Q&A with Lilla – part 1
Our ‘Q&A with Lilla’ series is back! This is where we share questions from the previous class of Make Art That Sells.
In Lilla’s Make Art That Sells classes she often gets asked about how to sell work in particular markets, so we thought we’d share some of those questions and answers with you. If you want to work on making art that sells yourself, then why not join us for Assignment Bootcamp, starting on January 5*. (Please note there is no Q&A with Lilla in Bootcamp as the focus is on creating art. If you want to ask Lilla questions directly you will need to join MATS A or B)”
The next Make Art That Sells classes will take place in March 2015, so get on the mailing list here to be one of the first to hear when registration opens!
You can see what a wide variety of topics are covered – and you might even find the answer to that burning question you have been wanting to ask! These questions were asked during the MATS Part B earlier this year.
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Q) I liked your ‘trendspotting with your notebook’ idea. How long did you spend doing what you showed us? How fast were you flipping through the magazine pictures looking for things… like just scanning the page with your eye fairly quickly and then flipping the page or more of a studying eye moving around on the page?
A) Good questions! All of the above. I just cut out whatever excited me or made me happy to look at. This is a great way to learn to tune in to your passions and visual taste. For the train trip, I had gathered a few magazines and catalogs beforehand, so when I sat down I was able to just dive in. Hard to say how long it took because I was on a four-hour train ride, but I suppose we were talking an hour or two.
Q) Is it true that if you post artwork to your website it makes it unlicensable? I’ve heard people say you should post only a few samples of your work publicly and have a password protected area for clients only.
A) We have not found that to be the case that work shown on a website becomes ‘unlicensable’. We like having a mix of work we blog, post, etc., and work that is password protected. You need to get some of your work out there so you are seen, however, and password protected art is not a must. It’s not done in the editorial market, for instance, because all the work is specific, and is commissioned.
You’ll always need to show some work on the “outside” of the password-protected site. You have to create interest in your work, so you must show some art. Then, you can offer to send interested clients your images that are in your private stash.
Think about any company out there, like Paperchase or Crate & Barrel. Any other manufacturer or retailer can copy or riff off of their products (once they are in the shops), too. We all take risks.
Do your best, keep making work, put your name on all art, only send lo res jpgs, and copyright your work. (Note: copyright arises automatically in some countries)
Q) Can you suggest any magazines you think we should all be subscribing to?
A) I love UPPERCASE. Also FLOW Magazine. And I religiously view all the catalogs that come into my home (Anthropologie, Crate&Barrel, etc.)
Q. Are licensing contracts always written up by the company or by the designer? In what situations would I be the one to write the contract?
A: We have never written up a contract. We review the company’s contract, and cross out or add things as needed. That said, we put all pertinent info in our Job Confirmation which we send to our artist and the client, such as fee, scope of job, usage, exclusive, due dates, etc.
Q. How much time is reasonable to pass between receiving a licensing inquiry (and me replying promptly) and the company’s response? If 2 months pass, and then again several weeks, can the company be considered ‘flaky’ or is this normal?
A: Here’s the reality. We—manufacturers, art directors, agents—are all so busy and overwhelmed with more than we can do. I would keep them on your radar and send them your newsletter or emails. Mamma Lilla always says, “Many eggs in many baskets”. You never know who will bite. You are sowing seeds.
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Want to work on making art that sells yourself, then why not join us for Assignment Bootcamp, starting on January 5*. (Please note there is no Q&A with Lilla in Bootcamp as the focus is on creating art. If you want to ask Lilla questions directly you will need to join MATS A or B)”
Got your own questions for Lilla? Join us for the next round of Make Art That Sells. Class begins on Monday 2 March, 2015 and you can register your interest here to be one of the first to hear when registration opens.
