they license art? Some manufacturers have an art department with in-house artists/designers so they don’t need to license art. The manufacturers that do license art can be spotted because they will have the artist’s name/logo by the product or their website may have the products listed by artist. Here are a couple of examples you might find.

Do they license my style of art? For example, if you create children’s art, you wouldn’t want to spend your time and energy approaching a manufacturer that features mostly floral art. If your style is a good fit, then ask yourself, "is my art a good compliment to their existing lines by offering a new twist on a current theme?" Keep in mind a manufacturer (hopefully) will not license art that is in direct competition with one of their successful existing artists.

Sending presentation packages.

In part 1 of this article, I offered information on how to send presentation packages. This is the most effective way to approach a manufacturer that you are sure is a good fit with your art. This can get expensive if you are sending this kind of package out to every manufacturer you are interested in. A more cost effective and yet still a very viable way to approach a manufacturer is to send them email pdf presentations along with a link to your website or online portfolio. If you do not have a website, you need to make it a priority. It is a really good idea to have a password protected area within your site that displays all of your available images. Manufacturers don’t have time to wander around your site looking for art; make it easy for them. Also, by having it password protected, you won’t be vulnerable to copyright infringers. (I am currently working on an e-book, "How to Build Your Own Website", which will tell you exactly how to create the best website for SEO and how to create password protected pages, so stay tuned) Important: while researching a manufacturer, check to see if they offer guidelines for submitting art. If so, be sure to follow them exactly.

All manufacturers work with digital files. If you create your art using photoshop or another digital program, make sure you save your files in layers. Often times a manufacturer needs to manipulate your art to fit their product specifications and layered files saves a lot of time.

If you create with brush and palette you will need to either have your art scanned or professionally photographed. Have the files saved as rgb .tif files at 300 dpi. Manufacturers need high res files and this is the standard. My files are 25mb to 80mb depending on the size of the original art.

Will they even take the time to look at a new artist’s work?

If you are concerned that manufacturers are only looking for established artists, don’t be. Of course, having a successful track record will work in your favor but it isn’t a requirement. I would say the best way to complete with established artists is to be professional, be prepared and be a sponge when it comes to learning about the industry.

Manufacturers are always looking for new a fresh art whether it is from an established artist or a new artist. Also, they are not only looking at the art, in some cases they are looking for an artist that is willing to work with them in designing products. They want your creative touch and artistic eye when developing a line.

Once you get started, never lose sight of the importance of creating new art.

Most manufacturers introduce new products every six months. As soon as they launch their product lines in January, they immediately turn their focus to products for the summer introduction. They need to know you will have new art to consider. Manufacturers need to see new, fresh, art from the heart throughout the year.

In closing, art licensing can be a lucrative, exciting and fun business, however, it is also very competitive and takes a talented, self-motivated, disciplined artist to make it a successful career. The more art you have in your portfolio when you first start will increase your chances for success and can determine how high you will soar! So get creating!

Cheering you on and wishing you the best!

Do you have any questions about licensing that you would like to see me write an article for? Was this article helpful to you? Post your comments below

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How to Get Started in Licensing

May 27, 2013

How to Get Started in Licensing (part 1)

Once you have decided licensing is right for you, you may be wondering where to start. There are some important steps to take before you begin to pitch your art to either an art agency or manufacturers.

The first thing to consider is whether you want an art licensing agent to represent your art to manufacturers or if you want to self represent and work directly with manufacturers. After you have made that decision, the following steps will help you become ready to present yourself to either an agent or manufacturer.

Learn as much as you can about the art licensing business. Read trade magazines Total Licensing, Art & Design Licensing, and Art Buyer. Join art licensing social media groups and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Visit the Surtex site and read the articles and news. Sign up for there e-newsletter "On the Surface". Surtex is the licensing show for artists, agents and manufacturers.
Create a logo using your name. This is an important part of branding. When someone sees your logo you want them to think of you and your art. Keep it simple and clean. Too much detail won’t translate well when it is printed small on products or tags. Also make sure it’s not too trendy because it needs to transcend time. Also, your logo should reflect the style of art you create. Spend some time online looking at artist’s logos if you are struggling to come up with an idea. Here art a few examples:

Order business cards. Make sure you use your logo when designing your card. I get my cards through Moo. They are more expensive, but you can have an image of your art on one side and all your contact information on the other side. When someone leaves with my card, I know they won’t get back home or the office and think "what did she do?". Below is what my card looks like.

Make a marketing and licensing plan. Lay out a plan (or goals) so you can evaluate your progress year to year. You need to know where you are going in order to get there.

Work on creating your collections. The more you have to offer, the more interest you will attract from manufacturers and the more you will be taken seriously.

