Most art publishers will require exclusivity, but they will use their network to sell your work as posters, calendars, prints, puzzles and other wall dcor items. This is because there are a number of ways to sell art online, and knowing what youre going to sell and the medium in which youll sell it is an important step in the process. Put the letter on your letterhead . A fair contract will provide you with an industry-standard royalty rate. Some companies won't give you the time of day, but others . "This means an artist can do some upfront work to arrange the licensing deal, and then get . Do you have a thick skin? FIND. It can take, I think nine months is the shortest amount of time between when I finish something and when it has shipped. If you are licensing an artwork to multiple different licensees at the same time, you would need a non-exclusive license agreement. Artwork licensing is when an artist signs a contract (also known as a licensing agreement) to allow another person or company to use their artwork for commercial purposes in exchange for a fee. Thank you so much for all the resources and information you provided. Whether expanding existing product lines or launching new ones, Giordano continually succeeds in building licensing programs through his commitment to fast response and communications, quick turnarounds, and working hand-in-hand with manufacturers to help streamline the entire process. All of these companies license art onto their own products, then sell those products in larger retail chains nationwide. Then they have to produce it, they have to sell it if its going into mom-and-pop stuff, or they have to ship it, whatever. 6): Please attach up to 6 jpegs that represent your work (57 at 72 dpi, or under 1 MB each, please) Drop files here or. As Tara describes it, Heres the beautiful part. Charles February 2, 2010 at 2:35 pm. The beautiful thing is you dont always have to have an attorney. Surtex claims that they are open to any artist with designs or patterns that can be used on finished merchandise, including photographers, textile designers, illustrators, art agents. 2.) Find out why you may want to consider working with an art publisher or licensing agent like us. You dont even have to make it your full-time gig: as Tara Reed mentioned, many artists license their art only part time as a supplemental income. Additionally, she manages a column at Inc. Magazine. Licensing artwork allows the customer to be able to have options for expressing their personality. The exact amount you can make in royalties depends entirely on the deals you (or your agent) can negotiate. She is always smiling and brings warmth to everything she does. As a 4-year member of our management team, Shawn will preserve Wild Apples creative, human culture. The first thing to know is that if you create an original piece of art, you automatically own the copyright to that work without filing any paperwork, and you may pursue legal recourse for copyright infringement. Get started below! Artists can become brand influencersbecause audiences engage more when they can relate to a person, image or narrative. Our designs are available to license for over 50 products including stationery, giftware & homeware. Mock-up a catalog. TSB . We received several offers from inside and outside the industry, and chose the one that we believe will be best for the company. Most sided with Congdon. The appeal of art licensing is that you can actually license the same piece of art for usage by multiple companies on different products, maximizing your earning potential. You do need a business license to sell your artwork as a business owner, and you want to claim your artwork expenses on your taxes. You basically have to learn to put on this hat that is the doom-and-gloom worst case scenario hat, and you read each paragraph, and you go Okay, worst case scenario. So say my art is on a mug. Why not give art licensing a try? Why would it make a difference whether youre well known or not when it comes to protecting your art from theft? Stay in the loop with all things art business. Download your high resolution artwork and use it for your next project. Hi there! In fact, many of our artists make a living from their work without ever setting foot in a gallery. . what a wonderful article and a wealth of valuable information and resources. In order to proceed further with this action, you'll need to login, or create an account. Some platforms are free to use, while others have a monthly fee. However, approaching companies who are a natural fit for your style of art is a good strategy for artists who want to go it alone without an agent. You can work with a freelance artist by subscribing to one of Penji's plans and submitting your first request. As a licensing agency, MHS represents artists, brands, patent, and trademark owners (licensors) looking to monetize their intellectual properties by licensing their assets to manufacturers of consumer products. And so thats how I have found some of my clients. (The Abundant Artist Association members have exclusive access to a talk on negotiation tactics for artists in the call archive.). Many greeting card companies look for art created for specific occasions at specific times throughout the year. At The Abundant Artist, we are passionate about teaching artists that it is entirely possible to make money from your art, even outside of the traditional gallery system. Exclusive: Some licensees will demand exclusive use of an artwork, meaning you cannot license it to anybody else for the term of the agreement. Simply register for an account and we will be in touch with login details. It isnt like, Oh, Im gonna make five things, license it in the next ten years, Im all set. Its not that at all., Also important for artists to note is the fact that the pay period for art licensing is normally quarterly. Art licensing is not for everyone, so if you arent ready to dive into licensing there are still ways you can proceed to start monetizing your portfolio of work. The money you receive from licensing your artwork is known as royalties. Scope: What does the license agreement cover? Your email address will not be published. Instead of flat out selling your art, you have the potential to maintain the rights to the original work of art and instead sell copies of your images on products. Lots of companies do this when they are looking for interesting, high-quality artwork for their products and packaging. The artists and brands they represent are among the best in the business. This compensation comes from two main sources. