Art licensing is an opportunity for an artist to allow a manufacturer to use their art without reassigning all rights of the art. There are a number of directions an artist can license their are as well as many variations in what a licensing agreement might include. Art might be licensed for a flat fee or a royalty and the time period can vary greatly.

Licensing your art is a great way to profit from your art from many different companies at the same time, giving you, the artist, a greater potential to make money with a single piece of art.

There are a number of resources for those wanting to get into the art licensing industry. Check out the resources below to learn more about licensing your art and learning how to make it work for you.

Art Licensing Info

An extensive collection of ebooks, teleseminars and invaluable information regarding the art licensing industry and how to make it a success business for you and your art.

• Get the eBook “How to Get Started in Art Licensing”
• Ask Calls
• Listen & Learn about Art Licensing – Beginner Basics Teleseminar
• Art Licensing Mindset Series – 24 weeks of Information and Inspiration
• Art Licensing Trade Show Tactics Teleseminar
• Art Licensing Teleseminars – Listen & Learn how to license your art
• Get the eBook “How to Maximize Your Time and Investment in Art Licensing Trade Shows”
• Get the eBook “How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturer’s Who License Art”
• Artists! Learn to build your Art Licensing Business
• Artists! Learn to create repeat patterns in Photoshop

All Art Licensing also offers a wide variety of online classes to help you on your way to becoming a successful art licensor

More good reading about art licensing:

• Kate Harper’s blog focusing on art for greeting cards
• Joan Beiriger shares insight as well as info from around the industry about the business of art licensing

The artist mentality doesn’t always agree or feel comfortable with the mindset of a marketer, nor does it like to play nice with the money making side of art business. Often times artists struggle with figuring out what their talent is worth, not to mention trying to come to terms with the idea that art can indeed have a price put on it. The first step is to make the decision that you do want to make a living doing what you love – creating art.

Then the next step is learning to separate your emotional attachment to your art so that you can part with it, and earn an income from it. it’s important that you continue to create from where ever it is your inspiration is driven, as that is what buyers sense in the art – while having the ability tto charge what your time and talent is worth.

Here’s some thoughts on pricing what you’re worth:

In today’s world there are so many resources and opportunities right as our finger tips. If you have a computer, new knowledge, information, insight and tools are merely a few clicks away – if you know where to look.

As artists we need to be grasping as much of these tools as we can to help stay ahead of the curve, yet it can become overwhelming to try to keep up with all the changes. Kate Harper shares a fantastic interview about the Digital shift as it impacts the way business and marketing happens in the art licensing world.

“I think an artist is better served by participating in conversations and being helpful to others…”
Mike Rhoda, product director at Leanin’ Tree.

The discussion hits on connecting through social media, finding information and learning about art licensing through the art community available online, tips for working with art reps or manufacturoers and art submission tips.

It’s a great read for anyone looking for some insight from those on the other side of the fence.

Read the full article, Card publisher talks about the digital shift.

Graphic design, online advertising and MySpace personalizing has enabled Ashley Qualls to become a self-made millionaire at 17 years old. Success doesn’t have to cost a huge sum of money. Nor do you need years of experience as an artist before you can earn a living creating the art that you love.

Success in the art world, like any business, takes a unique idea, quality work and determination. Ashley is the CEO of Whatever Life, a website offering unique graphics for MySpace users to customize their pages, absolutely free. The business earns revenue through advertising placed on the company website. Ashley started this business at 14 for the total cost of $8.00 – the current price of a domain name.

A key to note in this story is that she know her audience – who she is designing for. She knows her market, what she is designing for. She didn’t wait for the perfect opportunity or an agent, she simply jumped in with the talent she has and an idea to try and went for it.

Artistic talent is commodity that many wish they wish they had – if you have the skill, there are unlimited directions you can take it to become a success. Don’t assume a gallery or fine art originals are the only place you can go to earn the title of a successful artist. True art doesn’t come from a classroom nor years of training – true art comes from within. You just have to be willing to show it off.