Create a blog. Your blog needs to reflect who you are and have your beautiful art as the focus. I have had a couple of sites built for me in the past but the downfall was that I couldn’t make changes and updates myself, I had to ask my site designer. This caused me much frustration (mostly because I am impatient). Also, you want a blog, not a website. A website is static…the homepage doesn’t change. A blog’s home page is where you write articles. This keeps your blog current and relevant. See my TV Episode "Simple SEO Tip For Your Blog" for a better understanding. My current blog was my own creation. I can make changes at any moment and maintaining it is simple. I am in the process of writing a step by step instruction e-book on how to build your own blog for the best SEO possible.

Get your sales presentation in order. When you send out a presentation package to either a manufacturer or agent, you will need a cover letter on your own letterhead (create your letterhead in photoshop or your desktop publishing program and save as a template to make sending letters quick and easy), product mockups (if you are pitching to a company that makes stationery use photoshop to create mock ups of cards, envelopes, letterhead, stickers, and notepads with your art), print outs of your art and your business card.

Get a list together of the top manufacturers or agents you’d like to work with and send out your presentation packages. When sending your art to a manufacturer, find out the name of the licensing manager or art director and address your package to them. Use priority mail or fed ex so you can track it and know it was delivered. Wait a week and do follow-up phone calls.

You never get another chance to make a first impression, so be prepared and be professional but most importantly get started!

Do you have any questions about licensing that you would like to see me write an article about? Was this article helpful to you? Post your comments below

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The Visual Artist and Social Media

May 21, 2013

How Important is Social Media to the Visual Artist?

Extremely Important! Images are king on social media….and for an artist, that’s good news. People tend to read a post with an image over a text-only post because the image grabs their attention. Of course, don’t just throw any image in with your post, make sure it is relevant to what you are saying. If you have something in your own art portfolio that works with your post, definitely use it. If you don’t, try and find one. There are many websites that offer royalty-free images…..photopin is one I like. However, not ALL posts have to have images but I make sure the majority do.

If you use your own artwork, please make sure

your handwritten/painted © is clearly visible
watermark your © over the image using photoshop or a photo editing platform such as befunky or photobucket
another good idea (I am just starting to do this) put your website address at the bottom of the image

Don’t clutter up your art too much with the above…make the watermark very light and put your website address small at the bottom corner of the image. While we want to share our work with the world, we don’t want to become vulnerable and make it easy for someone to use our art without permission.

Using social media platforms, visual artists have new ways to market their work and connect with people all over the world. These sites are fun, easy to use and best of all FREE! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, Google+ are quickly becoming as important to an artist as the art they create.

While social media is a wonderful tool for an artist, it can be time consuming and a bit addictive. What good is connecting with thousands of people if you have no art to show or sell. It is smart to set aside a time of the day to work on your social media and it doesn’t hurt to set a timer as well.

Hootsuite can manage multiple social media networks from one place. It allows you to send a single post to all your social media platforms all at once. You can also schedule multiple posts to be uploaded throughout the entire day. You will find some people will follow you on Twitter, but not Facebook and vice versa, so it’s fine to have the same post on both platforms. Hootsuite is a lifesaver for someone who is active in many social media platforms.

If you plan to just join a couple of social media platforms to get started, I recommend you at least join these:

Facebook (a business or "fan" page)
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram

Facebook

When you start your business facebook page, use your first and last name. Be consistent and do this for all your social media platforms. example, my facebook address is www.facebook.cotm/teresakogut. As an artist, you want your name to be synonymous with your art. You are building a brand. The more people see your name associated with your art the more you become recognizable and they feel connected to you.

Twitter

Twitter can be a powerful tool. For starters, I recommend you link your Business Facebook page to your Twitter account. By linking them together, all your FB posts will also post to your Twitter account. This was the best move I ever made because I was always on FB and would forget to post to Twitter. Now I post once and it appears on both.

Pinterest

I cannot tell you how much I love Pinterest. Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing the things you love. I use to cut out pictures that inspired me from magazine after magazine and file them under categories for future reference. Now I do all that at Pinterest. It is a virtual pinboard. When you first get started you will want to set a timer because you can get "lost" because of your enthusiasm. You can set up a board with your name and pin your artwork there. I recommend pinning your art from your blog or Etsy shop so when people find your art, they can click on the image and it will take them to the source you pinned it from. It’s genius! (remember to put the © watermark on your art first) To get an idea of how to set up boards, check out my Pinterest site here

Instagram

Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures, apply digital filters to them, and share them on a variety of social networking services, such as Facebook or Twitter. A distinctive feature is that it confines photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic or Polaroid images. Download the app to your IPhone or Droid and start sharing!