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They have a big consumer base. The benefit of using a print-on-demand partner is that you dont need to hold any stock or make items in advance, you only pay when you make a sale and they take care of all of the fulfillment. Since shipping can be prohibitively expensive for consumers, price your products to be more expensive to keep shipping costs down for customers. This would be an exciting item for anyone to buy because people love to have bespoke artwork to decorate their spaces. Do you absolutely have to hire a lawyer? Visiting the manufacturers website will to show that youve researched them and that youre familiar with their company and that you can follow their directions. If we are looking for the next best collection we can always count on MHS. There are various e-commerce platforms that make selling incredibly easy, from Amazon to Getty Images. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Royalty income is a great help to artists trying to survive. If selling your own art takes off, you can start hosting other artists in your store as well. Limitations on Liability: The limit you will be required to pay as a licensor in the event any claim is made on your warranties. Your Website. One of the UK's leading artist agencies for licensing purposes, with over 10,000 artworks by 150 of the UK's leading artists and illustrators. In addition to being willing to create art along popular trends, fashions, and color schemes that are most likely to sell merchandise, you have to be willing to work with third parties, taking feedback and making changes that you may not feel are necessary. Some agents will represent a handful of artists and some may represent hundreds of artists, it all depends on the agency. Every art licensing deal is backed up by an agreement signed by the artist and the licensee, describing the terms of the licensing deal. Today, working from her home studio, she loves to experiment and see how she can push the limits to see what combination of tools and images she can use together to get a different outcome. What type of artwork is suitable for licensing? This is a legal contract, so its important to understand what it contains. Thats a really hard question to answer. Licensing artwork allows the customer to be able to have options for expressing their personality. The artist or the manufacturer? And Im like, Okay. Remember, you do not have to take the first offer that is sent to you because you can always go to another company if they are not giving you the value that youd like. How to Sell Art Online | Online Marketing for Artists. The best way to communicate with companies that are looking for creative ideas is to start by visiting their website to see if they have a submitting form for sending in your artwork. If you are going to start putting your work out there for commercial use, you want to ensure that you will reap the benefits of that use. Representations & Warranties: This is your promise to the licensee that the artwork is yours to license out and that it doesnt infringe on anybody elses intellectual property. Trade shows and building in-person relationships are the most common ways to find companies that are interested in licensing artwork. I want a white background, I want brighter yellow, I want a lime green. Basically, okay, you like the image but nothing else about it. This is one of the ways to personalize your email. For in-depth information on standard royalty rates, check out the post Royalty Rates- What is the Standard? Before you start selling and making income from your artwork, it's important to have all of your paperwork in order. Tara Reed gives us a rundown on the basic steps involved in an art licensing transaction: In our perfect world I was just working on this collection this morning of art, and Ill finish it probably tomorrow and Ill start sending it out to a couple of clients that I work with all the time. Licensing artwork can benefit your career by placing your artwork in front of more viewers and by providing extra income. Whether it is a simple question or a valuable suggestion, we are here 24/7. With over 150 artists, we have high resolution digital artwork files from some of the UKs best artists. Advance: A non-refundable payment made to the artist when a license agreement is signed. With a firm finger on the pulse of current trends, MHS not only offers value in the form of a continually refreshed catalogue of artwork from a variety of skilled artists, but also with proven experience and strategic guidance in implementing the artwork they select. An average percentage licensing fee for consumer products that can be found in Target, Ikea or Bed Bath and Beyond can fall between 3 to 7 percent of the wholesale price in royalties. Dont randomly approach potential licensees without first understanding the type of artwork they are looking for. Our site allows you to search over 100 categories for both fine art and contemporary images. Andrews McMeel: calendars, paper gifts, etc. 8. Because you slice and dice it through a contract, Im still free to take the same Santa Clause that youre gonna put on wrapping paper and license it to somebody else to put on tissues, and to somebody else to put on paper plates, and to somebody else to put on ceramic plates, and to somebody else to put on wall art, and somebody else to put on stickers. And so it goes through all of the pieces, like this is what you want in every single contract.. Licensing your art makes it easy to gain more customers and generate sales. If Ive never worked with them before, we have to start from scratch. Do you have a portfolio of 50-100 pieces of original work? They specialize in fine art, such as wildlife art, nostalgic art and figurative art licensing. In addition to being consistently named as a Top 20 Licensing Agency by Liense Global magazine, Licensing International (formerly LIMA), has nominated several of MHS licensors licensing programs in such categories as "Best Overall License of the Year" and "Art License of the Year" at its annual Excellence in Licensing Awards. Finally, to make sure you and your artwork are always protected from theft or . Artist Submissions Form. A very disappointing experience I had with a textile manufacturer I have a contract with is that their new art director literally altered my art. Some motifs were painted and drawn over. We are really excited about this and Id like to tell you why. Meet the press and take part in interviews, vox pops and PR opportunities. If its a small business and they only want to print your artwork once, on lets say on one canvas inside of an interior designers showroom, you can agree to a flat rate to license your artwork and ask for credit as the artist. Limited License to Use: This is where you stipulate any limitations of the use of your artwork. 