Note: When I wrote this article the website mentioned was displaying as presented. However, it is now redirected to a new site that has nothing to do with design so I’ve removed the site link. Please enjoy the video, the story is still valid.

written by NEMO from Art by Nemo

For an artist, commission work could really pay some bills and if done right you can find yourself doing a lot of interesting pieces that you may have never thought of on your own. I didn’t go to school for art so I never had assignments or a teacher telling me to make art, but commissions make me feel that way.

I love the commissions that come in and are totally different than anything I could ever come up with. Pieces that make me think a little are really cool. I don’t take the commissions that I feel are going to be too much back and forth, I like when I have full rein over everything. I love it when people say “I don’t know, just do whatever you feel, you’re the artist!”

Finding the commissions is the hard part; you just have to always be telling people about them and really celebrate the ones you do get. I like to tweet about them as I’m making them on Twitter and I post the finished pieces on Facebook and Myspace. I also blog about the better ones so people can see them and hopefully it will spark an idea in their head about something they might want. I do it over and over and I find that when people start seeing more and more of what I can do they will take the plunge and order one too.

The way I make it easy on myself is I only make one style of art so when people come to me for art they pretty much know what they are going get. I provide only one size – a 4”x6” in an 11”x14” bamboo frame. I also try to keep a list of people who have had interest in one thing or another and when I have down time I will contact them and tell them I have time if they are ready, or I’ll take them off the list once they say they don’t have money to do it. My prices go up 10% every 6 months and if they can’t afford it now, they won’t later, although sometimes people do surprise me.

A lot of people start talking about getting custom work done but I find about half of the people really come through for me. So I really don’t spend much time talking with them, I just send over the part in my website that talks about custom art. I often find myself asking “are you for real?” and if they seem for real I send them a Paypal invoice as fast as I can, and I never even start thinking about a piece until they pay ½ down. That’s the most important part right there, don’t ever start working on anything or even think about anything until they pay something, I have spent way too many hours on something that didn’t even pan out.

Commission work isn’t for everyone or for every style, my advice is to really look at yourself and your art and find out if it’s for you. I hear a lot of stories that make doing commission work look bad, but everyone should do a few to see if it’s right for them.

To put it bluntly: We have forgotten that the only reason we  have the joy of living our dreams is because someone else helped us do so. Think about it. The only reason you  receive an income from your goods and services is because of customers decided to purchase from you. In addition, friends, family and mentors have given you support, encouragement, and advice on personal development, customer service and the art of business. Is there anything you have accomplished that was not a direct result of someone else’s contribution? If you can think of one then I’d like to know.

The fact of the matter is that you can’t and there isn’t anything you have accomplished without the help of others. As a result, I think it is high time we bring back the art of the thank you note. I don’t mean a thank you text, email, or even phone call. I’m talking about the good ol’ pen in the hand, paper, envelope with stamp sealed by your DNA kind of a note. A thank you text, email or even phone call is nice and should be sent on occasion but a thank you note tells the person that you have taken the extra time to show them gratitude for what they provided you.  No matter how great you are , how unique or awesome in your own mind the lyric from Elton John’s “Good bye yellow brick road” still ring true, “There’s many like me to be found.” The fact that those who have helped you did so by sacrificing their time, effort and sometimes even money to help you succeed means they should be thanked with a little bit of your and my time. I’m not limiting this to only businesses but also thanking those who have helped you on a personal level. How many of your friends and family went out of their way to help you in your time of need? There have been plenty in mine so assuming we aren’t that different there have been some for you.

So take a few moments to create two columns: one for a list for your friends and one for a list of your business partners and vendors. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to get your mind thinking. Just like everything else. The art of thanking people is a habit of remembering those who have helped you and letting them know that you appreciate them. ALSO, THIS IS IMPORTANT: Do not worry about how long it has been since they have helped you. Better late than never principle would apply to this.

