INTERVIEW WITH TARA REED Tara Reed is a working artist and licensing consultant, and I have listened to her interviews and free Q&A Teleseminars, and found her to be someone with a positive and upbeat attitude, even when facing large obstacles in licensing.
I contacted her and asked her to do an interview because I wanted to get her perspective on how artists can stay positive when the economy is down, and what we can do to when facing a variety of difficult challenges. She was kind enough to take out time to do this interview and provide free resources for artists.
Tara's Free Educational Resources for Learning about Art Licensing
Teleseminars November 18, at 5:30 PST Register Tara Reed answers art licensing questions. December 16, at 5:30 PST Register Agent Suzanne Cruise answers questions.
(for other product items, see bottom of interview post)
Interview with Tara Reed
QUESTION: Artists are often told they need to be more "realistic" about the difficulty of getting their art licensed. When you consult with artists, where do you draw the line on when an artist needs to be "realistic" so that you don't give them false hope?
TARA: "Realistic" is an emotionally charged word. It brings up thoughts of parents telling 6 year old girls that their dreams of becoming a prima ballerina aren't 'realistic'. So what that she has 2 left feet and poor balance, maybe she'd figure it out and does she really need realism at that age?
But on the flip side is our dear parent who thinks that anything we enjoy we are amazing at and we grow up thinking we can become astronauts even if we get motion sick and have poor eye-sight.
There does need to be a middle ground. Can every artist say "I'm going to license my art today" and suddenly have manufacturers standing in line for their work? No. Is every piece and type of art licensable? Again, no. But do I think artists can learn how to think and create like an artist who will succeed at art licensing, yes, if they want to. The desire and willingness to work within the bubble of licensing is required.
I like to be "real" when I talk about what it takes to succeed in licensing your art. That means my experience and observations, without the sugar coating and without the sour flavor added. (So I'm the cool parent in the middle of the balerina and the astronaut who cheers their child on without misleading them...) Certain things go on and it is either ok with you or it isn't or you can learn to adapt. That is how you will figure out if licensing is the way to go.
The beauty and the rub of any art career is that this isn't math, there isn't an equation where every person who does "A" will get result "B". I might get "B", Mary might get "D" and Bob might win a million dollars. But there is a way to play the game, and you can make up and try out some of your own rules too.
One of my main goals in creating ArtLicensingInfo.com and any product or class about art licensing is to help people learn the rules or decide they don't like the game. I don't want to put rose colored glasses on people, give them the impression that "anyone can do it, just draw the turtle and win the prize" - we'll leave that for the Sunday paper.
- Here are a three basics that I believe you have to be ok with if you want to enjoy a career in art licensing.
1. Art licensing is creating art for commercial purposes. It isn't about self-expression, it's about mass production and mass appeal. One person needs to buy an original. Thousands need to buy a licensed product for it to succeed.
2. Creating art to go on products means you need to be flexible and sometimes change your art. Listen to your client (the licensee -the manufacturer who will send you the royalty check.) They should know their client (the retail stores) who should know their client (the customer). You get to give your opinion but you don't get to dig your feet in and cry "artistic expression". If you do, it will most likely be your only deal with that licensee.
3. Speed is essential. You may hear that the beauty of licensing is that you will be paid for the same art for 10, 20, 50+ years. That is the exception rather than the rule. Trends are changing faster than ever and sometimes you may feel like a machine, churning out art collection after art collection. But quantity will get you where you want to go. Not only do you need good work, but you need good work that can be rejected so the person choosing feels their job is of value. Take the kid analogy again - is it easier to get a child to eat vegetables if you give them a choice of peas or broccoli instead of just saying, "EAT YOUR PEAS!" It's psychology and it seems to apply to art selection as well. The more successful artists in licensing can produce a lot of art in a year.
QUESTION: I am a designer who manufactured my cards for fifteen years and then transitioned into licensing. I found art licensing to be a breath of fresh air: It was less competitive, less work, took less time, and had many more opportunities. Yet, in the licensing community, I've witnessed artists dissuaded from entering this career because they were told it was too competitive. How can we get a more balanced view of the real opportunities in licensing?
