We are so proud of our wonderful Make Art That Sells alumni and are pleased to showcase a series of gorgeous student work that was produced in our previous session of Creating Collections for Home Décor
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This image includes one of my favorite items from each of the five substrates developed in the MATS Home Decor course. Textile Quilt or tablecloth, Ceramic Tea Set, Metal Perforated Candle Holder, Glass Embossed Bottle, Wooden Serving Tray.
How did the Home Décor class help you grow?
Oh my gosh, I hate to admit it but I was one of those people who slapped the same artwork on everything. I learned bucket loads about presentation, how to make your artwork stand out, what an art director looks for in a collection and how you can make their job easier. (which means they will want to work with you again)
Q2. What did you discover about yourself?
My back ground is in 3-D product design and textile design. But, strangely enough I had very little experience designing artwork for a three dimensional product. I previously had designed either 3-D products or 2-D prints for textiles. In this course I learned to meld the two. I can now offer the whole package to my existing customers. Plus, I can move forward with confidence working with future customers who produce products in any substrate.
Q3. How would you describe the course to a friend?
This course is very intensive. When they say, “clear your schedule”, they mean it and so do I. You get out of it what you put into it, so don’t skimp on time and effort. It’s a wonderful wonderful opportunity. Immerse yourself. Margo and Lilla have so much to share. If you do the work, you will walk away with beautiful portfolio pieces to present to your customers.
FYI-I loved the course so much I took it twice!
See more work here: Website | Facebook | Instagram
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MARGARET MARTINEZ |DESIGN BY MARGARET
Key/Coat/Scarf Rack, Lamp, Breakfast Tray, and Wallpaper. This was my favorite one because as I got closer to the end of class, I started getting a better understanding of what to do artistically. I like the colors of this piece and I like my drawings, especially my birds. They are my little birds, I created them completely from my imagination and I love seeing how what you draw/paint can be used in so many ways.
How did the Home Décor class help you grow?
The Home Décor class with Lilla Rogers and Margo Tantau have helped me tremendously as an artist. I have gained so much knowledge on art in the home décor market and creating art for fun. I have grown in how I now approach art now, I’ve learned new ways to create and think when doing art.
What did you discover about yourself?
I discovered that I am an artist and that I am unique and special. This class made me feel good about myself as an illustrator and I just loved Lilla and Margo’s positive vibe throughout the entire course. They made you want to keep creating art. I’ve learned how to work hard and how fun that can be and when you push yourself, how you can get new and amazing ideas.
How would you describe the course to a friend?
If you want to expand your knowledge on the home décor market and get insider tips and secrets on how to make your art sell successfully in this market, then you have to take this course. This course will push you in new creative directions and you will create A LOT of beautiful art and you will walk away with unbelievable knowledge that you can use with your art and it is SO FUN.
See more work here: Website | Facebook | Instagram
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This is from the second week of class, where we worked with fabric. I chose this because I remember how proud I felt presenting it. I felt that I already had learned and grown so much from the first week. I was really excited to keep working on my collection, and I think it shows in my work how much fun I had creating these products.
How did the Home Décor class help you grow?
I learned a lot about how my art can be used on different products, how to put together a good collection and how to present my work.
What did you discover about yourself?
That I really enjoy putting together a collection of different kinds of materials and shapes – and that my work is a great fit for products!
How would you describe the course to a friend?
If you’re interested in learning how your art can be used on different kind of products, and learning about different materials, this course is a must!
See more work here: Website | Instagram
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The image above was for ceramic week. I feel the products and designs are most “me” in terms of the fun and style I want to embody going forward in art licensing and surface pattern design. my work tends to be pretty goofy and silly and I feel I was really able to express that in these products.
How did the Home Décor class help you grow?
It helped me grow in many ways. I love deadlines – they’re so important to get anything done! It was great to have the assignments week by week and that they were focused by substrate. Focusing on a different element every week really helped me focus on what could I do with products I never had really thought about before and how they can be used in so many ways. I could feel myself being pushed every week, and definitely out of my comfort zone as well, which is always a good thing.
What did you discover about yourself?
Most importantly, it confirmed that this is the work that I want to be doing. It also really helped to focus and understand what I enjoy working on (character based illustration) and just importantly what I don’t (pretty dainty florals). It made me think about the types of companies I should pursue and the type of work that I know that really doesn’t fit for me.
How would you describe the course to a friend?
An intensive focused class on surface pattern design for the home decor market. If you’re interested in getting into licensing and surface pattern design this is an excellent class to help you understand the market and how to stand out to art directors, and really get an idea of what they’re looking for and why. I would most definitely recommend this class. It’s worth the cost, especially if you invest your time into it.
See more work here: Website
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Want a piece of the $60 Billion Home Decor industry?
What is home décor? It’s all the gorgeous and/or functional items in your house. It’s a booming market that needs tons of art, with over $60 billion in annual sales. Its massive growth is due in part to the popularity of home design TV shows, Pinterest, and Instagram, and stylish online retailers like One Kings Lane and Dot&Bo.
Art directors NEED your great art!
Our next live e-course, Make Art That Sells: Creating Collections for Home Décor will take place in August 2017 and teaches you everything you need to know to create killer presentations with your art.
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