Why is social media so important? It’s not only is a great way to get your art in front of people but more importantly you will connect with people. Have you ever admired an actor, musician, singer or artist and thought, "I wonder what they are really like behind all the glitz and glam". It is the same idea. People not only love your art but they want to get to know the person behind the art. Social media has changed the way people do business. It’s personal. People want to support the companies and people they connect with. Having said that, it is imperative that you be authentic, be transparent, be natural, be you! People want to know YOU, not who you think they want to know.

IMPORTANT! Don’t sell all the time. People will leave your facebook page faster than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious if all you do is try to sell them something. Let it happen organically. Once they get to know you over a period of time and feel connected to you, it will be more natural for them to want to purchase something from you because they like you and your art. Also, you have earned their trust. Share your inspiration for a painting or tell the story behind a painting and leave it at that. Post a video of you creating a painting or post a picture a day of the process of creating a painting, etc. Every post doesn’t have to be about your art or business either. Share your favorite recipes from time to time. Share photos of your family, pets, vacations etc. These type of posts will open up conversations with people, too, and that is how people get to know you. Besides it’s fun to share in the lives of others. I have met some pretty amazing people through social media and you can too!

Did you find this article helpful? What is your favorite social media platform and why? Comment below

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Is Licensing Right For You?

May 4, 2013

licensing, art, art licensing, licensing art, artwork,

Is Licensing Right For You?

art licensing (ärt li·cens·ing ) – an artist grants permission through a contract (licensing agreement) for a licensee (company or manufacturer) to feature their art on a product(s) in exchange for a royalty or percentage of the sales of that product(s). The artist retains all rights to the art and is simply granting rights to the licensee for a particular product(s) for a specific time period as stated in the agreement.

Let me start by saying, "Don’t quit your day job." What I mean by that is licensing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It is like most careers; you have to put in years of time and effort to reach a high level of success. Also, through the years of building your licensing business, you are also building a brand. You and your art will become recognizable in the industry.

In order to make this point more clear, here is just one example of the amount of time it takes from the art being created to the artist getting paid. I am currently designing the Country Bears calendar……….for the year 2015! Most licensees need art very early – a year in advance is pretty standard. Once I create the art for the calendar (which is due by Aug 2013), Mead has to create samples, sell it to retailers (starting Jan 2014), ship it (July 2014), then I get paid the royalty for the sales of the calendar in Nov 2014. Note: Most licensees pay royalties on a quarterly schedule.

So as you can see, you won’t get paid for your efforts for a year to year and a half. Also when just starting out, you may only have a couple of licensees and unless they are producing large programs for big box stores, it won’t be enough to live on.

And, please, ALWAYS REMEMBER, everyone’s journey is different so don’t compare your success with others.

Here is a list of questions you should ask yourself when considering if licensing is right for you:

Is my style of art licensable?
How do I handle rejection?
Do I want people dictating what I should paint?
Do I need to know photoshop?
Am I disciplined enough to work hard and meet deadlines while working at home?

1. Is my style of art licensable?

Does your portfolio consist of portrait art? abstract art? landscapes? Not to say this style of art won’t license but it is very limiting for licensees. Remember my article on Designing Collections? It is clear that licensees need a central theme with many coordinating pieces. Let me jump in here and say that not EVERYTHING you paint has to be in a huge collection. But within your portfolio, you should have some full blown collections that are "ready to go". Also peppered in your portfolio, among the collections, you can have mini-collections that are only 3-4 main images…….then if a licensee likes what you have done, they may ask for more coordinating images to fill out the collection. Below I am showing you one of my mini collections.

So what would I paint to fill out this collection if a licensee requested me to do so?? I could use photoshop to create a toss of stars on the navy background; I could paint a stripe pattern from one or more of the scarves; I could create a border with all 9 snowmen in a row adding more trees and reindeer and the border around that image could be the green scallop shown on the snowlady’s purse….you get the idea, right?

Your art needs to have wide appeal. For example, the snowmen above…..snowmen are everywhere in the marketplace during Christmas and beyond!

Research! Research! Research! Visit Target, Home Goods, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby; look at gift catalogs….what kind of art do you see? Can you visualize YOUR art on those products? What themes and color palettes are being used for today’s gift and home decor products?

By all means, research, but don’t copycat what you see. Be unique, put a twist on an existing theme, make it your own creation! Research is to inspire and educate you only.

Think of it this way……In licensing, the purpose of your art is to sell products for your licensee, right? For instance, there are a zillion calendars out there and each one has the same layout, months, weeks, days, etc. What makes a person buy a specific calendar over another? People don’t buy a calendar because of the information the calendar contains because they are all the same. They buy a specific calendar because they relate to the images……the art makes them smile, or brings them comfort, or makes them laugh, or reminds them of their childhood, etc….they buy what they connect with.

