ANNOUNCING THE GTS WINNERS! Our biggest announcement of the year.
What an incredible journey! We loved getting to know the six finalists on Skype and thoroughly reviewing their bodies of work. After much discussion and reflection we are delighted to announce…
…the winner of our 2016 Global Talent Search is…
MARENTHE OTTEN!
Above: Marenthe’s final assignment for the Global Talent Search. On our Skype call, I suggested that Marenthe not hold back and go full-on Marenthe.
Giant congratulations to the lovely Marenthe! She is a true original, an iconoclast. We loved how fearless she is in creating her magical world. Because of this, and her broad range of imagery and themes, you’ll see a career that will have longevity and breadth. In addition, we liked that she had been a successful designer for many years so she understands how to work professionally and collaboratively. Personally, I’m excited to develop original projects with her as well. I have a few up my sleeve.
Marenthe on Skype screenshare and her work in progress for the final assignment
Plus, she’s a lovely person. You’ll fall in love with her!
From editorial to children’s books, from candy packaging to home decor, Marenthe has it all.
We are delighted to now represent Marenthe Otten. We can’t wait to fill her docket with commissions, licenses, and consultations with VIPs. Art directors, contact us here to get dibs on Marenthe for your projects!
Read more about the prizes Marenthe has won here.
But the goodness doesn’t end there! We were blown away by the calibre of the final submissions, and have scooped up two additional artists!
Congratulations to our two Special Studio Award Winners!
TERRI FRY KASUBA
We are madly in love with Terri’s witty and colorful art. Everyone smiles when they see her work. She’s frequently been in the highly-regarded juried annual, American Illustration, and has designed toys in-house for many years. Her work runs from highly sophisticated wit to funky/adorable. We are thrilled to add her to our agency.
Terri’s pieces for the final assignment for the Global Talent Search.
Can you find the unicorn and the mullet guy in the piece above?
ANNE BENTLEY
Meet Anne, the delightful sophisticate. As a matter of fact, the Boston Globe commissioned Anne right from the newsletter I sent out announcing the 5 Finalists! And here is her piece that she completed-right smack in the middle of the GTS final competition. Anne’s background in fine art is evident in her work. Her unique color palettes, along with her masterful renderings of individuals in stylish settings won us over. Plus, she is a really nice person! As with Marenthe and Terri, I delighted in watching Anne’s work blossom in my MATS e-courses.
Anne’s stunning piece for the Boston Globe
One of Anne’s pieces for the final assignment for the Global Talent Search. 
Congratulations, GTS 2016 winners!
And a big congratulations to all the other Finalists: Colee Wilkinson, Mara Penny, and Sharon Montgomery. This is a very intense and demanding competition, and to arrive at the Finals is a massive honor. It’s something to be proud of. Please know that our decision was a very difficult one, involving many considerations. Your work is excellent and we are confident that your careers will thrive.
A note to Art directors: Contact us to get dibs on these artists for your projects before their schedules fill up! They are delightful and I know you’ll love working with them. And I’d love to know your thoughts on this year’s winners. Simply contact us here.
A note to artists: All of our finalists have taken my MATS online classes, just saying. You should, too. Why? Because you can energize your career the way these artists have. Because of MATS, we can get these winners tons of work. Even the artists that I already rep take my classes, and we get them fantastic gigs from the work they do in classes!
Our next course, Illustrating Children’s Books, is sold out, but you can still join the hugely popular on-going Make Art That Sells courses here.
xoxo,
Lilla and the Studio Ladies
P.S. Follow the fun on Instagram #globaltalentsearch, #MatsKidBook and #makeartthatsells
Follow us on Instagram @lillarogers and @makeartthatsells
Congratulations, winners! We can’t wait to get started!
Marenthe! Terri! Anne! You are all as lovely as your artwork. Brilliant job and a huge congratulations to you as well as to the also exceptionally talented and lovely Mara, Colee, and Sharon. I look forward to seeing your many gorgeous real-world projects to come!
Congratulations to the three winners – well done. I’m SO bummed Mara Penny didn’t make the cut. She is so talented and I LOVE her work. I look forward to see what she does in the future. Good luck ladies!
Congratulations Marenthe, Terri, and Anne!
Such amazing, unique work! Best wishes on all of your future endeavors! Brava!
Proud of my hard-working and talented daughter Marenthe!
Impressive talent – congratulations to all the winners! The exquisite work is so culturally impactful in today’s market! I wish you all much success!! XO