Kate Harper's Blog: 4/18/10

Artists need an online presence

Check out this great article by Moshe Mikanovsky on how one artist uses online resources to promote his art. Here's an excerpt of an interview he did with artist Peter Worsley:

Until I got the following response on LinkedIn to the discussion about my article, List of 66+ websites for artists to build online presence. Peter Worsley, an artist from Santa Barbara, California, wrote to me:

These are all the websites at which I have presence:

AbsoluteArts, Artflock, artId, ARTslanT, ArtWanted, Boundless Gallery, Fine Art America, Fine Art Registry, Juried Art Services, Noenga, nuzart, ImageKind, RedBubble, Saatchi Online ( Saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery), Simply Licensed, WOW- Window On Web, Zatista, Zazzle

None of them are producers. But I like Zatista for its potential for original art sales. ImageKind is the best for prints and cards because they allow the uploading of the highest resolution images. Though I have sold more cards through Zazzle.

Mostly I only use their free services, though I pay for ImageKind, and maybe some others I cannot remember which without looking them up.

Including his own portfolio site, I counted 19 sites on which Peter is maintaining an online presence! I was very impressed and intrigued. The main questions I had were “how much time does he spend on maintaining all of these sites?” and “how does he do it??”

See full Article...

Make Your Own Photoshop Paper Textures

TutorialFreakz has some great ideas for paper textures people made by scanning. It's a perfect example of how you could scan your own paper textures at home.

Art Licensing Directory Project

YES WE CAN build a open source Free Art Licensing Directory of companies who buy art for their products. Submit a link to the directory, and have your art featured on this blog of over 800 daily readers! Send to GCDBlog@gmail.com, SUBJECT: Licensing Directory.

FAQ

WHAT IS THE LICENSING DIRECTORY?

A list of submission guidelines from companies who buy art to place on products such as wall art, rugs, napkins, magnets, aprons, wrapping paper, gift bags, mugs, fabric, plates, gift items, etc... you name it! Normally, they license art and pay the artist royalties.

WHY SHOULD I DO THIS ?

-Your art will have a permanent feature on this blog which has over 800 daily readers and subscribers.
-You will have early access to directory before it's published.
-In at least 3 cases an artist's work was purchased after being featured on this blog.
-You will be a part of a widening circle of artists-supporting-artists.

AM I GIVING AWAY MY PRIVATE CONNECTIONS?

No one is asking for your private connections. The request is only for guidelines that are already on the web. The directory is just a way to put all this information in one location where it will be automatically updated and available to artists for FREE. My experience is that when artists share information with each other, they get way more back than they ever expected. We're all on the same team.

WHAT DO I SEND?
Send at least one link to a manufacturing company's "art guidelines" that point to a webpage.
Link must go directly to the art submission info page, or their pdf, and not just a company homepage. Look at the Greeting Card Directory of Company Guidelines and see how the links go directly to artist guidelines. Send to GCDBlog@gmail.com, SUBJECT: Licensing Directory.

WHAT KIND OF "LINKS" ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

A link is any type of "art submission guidelines" from a manufacturer that buys and licenses art. The only requirement is that they 1) buy art for licensing and 2) they have submission guidelines online.

WHERE DO I SEND MY LINK?
Send to GCDBlog@gmail.com, SUBJECT: Licensing Directory. Also send your image/copy for your feature, and contact information.

WHO READS THIS BLOG ANYWAY?

Every day, over 800 visitors and subscribers read this blog, and an additional 500 twitter followers get blog announcements. Readers include Art Directors, Editors, Designers, Publishers, Retail Stores, Artists, and Sales Reps.

WHAT SHOULD I AVOID SENDING?
-Greeting Card Company guidelines, since we already have a greeting card directory. Don't send card company links, unless they also have guidelines for gift products, such as magnets, frames, gifts, etc.
-Avoid sending links for companies who buy art but don't do manufacturing, such as magazines.

ART ANGEL

Most link contributions so far:
Leyla Torres!

Working With Sales Reps

Another great article by artsyshark:

Excerpt:

Are you considering using a salesperson to represent your designs and product line to the marketplace? Hiring reps can be a great way to increase sales, as they usually have an established book of business, strong relationships with buyers, and the experience to show your line in the best possible light.

As a small company, you will work with “multi-line” reps, either as independents or working within a rep group. If a rep group accepts your line, you will get representation in a number of sales territories. The group manager will work with you on those parameters. Make sure the reps you want to work with have a group of complimentary product lines which will help them to “cross-sell” your work when they call on retailers. article continued...