SO, it’s imperative that as a licensed artist, you understand that the purpose of your art is to sell products. You and the licensee are on the same team. Your design, whether a success or failure is felt by both you and the licensee.

2. How do I handle rejection?

When an artist creates art, it’s personal. It is a part of us made visible. You may finish a painting and be so happy with the results and think to yourself, "this is going to be a hit!" only to have someone pick it apart. They may want it painted in a different color palette, or change the snowman’s knitted hat to a top hat, or move this snowman over here, etc. Of course, it is always your choice whether or not you re-create the art with the changes someone requests. Licensees don’t intend to hurt anyone’s feelings by making suggestions in changing your art, but they think product and sales. You can’t take their comments personal and if you are very sensitive about your art, I would warn you to stay away from licensing.

You see, when you paint on commission or you sell your originals at a gallery or art show, your art only has to speak to one person….the buyer. In licensing, your art needs to speak to the masses.

3. Do I want people dictating what I should paint?

Again, licensees think product and sales. It only makes sense; they are the ones taking all the financial risks of making the product and going to trade shows to sell the product, so they have to think in those terms.

You may be asked to paint something that isn’t in your wheelhouse. Here’s an example, years ago I designed a line of quilting fabric with a Northwoods theme. The licensee asked me to design and paint a toss mosquito pattern to finish off the line. Well, I live in Michigan where there are tons of mosquitoes and they are nothing but an annoyance and I couldn’t imagine making a quilt with mosquito fabric in it. Of course, I could have said, no, but I did it because I try to offer that kind of service to all my licensees. However, I am not suggesting you paint everything someone requests from you especially if it goes against your morals & values or if it could discredit your art and brand.

I can also attest to painting from the heart…..don’t allow yourself to become so busy painting what people request from you that you have no time to create "from the heart". This is where the best art comes from. My most successful paintings have been from this kind of creating. Allow time in your schedule to freely paint whatever YOU want…..it will keep your portfolio fresh and you won’t lose heart. Otherwise, it becomes too much like a J-O-B!

4. Do I need to know Photoshop?

The quick answer is no, but it doesn’t hurt. A licensee may ask you to change the reddish blue sky in the background to a warmer lighter blue….if you can do it using photoshop, you will save yourself hours of your valuable time. Maybe you paint with acrylics so changing the sky color is easy. I have been asked to change the border around a painting on occasion, I can do this quickly using photoshop rather than re-painting. If you don’t know how to use photoshop, you may want to eventually partner with someone who does so they can make changes for you.

I have never taken a photoshop class. I am self-taught. Over the years, I have become pretty good at photoshop….good enough to make the changes to my artwork that I need to. I know I only scratch the surface of what photoshop can do, but it has saved me hours and hours of painstaking work over the years. So I recommend you eventually purchase photoshop and tinker with it now and again until you know it well enough to make changes to you art that look natural.

Here is a link for a free trial of Adobe Photoshop CS6.

5. Am I disciplined enough to work hard and meet deadlines while working at home?

The one statement I’ve heard over and over from friends is "You are so disciplined. How do you focus on work when you could take the day off and enjoy this beautiful weather?" It is true, I am my own boss and I can work or choose not to on any given day. But for one, I LOVE what I do. I love the process of creating art and seeing it come to life in products. I love going to the store and seeing my art sitting on the store shelf. I love to create!

When I started my business, I took it seriously. To this day, I still write down the hours I work every day. It is my full time career. However, it does allows me to be flexible. When the kids where younger, I use to go on all their field trips. I made all their games, etc. I can work around everyone’s schedules and that is a real gift.

Being proactive in this business is a good habit to get into. Keep a schedule of any deadlines you have and finish them early if possible. By staying ahead of the game you can be more flexible when a friend invites you out to lunch, or your child is home sick from school. It will also keep you from getting stressed out because it seems like when it rains, it pours in this business. For instance, I find out early in the year if Mead wants me to paint another Country Bears calender. The art isn’t due until August which gives me approximately 7 months to get the paintings done. I work on the calendar here and there when I don’t have a lot of demand on my time so I am not trying to get 12 paintings done in one month.

As I mentioned above, when it rains, it pours. Most licensees are working on the same time line. Starting in January, they are planning for the following January’s product introductions so you will find at certain times of the year you are extremely busy. Are you willing to work over 40 hours some weeks? Are you willing to work a Saturday if necessary? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to meet your deadlines? This is imperative to your career. Missing a deadline by a week, could possibly sabatoge an entire deal. The licensees are under strict deadlines with their manufacturers which most of the time are overseas. A manufacturer is producing products for several different companies so their production schedules are tight. If you have a reputation for always coming through on time for your licensees, it will serve you well. On the other hand, if you are known for missing deadlines, you will eventually find yourself with no deadlines to worry about, if you know what I mean.