TARA: In any industry, as in life, there are people who choose a more positive or more negative outlook on things. A few months ago a friend said something very profound that has really stuck with me, "Don't let the past define you, let it refine you." Having gone through a divorce, that really resonated with me, because I've definitely seen people become both defined and refined by it. I believe the same thing applies to business, the economy, whatever. If we let the current economic tightening 'define' us, we become more fearful and negative, focusing on how great things used to be and how dreadful they are now.
But we live and work NOW. So I say let it refine who you are - look for the opportunities, the new doors that are opening while others may be closing. You have a background in greeting cards - talk about an industry in flux. With everyone online and sending email, card sales are in decline. Look at what the post office faces with so many people paying bills online and not needing all the stamps anymore. So you have a choice: whine about it and throw a big old Pity Party or figure out how you can capitalize on the behavior shift when it comes to sending greetings.
There are opportunities. Stores can't survive if they offer the same products with the same art on them year after year. The volume of opportunities has changed and hopefully it will change back. I believe the areas of opportunity are shifting as well - but you won't see it if you hang out and drink too much at the Pity Party!
QUESTION: To me, an art licensing career is a no-risk career. When you start out, you don't really have to invest money, get a college degree, and you can even try it and fail, and it won't cost you anything but your time. (That is, assuming if you don't exhibit in a show right away). If that's the case, then why don't we hear more about it? You'd think it would be plastered on every billboard!
TARA: You have an interesting take and a different one than me. To me it was a low-cost investment to try licensing - because I went from crafty stay-at-home mom who shared the family computer to needing a better scanner, printer and "What? The program is called Photoshop? What do I do with that?" So I had some expenses and learning that you already had under your belt, based on where you started. But compared to almost any other business you are right, low cost which means the risk is more in your time than your pocket book.
Why don't we hear more about it? Good question! Almost everyone I know in licensing has fallen, tripped or come in the side door. Random phone calls, casual mention at a party, etc. I have a few theories but what do I know? I'm an artist with a marketing degree! But just to entertain you - here are two.
1. My friends who went to art school talk of teachers who tell them that if they want to be "true artists" they aren't allowed to make any money. Maybe because there is too much money to be made in art licensing, teachers shy away from it as being a real art career.
2. Art licensing doesn't go back to the Romantic period in Europe and we all know that schools are often the last to catch onto new things. Perhaps they don't have the staff and understanding to cover it where the bulk of artists are...
QUESTION: Some artists think it would be easier to work with an agent than to try and get their own contracts. What bare minimum skills or collections should an artist have before they even approach an agent?
TARA: I think an artist has to have a basic understanding of what licensing is and the ability to explain where they think their art will fit. Do they think it is perfect for craft products or high end china or both? What makes them different than every other artist out there.
You need to have a basic portfolio that shows you can create art for licensing. You need collections not just individual pieces. By a collection I mean 4 paintings that go together and ideally some supporting borders and maybe a pattern or texture or two. Or you can create collections like I do - icons that you can put into scenes, borders and patterns. The more flexible your art and be and the more quickly it can be adapted to different shapes and templates, the more profitable you will be licensing your designs.
Computer skills aren't an absolute must but I think licensing is trending that way. More and more licensees want artists to be able to manipulate their art or provide it in layers - easing the workload on their graphics departments.
QUESTION: Can you give me a list of things an artist can do right now, on the spot, if they are sitting at their desk, discouraged, because they just got rejected?
TARA: Repeat this, over and over, until it becomes an attitude and not an exercise because it is the honest truth, 99.99% of the time.
"They didn't reject ME as a person. My art just isn't the right fit for their product, right now. It doesn't mean it isn't good."
Rejection happens. In licensing, in life, in everything. To me the key is to use the rejection as a learning experience. If you can stay open enough and not get depressed and defensive, you could learn what it will take to be successful the next time. ASK why your art wasn't chosen. Was it the colors, the style, the technique? Ask for suggestions about how they think you could tweak your art in the future to be a better fit.
If you are really disappointed, let yourself wallow for a bit but always dust yourself off and get back to work. If you don't keep trying your art licensing career will end with a rejection and what fun is that?
