Last year the quality of entries was so high that we decided to offer a Special Studio Award in addition to the Grand Prize (which went to Zoe Ingram). The Special Studio Award was won by Daniel Roode, who won two years’ representation from Lilla Rogers Studio.

This past year has been an exciting one for Daniel, which has seen him stacked with work on lots of great jobs. Lilla’s producer Beth Kempton checked in with Daniel to find out more about what he has been up to, and what advice he would offer to anyone taking part this year (6 minutes):

You can see more of Daniel’s work here. And you can take his advice and ‘Dive in’ to the 2014 Global Talent Search here.

As the deadline for registering for the 2014 Global Talent Search rapidly approaches, we are excited to unveil one final prize…

A greetings card license with Design House Greetings! 

Design House Greetings works with super secret clients to produce awesome greeting card lines, and we are grateful to Company President Ceci Butler for this opportunity.

Have you registered yet? Time is running out – registration closes on Thursday and the first brief is release on August 5. ENTER NOW! You’ve got to be in it to win it!

This week we are sharing a series of stories from the 2013 Global Talent Search Finalists. This includes our Special Studio winner Daniel Roode, and our four runners up, Emily Balsley, Josephine Kimberling, Lizzie Mackay and Vesper Stamper.

Today we are checking in with Vesper Stamper, who was the People’s Choice Finalist…

What have you have been up to since the 2013 GTS competition?

At the annual Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference in New Jersey this June, I won both top prizes for the juried show—the Juried and the Member’s Choice! I’ll have a meeting at a major publishing house this fall. Immediately, I’ve had interest from several agents about my picture book work. It’s given me new confidence in my work and what I, individually, have to offer.

Juried show winning entry

 

I have to say that even with the huge successes that have come my way this year, I’ve had to make doubly sure that my priorities are in order. I’m so passionate about my work, it’s easy to let it consume me! But work is so much richer when balanced with the other parts of life. I’ve learned to take better care of myself and my family, and to nurture my soul, where the creativity comes from—the deepest inspiration isn’t always found at the drawing table!

If I could give one piece of advice for entrants this year, besides “trust your gut”, it would be to unplug as much as possible. Cultivate an analog life. Even if digital is your primary medium, we artists need to be as connected to our senses and the real world around us as possible. It’s tempting to spend so much time researching and promoting that we neglect the things that nurture us: nature, self-care, and especially relationships.

 

I’m grateful for everyone’s support in the People’s Choice last year, and to Lilla and the Studio Ladies for being so warm and encouraging! Good luck in this year’s competition, everyone!

All images courtesy of Vesper Stamper. Find out more and connect with Vesper here: website / blog / facebook / twitter

Taking part in the Global Talent Search is fun and will challenge you. If you get to the semi-final (shortlist of top 50) your work will get in front of our stellar panel of judges from across the industry. If you get to the final, by then thousands of people will have seen your work. And the winner wins all of these amazing prizes, including 2 years’ representation from Lilla Rogers Studio. Last year’s winner nearly didn’t enter because she didn’t know if she was ready, or ‘good enough. She was and she won. So might you. But you have to be in it to win it. REGISTER NOW!

Beth at the Lilla Rogers Studio filming Make Art That Sells

As artists there are many ways to generate income. One particularly rewarding and potentially lucrative option is teaching online. With this exciting prize, Lilla’s producer Beth Kempton of Do What You Love has offered:

1-1 e-course development advice session (via Skype/telephone) plus a free place on the all new E-course Creation Masterclass from Do What You Love.

Beth has produced and delivered online courses which have helped thousands of creative people all over the world to do what they love – she knows how to design, develop, deliver and promote them, ensuring top quality, value for money, and a fantastic community. If you are interested in teaching online, she is your woman. You can read our interview with Beth here.

Lilla says, “Beth is a brilliant, insightful, gifted – and fun – producer who I am honored to work with. You’ll gain invaluable insights from your private one-on-one with Beth!”

This is a fantastic opportunity to consider an alternative income stream, not to mention the fact that the 2014 GTS winner gets represented by Lilla Rogers Studio for two years!

Have you registered yet? Time is running out – ENTER NOW! You’ve got to be in it to win it!

This week we are sharing a series of stories from the 2013 Global Talent Search Finalists. This includes our Special Studio winner Daniel Roode, and our four runners up, Emily Balsley, Josephine Kimberling, Lizzie Mackay and Vesper Stamper. Today we are checking in with Emily Balsley…

 What have you have been up to since the 2013 GTS competition?

Drum roll please… New for 2014, the Global Talent Search winner will receive…

An all-expenses paid trip to England to participate in a major art event in June 2015!*

We cannot share details at this point as it is a hush-hush project – all will be revealed soon. What we can say is that if you win the 2014 Global Talent Search you are going to have an incredible experience, not to mention the fact that you will be represented by Lilla Rogers Studio for two years!

*Includes economy class air fare from your nearest major airport (if required), at least 3 nights’ accommodation and a daily subsistence allowance. The date and trip location will be confirmed to finalists at the final stage of the competition. Please note this prize is not transferable, the dates will be fixed and there will be no cash or other alternative.

Have you registered yet? Time is running out – ENTER NOW! You’ve got to be in it to win it!

