Kate Harper's Blog: 1/23/11

New Magnet on Being Mad

On Fridays, I sometimes like to display samples of products I've designed.

Here is a recent magnet I designed for Ephemera.

What Quote is on your Bulletin Board?

Have any funny or inspiring messages on your bulletin board? Leave your "bulletin board quote" in comments below. Here are some of mine:

"If you think you can or if you think you can't -- You are right."
-Henry Ford

"It's Ok to get rid of books. It will attract new wisdom."
-From a friend who encouraged me to clear out some of my books

"Tell me what you pay attention to and I'll tell you who you are"

"All our problems are minor.
When we really look at them, they are only memories."
-Dalai Lama

"The Crowd is Always Wrong"
-John Bogle, Former CEO of Vanguard Investment Group

~
"Givers are Winners."
-Dave Ramsey, Financial Advisor

13 Podcasts to Help Freelancers Succeed

Here's an article by freelancefolder blog.

Listening to podcasts is an excellent way to pick up new skills and keep up to date in your field.

They’re free and are consumable at the time and place of your choice. Plus, there’s a podcast (or several dozen) on any topic you can think of.

Read entire article...

Free Agent Underground
Presenters: Kevin Miller, Chuck Bowen and Justin Lukasavige
Content: Dedicated to those who are self-employed, talk about the “realities, responsibilities, rewards and large living of the free agent pursuit.” This podcast tends to tackles more mindset stuff than other freelancing podcasts.

Life of the Freelancer
Presenter: Robert Dempsey
Content: Heavy on marketing, the business aspects of freelancing, and face-to-face events for freelancers.

Creative Independence
Presenters: Bob and Chris
Content: A look at independent lifestyles of creative professionals from around the world.

CreativeXpert Design Interviews
Presenter: Eric Anderson and Alan Houser
Content: Created and hosted by web designers for other web designers and other creative experts to talk about careers, design techniques and other topics.

Artist's Lessons: New John Lennon Interviews

I recommend artists give an ear to this to extensive five hour audio interview with John Lennon from 1970, which was recently found in a closet.

It captures a moment in Lennon's life when he struggles emotionally to understand what it means to be an artist, and I found it very relevant to internal struggles visual artists face today.

Most of the interview is from 1970. I recommend starting with that set. The 1980 one is an entirely different time and mood.

It's easy to download on itunes and put it on your ipod...then take a long walk.

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