If you’re an artist in the Miami area and would like to know more about the business of licensing your art, you may be interested in a workshop that I’ll be presenting in Coconut Grove and on Miami Beach titled: The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists.
Sweet Sprouts -garden art by Debra Cortese
A bit of background information:
In 2009, I facilitated the highly successful 8 week ‘Art Marketing Salon‘ based on the book, “I’d Rather Be In The Studio.” by art business coach, Alyson B. Stanfield. Over two dozen people (artists, curators, and agents) participated in the Art Salons which culminated with an outstanding Summer Salon Art Exhibit and Fashion Show on June 6, 2009 at the Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL.
As the Art Marketing Salon was coming to an end, we briefly touched on the subject of art licensing and about half of the artists said they would be interested in learning more about this topic. Since this is a subject dear to my heart and work, I made a verbal commitment to the group and myself to develop an art licensing workshop. After months and months of reading, researching, and networking, I realized one workshop would not even come close to covering the subject. So now, 14 months later, I’m putting the final touches on the first three workshops which will begin later this month starting with the introductory session: The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists. I’m offering the introductory session at $15 per person because I want artists to have enough information to decide if art licensing is something they want to pursue. The progressive sessions will explore key topics more thoroughly with specific research and creative assignments to help each artist move forward and create a portfolio of work specifically geared to the business of licensing art on a variety of consumer products.
The material I’ll be presenting is based on my personal experience and a good portion is based on the work of artist Tara Reedand herArt Licensing Info business. I’ve been following Tara for over 2 years and highly recommend that any artist interested in learning more about licensing your art follow her blog and listen in on her free, Ask Callswhere she conducts live interviews with many of the top selling licensed artists in the country.
Tara Reed interview with artist Paul Brent
She’s interviewed Paul Brent, Mary Engelbreit, Jill Seale, Suzanne Cruise, many others and many more are coming up. In addition, Tara has been creating and licensing her own whimiscal art for over six years and regularly attends the Surtex and Art Licensing Expo trade shows where the majority of art licensing connections and contracts are made every year.
If you’re an artist in the Miami area and would like to know more about the business of licensing your art, here is the link to full details on “The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists” which will be presented in two locations, one on Miami Beach and another in Coconut Grove, Florida.
If you are not able to attend the workshops and want access to some of the most informative and useful information available on how to get started in art licensing, I highly recommend Tara’s eBook, “How to Get Started in Art Licensing”.
NOTE: I may earn a commission on products that you purchase from following a link that I recommend and I only recommend products or services that I personally use and believe in. This is another way for an independent artist/entrepreneur to earn money and continue doing the kinds of work you love. It’s also a good topic for another workshop 😉
A Kreative Blogger award has recently been passed to me by fellow Miami artist, Rosie Brown and I’m honored that she chose me to receive it. I’m also delighted that it was presented to Rosie by Monique Lassooij. Both artists were participants in an 8 week long Art Marketing Salon* that I facilitated at the Windisch-Hunt Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL in 2009, and, in passing along this award, they are affirming the value of social media marketing as one of the most effective marketing tools around today: blogging!
Since I’ve become a bit of an information addict, I couldn’t do this without a little background research. I quickly found reference to the original ‘Kreativ Blogger’ post and requirements for nominated Kreativ Bloggers. I believe they have been edited and abbreviated over time and cyberspace.
Kreativ Blogger originated in May 2008 in a post by Huldas Verden as noted by Clay Garden author in this April 2009 post:
“Finally I found that it was started in Norway by a blogger named Huldas Verden.”
When the Clay Garden post was written in April 2009, the author’s Google search came up with 712 entries for Kreativ Blogger.
When I searched today, Feb 28, 2010 for ‘Kreative Blogger’ awards, Google comes up with 23,200,000 entries! Hence, the power of blogging!
Here are the requirements that I found, and am passing on to 7 fellow Kreativ Bloggers (names and links to blogs at the end of this post):
The Kreativ Blogger award comes with the following requirements: 1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.
Seven things about me that may be of interest:
1. I’ve always loved nature and art and just knew this was my path in life.
2. I did, and still question, my choice of life experiences and have finally come to terms with accepting that whatever happens, as long as I pay attention and learn something, I can move forward.
3. I’ve been married 3 times – divorced twice and widowed. I have two amazing daughters that I’m very proud of. My third husband died when my youngest daughter was 4. I’ve been a single mom for the last 14 years and must say, I really don’t enjoy being the responsible adult all of the time.
4. Self sufficiency is admirable and it gets the job done, but the ability to ask for help and help others empowers everyone.