I find being disciplined is easy because I am serious about my career and I believe that’s what it boils down to…. how serious are you about being a full-time artist??

Ponder these questions and be honest with yourself. Licensing isn’t for everyone. If not, read my article about 10 Viable Ways to Sell Art for other ideas. But if the thought of seeing your art on products at your favorite store excites you and fuels your passions then go for it!

What else would you like to know about licensing? Do you think licensing is right for you or are you selling your art through a different outlet? If so, how and why? I would love to hear your comments.

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Designing Collections

April 20, 2013

Why you should be designing collections

What will make my art more desirable to licensees? How can I get the most out of my time spent creating my art? The answer….designing collections. A collection consists of 2-4 main images, 1-2 borders, a repeating stripe, a sampler and 4-6 coordinates. This is a large collection which would be great for a fabric line. You can create smaller collections as well.

Why does designing collections make your art more desirable? Because a potential licensee can visualize an entire line of coordinating products if you have several images to choose from; which will get you closer to a licensing agreement.

collections, designing collections, yankee doodle, fabric line, americana

Yankee Doodle

Pictured above is my "Yankee Doodle" fabric line I created for South Seas Imports many years ago. You can see I have two main images (at the bottom), a border image, small repeating stripe, large repeating stripe, sampler, and five coordinates. Not only is this a complete collection for fabric, but it was also licensed by other companies for gift bags, gift wrap and figurines as shown in the photos below.

licensing, licensed products, yankee doodle, kogut

designing collections, americana, yankee doodle, kogut

For the gift bags, they needed two main images but also used the coordinates for the gussets & bottom of the bag. Looking at the art, you can see many, many ideas for figurines.

This is also true if you paint in other styles and subject matter. Think about a complete collection in order to give the potential licensee options.

As your licensing business grows, you will begin to accumulate a nice collection of coordinates and borders. Keep a file on your computer titled exactly that, "coordinates & borders". You will find that you can pull from past collections in order to fill a request from a licensee that needs additional coordinates or borders. It can also help round out a new collection you are designing, or course, as long as the colors and style match the new collection. You don’t want to overuse past images but there is certainly nothing wrong with bringing life back into some images you designed in previous years.

Now get painting and have fun designing your collections!

Have you ever painted in collections? Does it seem overwhelming? Comment below, I would love to hear from you!

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10 Viable Ways to Sell Art

April 5, 2013

Let’s Explore 10 Viable Ways to Sell Art

You LOVE to create art, right? And in order to continue to create, you need to find ways to sell art, too, so you can pay your bills and equally important, buy more art supplies! Whether you create your art part time for extra money or you are a full time artist that depends on sales to survive, you will need to explore all your options for getting your work in front of people.

I want to share with you 10 viable ways to sell your art. You may try one, two, or eventually all of these options in order to find what works for you.

ann arbor street art fair, art fair, art show, sell your art

1. Show your art at local coffee shops, cafes, spas and restaurants

The best places to ask about displaying your work are small locally-owned coffee shops, cafes, spas and restaurants (and Dr. offices or if you paint animals, maybe veterinary offices). Things you need to consider before meeting with the business owner or manager are

is your art for display only?

if your art is for sale, what will the commission be? (25% is reasonable, but I have heard of 10% up to 40%)

will there be a "meet the artist" opening?

how long will you be able to display your work?

Make sure you have a signed and dated written agreement to the terms before leaving your art with anyone.

Another option you might want to consider is working with a restaurant that is remodeling or hasn’t opened yet. They may be willing to purchase your existing art outright or commission you to paint for them.

2. Rent booth space at art & craft shows in your area

Make it a point to visit each show before you decide if it is the right show for you. Visit with other artist’s that have similar items for sale to find out what other shows they do well at. By visiting the shows you are interested in, you will also get ideas for booth displays. Booth fees can range from $30 to $225 and up depending on the show.

I have met many wonderful artists and crafters over the years. Most people are very friendly and will share information about shows that have been successful for them. Also, you can join yahoo groups and facebook groups for artists where you can meet other artists and share show information.

