Often, when working on your portfolio in the quiet of your own studio, and sending things out to potential clients in the hope of landing work, it can feel like you are scrabbling in the dark. Is this on trend? Is this what they are looking for? What could I do differently to make it catch someone’s eye? There’s no one there to answer those key questions for you. Enter the brilliant team of Margo Tantau and Lilla Rogers (above), who bring you both the view of the art agent (who lands the cool jobs for her artists) and the art director (who buys the art from those artists). Their combined experience of over five decades in the industry, and the placing of art on hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of products, is unparalleled. And today we are offering you the chance to see them in action for free!

Imagine taking your artwork and popping onto templates and getting your own licensed home decor line! We’re talking rugs, canvas art, aprons, dishes, vases, little sculptures, and more. Did you know there are secrets to make your pitch catch the eye of an art director? We’re chatting about it all this week and sharing a peek at some of the finishing techniques showcased in our upcoming class ‘MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor’, and giving you daily prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Next up is FABRIC… Fabric can take so many forms. It can be printed, stitched, pieced, cut and sewn into so many things. It’s a great vehicle to show your artwork. It is very satisfying to see artwork come to life on fabric – anything from a tea towel to a sofa. It feels so important and so REAL when you see your artwork actually printed

Did you know that there are things you can add to your Home Decor pitch that make you stand out? You don’t just want to show your art on a pillow, but there are ‘finishing techniques’ you can add to a basic pillow to make it really special. Today we’ll show you… In our upcoming course ‘MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor’, top art director Margo Tantau shares finishing techniques for each of the five most popular materials used for products in this market. These allow you to play with your product to make your presentation to the client even more exciting and marketable! We hope you’ll find them inspiring, and feel confident to try new and varied looks in your product pitches. That, in turn, will make your pitch more desirable and unique. Finishing techniques are different processes that can be done by the manufacturer’s factory to enhance the

Every day next week, we are going to share a few of our Home Décor Secrets on the MATS blog, along with a fun creative prompt. You don’t have to be signed up for the class to get involved. Anyone can join in and start to explore the fascinating (and lucrative) world of home décor! We hope you’ll find them inspiring, and feel confident to try new and varied looks in your product pitches. That, in turn, will make your pitch more desirable and unique. Be sure to tag your work #matshomedecor on Instagram so we can see it.   In class, we share a ton of insider secrets, to give you loads of design ideas for your arsenal. As a result, your art will flourish, you’ll sell more, and you’ll be having more fun! If you want to thrive in this market, be sure to sign up for Creating

When you’re dreaming up your first home décor product, it’s important to consider the materials and substrates you’ll be working with. Today we’ll look at the qualities of different materials and how each might work as part of a collection. [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/128491065[/vimeo]  If you have any problems viewing the video please click here. Download the transcript here. Fun challenge: Look at OneKingsLane.com or another favourite home décor site and find products in each of the substrate categories. See how many combine substrates, and how collections feature products made from several different materials. Share on Instagram: Answer the question “What is your favourite substrate/material for home décor products and why?” Include #MATShomedecor and tag us @makeartthatsells 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

Getting paid is an important moment for any artist or designer. But it’s not always as straightforward as waiting for the $$ to appear in your account. How will you get paid? What rates can you expect? How long will you have to wait to see your fee? We’ll also discuss how to ensure you secure a fair deal for your hard work. [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/128489361[/vimeo] If you have any problems viewing the video please click here. Download the transcript here. Fun challenge: Think about your dream client and start a Pinterest board of their look. What will you include? Share on Instagram: Answer the question “Who is your dream client and why would you love to work with them?” Include #MATShomedecor and tag us @makeartthatsells 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

Let’s take a look at getting your products made. Which countries make most products? Who takes over once you’ve finalized your designs? What happens as your product progresses through the production line? We’ll be exploring these questions and chatting a bit about my travels in today’s video. [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/128486978[/vimeo] If you have any problems viewing the video please click here. Download the transcript here. Fun challenge: Sketch 5 ceramic shapes for a collection. Put pattern on them, or illustration. Do not make them the same! Have them work together, but stand alone as well. Share on Instagram: Show us your sketches, or share a photo of your favourite home décor piece from your own home, and why you love it. Can’t wait to see! Include #MATShomedecor and tag us @makeartthatsells   Want a piece of the $60 Billion Home Decor industry? What is home décor? It’s all the gorgeous and/or functional items

An insight into the professional life of an art director – what we’re looking for in art and design for products, where we find it and what makes it stand out from the rest. We’ll also look at the process of working with an art director or a product team, and a typical timeline from contract signing to shelves. [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/128486096[/vimeo] If you have any problems viewing the video please click here. Download the transcript here. Fun challenge: Sketch your dream room considering all the possibilities for products within it. Think it through. What does the lighting look like, and the rug? How does it relate? Try not to be predictable. Share on Instagram: Answer the question “What kind of home décor products would you like to see your art on?” Include #MATShomedecor and tag us @makeartthatsells *** Want a piece of the $60 Billion Home Decor industry? What is home

If you missed our daily posts on the 10 Reasons to take our MATS Creating Collections for Home Décor course, here is a round up with links!     Feel like this is exactly what you need?  *** 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 starts will take place 7th August 2017 and teaches you everything you need to know to create killer presentations with your art. Want to learn more about