Happy Festive season! We are so proud of our wonderful Make Art That Sells alumni and are pleased to showcase some festive designs and products they have created for the season. Here is part 1. See all the festive showcase posts here
Renee Ciufo
Every year I design a new Christmas card and coffee mug. They’re huge sellers! I get a lot of repeat customers. This years’ illustration is a peaceful snow scene with two red-nosed deer and a couple snowmen on the other side. This card is for sale in Renee’s Etsy store
I have taken MATS Bootcamp which helped me enormously relax my style. I have enjoyed creating, because it’s not so much laborious and more of ME comes out in my art. I am eternally grateful and will be signing up for more classes soon.
See more of Renee’s work here: Website | Etsy | Society6 | Spoonflower
***
Jane Moore Houghton
The Advent Doodle Kit project was born from a spontaneous decision on my part on December 1st, 2014 to post a “doodle” a day from my sketchbooks on Facebook and Instagram. They were so popular that I had many requests to turn them into an advent calendar. The kit is available to buy here
I took the first MATS A , Bootcamp and have participated in the Global Talent Search twice.
The classes have helped me push my commercial portfolio in ways I could have never imagined. It pushed me to learn Photoshop and Illustrator . It has encouraged me to fine-tune my voice and brand. It has allowed me to feel part of a wonderful community of artists whom I trust and admire.
I truly feel like we are all encouraging one another and that feels so special to me in a world where competition can be such a buzz kill. I hope to develop my commercial art, in particular, children’s book illustration work and keep putting it out there to the world.
See more of Jane’s work here
***
Katie Cannon – A Southern Lady’s Designs
This set of 8 printable Christmas Gift Tags were created to add a little bit of color to your packages. These designs can be printed out on cardstock to make an ornament or you can use them for place cards on your holiday table. These are for sale on Katie’s Etsy store here
I took the Assignment Bootcamp in 2015. The Bootcamp Minis helped me to work through an idea by drawing a bunch of the same things in many different ways. It helped me to learn to create Icons, Icons, Icons. I hope to keep building on what I have learned and work toward creating a more cohesive portfolio of work in 2016
See more of Katie’s work here
***
Ally Bryan – Coloured Space Designs
I created this Christmas card whilst taking Make Art That Sells in the brief we had to include a train! I and then developed more to make up a set.
I have taken Mats A + B 2014-2015 and am now in the midst of Mats A + B 2015 – 2016. I have also taken part in the global challenge and bootcamp. All great courses.
I initially joined the MATS group as being a solo artist and transitioning from working in the film industry as a animator and film FX designer + compositor to becoming a surface pattern designer was daunting!. I was finding it hard being isolated and also out of touch with what was happening around me. I wanted to make the jump to work for myself selling my work for surface pattern. A completely new direction for me. I had heard and saw all the beautiful work created my the Lilla Rogers agency and really wanted to be part of something like that. So after a debate on the finical and time commitment I jumped on board and haven’t look back.
I have met some fabulous fellow designers who I can continue to chat to online with and bounce ideas around – so I am no longer alone ( a big part of my problems!) I have had some wonderful expert guidance and encouragement from Lilla and whilst developing my skills and learning to believe in my self and my new direction, I have also managed to grow and develop my portfolio. I now feel confident about approaching the market place to get my designs out there. So a big shout out to Lilla Rogers and her team – a totally worthwhile investment, a great new portfolio and some fabulous new friends! Thank you!
In 2016 I intend to approach some agents, maybe form a collective of artists so we can work together and also contact the companies that I feel my work will work suite their product lines.
See more of Ally’s work here: Website | Facebook | Instagram
***
Kate Endle
Beatnik Bird Romp Note Card Set: 10 note cards in a clear acrylic box. Each card measures 4.25 x 5.5″ (A2 style) and includes matching envelopes. The message inside reads, “Have a happy, merry, jolly wonderful holiday!” and include stylish embellishments. My cards are printed on recycled paper using soy based inks and can be purchased in my Etsy shop here
I took Make Art That Sells in 2014 and Bootcamp in 2014
I rediscovered my love for drawing in my sketchbooks through MATS/Bootcamp. I’ve been illustrating professionally for over twenty years and really just needed a refresher course on finding the joy in making art. The Make Art That Sells classes did that for me and exceeded my expectations on many levels. I really enjoy the online community that MATS/Bootcamp has created, too.
For 2016 I just plan to keep on keeping on! I see another round of MATS/Bootcamp in my future, too!
See more of Kate’s work here: Website | Etsy | Facebook
***
Emma McGowan
I created this piece for a festive Instagram challenge run by the Four Corners Art Collective, the collective of surface pattern designers that I launched with six other artists in November this year. These angels are available for licensing and I’d love to see them on cards and gift wrap!
I’ve taken Bootcamp twice, entered the Global Talent Search twice (I reached the semi-final this year) and I attended the Global Art Gathering in the summer.
MATS has totally transformed my creative process and my career. I feel so much better equipped to make art that I love and to sell it. To that end, I’m off to Surtex in May 2016 with the Four Corners Art Collective, so it’s head down from now until then, creating lots of beautiful new work.
See more of Emma’s work here: Website | Instagram | Twitter
***
Transform your art career and Make Art That Sells. Registration is open for Creating Collections for Home Decor (starts 25 January, 2016), Assignment Bootcamp (starts March 2016) and our amazing self-paced versions of MATS A & MATS B which include a huge vault of reviews from Lilla and class assignments from all our previous sessions.
I love these. I also love Lilla’s classes. I’ve taken MATS A & B and Bootcamp and entered GTS. It’s all so educational and fun.