The Art Licensing Blog turns TWO!
It’s hard to believe that it has been 2 years since my very first blog post… the first sentence was:
Earn an income doing what you love – I can teach you how. (soon)
Hopefully I have held up my end of the bargain. Today I am writing my 363rd blog post and taking stock of all the amazing things that have happened in the past two years.
Two years ago…
- I worked alone in my studio and didn’t know many other artists who licensed their work. Sure, I had people I would say ‘hi’ to at trade shows but there was little if any contact in between. I often felt isolated, like I was painting away on my own little island, hoping that what I was doing would grow my business so I’d never have to create a resume again.
- I had no idea how I’d come up with topics to blog about on a regular basis. Well, apparently I got over that, wouldn’t you agree!?!
- I was missing writing, speaking and teaching. I have always loved teaching and seriously considered becoming a school teacher when I was younger. I had the chance to do a bit of writing, traveling and teaching when I was a Contributing Editor with Simple Scrapbooks Magazine and was very sad to have to give it up. But sometimes tough choices have to be made to pursue what you really want (art licensing) so in 2005 I resigned from the magazine but told myself I’d get these things back in my life somehow.
Today…
- I feel very connected to the art licensing community of artists and love the sharing of ideas and support.
- I love blogging, social networking, monthly Ask Calls, teleseminars, eBooks and more.
- I enjoy helping artists find their way in art licensing through coaching and giving them that second, outside opinion of what might work for them and how to move forward to the business of their dreams.
- I feel very blessed to have built the Art Licensing Info family of sites and to have been joined by so many.
There are some who question teaching and sharing about art licensing – “isn’t it creating competition and making it harder for those already in the business?”
I obviously disagree. (Or I wouldn’t be writing blog post #363, would I?) I believe that the more educated, professional and savvy artists are about licensing, the stronger our industry will be. If artists are easy to work with, understand the contracts, the purpose and the process of art licensing, I believe more manufacturers will continue to license art.
The more professional artists exhibiting at trade shows look, and the more applicable their art is to products, the more manufacturers will want to come back year after year, knowing that they will find what they need, from artists who are a pleasure to work with.
There is value in education, understanding, community and networking – in any industry. There are many groups and organizations whose primary aim to help artists understand different businesses and not undervalue their work. Ignorance hurts us all in the end.
Of course, that is my opinion and my 2¢ on the issue. Feel free to add yours in the comments!
Thank you for being a part of this amazing adventure – looking forward to more exciting things in our future!
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
What does boiling water have to do with using an art coach?
To boil water, you have to get the temperature to 212 degrees… period. End of story. No water boils and 100, 150 or 200… you have to get to 212. But does everyone use the same method to get there? Nope!
One person might put water in a metal bowl, on top of their car in the desert sun assuming it will boil in no time it’s so blasted hot. (I’d probably try that!)
Another will use the microwave. Some won’t go near microwaves because it changes the molecular structure of things too much.
In this video clip, I use the analogy of a traditional tea kettle placed on a stove top and an electric kettle that plugs into the wall. No molecular difference in the water – both methods will make the water boil.
The difference is HOW LONG IT TAKES.
The tea kettle took 7 minutes to boil my water. Electric Kettle? Just under 3.
So the question I pose is this: Are you building your business with a traditional tea kettle or an electric tea kettle?
Both will get you where you want to go, but one takes twice as long.
The “Traditional Tea Kettle” route is to learn what you can and go it alone. Trial and error, you doing all the work, analyzing and strategizing.
The “Electric Kettle” method of speeding up the process involves consulting a coach. Someone who has already been where you are and has experience to guide you and make sure you are going in the right direction. Someone to give you feedback and suggestions. You might just check in with a coach once, or every few months. Others choose to work with a coach on an ongoing basis.
If you want to jump-start your business or consult an artist in the industry to see what they think of your plan, consider our coaching services. Paul Brent and Jill Seale and I (Tara Reed) all currently offer hourly and 6 hour coaching services. We each have a different background and experience in the industry. We have different personalities. (Although we believe we are all delightful!)