3. Sell on your own blog

I believe having a blog is a MUST for every artist. My advice is to build your blog yourself so you can update and make changes quickly and easily. I recommend GoDaddy for purchasing your domain name, Hostgator for hosting your site, and download wordpress.org (thesis 1.8.5 theme) to your hostgator account for building your blog. I have made many mistakes over the years doing it the wrong way, so I want to spare you the wasted time and money by telling you this is the way to go. You will have the best SEO and will find it easy to use once you get use to it. If I can build a blog, so can you. I will be offering step by step instructions for building your blog soon. DO NOT create your site using wordpress.com….that is for blogging only, you do not own your content and if you are caught selling on wordpress.com, they will shut you down.

4. Share and connect with people through social media

This is a must as well as having your own website. You need to start a business facebook page where you show your art, share your stories and keep connected. People are not just interested in your art, they want to know more about YOU. So be yourself, be transparent, and be authentic when using social media. DO NOT use social media just to sell art, you will turn people off and they will delete you. They want to connect with you and get to know you.

Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, Pinterest and Intsagram are also good sources for connecting with people. See article "Social Media for Visual Artists".

5. Promote your art through the local art community

Check out your local art scene. Visit local galleries and attend "meet the artist" openings. See if your city has an art council.

Our local community has "Flint Art Walk" the second Friday of every month in the summer where downtown businesses display local artists work. The artist is usually present to meet and greet. This has become very successful with many, many people attending every month.

6. Submit your artwork to juried art fairs & galleries

Art fairs attract many potential buyers. They are usually outdoors so you’d have to have protection from the elements. Again you want to research the art fairs you are interested in. Art fairs are a great way to introduce yourself and your art to the local market and more importantly a great place to sell art. You may even walk away with an award.

Unfortunately, not everyone who applies gets accepted into the show. Also, most of these shows charge an application fee that is non-refundable. The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (pictured above) is a huge art fair in Ann Arbor Michigan and it can take years to get into that show, but once you’re in, you’re in!

Galleries are also very particular about the work they carry, and you can expect the gallery to take 40-60% commission of your sales. Most high end sales are still made through galleries so it is worth trying. I will be writing an article on galleries at a later date.

7. Start accepting commission work

Years ago, I painted commissioned portraits. Whew, that was tough because without knowing the person you are painting, it can be hard to "capture" their personality, however, when you pull it off, there is no greater satisfaction. I once painted a portrait for an elderly man. It was of his deceased wife (I painted her from a younger photo of her). When he saw the finished painting his eyes filled with tears. Where else can you make a connection like that…it was awesome.

Make sure the customer has a clear idea of your style of work. Show them a portfolio so they become familiar with your work, color palette, and style. Once you both understand what each other want, you need to present a contract to protect your rights and theirs. Click here for an example of a contract. You may want to have lawyer look at the contract because each state’s laws may vary.

The downside to commission work is that you are obligated to paint within the guidelines you and the customer agreed to which can limit your creativity. It is a unique challenge and can be very rewarding.

8. Sell your work on an internet gallery or store

This is a fast and easy way to get your work out there. It’s a website built and maintained by someone else so you don’t have to know all the technical stuff. You maintain your page by uploading your art. Most online galleries are free to sign up. Some charge a small fee when you upload an image and some only charge a commission at the time of a sale. Each site will have their own set of rules. The only downfall with this type of selling is that you can get lost in the crowd. There are thousands of people on these sites so make sure when you upload your art, you do your best at putting in tags that people will use to search for your style of art and subject matter.

Some sites will let you create products, such as, t-shirts, mugs, greeting cards, etc. using your artwork. They make it incredibly easy and it is fun to see your art on different products. Zazzle is one site I have created products with and they turn out fantastic. Redbubble and Cafepress are other options.

Etsy is for handmade items only. There is art and crafts on this site. It is easy to use and VERY well known. They charge a .20 listing fee and your listing will be live for 3 months. When the item sells, they also charge a small percentage of the sale.

Artsy Home is a wonderful online gallery and easy to use. They only charge a commission at the time of sale.

Daily Painters online gallery is another great option to sell art.

Ebay is for selling anything and everything. I have not sold my art via Ebay, although I have heard of artists doing well going this route. I recommend selling art on auction and make sure to set the lowest price you would accept.

Amazon is similar to Ebay where anything and everything is for sale. I do not have any experience selling this way but it may be worth a try.

These are sources I am familiar with, however, there are many more if you search online.

9. License your art to individual companies

When you license your art, you enter into a licensing agreement which gives the company (licensee) permission to use your art on their products. Which images they are permitted to use and on what products needs to be clearly defined in the licensing agreement. Read these articles for more information about licensing. "Is Licensing Right for You?" "Self-Represent or Art Agency" and "Self-Represent or Art Agency part 2"

What is great about licensing is that you can have a single image licensed to many companies/manufacturers (for different product categories, of course). You will get paid a royalty on the sales of the products that feature your art. These royalties are paid quarterly and the percentage you get paid will all be stated in the licensing agreement.This is an exciting and lucrative way to make a living as an artist.

