In the final two videos of this short series, Lilla shares her failproof strategy for incredible artist growth. It’s about the way she teaches, and about the way you learn and stretch yourself.

Firstly, what’s so special about the Make Art That Sells class assignments? How does Lilla tailor them to maximize artists’ growth, and what does this mean for you?

Secondly, what’s in the weekly art review Lilla does in the Make Art That Sells classes? Why is it such a major factor in the incredible growth we see in MATS artists over the five weeks of the course? And why is it such a valuable learning tool for making art that sells? Find out here:

If you feel you could benefit from watching Lilla’s weekly reviews, and growing as an artist through the MATS professional-level weekly assignments, join us for Make Art That Sells Part A/B, starting this Monday (March 2). Sign up here, but hurry!

The Lilla Rogers Studio School team

xoxo

Welcome to our ‘Insight Spotlight’ column, where we share insights from industry experts in some of the hottest markets out there. This week we are pleased to offer expert advice from Juanita Dharmazi of Galison

Primary Market: Galison’s primary market is gift and stationery. It’s a very trend oriented market. It’s very competitive and fast moving industry. I love it because it challenges you to keep on coming with innovative new ideas & products, including finding fresh new talents to collaborate.

How can this market be lucrative for an artist?

It allows artists to work on variety of commissioned art and don’t you think it’s amazing when you see your work in your favorite stores?

What is going to be hot in your market in 2015 such as subject matter, colors, products?

Metallic – different hues of gold/bronze. Pastel color with foil.

What kinds of products/offerings are a growth sector for your company?

Products that can serve as both individual purchase and gift items

What do you look for when buying new art?

I like to see something new, fresh and unique. I like art that could set a trend (so not necessarily need to be on trends). But what I like the most is working with the artist itself. It’s important for artist to be able to take direction without losing her/his own voice.

Is there any rhyme or reason to why some products sell well and why others don’t?

Trends of the season, price point, product innovation and functionality.

What is the one thing you wish artists would do differently when pitching art to you? Or what do you love that they do when they pitch to you?

I respond to the ones who do their research and pitch their art that will adapt to the company’s needs instead of just some random art. And of course, I love working with someone who shows enthusiasm toward the company.

What one piece of advice do you have for artists trying to sell their first piece of art in that market?

-Do you research and your homework. Pitch art that is suitable to the company.
-Follow up but not excessively
-Never give up. If you don’t get through the first time, don’t get discourage, keep on updating and submitting your new work.
– Continue to be positive and inspired and enjoy the whole creative process!

About Juanita

Juanita is the Creative Director at Galison Publishing, a stationery and gift company in New York City which focuses on creating well-design paper products in the form of fine art images and contemporary art and design.

Growing up in Indonesia, Juanita has always had a passion for the stationery world. She loved collecting letterheads, cute rubber erasers, stamps, and creating her own notecards for special occasions.  Juanita moved to the United States at the age of eighteen to pursue her college degree in graphic design. While doing her summer internship with a design company in New York, she fell in love with the city and decided to pursue career in the Big Apple. For Juanita, New York has been a source of inspiration, from strolling down Soho to making flea market trips and from browsing through street art festivals to gaining insight from the museum visit, she finds ideas from everything around her.

When not sitting in front of her computer, Juanita enjoys travel, food tasting from all around the world, an afternoon walk with her four legged friend and being entertained by her newborn baby boy.

Find out more at www.galison.com

Juanita is one of the esteemed judges on the Global Talent Search judging panel.

Want to learn more about making more commercially viable art whilst staying true to yourself? Join our acclaimed online course ‘Make Art That Sells‘, led by top agent Lilla Rogers. Next class starts March 2 – find out more and register here!

Here’s something to ponder on today: The longer your artistic career, the longer your creative road, so the more bumps there will be in that road. The point is not about finding a smooth, flat road (because they don’t exist in this world). Rather, it’s about how you navigate that road, swerving the bumps and creating a mental map so you can deal with them better when you encounter similar bumps further down the road.

In today’s short video Lilla gives some top advice on how to lift yourself out of a creative slump, and get past the bumps in the road of your art career. Remember, Lilla’s creative road stretches over three decades, so she has a lot of experience in keeping it real and raising yourself up!

If you want support and guidance as you navigate the choppy waters of a professional art career, join us for Make Art That Sells Part A/B, starting on March 2. Sign up here, but hurry, class begins on Monday!

The Lilla Rogers Studio School team

xoxo

The February gallery from our 2015 Make Art That Sells: Assignment Bootcamp class is now live! You can view it here:

The gallery features just over 400 pieces of original art inspired by the February class assignment… to create wall art on wood!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FEBRUARY GALLERY!

There was so much fabulous work submitted in response to this brief, and we love the ongoing supportive energy in the Bootcamp community. What a generous, talented group of artists they are!

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Want to learn more about making more commercially viable art whilst staying true to yourself?

