15 Top Design Skills in Highest Demand

This is an interesting graphic with a large sample of almost 29,000 job postings.  Photoshop wins by a large margin.  I thought for sure web site design would be the tops.

35 Free Photoshop Tutorials

Here are some interesting photoshop tutorials on dzineblog.
Check out the list at http://www.dzineblog360.com/2013/06/35-newly-released-free-photoshop-tutorials-of-2013/

Here are some examples:

Making Poster Mockups

Matte Paintings

Texturing Text

Interview with cartoonist Lynda Barry

I just happened onto one of the best interviews on creativity I've ever heard. Cartoonist Lynda Barry's shares her view on play, memories, being creative and how the brain works. She made we want to sign up for one of her workshops! It sounds like it would be so much fun.

Check it out the audio interview #1 at The Progressive: http://progressive.org/lynda_barry_interview_audio.html

You can also download the podcast on itunes.

Here's also a NYT Article:Lynda Barry Will Make You Believe In Yourself http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/magazine/cartoonist-lynda-barry-will-make-you-believe-in-yourself.html?pagewanted=all

Licensing Art for Electronic Devices : Artist Interview

I asked Megan Duncanson to talk about her experience of licensing for high tech products. She was kind enough to offer her insights in this interview. Megan is an inspiration because not only is her design style unique, but she is 100% self taught artist. -Kate

Question: You are an artist that licenses your designs for high tech products. Can you list the type of tech-related products your art is on.

Megan: I license my art to DecalGirl.com for Vinyl skins for electronic devices, it dresses up any device imaginable and allows your personality to show through. A Vinyl skin is a thick sticker-like material that can be applied to phones, laptops, e-readers, game boxes, you name it! I also license my art for Custom made bags/cases for kindles, laptops, cameras, Ipads and phone gadget cases


Question: How would you describe your art style and what do you try to communicate with your designs?

Megan: My art can be described as “Sophisticated Whimsy”, it’s all about having fun and bringing a smile to someone, I create art that’s both fun, but can compliment any style of décor from traditional, contemporary to eclectic.

Question: What gave you the idea to pursue tech products, as a place for your art?

Megan: Decal Girl with the vinyl skins was one of the first companies I contacted about licensing. I know that Technology is one of, if not THE fastest growing market, everyone has a smartphone, ipad, etc. and they want to dress them up and make them more personal. We use them so much it’s nice to have them look cool too!

Question: How do you think designing for a tech product is different than a typical gift product? Should artists design differently for these types of products?

Megan: I don’t think there’s a need to specifically design something separate for tech products, all of the designs I have on the tech products are also licensed to home décor companies and gift products as well. You might have to do some modifications to the images to have them fit the sizes and styles of the products, but the designs themselves can translate across tech to gift/décor licenses as well.

Question: A lot of artists don't like the idea of licensing to online manufacturers that sell direct to consumers (versus retail stores). What is your feeling about this?

Megan: I personally like the idea of licensing to online manufacturers, and in fact the majority of my licensing partners either only sell direct to the consumer or they do both the retail and wholesale side of the company. The reason I like this idea is because so many brick and mortar companies are going out of business, or they are switching their focus over to online sales. And a lot more consumers are going online to make their purchases, especially for tech products because these people tend to be more in touch with the internet and the opportunities to find great prices and unique items online.

Question: What other high tech products would you like to license your art on?

Megan: I’m working on trying to license my art for wallpapers, screensavers, Smartphone themes/apps and more options that tech users can personalize their personal tech devices with.



Megan Aroon Duncanson, MADART, Inc.
www.madartdesigns.com
www.madartgallery.net
meganduncanson (at) yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/madartgallery

ABOUT MEGAN

Items Licensed: vinyl skins, bags, purses, window blinds, wall tile murals, metal wall art, cross-stitch patterns, tea bags, prints, headwraps and bandanas and greeting cards.

Background: I’m 100% self-taught, I’ve never taken an art class other than in high school. I have a very creatively talented family and feel blessed that I inherited this creativity.

Favorite Design book or publication: Artists and Graphic Designers Handbook

Favorite Conference or show, and why: Surtex or CHA (haven’t been there yet, but it’s next on my list!) Both of these shows allow the artist to meet face to face with manufacturers specifically looking to license art on their products.

Favorite Design tip that saved you a lot time: Pattern creating with photoshop via Tara Reed’s tutorial (http://artlicensinginfo.com/)

Technology You Use: Scanner, Canon EOS 20D digital Camera, Epson Giclee printer, Several Laptops.