-Conference or show, and why: SURTEX - I've exhibited at many art licensing shows and SURTEX is where I have made the best contacts for my art and business.
-Class or workshop worth attending, even if we have to fly there: Feel free to take mine! I can control how good it is. I'll be on a panel about working with manufacturers at SURTEX this year.
-Design tip that saved you a lot time: Using the clone stamp tool in Photoshop for cleaning up art after it's scanned. Learning to do repeat patterns to make one of my first eBooks .
-Way to get feedback on your designs: Show them to manufacturers if you have contacts - that's the best way to go. You can also ask people in the industry to give you a portfolio review and feedback about where they think it would fit (as far as product categories), what could be added, etc. Networking, hiring a coach for a review, etc.
-Technology: iMac and a Mac laptop. Oversized Epson scanner and a new HP Officejet Pro 8500 printer - just got the printer after and exhaustive comparison of costs per print of various laser & ink jet printers.
-Companies you like to work with: BonArtique.com for wall art. South Sea Imports for fabric. Janlynn for rubber stamps and Thirstystone for coasters. Enjoying the people I interact with makes the whole thing more fun too!
-Companies you wish you could work with: I Would love to see my designs in Target. I haven't done any bath products yet so that could be fun. And I have a goal to get an in-line collection with Certified International one of these days.
-Message or quotation you have on your bulletin board: "Don't put off till tomorrow what you an create today!"
-Website you visit often for Design information: PotteryBarn.com
-Blogs you read: www.WiredPrWorks.com - great source of social media, pr and marketing information
-Podcasts you listen to: http://www.answers-for-freelancers.com/ - this is a great series of interviews on many topics for freelance artists that I discovered when they asked to interview me last year.
-Twitterers you follow: I could give a list of the nearly 2000! Some that I find really helpful are - @CartooningPro @wiredprworks @adamjury @BobOstrom @FawnKey @abstanfield @jeffherring @girlfriendology @aithene
-Art Vacation location: I aspire to get to the Greek Islands and Italy. Always love Paris and London too...
I found this promotional video worth watching since it explains what mockups are a very clear, visual way.
Start and Run a Greeting Card Business From a British author, whose country has a long history of greeting card design, she takes you step-by-step through the process of starting and running your business with lots of useful practical advice to help you, including: - Deciding what type of cards to produce - Finding your market - Dealing with printers - Copyright and licensing - Pricing and profit.
Kate's note: Some specs are different (card sizes) since it is UK standards.
Greeting Card Design This volume features a vast array of fun, elegant, simple and imaginative greeting cards designed by internationally-known artists, illustrators and calligraphers. With over 300 full-color photographs of creative, popular, and inspiring greeting card designs, this invaluable sourcebook showcases the very best of what is happening in the industry today. Accompanying text explores the history of the greeting card industry and examines the major contributions from the leading innovative companies.
Pushing the Envelope Things the small greeting card manufacturer needs to know about finding, recruiting and retaining a winning sales force can be found in this easy-to-read handbook. Written from both the manufacturer and sales rep perspectives, this nuts and bolts guide is full of industry information, sales tips and guidance for building successful and profitable rep relationships.
Kate's Note: This book was written by my top selling sales rep in the country.
Greeting Card Design and Illustration 12 step-by-step demonstrations show how to create successful greeting cards Samples of 130 actual greeting cards Twelve step-by-step demonstrations by professional greeting card artists show you how to combine basic illustration techniques with the eight most popular mediums. This art technique book is a comprehensive and practical guide to all aspects of designing and creating professional greeting cards.Samples of 130 actual greeting cards.leads you through every stage of the design process.
Painting Greeting Cards for Fun and Profit The author and a group of other successful greeting card artists offer friendly and practical business advice on all aspects of producing, publishing, pricing, packaging and marketing greeting cards
By the Batch Innovative new ideas for creating fabulous cards (and envelopes, tags, and bookmarks) in batches, with impressive results. The wide range of techniques presented includes everything from the tried and true (rubber stamping) to the unexpected (polymer clay), from the spontaneous (smudge-and-smear) to the whimsical (shaped cards). And author Judi Kauffman shows precisely how to put pedal to the metal and create whole batches of cards in just one sitting.