Join our acclaimed online course ‘Make Art That Sells‘, led by top agent Lilla Rogers. Next class starts March 2 – find out more and register here! but hurry, class begins soon!

Remember, MATS is the best preparation for the Global Talent Search which will launch later this year! If you want to hear more about how our previous graduates are rocking it, check out this post and this post.

We hope you will join us and make a serious investment in your professional art career. You’ll never look back.

Lilla and Beth

xoxo

PS Read what our students say about the MATS courses here.

Welcome to Manifesto Monday, where we share some of the Manifesto artwork submitted by our Make Art That Sells Alumni.

Would you like to experience the Make Art That Sells class yourself?

Class begins on Monday 2 March, 2015 and registration is open here.

Inga Foltz 

Elise Chevry

Cindy Chischilly

Karen Craig

Erica Dekker

Madeline Faiella

Join us for the next round of Make Art That Sells.

Class begins on Monday 2 March, 2015 and registration is open here.

So today’s the day we share Lilla’s big secret for making a great living as an artist (after all, it’s the greatest job in the world) Hint: It’s to do with diversification. In this 4 minute video Lilla opens your eyes to a variety of new markets for your work and shows some samples of the kind of cool product gigs you might get (eye candy alert!) You can discover the secret here:

Exciting, right? If you want to know what the markets are looking for and how you get those cool gigs, join us for Make Art That Sells Part A/B, starting on March 2. Sign up here, but hurry, class begins soon!

The Lilla Rogers Studio School team

xoxo

There is nothing like hearing about what the markets want from the very people who do the buying, so we have carried out a series of interviews with industry experts for you. Each of them are top art directors, and also judges in our Global Talent Search (coming again later this year!) You can find all the interviews so far here (stay tuned for more to come on the blog!):

• Karen Capp of Oopsy Daisy (Market: Home Décor for children)
• Anne Brown of Studio M (Market: Gift)
• Megan Tingley of Hachette Book Group (Market: Children’s Book Illustration)
• Evie Ashworth of Robert Kaufman Fabrics (Market: Fabric)
• Mary Ann Hall of Quarry Books (Market: Book Illustration)

If you want to hear more from industry experts and professional artists, join us for Make Art That Sells Part A/B, starting on March 2. Sign up here, but hurry, class begins soon!

Remember, MATS is the best preparation for the Global Talent Search which will launch later this year! If you want to hear more about how our previous graduates are rocking it, check out this post and this post.

We hope you will join us for our next class, starting March 2, and make a serious investment in your professional art career. You’ll never look back.

PS. If you missed the special videos Lilla has been sharing all this week, check them out here:

• Good artist vs great artist. What’s the difference?
• What if you send art to clients and get back… zip, nada, nothing?
• Are you ready for a pro art career? This is how you know.

More of these to come this week, so check back again!

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.

The next Make Art That Sells classes will start 2 March, 2015 and registration is open here.

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 A class last year.

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Q. Do you think children’s ebooks are a good market for artists to approach?

A: It starts with the printed book. Then, the publisher may elect to produce the title as an ebook if all goes well. We haven’t done much with e-books.

Q. I’m used to having a feedback loop in my design process where I get the brief and then I do subsequent presentations to get feedback from a client before finalising a design. It seems like it is often the case that artists create their own work and submit it for consideration by manufacturers. You talk about using our own taste and aesthetic to guide us. Is there anyway to hone that skill and assess ones own work? I’m used to thinking about others perceptions of the work, how do you shut off and clearly see the work on it’s own terms. Are there any tips to get to this sooner?

A: I wish! You’ve articulated the issue very well. Keep exposing yourself to great work, and also hide yourself away and keep making work you like. The MATS course is the perfect way to do that.

Q. I create work in different styles from abstract mixed-media paintings to detailed pencil illustrations and digital collages. How can I achieve a cohesive look for example at trade shows? Would it be wise to show a variety of styles or do you suggest to just focus on one? I want to be a consistent brand and not give an unprofessional impression to potential buyers.

A: It’s not unprofessional. It’s fine to show variety if that’s who you are right now. Own it. See what work clients love and let that be a guide. Over time, all your different media will coalesce into one style. This happens as you do many, many pieces, so you must be dedicated to that and not give up. Once you have a cohesive style you can continue to use a variety of media.

Q. Could you name other home decor companies other than the biggies (Crate N Barrel, Anthropologie, West Elm) that license art?

A: Midwest CBK, Demcaco, Magnetworks are a few. To get more, you would exhibit at Surtex or walk the Atlanta Gift Mart, or simply go to shops, turn over products, and find names of companies.

Q. I am just starting out as an illustrator. Is it better to focus all of my efforts solely on one of the markets and try and get work in that area? Or is it better to try lots of the markets all at the same time?

A: It may be too early to make that decision. Make pieces you love. See where it leads you. At the same time, think about homing in on a few markets. You’ll learn with my courses that the work you do for one market is very applicable to a handful of other markets.