To learn more about each coach’s background and rates, visit www.ArtLicensingInfo.com/coaching.html
Here’s to your creative success – however you choose to build it!
– Tara Reed
P.S.I have to say I need to get some lights! Please excuse the poor lighting in my kitchen – we did our best to avoid the light from the windows but it’s still a bit dim… after several tries we went with the “done is better than perfect” philosophy – oh, and the fact that Craig said his arm was going to want overtime if I made him hold the camera any longer!
Why you should channel Miss Piggy to be an even more successful artist
I remember a few obsessions from my middle school years… Scott Baio (what pre-teen girl wasn’t obsessed with Scott Baio!) and Miss Piggy from the Muppets. I had a section of the basement in my house with a big table where I could be a mess and do any art or craft I wanted. I can still picture it – there was a cabinet to the left of my chair that had a bulletin board on the front. It was covered with pictures of Miss Piggy I’d clipped out of magazines.
Why I was so enamored with Miss Piggy back then, I can’t quite recall.
I just remember watching The Muppet Show and thinking she was a hoot! Maybe I wanted to channel her energy – her zest for life, her persistence and complete loyalty to those she loved.
Today, in 2010, I can tell you why I think Miss Piggy is a great role model for artists.
Miss Piggy has many traits that will serve artists well in building their business. The best way to understand my point, is to consider Kermit as the art business and not as a frog.
Miss Piggy LOVED Kermit. She would do anything for him. Anyone or anything that seemed to be a threat to her froggy, it was “watch out for the pig!” time. Miss Piggy wasn’t afraid to go head to head for the one she loved.
When Miss Piggy was with Kermit, she sure could turn on the charm. She basked him in her love, affection, complete focus and attention.
Miss Piggy believed that Kermit loved her – no matter what. She had unwavering faith in their destiny to be very happy together.
Now, your “Kermit” art business – will hopefully return the love and not try to avoid you like Kermit did to the real Miss Piggy. But on days when inspiration isn’t flowing, it might feel the same.
Ask yourself these very important questions:
- Are you as laser-focused and attentive to your business as Miss Piggy is to Kermit?
- Are you willing to do whatever it takes to keep it safe and make it prosper? Can you channel Miss Piggy’s ‘karate chop / no holds barred’ attitude when things get tough?
- Do you have the passion in your soul for your art business, that Miss Piggy has for Kermit?
If you can say an unequivocal YES to all three questions, you are on your way to a bright, creative future!
If you ever feel down or unsure of what to do, just say to yourself, “What would Miss Piggy do?”
I promise, she won’t fail you! Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed
The Pros and Cons of my new HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 Printer
In the fall my printer died.
It made me very sad but it had lived a long printer life (7 years) and served me well. Like many of you, I print A LOT of full color art on my printer. Portfolio pages, proofs for clients, submissions and more. I knew I needed a new printer and found the whole process of deciding which printer to buy to be quite confusing and aborted the mission several times. (Luckily I started investigating before my printer stopped working.)
My computer guy kept telling me to look at laser printers – the cost of ink would be less (I had an Epson wide format and spent about $1400 in ink a year – ouch!) I decided I could live without the wide format and for the occasions that I needed it, I could have the printing done online or locally.
I’ve had a few people ask what I decided on and felt a blog post to share my experience was due.
Long story short: I bought an HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 Premier. Here are the details from HP’s website:
Professional printing meets big energy savings in our Officejet Pro 8500 All-in-One. Not only will you save up to 50% on cost per color page compared with lasers1, you’ll use half the energy2.