This week we are sharing a series of stories from the 2013 Global Talent Search Finalists. This includes our Special Studio winner Daniel Roode, and our four runners up, Emily Balsley, Josephine Kimberling, Lizzie Mackay and Vesper Stamper. Today we are checking in with Josephine Kimberling…

What have you have been up to since the 2013 GTS competition?

I’ve been continuing to grow my licensing business and have had multiple lines of product launch – from fabric, stationery, handbags, gift bags and wall art, to housewares and tabletop collections, with more in the works.

I’ve been inspired to paint, and created a body of work that combines my own digital pattern work as collage with acrylics, spray paint and hand-made stencils for a unique look. I also recently signed with an agent so I could focus my time on what I love most – which is creating more art!

All images courtesy of Josephine Kimberling. Find out more about Josephine here.

Taking part in the Global Talent Search is fun and will challenge you. If you get to the semi-final (shortlist of top 50) your work will get in front of our stellar panel of judges from across the industry. If you get to the final, by then thousands of people will have seen your work. And the winner wins all of these amazing prizes, including 2 years’ representation from Lilla Rogers Studio. Last year’s winner nearly didn’t enter because she didn’t know if she was ready, or ‘good enough. She was and she won. So might you. But you have to be in it to win it. REGISTER NOW!

We are excited to share this fun new prize for the 2014 Global Talent Search from the lovely people at Badge Bomb:

Have you registered yet? Time is running out – ENTER NOW! You’ve got to be in it to win it!

Over the next week we will be sharing a series of stories from the 2013 Global Talent Search Finalists. This includes our Special Studio winner Daniel Roode, and our four runners up, Emily Balsley, Josephine Kimberling, Lizzie Mackay and Vesper Stamper. First up, we caught up with Lizzie Mackay, who has this to share one year on from GTS 2013:

What have you have been up to since the 2013 GTS competition?

What a year, I haven’t stopped! After the GTS, I went straight into plan B. Surtex in New York was definitely a huge highlight of my year. Myself and my three designer friends formed Dotty Wren Studio and took ourselves off to New York in May. It was incredibly hard work but more than worth it.

I’ve also been so lucky to work with some of the nicest clients all through the year on literally ‘dream’ projects. Honestly, I could pinch myself. I’m excited to see what’s coming up next, and to keep pushing my work forward. 

What are you most proud of from this past year?

• How far I’ve come in just twelve months. 
• Exhibiting at Surtex and turning a dream into reality.
• Being a Dotty Wren. I now count the other wrens (Sue, Wendy and Dawn) as true friends. We support each other through the ups and downs and give each other the courage that we can achieve anything. 

What are the most important things you learned from taking part in the Global Talent Search? 

• You don’t have to be the winner to win! You can make your own dreams happen too. 
• Always have a Plan B up your sleeve. That way, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t win. I firmly believe that when one door shuts, another one will open for you.
• Don’t overthink your design/artwork. Know when it’s ready, or, if it’s not working, to be brave and start again.

What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering entering the competition this year?

With each brief, keep in mind who will be buying the products. Knowing your target audience is important. Combine this with your own style and you’re good to go! 

All images in this post are courtesy Lizzie Mackay. Find out more about Lizzie and Dotty Wren Studio here: website/blog/Facebook/Twitter

Taking part in the Global Talent Search is fun and will challenge you. If you get to the semi-final (shortlist of top 50) your work will get in front of our stellar panel of judges from across the industry. If you get to the final, by then thousands of people will have seen your work. And the winner wins all of these amazing prizes, including 2 years’ representation from Lilla Rogers Studio. Last year’s winner nearly didn’t enter because she didn’t know if she was ready, or ‘good enough. She was and she won. So might you. But you have to be in it to win it. REGISTER NOW!

What happens if you invest a lot of time, money and energy into exhibiting at a show like Surtex and then you weren’t ‘discovered’ and you didn’t have the kind of overnight success you had secretly dreamed of. It’s a very valid question, but one that no one really talks about. It’s the elephant in the room when people talk about exhibiting at big shows. But I know it’s the reality for many people, and if you are one of them, this is for you:

Let me tell you something. This industry is tough, and making it big takes time. There is fabulous work everywhere. It is easy to get jealous, distracted or disheartened. But the truth is there is room for everyone, and you have to keep making pieces and putting them out in the world. People by your joy, so have some fun!

If you haven’t already signed up I would really encourage you to join us for the 2014 Global Talent Search, as it is the perfect way to do just that.

Let me tell you something else. Last year’s winner, Zoe Ingram, thought she wasn’t good enough and nearly didn’t register. In the end she went for it, and she won. And she has been stacked with work like this ever since.

The 2014 Global Talent Search is not just about finding a winner (although the prizes are pretty amazing if you win). It’s about the courage to enter, the discipline to deliver, and the buzz of being part of something exciting. It’s about getting assignments and making art as much as showcasing your work and maybe getting shortlisted, into the final, or even winning (as someone will, and it might just be you).

Don’t let this opportunity pass. Get involved in the 2014 Global Talent Search. The assignments are exciting, challenging and fun, and you will be part of something with major buzz around it.

Registration closes soon – don’t miss out on this life-changing opportunity (and reason to have fun making great art!) REGISTER NOW!

Lilla