10. Sign with a licensing agency

Signing with an agency means the licensing agent handles all the contracts between you and the manufacturers. You send all your art on digital files to your agent and they work to find companies that want to license your art. An agency will typically get paid 50% of the royalties.

Licensing may not be for you, just like selling your prints on Etsy may not be for you. In fact, many of the methods listed above may not suit you and your art. These are, however, very viable ways to get your art noticed and purchased so you can continue to do what you love! Be fearless! Never give up….if one method doesn’t work, move on to the next. You will find your niche!

I hope this article was helpful to you. How do you sell your art? Anything you could add would be great! I look forward to your input, please comment below.

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Five Unhealthy Habits that Crush Your Creative Spirit

March 19, 2013

Have you ever felt the pressure to create for a client, licensee or upcoming show and you find yourself staring at a blank canvas (or a clump of clay, etc) while hearing the tick tock of the clock ringing in your ears? Or are you overcome with worries about failure, copyright infringement, pressures to "measure up" to your last success or do you work and work on a piece but are never quite satisfied with how it looks or maybe you feel tired and unmotivated. These are common concerns for artists and can crush your creative spirit. Let’s take a closer look at these issues and learn ways to overcome them.

Fear

Fear is common in any career but for an artist it is personal. Our work is a part of us. It is an expression of who we are. What if nobody likes my art? What is someone copies my art? What if I do succeed, how will I keep up the pace? What if I run out of ideas? Let’s break down some of these fears.

— What if nobody likes my art?

Surely your art will connect with people, you just have to find them. I believe the talent of an artist is a gift from God, so if you follow your heart and stay true to yourself while creating your art, it will speak to people. Test the waters by opening an Etsy shop. Listing an item costs only .20 each and you pay a small percentage of the sale price when you sell an item. Etsy is a very well known place to find unique handmade goods.

Start a blog where you share what inspires you, share videos of your painting process, etc. Connect with people on a personal level with facebook and twitter.

Keep working on improving your skills. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself into only one style, one subject matter or one medium. Experiment with your art and find your niche and your own style.

— What if someone copies my art?

Don’t be surprised if this happens. The more exposure and popularity you get, the more it is likely to happen. Register your copyrights for all of your art! (more on this later)

I have had my copyrights infringed upon more than once in my career. After sending a cease and desist letter, if they continue, then you need to discern if it is worth your time, emotions, and money to hire an attorney. Here is a good article that can help you decide what to do next.

I don’t let copyright infringement get me down. Do what you have to legally to make them stop but after that, move on. There are thieves around every corner and I refuse to let them win by living in fear. My philosophy is to leave them in the dust by always being 10 steps ahead of them. Create new, new, new, new!

Another way to help you move forward after copyright infringement is to pray for the person that stole your work. They are desperate and not confident enough to create ideas of their own…..and that would be like living in a prison.

— What if I succeed? How do I keep up the pace?

Fear of success…..sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? We all want to succeed so why fear it?

First of all, don’t compare your success to other artists success. You are unique and your journey will be completely different. Sure, some things may parallel but for the most part, your path will be unique and special just like you.

Let’s say your art is chosen by a company for a Christmas tabletop program (ceramic plates, mugs, pitcher, serving tray, platter, salt & pepper, etc) and it was wildly successful. The following year, you send your ideas but the company chooses another artist’s art for the Christmas tabletop program. Don’t let this discourage you and think "it’s over". This scenario is very common in the licensing world. You can always show the new program you created to another potential licensee.

"Keeping up the pace" means always sketching. I sketch almost every day. I am fortunate to have sketchbooks full of ideas. Some never see the light of day but they are always there in case the opportunity arises for such an idea.

Don’t wait for a company or your agent to ask you for new art. You should always be painting and creating. That way, when you are asked for something in particular maybe you have ideas "ready to go" in your sketchbook.

New, new, new….that is the motto in the art world, whether you license your art or do gallery shows. Be unique, be yourself and be creating art all the time. By constantly updating your portfolio, your chances of having another "hit" will increase dramatically.

— What if I run out of ideas?

Otherwise known as creative block. I recently wrote an article 10 Simple Steps in Overcoming Creative Block. When it strikes, try some of my suggestions and if creative block creeps up on you in the future, read it again.

Over Scheduling

in today’s economic market, we tend to say yes to every project that comes our way. We wind up over scheduled and pressured to "perform". Art comes from inspiration and we need time to process ideas. I, too, am guilty of over scheduling my time, however, with experience I have learned to ask myself some important questions before saying yes to a project if I am already busy.