Lower operating cost than lasers
• Print professional color documents for a cost of up to 50% less per page than lasers when using HP Officejet inks1
• Economize by replacing only individual cartridges that run out
• Print more pages and replace cartridges less often with high-capacity cartridges (sold separately)
• Save up to $500 per year on professional color printing costs compared with laser printers3
Lower energy use
• Save energy with this efficient, ENERGY STAR® qualified all-in-one instead of using various separate machines
• Reduce your paper consumption and costs by printing on both sides of the page
All-around great performance
• Get laser quality at speeds up to 15 pages/minute black and 11 color5; get maximum speeds of 35 black, 34 color##
• Get bolder blacks, more vivid color, and less smearing when using plain papers with the ColorLok technology
• Get water-resistant documents on plain paper with inks designed for business4
• Easily share this all-in-one and efficiently use resources with the embedded wired Ethernet networking
• Print up to 500 sheets without reloading via an extra 250-sheet tray (sold separately)
• Access photos and insert images into documents via memory card slots
A very nice Office Depot store manager spent about 45 minutes with me explaining the printer, how the new ink technology made the printer less expensive (ink wise) than a laser printer, etc. I even ponied up for the premier version with an extra paper tray – thinking that I could keep my higher quality paper in the bottom tray and not have to change the paper for different print jobs.
We had a bumpy start, my printer and I.
I almost bought another Epson to use for my portfolio printing because I just wasn’t getting the quality I wanted or expected from my new printer. I was frustrated! I couldn’t select the extra tray with my quality paper when I wanted to and couldn’t figure out why. So on my way to get a second printer (where was I going to put it? And I wasn’t happy thinking I had to buy not 1 but 2 printers…) I tweeted.
Yup. Twitter to the rescue once again. I had met a woman who worked for HP on Twitter when I was at BlogWorld in October. She happened to see my tweet and because we had bonded on Twitter, asked how she could help. (She’s @iizLiz on Twitter – you should follow her!)
Liz helped me figure out the best paper to get the rich colors I needed for my portfolio – Brochure Paper, 180g, Glossy. Yeah! Getting happier…
But I still didn’t understand why my paper tray plan wasn’t working! The nice Office Depot guy thought it would… Well Liz bent over backward for me and had a Market Development Manager who actually helped develop my printer call and talk to me about my issues. It turns out, tray 2 can’t be used for special paper (something about the rollers) so I could have saved some $ and skipped that upgrade. I gave him some feedback on the machine, learned a bit more about it and now I’m happy and own only 1 printer – my HP. (They gave me some free ink too for my trouble and because he felt bad that I was mis-informed about the extra tray option.)
My advice for anyone looking for a new printer.
1. Don’t just rely on websites that compare printers and sell them. Check the manufacturers websites as well when you think you have one of interest – you will get the most details there.
2. Don’t just rely on a sales person at the store. They are trained to a point, but don’t know the more technical details someone that does a lot of full color printing needs to know.
3. Ask your friends what they have and how happy they are. Ask why they like or don’t like their printer, how much them spent on the printer and their ink costs… ask! Ask! Ask!
4. Finally, don’t make yourself crazy with the decision. It can feel like a huge deal – and it is important to get a printer that will print your art well – but in the end, it isn’t worth too much time away from your art or losing sleep over!
Best of luck of happy, long-life printers that put your best art forward!
– Tara Reed
What is more important: the idea or the execution?
In spite of my fear that you may decide I do nothing but watch TV (because trust me, I don’t watch that much…) I have to tell you about this concept that has been floating around my head for 2 days now after watching Sunday night’s episode of “Shark Tank”.
I started watching the show because I knew someone who knew someone who was almost on the show. (Does that make me “2 degrees from Shark Tank”?) And although I’m not completely into it… I keep watching because I am fascinated by the business points they make. (Sometimes not so nicely but that is what makes tv these days…)
They discuss business valuation a lot(a bit generalized but still interesting).
I often enjoy hearing why each one says “NO” to giving money – a good lesson on keeping your priorities straight and not going after every opportunity but just the ones that make sense to you and your business.
And sometimes one of the sharks will come up with a different thought that gets stuck in my head until I release it onto the blog.
Robert Herjavec asked one of the entrepreneurs what was more important, THE IDEA or THE EXECUTION?
The man answered “execution” and all the sharks agreed. How many times have you heard of a person with a great idea but they just didn’t know how to turn it into reality. Or didn’t want to expend the effort, etc.