The one tech device you couldn't live without: My laptop, if I’m ever gone for more than a day, it goes with me, my LIFE is on my computer! Of course I do have it backed up several different places, online and physical hard drives

Companies you wish you could work with: Oopsy Daisy for kids, Ceadco , Evergreen Enterprises, Bed Bath and Beyond and anyone else who would like to license my art :D

Message or quotation you have on your bulletin board: “Life is what we make of it, not what it makes of us”

Website you visit often for Design information: Joan Beriger, She always has THE best tutorials to apply for art licensing: http://joanbeiriger.blogspot.com/2011/03/photoshop-tip-creating-textured.html

Blogs you read:
TMF (The Middle Finger Project - http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/ )
Art licensing Info (http://artlicensingblog.com/ )
Kate Harper (http://kateharperblog.blogspot.com/ )
Joan beriger (http://joanbeiriger.blogspot.com/ )

...More Articles on Technology and Art Licensing:

• Licensing Art for Electronic Devices : Artist Interview

• Art Licensing on Tech Products: Artist Interview

• Licensing Artist goes "high tech" in Surtex Booth

• How I Use Email to Sell Art & Get Leads

• How I Sell my Designs Online: Jude Maceren

• Selling My Art Through Social Media

• How Artists Can Use Twitter in Their Business

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Android Apps for Artists

Article Worth Reading. Here is an excerpt. To read complete article go to original blog post at Graphicmania.

The Android marketplace offers a great range of both free and paid Android apps. But, what makes the difference? Are your existing apps proficient enough for a designer? What are you expecting from an app for Graphic Designers? If such questions are bubbling up in your mind, read on!

When you search for an Android App, it is often better to check out the user ratings and reviews so that you can reach a conclusion easily. Here are some of the best Android Apps that cater to your interests around Graphic Design and Art.

Color Pal (Free App)

Confused about choosing color palette? Color Pal is one of the best apps available in the Android market and a true color palette tool for your device. You can readily expand the palette options by selecting a specific color on the palette. Different color values like RGB, Hexadecimal and CMYK are conveniently and perfectly located below each color.

Features:

• The color palettes can be easily saved to your favorites or you can email it to your client or friend.
• Easy swipe through features to check out related palettes.

Photobucket Mobile (Free App)

You can take your Photobucket everywhere with your Android smartphone by accessing your Photobucket account using the Photobucket Mobile apps. It is perhaps the necessity of every Web Developer or Graphic Designer to access their accounts so that capture, download or upload photos with ease.

Features:

• Manage Photobucket albums and can browse different categories.
• Can copy URL links of images from your account and post on web. This Android app is completely free to download and use.

Adobe Photoshop Express (Free App)

Looking for the best photo edit app? You can toggle the exposure or contrast of your photo or you can quickly crop out the out of focus details from your photo using the Photoshop Express app. It comes with well-packed image processing functions so that you can enjoy the benefits of Photoshop from your android device. While comparing to its desktop counterpart, it showcases limited functionality but, offers basic functions of the standard Photoshop software.

Features:

• Color-correct and touch features with just a finger touch.
• One-touch effects Vignette and Warm vintage. Photoshop Express recharges your Android phone with specialized features. This app is completely free!

To read complete article go to original blog post.

My New Calendars

On Fridays, I like to display samples of my new products. Here are two new calendars available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.


Wall Calendar



Engagement Calendar

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✓ Check out Kate Harper Designs Facebook page:

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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.

Working With Leanin' Tree

Susan January, Vice President of Product Management at Leanin' Tree, just sent me these great photos from my card line at the Atlanta Showroom.

Her, along with Mike Rhoda, the product director who worked on this project, along with several other designers in their department have been working on a gift line together for a year, and now it is available!


The line includes 32 cards, 32 magnets, 8 notecards and 6 collectors cards.


Leanin' Tree's New Showroom Display







I really like how they adapted my art to created textured surface design on the inside of the card.




And what fun envelopes!



Unpacking the Samples that arrived at home.

New Humorous Magnet about Parenthood

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

Here is a recent magnet I designed for Ephemera.

Pantone Makes Coffee Mugs?

Thanks to Victor Elizalde from the AIGA linkedin group, I just learned about Pantone Coffee Mugs. What a hoot.

Other Gift Ideas for Artists:

Things Artists Can't Llive Without.
7 Hi-Tech Gifts artists can't live without.