Kate's Note: See my book review
here with photos and information.
Mary Engelbreit: The Art and the Artist This book is about her path into art licensing and greeting card design. She is now a successful licensor, her career spans over decades, and she was awarded "best art license of the year" by LIMA.
Kate’s Note: See my
book review on "7 things I learned from Mary". This book is one of the more encouraging and practical books I've read in awhile. She confirmed my inherent belief that if someone tries to impose rules and prerequisites on entering this career, someone else will come along, break all the rules, and become successful.
The Very Best from Hallmark: Greeting Cards Through the Years. This collection of 750 of Hallmark's best takes readers through seven decades of birthdays, births, trips, holidays, get well wishes, graduations, and more. The story of this remarkable company is as fascinating as the cards.
License to Draw is a fresh new perspective on monetizing your creative pursuits, reflecting changes in the market and more ways to make money with your art. Successful artist and writer Ronnie Walter has has written a detailed handbook that includes how to figure out what kind of artist you are, how to develop the right presentation for the right clients and an in-depth look at the essentials of a good contract. Written in a friendly and readable style, you'll find inspiration, motivation and a step by step explanation of how to dive into art licensing.
20 Steps to Art Licensing: How to Sell Your Designs to Card and Gift Companies
A booklet on how to license your art to companies that publish greeting
cards, and manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen
items, and dozens of other gift items. This booklet covers 20 basic
steps from how to prepare your art, to what companies to contact. It
includes topics on: How to find agents, classes and what trade shows to
attend. There are extensive resources on social media, licensing
community groups, copyrights, and lists of interviews with professional
designers.
Licensing Art 101, Publishing and Licensing Your Artwork for ProfitThis
comprehensive handbook guides readers step-by-step through the
licensing and publishing industry. It contains a wealth of ideas and
practical examples of how to increase income through licensing
reproduction rights to manufacturers and publishers of greeting cards,
posters, calendars, and more. This book provides assistance from an
expert, allowing readers to educate themselves and gain a competitive
edge. Readers learn about: negotiating fees, exhibiting in trade shows,
protecting their rights, and more. Over three hundred professional
contacts are listed.
Licensing Art and Design: A Professional's Guide to Licensing and Royalty Agreements
This text shows the designer, illustrator, photographer or fine artist
how to increase income by licensing creative images. Coverage includes:
copyright, patent and trademark law; licensing agreements; maximizing
royalties; negotiation checklists; model agreements; finding
manufacturers; and licensing in cyberspace.
You Can Write Greeting Cards This
hands-on guide features practical instruction and exercises that teach
beginners how to survey the market, find their niche, and write
greetings cards that say just the right thing.
Kate's Note: See my interview with the author here.
7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers
Make
Booklet on common mistakes greeting card writers make and what to avoid
when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Today, greeting card
publishers are shying away from traditional stereotypes, and may even
include pets as family members. This article talks about how to create a
trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to
use our own personal experiences to create great card verse. Topics
include: how to avoid limiting the market of who could buy your card,
when to use adjectives, how not to creating card for enemies, how to
write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are
often rejected. The good news is you can increase your odds of success
by 60% by doing a few simple things.
BONUS: Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to
writer interviews, and exercises for creating good verse.
The Freelance Writing for Greeting Card Companies
This book targets important areas a writer needs to know in regards to
being self-employed, as well as, how to own a small greeting card
business. It covers Internet to explore the technology which has opened
the door for freelance writers and artists. You will find web sites that
will offer a variety of freelance writers opportunities never before
known or unreachable outside the Internet world such as: chat rooms,
bulletin boards, or forums so writers can communicate with other
writers. This type of networking is ideal for finding answers or
obtaining valuable information about a company, organizations, writing
groups, and available resources.
How to Write and Sell Greeting Cards, Bumper Stickers, T-Shirts and Other Fun Stuff A successful freelancer shares her years of experience and advice in writing for the "social expression market".
Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards More than three dozen ways to say "Happy Birthday” for new family members...even pets. Includes thoughtful condolences for personalizing sympathy cards and congratulatory wishes for weddings and anniversaries. There are helpful hints to simplify card-sending and a monthly calendar for birthdays and anniversaries. This is a book of phrases for all occasions.
Write Greeting Cards Like a Pro Moore knows the ins and outs of the greeting card business. In this hands-on guide, she offers practical instruction, idea joggers, and exercises that will teach you how to survey the market, find your niche, and write greeting cards that say just the right thing. From humor to inspirational writing, Moore profiles the special needs of each greeting card category and also shows you how to spot new trends, so you can write the cards
publishers are seeking today.
A Guide to Greeting Card Writing All forms are discussed in detail: conventional verse and prose, personal relationship cards, humor, juvenile, inspirational, etc. Detailed info on how to submit and sell your work to greeting card markets. All the nuts and bolts of both the creative art and the publishing market.
Handmade Greetings This book is a showcase of 1000 contemporary hand-designed greeting cards, with examples that feature a wide array of paper craft techniques, including: paper cutting, paper stencils, stamping, punching, stitchery, monoprints, screenprints, paper piecing, and more.
Kate's note: See images and my review of this book here.
The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking This book includes step-by-step photographed instructions for a wide range of techniques, as well as projects to accompany each area of card making. All paper-crafting techniques that can be employed for card making are thoroughly covered, including a comprehensive description of paper types available, folding options and techniques, coloring and image transfer methods, and adding embellishments. Inside, you'll also find methods for using a computer to design and print cards. More than 80 projects give you lots of ideas and inspiration to create cards of your own, using the techniques you've learned. Unique envelope templates and a helpful source list are included.
The Encyclopedia of Greeting Card Tools and Techniques Featuring hundreds of handmade cards from leading artists, plus step-by-step photographs of key skills.Sidebars on today's most creative card makers showcase their areas of expertise, from Dee Gruenig's rubber-stamp designs to Alli Bartkowski's quilling.
Start with a Scan A guide on how to transform raw, scanned images into attractive, finished illustrations. Filled with hundreds of illustrations, it starts by covering the technical basics of scanning, and provides the information needed to get images out of the computer and onto the printed page. The rest of the book shows how to scan almost anything (burlap, clip art, family photographs, found objects) to create a quality piece of artwork. Learn how to create textures and backgrounds, transform photos into graphics, and work with type. Two chapters discuss scanning images for the Web and using scanned images in arts and crafts projects. Book is a resource for scanner users who want to focus on illustrative techniques rather than technical issues.
Creative Lettering: Techniques and Tips from Top Artists Sixteen calligraphers, painters, collagists, card makers, fiber artists, and graphic designers—give their personal perspectives on lettering. They all offer their favorite tools, how they use them, their signature technique with step-by-step instructions and photos, and an alphabet sampler of their own font.
Uncommon Cards: Stationery Made with Found Treasures, Recycled Objects, and a Little Imagination This DIY guide contains eight sheets of cardstock and basic stitch patterns that can be completed with nothing more than a needle and thread, either by hand or machine, transforming a blank card into a whimsical, inspired, one-of-a-kind design. The perfect expression for birthdays, graduations, or a simple thinking- of-you note, each design incorporates inexpensive and easy to find household items such as strips of fabric, brightly colored plastics, handmade stamps, and more.
The Print Making Book: Projects and Techniques in the Art of Hand-Printing Techniques include relief-, screen- and mono- printing – all using tools and materials that are easy to source and use at home in your kitchen, bathroom, or garden. There are easy-to-use templates, step-by-step illustrations, and full-color photography throughout.
Clean and Simple Cards: Celebrate the Basics of Design Theory More than 45 card designs are provided, with full instructions and close-ups that display card details, and the book includes source lists for recommended supplies to replicate the designs at home. The uncomplicated projects make the book suitable for beginners, and more advanced crafters will appreciate the outline of design theory that enriches their existing card-making experience. The basic tools and techniques of card creation are also covered, from stamping to hand-coloring.