So now lets morph the question for artists – What is more important, the art or the execution?
Of course to succeed with any type of art business, you need good art. Licensing is no different.
But is the very best art always the art that gets the deal? Absolutely not.
If your blood pressure is going up, please take a deep breath and bear with me a minute. My point it that ‘the very best art’ is relative.
The art that gets the license, in my opinion, is the very best art the manufacturer knows about when making the choice.
Sometimes the artist who creates the art can influence the decision a little as well. There is something to be said for the ease of working with someone, past experience, etc. when there are a few things to choose between.
So the EXECUTION in question, for artists who want to earn income by licensing their designs, is to make contacts, know when companies are looking for art and make sure they know about yours. Don’t create the best art no one has ever seen!
The “sharks” on Shark Tank have one thing and one thing only in mind when looking at the businesses all these entrepreneurs are presenting: “Can I make money with this?” And why shouldn’t they? That is the point of being an “investor” – you invest with the intention of getting your money back and more.
When manufacturers review art, what do you think they are asking themselves? You guessed it! “Will our customers like and buy our product if we put this art on it.” Translation: “Can I make money by choosing this art.” That is the name of the art licensing game.
So effective EXECUTION in the art licensing arena means successfully doing two things:
1. Create art that will sell a manufacturer’s product.
2. Let the manufacturers know that you have the art available to license.
If you need help with your execution skills, you are already in the right place. The point of this blog and the whole “family” of sites is to help artists navigate the wild and crazy world of licensing. Tune in to the free calls. Get audios to listen to again. Check out the eBooks, tutorials and teleseminars. Hire a coach. To see all your options, go to www.ArtLicensingInfo.com and as always…
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara
P.S. CLICK HERE to see the entrepreneur in question on Shark Tank (he was sharp!) although they don’t show you the question… you might have to watch the full episode from 9/13.
P.P.S. Shark Tank is moving to Tuesday nights – catch it tonight (9/15) at 8 pm / 7 pm central. (If I create a whole blog based on a tv show it seems only fair to give them a little plug, don’t you think?) Learn more about the show…
How your art is like a pie…
I continue the “Art as Pie” triology with today’s installment: How Your Art is Like Pie. Last time I talked about your business. Now let’s compare the actual ART in the business to a pie…
The trilogy consists of:
- How your art business is like a pie… CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED IT
- How your art is like a pie… (below)
- How art licensing is like a pie… (coming soon)
– Tara
P.S. This trilogy should also be a lesson in ‘done is better than perfect’… although none of the videos are the first try, they are close! I set my handy timer so I wouldn’t over obsess, it’s the concept that is important, not that I may stumble on a word or phrase here and there. Have you tried video yet?
P.P.S. Do not take what I say in this video as legal facts… if you sell your art outright or in galleries, you don’t always sell the copyrights… to learn more, listen to the free interview with Attorney Cheryl Hodgson… click here to see the post and get the link.
What's TOAST got to do with it?
I was thinking about toast the other day… you know, when you put bread in the slot, push down the button and a few minutes later, up pops your toast. WHY? was I thinking about toast, you ask? Let me explain…
A few weeks ago I was talking with a couple: one was an artist the other was a creative business person, but not a ‘paint a picture’ kind of artist. She made a comment that to the guy and I, creating art was equivalent to her making toast. Easy. Like breathing. It just ‘popped’ out of us.
I laughed and told her that my toaster and I often didn’t get along too well – my toast was hard to get ‘just right’ – sort of like art sometimes. I’m like “Goldilocks and the toaster”. 
That conversation keeps circling back in my head. It is a great analogy so I got to thinking – what type of art or creative process is like making toast?
What part of my business is like making toast? What just flows?
Maybe even more importantly, what art or business function isn’t like making toast. What is hard? What brings you down? Makes you procrastinate? Makes cleaning toilets look like a fun thing to do?