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Interview with Licensing Artist Patti Gay

At our annual Art Licensing Party in Berkeley, CA, I interviewed Patti Gay, and artist who has licensed a variety of Products, including the art in these photos.

She has done illustration work for cards, gift bags, mugs, stickers, clings, stationery, plates and gift wrap for a wide variety of clients.

Patti has also illustrated children's books, magazines, advertising promotions, and was an art director at Portal Publications, which gave her a good feel for the industry.

She has lived in both New York and San Francisco, and now has her studio in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Just a note: This is only my 3rd experience of using a video camera.
Excuse my learning curve! -Kate

(2 minutes)

Editor Picks: Christmas Cards with a New Look

Thanks to our enthusiastic readers who submitted their art! Here is our Gallery of indie Christmas cards for 2010!

From the submissions below, I selected 14 cards based on interesting design challenges, emotional response, and marketability. Out of those, Kathy Krassner chose the "top pick" Christmas card based on a "new look." -Kate

TOP CARD SELECTION

Kathy Krassner, owner of Krassner Communications, chose the most interesting "new look" Christmas card. She has been writing about the card and stationery business for more than 20 years and currently serves as Editor-at-Large of Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine.

TOP CHRISTMAS CARD for 2010
Rebecca Green

Kathy Krassner Comments

"Since I've covered the greeting card market as a magazine editor for more than two decades -- and personally send and receive more than 100 holiday cards each year -- finding a "new look" that I haven't already seen on a Christmas card is a real challenge! That's why Rebecca Green's design caught my eye. I appreciate the juxtaposition of the various patterns and shapes, the pairing of unexpected colors such as peach and pink with the traditional red and green, plus the handwritten-type font that delivers a well-expressed message of hope and peace. This card is a winner not only for its "new look" but for its smile factor and salability."

Other EDITOR PICKS for 2010




Comment: A playful and humorous card with bright colors. People always like cat themes.








Comment: Card with rich colors, calming image, great contrasts.








Comment: Unusual modern interpretation of traditional card.






Comment: Simple, playful, surprising format.







Comment: Humor and witty design layout.







Comment: Charming, unpredictable animal choices. Warm message of hope.







Comment: Off the wall edgy, funny, good for dog lovers.








Comment: Surprise image of climate mixes, colors and funny symbolism.







Comment: Rich use of watercolor skills to express a winter feeling. Great color contrast, although could use a tweak on getting the text to stand out more.







Comment:Off the wall humor. Good for women's market.









Comment: Modern style with interesting colors. Picasso-like.







Comment: A play on the eyes with negative/positive space contrasts. Interesting balance, color usage and textures.








Comment: Simple, clean design with interesting texture.




~ CARD GALLERY ~
Generous Contributors of Holiday Card Designs

Here is an assortment of festive Holiday Cards by our readers!
See something you like? Contact the artist on the card.


All Rights Reserved © Copyright Notice:
All card designs on this page are the property of the artist.
Digital distribution or print reproductions of these images is prohibited .
To obtain permission please contact artist.

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Ebooks by Kate Harper

You can support this blog by ordering Kate's e-Booklets starting at only .99 cents! They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer. Free samples and lending options available. You can also view the list of all recommended greeting card books by a variety of authors.

 

Get Your Greeting Cards into Stores explains how to sell cards nationwide. Included are detailed guidelines on: How to price cards for a profit, get professional feedback, find sales representatives and follow industry standards. Information is also applicable to gift items, magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc.

20 Steps to Art Licensing is a book about how to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, or manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. Learn how to prepare your art, what companies to contact, how to find agents, and what trade shows to attend. Includes extensive resources on social media, copyrights, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers.

7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers is a booklet that explains what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Learn how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use your own personal experience to create card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting your market, when to use adjectives, not creating card for enemies, write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. You can increase your odds of success by 60% just by doing a few simple things. Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, and writing exercises for how to create good verse.

Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured is 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 a special feature in national publication. 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: 22 Gift Industry Trade Publications who seek out new greeting card designs and feature artists for free.

How to Make an EBook Cover for Non-Designers is an illustrated book will show you how to make your own e-book cover, even if you are not a designer. It is intended to help the indie writer who is on a budget and wants to publish and sell their own book in online stores such Amazon.com and the Apple ibookstore. Selling your book in these stores will allow readers to purchase your book and read it on multiple devices such as the Kindle, iPad, iPhone and many other electronic devices.