1. Who are the family member(s) who went out of their way for you in a significant manner this past year?
2. Who was the highest paying customer last year or ever?
3. Who gave you encouragement that you really needed in the time you needed it?
4. Who gave you life changing advice?
5. Who gave a gift that was meaningful to you?
6. Who gave you life changing help?
7. Who has consistently showed you love throughout the years?
8. Who are you grateful for for personal reasons?
9. Who helped you buy your first home, business tool, or anything of great significance to you?
10. Apart from girlfriend, boyfriend, or family who do you know would be willing to help you at 3am?

There are a many more of questions that I can put up here but it should keep you going. In fact, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION YOU COULD ADD THEN COMMENT

People want to know that they are cared for and that they matter. This applies to your family member and friends. When you know that you are valued by another you become somewhat loyal to that person. In short, you build a stronger relationship with them. Just as this strengthens friends and family how much do you think this applies to customers and business relationships? A whole lot because the fact of the matter is you will pay more to people you trust and like than those who you don’t.

Personal Case Study:

I want to give you two personal stories of thank you notes.

This past Christmas I decided that I should thank the President of one of the colleges that I attended (10 years ago!) for taking the time to speak with me in his office a few times each semester. No I wasn’t there because I cheated on a test or any other mischief. I asked to speak with him about the my degree and things related to it. So many times though he would take the time to not only answer my questions but also ask about me and what I was doing. In addition, he would give me advice that really opened my eyes. How many students in colleges can say that. My guess….not many.

So I sent him a thank you note. And guess what. I got a response a week later. He appreciated it and the next time he is in the state we are going to get together.  By the way, Presidents of Colleges are good people to have in your phone. They are certainly networking hubs that we can all use.

Number 2

Last year I created the “To Have & To Hold” Breast Cancer photo shoot in which I took 12 ladies who were affected by breast cancer personally or sat along side a family member that did. These ladies were not models and the photo shoot went for 13 hours! Here is an email I got shortly after the shoot:

I just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am for all that you did yesterday (and preparing up to the day!) I cannot express how much it meant to me to be apart of the shoot. I was reminded how much the Lord has blessed me. I was so honored to meet each of you and all the women who were apart of the event.

I was telling Will, my husband, how blessed I was by the experience! What an honor and encouragement it was to be able to share my mom’s story. My mom’s life cannot be shared without sharing the Lord; it is times like yesterday that the Lord reminds me how he has used my mom’s life as a testimony of His grace, mercy, and to further his kingdom. THANK you!

I know that I can speak for all of the girls when I say that we could not have had a more smooth, relaxing, and FUN day. I do not think you will ever know how BLESSED we were by YOU! The time, energy, words of encouragement, running around, planning, gifts, sponsors, make-up artist, food, drinks, etc. the list could go on for pages… THANK YOU!!!

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you all again how GRATEFUL that I am to know you and to be apart! Get some much deserved REST!

God Bless,
Cat

For more information click here about “To Have & To Hold”

So take your pen out and start writing.

Have you ever read Small is the New Big by Seth Godin? It’s full of half page blurbs on a variety of topics, some just random thoughts, some conversation starters, each quite thought are thought provoking.

One thought in particular that inspired me by this book is packaging and what it all means, especially in this digital age.

This is again in your branding. The perspective you want to represent. The point of branding not being just a name, but a whole perspective of who and what and why and how you are as a business, product, service and person.

Package everything about you, your art and your art business and be consistent. If your product is serious, but your company is lighthearted and your personality is lively… package that. People are missing the “old fashioned” approach of real people behind commerce.

So ya got yourself one heck of a great doo-dad. So what? There’s usually 3 other people right behind you that look just as appealing to the end buyer. What makes yours different? Tell me in one sentence or less and don’t make me read.

That’s the trick.

Tell people who you are.