Q. After doing how many thousands of hours, at what point do you say ‘this is not my thing’? I would love to create the next Hello Kitty, Mr Men or Peppa Pig type character. I have worked on assignments, enjoyed, got frustrated, but always returned and am excited by improving my previous pieces, but this week is different. Is it possible to have success in this area if your drawings are quite frankly rubbish, no matter how hard you try?

A: Wow, lots of good, important questions. I always think that if you really love making art, and are open to learning and looking, and are willing to work hard, you will succeed. It must be a top priority in your life like any other business. The focus on creating the next Hello Kitty is probably unrealistic, and keeps you from letting your work inform you on what amazing things you will come up with. Who knows where it’ll lead? That’s what’s so fun about this career. It takes wonderful twists and turns and you get work in areas and for projects you never knew existed!

And finally, it’s not possible to get work in this or any area if you drawings are “quite frankly rubbish no matter how hard you try”. That’s why I made this course; so that you can improve your work. But it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. Think about Olympic athletes. That’s kind of what you are. You are in training.

Q. I would love to hear more about the artist/artist rep relationship. I’ve often heard it compared to a relationship that is similar to marriage. When is it time for an artist to seek representation? Artists can be temperamental and emotional people. Do you try and get a sense of the artist’s personality and business skills before you take them on? Or do you really focus mostly on their portfolio?

A: We absolutely look for someone who will be a pleasure to work with, not high maintenance, and very professional. Life is too short for aggravation. At this point, we know how to spot red flags. As for what time to seek representation, there’s no rule. When you feel you have a body of work that an agent can effectively license or commission from.

Q. I like using fabric and magazine paper in collage, however it brings up issues of copyright. How much of an image is acceptable to use, and is it just better to design your own patterns and collage with those?

A: Yes, design your own. Do not use anything current. Best is to use Dover publications. Read the rights usage information listed in the books or CDs. If in doubt seek professional advice from an intellectual property lawyer or an organization like ACID (Anti-Copying in Design).

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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 registration is open here.

We often get asked, “What’s the difference between a good artist, and a great artist?” In this very short video, Lilla reveals the true answer. Take this piece of tiny but genius advice to raise your own game, today.

Another crucially important part of an art career with longevity is having support. Being part of a creative community can be the difference between keeping going and giving up before you have had the chance to succeed. This is one part of our online courses that we are hugely proud of, as we have seen just how strong the bonds formed between artists become.

In this second short video Lilla reveals why the Make Art That Sells community is so very special, and how she sets the stage for the formation of deep friendships, creative support and even professional collaborations. Click below to watch:

If you want to be part of an amazing global community of artists, and take a structured approach to becoming a ‘great artist’, join us for Make Art That Sells Part A/B, starting on March 2. Sign up here, but hurry, class begins soon!

The Lilla Rogers Studio School team

xoxo

Welcome to this weeks’ ‘Insight Spotlight’ column, where we share insights from industry experts in some of the hottest markets out there. This week we are pleased to offer expert advice from Karen Capp of Oopsy Daisy

Primary Market: Home Decor is our primary market and I love the connection it has to fashion.. Often what is in fashion pages and on runway, will end up in home decor the following season if not simultaneously so gives you a great preview and trend board!

How can this market be lucrative for an artist?

There are so many product categories in home decor! Wall art, wallpaper, tabletop, textiles etc.

What is going to be hot in your market in 2015 such as subject matter, colors, products?

Folkloric, botanical, woodland, nautical, and text continues to be important in combination with great artwork.

What kinds of products/offerings are a growth sector for your company?

We are introducing pillows and continuing to grow our wall art (framed paper and canvas) and wall decal categories.

What do you look for when buying new art?

We just have to LOVE it!

Is there any rhyme or reason to why some products sell well and why others don’t?

Nope!

What is the one thing you wish artists would do differently when pitching art to you? Or what do you love that they do when they pitch to you?

I wish they wouldn’t pitch a lot of patterns to a wall art company. We aren’t going to pick up surface design- wall art needs to have a focal point and an emotional connection with the consumer to make sense.

About Karen

What one piece of advice do you have for artists trying to sell their first piece of art in that market? Don’t give up, but do take constructive criticism. Don’t resubmit the same pieces or submit too often. Work on fresh collections and submit those.

Karen is the co-founder of Oopsy Daisy, Fine Art For Kids, Wheatpaste, Art For Teens and GreenBox Art + Culture. She and her husband began their art company following the birth of their son. At that time, the children’s home décor marketplace had a shortage of art options that the Capps felt would inspire and truly engage children. Working out of their garage, they began the art lines that now encompass 300+ artists and 4,000+ pieces. The company today employs more than 30 staff members and is housed in its own facility, but Tom and Karen remain passionately involved in the art and product development process.

Karen is one of the esteemed judges on the Global Talent Search judging panel.

Want to learn more about making more commercially viable art whilst staying true to yourself? Join our acclaimed online course ‘Make Art That Sells‘, led by top agent Lilla Rogers. Next class starts March 2 – find out more and register here!