THOSE are the things I want you to consider outsourcing. If you stick to your “making toast” activities and find people who consider “worse than cleaning toilet” activities to be “making toast” activities… your life will be a happier place! You will get more done, have more fun and enjoy the ride.
I’ll go make my “Making Toast Activity” / “Worse Than Cleaning Toilets Activity” list and you make yours. Let’s compare notes later, OK?
Just a little food for thought…
– Tara
How your art business is like a pie…
I have used this “pie” analogy on several occasions and people seem to like it. Either we are a pie-eating nation or it helps people get to their ‘a-ha’ moment. So one day I decided to actually make pie out of my art (which was conveniently on fabric) and create a video to really make it hit home.
This is the first in a triology of “Art as Pie” videos by yours truly, Tara Reed. I have a sewing machine, glue gun and FlipVideo and I’m not afraid to use them! (I will warn you though – glue guns do create HOT glue so try not to get big globs on your fingers… ouch!)
The trilogy consists of:
- How your art business is like a pie… (below)
- How your art is like a pie… (coming soon)
- How art licensing is like a pie… (coming just the other side of soon)
Sit back, watch and consider. My goal is to keep you thinking about what you are doing with your art and business so you don’t turn into artistic hamsters on the wheel of life!
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara
A gift for artists: One hour "Ask" call replay with attorney Cheryl Hodgson is available for FREE!
It’s like Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa) in July!
Last night’s call was amazing! I am so excited to add Cheryl to the “Art Licensing Info” team of experts willing to share their knowledge. I learned a lot and am sure you will too. I was talking with Cheryl this morning and told her that I wanted everyone to have the chance to get to know her by listening to the audio – what did she think about me just giving it to everyone?
I am happy to report that she agreed! So like Paul Brent, Cheryl’s first call will be available for free and I do believe we will have her as an “Ask Guest” again. I’m working on a list of ideas for eBooks and maybe even teleseminars – she has great knowledge of the industry and delivers it in a very ‘listener friendly’ style… you’ll see.
Here is what we covered:
- What are the dangers of being sued as a sole proprietorship with no employees? What steps would you suggest to protect yourself from them?
- I photograph vintage cars and license my images to art publishers. Am I infringing on copyrights when I photograph old Fords or Chevys? Do I need a property release?
- I am a Nashville based artist and a portion of my portfolio includes painted images of local landmarks. I have sold many of these images already but have been asked to reproduce some in a postcard collection. If I’ve already sold the originals, do I still have the right to reproduce them in this manner? The original was purchased by a local collector from a gallery that represents my work.
- I hear so many conflicting reports about loading my artwork on websites! Is there any “red light” language we should look for before uploading our art?
- What are the most common disputes that arise between licensors and licensees?
- The difference between trademarks and copyrights as well as what and when to trademark. (And why it is so much more expensive than copyrights.)
- I have many collections of art that I am copyrighting. Because there are so many pieces, I would like to group them in as few bundles as possible (to save $). I have heard of artists doing quarterly registrations like that. How many pieces of art can safely go into a collection and what would be too much? I want to cover my bases, be cost effective, but also adequately protect my art.
- I frequently register my art with the US Copyright office, but consistently discover my work being copied on sites like Etsy. “Police-ing” the offenders is such a time waster, but it seems necessary. Do you have any advice on how I can protect myself, other than officially copyrighting my art?
- How can I protect artwork that is on my website? Should all my image collections be sent to the Washington DC copyright office to be formally copyrighted prior to making presentations?
- How do I find a good lawyer to negotiate my licensing contracts? I have tried a regular lawyer who was a friend of the family, a lawyer in the publishing field, and a contract attorney. All of them have been very expensive and did not adequately cover my rights (which became obvious when issues came up after signing). What kind of lawyer do I need, how do I find him or her, and how do I know if they are good at what they do? Also, do you recommend using a lawyer in your area or is working remotely fine?
(Note from Tara: “Great attorney answering the questions, your search just might be over!”) - What are the top 3 most important things that you should be aware of before signing a contract with a manufacturer?