Is the deadline reasonable for the amount of work they are requesting?

Is the subject matter I am being asked to create aligned with my style and techniques….meaning, can I pull it off or do I want to take my art in that direction?

What is the potential return on the time invested in the project?

Is it a company I have worked with before and we have established loyalty and trust?

If you analyze the project and discover that you can’t possibly complete it by the deadline, ask for an extension. If they can’t give you more time, you must be honest with yourself as to whether you can work overtime and weekends to get the job done or if it just isn’t going to work. If you must decline the offer, they will appreciate your honesty. Remember, licensees are in the business of manufacturing and selling products and they have production deadlines that they have to meet. If you are, let’s say, a week past the deadline, you could cause them to miss the production deadline which could cost them thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost sales.

Once you have committed to a project, it is imperative that you meet the deadline. Do whatever it takes. You will build trust with your licensees and they will know they can rely on you which will ultimately bring more work your way.

Perfectionism

Creative people are often perfectionists……which can be debilitating.

First of all, don’t be harder on yourself than you would be on someone else. If you let perfectionism take over, it will show in your art. Your art will become "stiff"…without movement.

Most of the time the imperfections you see can’t be seen by anyone else. Step back, look at your art as a whole, don’t pick apart every little detail.

Sometimes I will be moving through a painting and a "mistake" appears. Something I didn’t intend to happen. That is art! Those little unintentional incidences add interest to my art.

You don’t want your work to become "stiff" or forced. If you find yourself struggling, walk away; distract your mind by answering some emails, making business phone calls, filing some paperwork or start another project/painting. It doesn’t hurt to have 2 or 3 projects going at the same time. Sometimes working on something new will trigger your mind and you’ll find a solution to your previous project.

Poor Diet; Lack of Exercise

Let’s face it, when we eat healthy foods and exercise, we have more energy and feel better. We also increase our productivity and creativity when we clear the cob webs out of our brains by giving it a boost of oxygen through exercise. Everyone’s goal is to someday retire, right? Not only to retire but to be healthy enough to enjoy retirement, right? Well, lack of sleep, eating processed fatty foods, drinking diet or sugary drinks, and never exercising will lead you to an early grave and you’ll miss out on your golden years.

Sleep – There really is no magic number. Everyone is different and you know how much you need to feel rested. I try to get 7-8 hours a night, "try" is the key word here. I know people that feel great on 4-5 hours a night. Listen to your body and make sure you get enough rest. Here is an eye-opening excerpt from The Sleep Foundation:

Sleeping too little can not only inhibit your productivity and ability to remember and consolidate information, but lack of sleep can also lead to serious health consequences and jeopardize your safety and the safety of individuals around you.

For example, short sleep duration is linked with:

Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents

Increase in body mass index – a greater likelihood of obesity due to an increased appetite caused by sleep deprivation

Increased risk of diabetes and heart problems

Increased risk for psychiatric conditions including depression and substance abuse

Decreased ability to pay attention, react to signals or remember new information

Eating Processed Fatty Foods & Drinking Diet or Sugary Drinks – moderation is the key when it comes to "junk food". Try to avoid it altogether and that starts with just not having it in the house or studio.

Keep healthy snacks on hand; fruit and cut up vegetables are great to curb your appetite and you won’t crash from a sugar spike.

Protein snacks, such as, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and peanuts will help you stay full longer.

Drink plenty of water! I know you’ve heard this a million times but do you ever wonder why it hasn’t changed over the years? Because it is true! At least 8 -8oz glasses of water a day. I use a 24 oz water bottle….drink one while I work out in the morning, refill and drink another in the car when I go pick up my son from school, then a large glass of water with dinner. If you keep it simply like that, it is easier to do. Dehydration can be mistaken for hunger and can also cause headaches and leave you feeling sleepy.

Avoid fast food…..plain and simple.

Supplement your diet with vitamins, especially, a multivitamin, C, D, and calcium.

Exercise– It’s not all about losing weight. It’s about being healthy. Exercise keeps your heart, lungs and brain healthy. Add a couple days of weight-bearing exercises to keep your bones strong, too. Exercise clears the mind and gives you energy to tackle the challenges that life brings.

There is no excuse for not exercising at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Find the time of day that works best for you and make a commitment to yourself.

Expense is no excuse either. You don’t need to buy equipment or join a gym. For starters, go for a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day. If you have a DVD player, buy some workout DVDs….my personal favorites are the Beach Body workouts.

If money isn’t an issue, I recommend getting an elliptical machine. Set it in front of a tv and work out while watching your favorite program; before you know it your half hour is up…better yet, keep going for an hour!

My Dad always said, "you’ll find time to do the things you really want to do"….and he is right.