Small Is the New Big downloadable Audiobook
$20.97 from: Audible.com

Small Is the New Big Pages: 352, Hardcover
$17.13 from: Amazon.com Books

Small Is The New Big Abridged, Audio CD
$22.76 from: Amazon.com Books

Twitter is an amazingly useful tool for gaining exposure. Each “tweet” has the potential to reach thousands of viewers and with the right content can result in invaluable connections and maybe even sales. Here are 3 ways to use Twitter to increase your exposure for your art:

1. Share your latest works of art – When you create something new, don’t just post a blog post or add it to your gallery pages, send out a tweet announcing you have a new piece and add a link to your blog post or gallery page. As for feedback. Your followers are interested in your art enough to read what you say, so ask them what they think.

2. Announce places you will be or places your art can be seen. You never know where your Twitter “followers” are. Some may be in your neighborhood or traveling to a location your art is available. Share those locations. In addition to telling people where to see it, ask people if they have seen it already – talk to your followers about their experiences with your art. Again you can write about these same things in your blog and link to your blog encouraging further discussion as an added bonus to the communication you’ve started.

3. feature past pieces – a great way to drum up new excitement for an older piece is simply by showing it. Through social media you can potentially gain new fans/followers every day. Not all of these new comers have seen all your work. Not to mention, some followers might like to be reminded of old favorites. Again ask for feedback, ask them what their favorite piece is – listen and then reply.

Try to avoid talking about things you’ve been selling if you aren’t talking about things you have to share. No one wants to sit in a room and listen to the holler about what others have, they want to know what they can have or offer their input and be heard. Keep that in mind when you’re using Twitter to promote your work. Your followers want to be a part of your success – include them in the adventure!

Successful artists always need to have some kind of sense of what their particular buyers want. Although each artist has their own unique style, technique and approach to creating their art, being aware of the potential market interests is important. Creating art that is “hot” with today’s trends and popular public interests is a good way to keep your foot in the door and face in front of the potential buying community.

Joan Beiriger shares a fantastic article about using color trend predictions from various industries to work into your own art creations. The article is geared towards the art licensing industry but applies well to artists in all areas. Topics covered include where to find color trends, things to watch out for and links to some great additional resources for this year’s hottest trend predictions.

Read 2010 Product and Color Trends by Joan Beiriger

How do we do it? How do we protect our art when user based content is a real live concept exploding all over the web? Consumers can now post their own creations all over the internet from Facebook photos to products on Cafepress. They can create cards to send to friends or share digital stamps with others. With new websites popping up all the time that encourage users to upload their own art to make something new, how are we supposed to keep up and make sure our art isn’t used without permission?

Be proactive

Any time you come across your art being used without permission, react immediately. Send a letter/email letting the user know they do not have permission to use the art. Be polite but be quick about it. If the image is used on a public website (e.g. facebook, flickr, etc.) make sure to look for the site’s user agreement or copyright information so you can read on their process for reporting copyright infringement notice procedures. File a complaint as soon as possible.

Document your work

Keep a log of all your work. Register your individual pieces with the approproate copyright office/s. If you publish your art online through third party sites, make sure you also have your own site or blog that hosts your images so you have a resource to point to if a company wants proof you own an image.

Never leave your art unsigned

If you have art to view anywhere, other than in your livingroom, sign your art. There could be instances that someone may take an image and remove your signature, but chances are much less the art will be used with an intentional removal of the signature. If you can’t find every instance of your art that is used without permission, at least your name will be on it.

Create awareness

As often as you can, tell non-artists that art isn’t free for the taking.
Make sure to share your art talent with everyone you can so you build a fan base who will recognize your art – and often times tell you when your art is being used in a new place.
Again, Teach. No reason to be rude or defensive every time someone ignorantly mentions using images from Google or pictures from a book. Seriously – not everyone really understands that “just because you see it, doesn’t mean it’s yours to use“. Invite your blog or website visitors to let you know if they spot an infringing use of your art and thank them for their support.

Now go spread the word and make sure people know YOU are an artist!