Unusual Ways to Market Your Greeting Cards and 22 Places to Get Your Designs Featured A
booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways.
Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get
special features in national publications. Great tips for designers who
are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people
beyond friends and family. Special Section: Submissions guidelines and
contacts for 22 Gift Industry publications and professional gift
industry blogs that seek out new greeting card designs to feature for
free.
Selling Art Online The Creative Guide to Turning Your Artistic Work into Cash Selling Art Online shows you several ways you can take your art, and be a creative entrepreneur. For an illustrator, artist, designer, photographer or any variety of visual creator. It gives you tools to do more with the work you have, providing you new opportunity for more revenue and exposure.
Straight Advice: How to Market Art Online Now Barney Davey has 30 years of experience helping artists get their work to market. Topics include: How to Market Art Online, Marketing Art Online, Understanding The Value of a, Customer Persona, Websites for Artists, E-Commerce, Domain, Names, Email Marketing for Artists, Marketing Automation, Blogging and Social Media.
The Essential Guide to Business for Artists and Designers This book is for artists, makers, designers, and photographers looking to set up and establish an arts practice or design business.Topics include: Building networks and successful negotiation tactics, Promoting an engaging social media presence, Business planning and money management, Overview of legal, tax and intellectual property issues, Setting up a website and trading online, Exploiting innovation and future trends.
Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff they don't teach you in design school, but should. Michael Janda, owner of the Utah-based design firm Riser, uses humor to dispense nugget after nugget of hard-won advice collected over the last decade from the personal successes and failures he has faced running his own agency. In this surprisingly funny, but incredibly practical advice guide, Janda's advice on teamwork and collaboration, relationship building, managing clients, bidding work, production processes, and more will resonate with creative professionals of all stripes.
Artist's Graphic Designer's Market For people who want to expand a career in fine art, illustration, or design. The Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market a reference guide to help develop their careers and navigate the changing business landscape. It introduces a whole host of new features and guarantees the most up-to-date, individually verified market contacts possible.
Etsy Excellence: The Simple Guide to Creating a Thriving Etsy Business In this book, top Etsy sellers share the tools that have helped them, the changes they made o get better results, and their advice for achieving and sustaining a successful Etsy shop. Topics include: Photograph your products for maximum appeal, Create a unique Etsy shop that stands out, Write winning product descriptions, Price your goods appropriately, Market your products effectively on social media platforms, Maintain lasting relationships with your Etsy customers, Diversify your Etsy product offerings.
The Copyright Zone: A Legal Guide For Photographers and Artists In The Digital Age
If you license or publish images, this guide is as indispensable as your camera. It provides specific information on the legal rights of photographers, illustrators, artists, covering intellectual property, copyright, and business concerns in an easy-to-read, accessible manner. The Copyright Zone, Second Edition covers: what is and isn’t copyrightable, copyright registration, fair use, model releases, contracts and invoices, pricing and negotiation, and much more.
Legal Guide for the Visual Artist
This book provides legal guidance for any visual artist involved with
creative work. Topics covered: developments in copyright, artists in
artist-gallery relationships, First Amendment protections for graffiti
art and the sale of art in public spaces, cases dealing with art and
privacy, model contract for Web site design. The book also covers
copyrights, moral rights, contracts, licensing, sales, special risks and
protections for art and artists, book publishing, video and multimedia
works, leases, taxation, estate planning, museums, collecting, grants,
and how to find the best professional advisers and attorneys. In
addition, the book teaches strategies for negotiation, gives information
to help with further action, contains many sample legal forms and
contracts, and shows how to locate artists' groups and Volunteer Lawyers
for the Arts organizations.
Get Your Greeting Cards Into Stores: How to Find and Work With Sales Reps (Updated 2017) If you like to make greeting cards, this book explains how to get your cards into stores and sell them nationwide. Learn about changing trends in the indie card market and niche opportunities available for artists. Book includes detailed guidelines on pricing cards for a profit, getting professional feedback on your designs, finding sales representatives, pitching your card line to them, approaching stores, and the industry standards you should follow. Information is also applicable to gift items, such as magnets, journals and calendars.