- If an artist licenses one part of a large piece of art, can that artist also license another part of the same art as long as it is not the same part?
Be sure to visit Cheryl’s site www.brand-aide.com for a free chapter of the BRANDAIDE Internet Enforcement Manual and to get on the mailing list for her monthly Ezine.
She also sent me the 2 PDFs she refers to in the call you for as well…
Click here for the “Brand Dream Team” pdf…
Click here for information about why you would trademark your name…
Now, here’s the link you’ve all been waiting for… CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE REPLAY.
Enjoy this gift and be sure to take advantage – it is well worth your time to listen!
– Tara
P.S. To see past audio replays that are available for sale, CLICK HERE… a nominal fee to listen and learn in the convenience of your own home!
P.P.S. Someone commented about the call on my Facebook page and I forwarded it to Cheryl, she said, “It would be cool if someone wrote on my wall!” So let’s show her some love… go be friends and tell her how much you appreciated her efforts… (I need to chat with her about a Facebook address… just login and search “Cheryl L. Hodgson” – she’s in Los Angeles but you’ll recognize the photo.)
6 Things I’ve Learned About Art Licensing in My 6 Years…
The 2009 SURTEX Show marked my 6th spring exhibiting my art and pursuing licensing as a business. When I walked into my first booth at the Licensing International Expo in 2004, I was so nervous I wasn’t sure I would make it through the day. Would my art be well received or would I have flown across the entire country and spent thousands of dollars to sit alone in my booth? Self-doubt, nerves, excited anticipation mark the beginning of most shows although now the confidence factor is big and self-doubt a fleeting thought I have learned to kick to the curb.
During these years, we’ve had quite an interesting economy. The stock market has plummeted, stores have closed, huge companies that last year seemed untouchable face closing their doors. But you can’t watch the news and sit in a state of fear. Life must go on and business is still being conducted. Many artists who have been licensing their art for 10, 15 and 20 years are lamenting the changes in the way business is done and the size of royalty checks. But we are in the CURRENT economy, not that of 15 years ago. So how do you work TODAY?
So after my 6th show, I thought I’d share six bits of wisdom that have kept me moving forward.
- Be true to your art…
Don’t try and be something you aren’t artistically. Know what you are good at, what you love and what seems to “flow” for you. Trying to be the next isn’t the way to go… be the next YOU! - Watch your pennies…
I think Benjamin Franklin was on to something. Being in business doesn’t have to mean being in big debt. Yes, you will need to invest in your business when you are starting but manage your investments. Do you need a website that costs thousands to have someone design when you are starting? No. Get a free blog to show some of your work and style and grow as your business grows. - Watch your time…
How are you spending your time? Be sure to check yourself occasionally. As you work on art, or marketing or other things around the studio ask yourself, “Is this activity going to bring in income or am I avoiding something else I should be doing?” It is amazing how the mind can make you decide something is urgent when what you are really doing is avoiding something hard or scary. - Keep a positive attitude…
Ever notice how people who always expect bad things to happen seem to get just that? One drama after another. So keep your mind focused on where you want to go and celebrate every step along the way. There are so many small successes along the path of building a business, don’t belittle them. Get good feedback about your work? Sit and pat yourself on the back for a few minutes. Be your own best cheerleader and you will have a lot more fun and stay inspired. - Stay in touch with the market…
Licensing your art is creating art for commercial purposes. Your art is used to sell someone else’s product. So you do need to balance your own creative vision with what is selling in the stores. Keep your eyes open for what you see on the shelves, in magazines, etc. - Have fun…
Even though Ben Franklin was onto something with the pennies, I’m not as hip to the saying, “It wouldn’t be called work if it was fun.” Hogwash! If you are in business for yourself, why shouldn’t you enjoy it? Life is short, work is a big part of it, so make it something you love. Yes, there are parts of running a business that you don’t like. But guess what? Your ‘yuck’ jobs will be someone else’s fun job. As you grow, outsource the things you dislike – I give you permission.
Here’s to your creative success – Tara
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