Noteworthy Stationery Show Events

Rep Relationships 101: Finding, Recruiting & Retaining A Winning Sales Force
Sales reps are an important element in line promotion and placement for card manufacturers but navigating those relationships can seem tricky and even overwhelming. Come learn the in's and out's of successfully finding and working with reps.
Speakers:Rob Fortier, Paper Words and Meryl Hooker, Meryl Hooker Sales

Social Marketing for Vendors: Hype or Huge Opportunity?
Join GIFT SHOP Magazine's Publisher Patricia Norins in this fast-paced and exciting session, specifically designed for vendors, to learn how you can make more money by connecting with your customers via online social media. This session will focus on how you can build better lists, connect with retailers in a more meaningful way, and increase your sales through the social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, and LinkedIn. One lucky attendee will walk away with a book on social marketing, The Ultimate Guide to Social Marketing ($30 value).
Speaker:
Patricia Norins, Publisher, Gift Shop Magazine

Trend Watch 2010: What’s New, What’s Now, & What’s Ahead
Get a sneak preview of lifestyle, color, fashion and stationery trends sure to move merchandise throughout the year!
*Buyers will receive priority seating until 5 minutes prior to the start of the program
Speaker:
Caroline Kennedy, Editor, Gifts & Decorative Accessories

The Fashion and Future of Paper: Industry Talents Share Insights on Design & Market Trends
Join a panel of some of the freshest design leaders and learn about their design and color inspirations and what they see ahead in the stationery market
The Panelists are:
— Bonnie Marcus of Bonnie Marcus Collection
— Whitney English Kolb of Whitney English
— Prentiss Douthit of Prentiss Douthit
— Jennifer Tatham of Night Owl Paper Goods
— Leigh Standley of Curly Girl

BOOKS FOR THE CARD DESIGN

These are books I own and recommend. Some may be out of print, but used copies may be available. Check link.

Start & Run a Greeting Cards Business Book covers starting a card business in the UK. Good basic info, but financial/measurement info is in different monetary units.

Greeting Card Design Book that shows examples of professional card design.

Publishing Your Art as Cards How to make and sell your own cards for an extra income.

Pushing the Envelope How to work with greeting card sales reps.

Complete Guide to Greeting Card Design and Illustration Great Book on understanding the greeting card profession and how to develop a style.

1000 Handmade Greetings: creative cards and clever correspondence This is not a simple craft book for hobbyists,instead it is a picture book of professionally handmade cards by leading companies and designers.

By the Batch: Creative Cards, Postcards, Envelopes & More Book that addresses how to "manufacture" handmade greeting cards.

How to Write and Sell Greeting Cards, Bumper Stickers, Tshirts and Other Fun Stuff

Sell the Fun Stuff: Writers' and Artists' Market Guidelines for Greeting Cards, Posters, Rubber Stamps, T-Shirts, Aprons, Bumper Stickers, and More!

Writing Card Sentiments

Freelance Writing for Greeting Cards Another good book on how to write for cards professionally.

You Can Write Your Own Greeting Cards Clear guidelines on how to write card sentiments professionally.

Finding the Right Words One of many basic books of this series that tells you how to add words products, cards, etc.

Licensing Your Art to Companies

Licensing Art and Design

Licensing Art 101 Good beginners guide on the art licensing business.

2011 Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market List of greeting card companies, art licensees and agents.Detailed information on submission guidelines.

Gift and Product Design

Start with a Scan One of a kind book that tells you how to transform your art into a scan and what to do with it from there.

Design Your Own Repeat Patterns Simple book on learning repeats.

Twentieth-Century Pattern Design Great book for inspiration and creative approaches to designing patterns.

How to Break into Product Design Overview of product design in all industries.

Designing a Digital Portfolio Shows you how to put a digital portfolio together for the modern era.

Mary Engelbreit: The Art And The Artist Amazing story of how Mary ended up doing licensing.

Principles of Pattern Design Good info on pattern design

Imagery on Fabric Basic info on putting images onto fabric.

Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing Yearly updated guidelines for pricing for people in art careers.

5,000 Years of Textiles Far East, Americas, Africa, Scandinavia, and Egyptian. Good for studying fabric design.

Abstract Design and How to Create It Over 380 illustrations, diagrams, designs, border patterns and textile patterns.

Creative Illustration Workshop Exercises for integrating illustration with other mixed-media techniques, and scan and layer your illustrations using a computer.

Print Workshop Hand-Printing Techniques for low budgets. Interesting ways to put imagery on products. Perhaps a good technique for putting our designs on model items to show what they would look like on real products.

Digital Alchemy Printmaking techniques for fine art and how to transfer images to a variety of surfaces. It includes decals and skins.

Critical Mass Cutting-edge developments in international printmaking. Since printmaking is fundamental in most surface design concepts, this book's goal is a modern approach on a traditional printmaking.

Tradeshows and Booth Design