5. Travel is now high on my to do list. My youngest daughter will graduate high school this year and she has plans for college so the timing is right for me to go on my walk-about. Thus far, I’ve only been out of the USA to Canada. Mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, deserts and cities all around the planet are out there, full of fabulous nature creations that I’ve yet to see and can’t wait to photograph!
6. You really do teach best that which you need to learn, and actions do speak louder than words.
7. I truly believe there is magic (healing, restorative power) in the energy of nature and that is what I hope to share with my art.
Sample of my nature’s energy photo-digital art:“South Beached Man-O-War Reflection”
* Art Marketing Salon is a group or community, guided, do-it-yourself workshop with all materials provided by Alyson B. Stanfield, Art Biz Coach. I highly recommend Alyson’s book, “I’d Rather Be In the Studio” and signing up for her newsletters which are full of valuable marketing information for artists and business people alike.
NOTE: I only recommend products or services that I have experience with, believe in and support. When you click on a link in this blog and make a purchase, I will receive a referral commission. This is one of the ways an artist can earn a little extra income and support her family!
Wrapped up the Miami Art Marketing Salon last month with an exceptional group of over 20 Miami artists and, as promised to them and myself, I am now returning to my longtime goal of licensing my art and designs.
As I work on this, I’m also documenting resources and experiences so that I can share with fellow artists in the fall. Still not sure how this will come together, but know it will happen!
To begin, I’m in the final stage of getting my images together, appropriately sized, and online on a new section of my website: AFL Art for Licensing by Debra Cortese. Still a lot of tweaking to do, but the basics are in place. I’m definitely interested in creating custom art and design because that is what stimulates my creativity the most, plus, I believe this is the ideal combination for creating work that sells products for the manufacturer (or licensee). As the artist, I’m called the licensor.
I have many years of experience in graphic design, advertising and marketing from my running my own agency in Northern Vermont, but the licensing field has its own structure and while my experience is definitely an advantage, I still need to learn all I can from artists that are already licensing their work. Tara Reed and Paul Brent are two that I am most impressed with. In addition to licensing her own work, Tara offers many resources on her blog and website that I highly recommend. Her writing is clear, concise and very attuned to artists.
I’ll be writing on this at least once a week and if you have any questions, please post in the comments section. AND…I’d love to hear from other artists about your experiences licensing art!
See work of all Summer Salon Artistshere and here.
Information on how Neat Stuff 4 Kids brings joy
and confidence into the lives of children in need.
Summer Salon multi-media art exhibition ends next week,
so stop by Windisch-Hunt Fine Art gallery
at 2911 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove, FL
and treat yourself or buy art for a friend.
You’ll be happy, your friend will be happy,
the gallery and artist will be happy,
Neat Stuff 4 Kids will be happy
and the children they get to help will be happy.
That’s a lot of happy people all sharing some great art and HAPPY ENERGY!
Fabulous to see all of these photos first thing this am… slept in today after all the excitement of this Summer Salon event. Want to Thank EVERYONE that helped make this such an exciting and successful evening: Annamaria and Fred Hunt of Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts, Neat Stuff Helps Kids, all of the artists and friends who worked behind the scenes sending invitations and blogging, and cleaning, tagging, contributing in so many ways; Deb Starbuck for preparing refreshments, serving wine, and food with Jenna, Paula and others; and most of all moral support throughout.
Kudos to MODE lifestyle magazine president, Alexander Michaels, the models, hair and makeup artists, stylists (Kathleen and Heather), designers: Nathaniel Grant, Miriam Carnase-Olivia Lucas line, Deborah Majen Designs, Jennifer Trujillo, Sandy Edie and MODE vp, Frank Capella; the photographers, videographer, Nick (Friend of MODE) for petal sweeping ;-), James Heredia, freelance photographer (and ipod music for fashion show), Jenna Samuel, Valentina Ramos, Pauline Goldsmith, Lynda Wellens, Elizabet Chacon, Rosie Brown, Deborah Weed, Adriana Dominguez-Tio, Paula Lancaster, Nedra Goldhoff, Deborah Starbuck, Lynda LaRocca, Sandy Edie, Jonathan Rose, Donald Calhoun, Celia Reigle, Angelika Rothkegel, Jennifer Trujillo, Cucui Beguiristain, MANO, Trina Collins, Roberta Rand, Gerard F. Wade, Irina Patterson, Monique Lassooij…and very special thanks to Zip Robertson for his delightful music, easy-going cooperation and flexibility, as well as Rob Moore and Juan for adding to the music mix; and of course, Hare Krishna for their unique musical contribution and showing up at exactly the right time to make our event so Grove-y!
I’m sure there are many others whose names I have not included, but thank you all, and ‘Grape’ as well for your excellent coverage of Summer Salon and all things Coconut Grove.
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