3. If you created it, its good enough! Do you have high-resolution images of all of your work? Heres what Tara has to say: Contracts are part of this business. The geographical locations that are covered by the agreement. The most important step is to follow up after submitting your art to a manufacturer. After the artwork is created, the manufacturing company will make sure they have a decent place to sell your work before they commit to you. Do you have a clear understanding of what licensees are looking for from you as an artist? It can be sensible to limit the scope of your warranty to copyright protections you have already granted, as these are most enforceable. For this purpose, there are likely to be some perfectly valid art series that are not a good fit for licensing: overly political pieces, multimedia or 3-dimensional art, sculpture, etc. Register Your Business. They are professional, easy to work with, and have many amazing artists. Licensing artwork means making art collections that manufactures and companies can print on their products. Blog, guides, courses, and coaching for artists. Most companies will be looking for artwork that fits their particular niche really well and is up to date with the latest trends. Stay creative and pitch a deal that works for both your client and you! Most of our pattern and illustration work is available for art licensing. On top of that, you can also set up print on demand services so that orders are automatically printed and shipped every time you land a sale. Typically this could be 30-50% of gross licensing royalties, but may also require you to pay other associated costs and fees. With relationships forged over nearly three decades we are in unique position to help artists realize their full potential and reach international markets through a well proven strategy. Roam around your favorite stores and pick up the products. Some well-known art licensing agents include: The short answer is no. If you have other streams of income and can manage your money well and the idea of working with businesses to create art that will sell merchandise doesnt make you break out in hives, art licensing is well worth looking into. Youre like Oh, thats really pretty. A lot of products have the manufacturer on the bottom. Meet industry players, decision-makers and brands interested in licensing artwork. Take a look around your own home and notice what products youve purchased with artwork on them without really thinking about it: kitchen towels, tablecloths, cookie jars, clocks and wall art, placemats, etc. Graphic Design Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines, http://www.artlicensinginfo.com/interview-replays/, Enough has been written on the case already. These work great for jewelry because you can control the lighting and create a clean background. Tara Reed describes the choice to show at expos (or not): 75 to 80 percent of my business I can track back to either exhibiting at or going to an industry trade show. For regular discussions about copyright and protecting your work, Lisa Congdon and Kelly Rae Roberts are helpful artists to follow on social media. A few companies that license art: All of these companies license art onto their own products, then sell those products in larger retail chains nationwide. This is one of the most common questions from artists who are overwhelmed by the prospect of art licensing. Hopefully, this will have given you a good insight into the world of artwork licensing and inspired you to consider it for yourself. Subscribe to receive MHS updates MHS Named 2023 Top Global Licensing Agent. Dismiss. Please submit your artwork using our submissions form. However, if you hope to sue the offending party for any kind of punitive award, you will need to take your copyright a step further by registering it with the US Copyright Office. In the Information Age it is easier than ever to begin learning something new. Use email marketing services such as MailChimp or Sendfox to manage your email list and send bulk emails. Typically this refers to field of use, geography, time and exclusivity rights. I know it can sometimes be difficult to find the names for contacts, but taking the time to do your research can help in establishing a connection. There are three ways artists usually find artwork licensing deals: Lots of artists do one or a combination of these, depending on the terms of each contract. Art licensing is a way for artists to earn money by allowing their artwork to be used for commercial purposes, such as on products like clothing, home decor, and stationery. If a company does not agree to minimum guarantees you can ask them what other performance clause you can add to the contract. If you are looking to use a print on demand service to sell your art online, learn more about how to start a t-shirt business. Thank you so much your article. The Art of Creating Art Licensing Collections. Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. "Traditional art licensing deals allow artists to receive a royalty payment, typically doled out quarterly, for the products with their art on them that have sold," George says. Folio Art. So this is the first question to ask yourself if you are interested in licensing your art: are you willing to collaborate with a third party on every piece of art you license? So its not an inexpensive thing, but I go to New York every May. But Im gonna finish doing it this way, see how it goes, and then Ill let you know when I do a lighter, brighter version of the theme., There are some artists who bristle at the thought of receiving creative feedback from a corporate entity, even an art director, who has been removed from the process of creating the piece and may not identify with (or even particularly care about) the heart or message behind it. Files should preferably be under 5 MB and should not exceed 10 MB. Protect your work, control its use and back everything up with paperwork. Folio is an illustration agency based in central London. All Rights Reserved. Thank you so much and love to whoever wrote it. It is so rare to show somebody something and have them say Perfect, send it over. Theres almost always a change. LeaninTree: greeting cards. In the end, it had nothing to do with my original art. Whilst there are no set rules on how to do licensing, but, there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance for success. Its kind of a combination of a chalkboard, and folksy. And she writes me back, Its a cool idea. We understand our role as a service provider and prioritize our clients, always looking for ways to add value and champion their goals. . Here is how Art Licensing Info puts it in a section titled The Basics of Art Licensing: For those individuals who are willing to work hard to create the necessary collections of art needed by manufacturers, to work with the legalities of a contract, who are willing to continually market themselves and their works, and willing to work under a system that does not guarantee immediate income for the work being done, art licensing may be the route to take..