The Lilla Rogers Studio Ladies at a recent meeting in my backyard Patty Kantlehner, Julia Parker, Me, Susan McCabe, and Kim Fleming Lilla here. I have some big news to share. Make Art That Sells is my passion: I adore teaching and I love concocting courses to help you thrive in your creative career. Equally, thirty years of running my own agency has been an amazing adventure. What greater feeling is there for an agent than to email a brilliantly talented artist with a dream job or to mentor them on a project close to their heart to then have it accepted by their hoped-for client? Some of the thousands of products my art agency has licensed illustration for. We’ve agented commissions for some of the best artists in the world on, for example, a watertower in Albuquerque, painterly pillows and mugs for Anthropologie, huge murals for a Seattle hospital
Category:Business
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14 tips on how to be a super successful creative entrepreneur
Do you want to make a living from making art? Do you want to build a financially rewarding creative career? It’s 100% possible to make a good living from selling your artwork – check out some of our alumni success stories for inspiration. And you’re in the right place: we’ve got tons of tips and advice from art agent Lilla and our other brilliant teachers, lots of info in our freebies library, and raved-about online courses that will increase your knowledge, grow your art, and fill your portfolio. Today we’re sharing some of art agent Lilla’s top tips on how to be a super successful creative entrepreneur – and she should know. Lilla has run her innovative art agency, Lilla Rogers Studio, for 26 years. Before she was an art agent, she got a degree in fine art and a second degree in illustration, then worked as a full-time illustrator
A day in the life of a top art agent
What exactly does a top art agent and born educator do all day? Having had the pleasure of staying with art agent and Make Art That Sells co-founder and teacher, Lilla Rogers, for several days in October, I can say for sure that she lives and breathes art and teaching: she is constantly thinking about what her artists and students need to know in order to thrive, both professionally and personally, and how she can break it down for them. It’s this ethos which underpins Make Art That Sells, which she describes as “an organic feedback loop”: always listening to her artists and students and thinking about what they need, and creating new courses in real time to meet those evolving needs. Much as you’d expect, Lilla’s studio is full of color and whimsy. Lilla’s day starts with ten minutes of meditation, daydreams, and checking email in bed – though
Lilla’s expert advice on managing creative overwhelm and building your confidence
Lilla often gets great questions from MATS students creating artwork that sells, and some of the common challenges they face in building their creative careers. One question she is often asked is about confidence, so we decided to share her useful insights with our readers in the hopes that others might find her advice useful as well. A MATS student writes: Lilla, I often have times when I feel confident about my art, and totally believe that I can do this. No doubt about it. I was a graphic designer before I had my children (trained in the days when I had to do it all by hand!) but my love of drawing pushed me to want to do more. I had no training in actual art as I went straight from school to graphics, but have drawn f o r e v e r! When I start on these courses
Want an art agent? Video Interview with Lilla Rogers
Have you ever asked yourself: Do I need an agent? Can I even get one? Is it really hard to get one? What do agents actually do? Can I do it on my own? How do I find an agent? What do I have to have in my portfolio to attract an agent? Here’s a special in-depth interview between Lilla Rogers and our MATS course producer Beth Kempton all about agenting. In the video below, Beth & Lilla discuss… How to know if you are ready and suited for representation How to decide which agent would be a good fit for you and your work How to approach an agent for representation What to do if you get knocked back Top tips for working with an agent Password: agent You can also download the video here and transcript here MARA PENNY Did you know that Mara was one of
We’re hiring! Are you the Manager we are looking for?
Are you looking for an inspiring role that will allow you to help creative people succeed in the art industry? Are you positive, self-motivated, service-minded and super-organized? Would you like a flexible role in a friendly team, based out of the UK but internationally connected? If so, you might just be the Make Art That Sells (MATS) Project Manager we are looking for! This is a rare opportunity to be part of Make Art That Sells (MATS), one of the world’s leading online educational experiences for artists wanting to make their work more commercially viable. We provide industry insight into the top ten hottest markets for art, and show artists exactly what they need to do in order to license and sell their work to clients all over the world. And we are looking for a Manager to be the hub and heartbeat of our team, working directly with MATS
Behind the scenes with… Evie Ashworth of Kaufman Fabrics
It’s Evie Ashworth’s turn to open the doors to her office at Robert Kaufman Fabrics. An established member of the textile industry for over 40 years, Evie has traveled the world to all production points from Europe to Asia and in between. She brought her expertise to Robert Kaufman in 2000 to establish a whole category of product specifically for quilt fabric retailers. She merchandised the line, introducing the concept of coordinated samples and print basics, including the trademarked Fusions(TM) brand, and today continues to ensure Robert Kaufman brand’s association with only the highest quality standards. Evie currently directs a large internal design team as well as several art studios abroad, to produce Robert Kaufman’s signature in-house Luxe and Gallery looks as well as a broad range with external licensed artists and brands. Evie is a judge for the Global Talent Search 2016. All images are courtesy of Robert Kaufman
Behind the scenes with… Noël Claro of Nickelodeon
Noël Claro gives us a tour of her office at Nickelodeon. Noël Claro is a designer, art director, and professor at Parsons, The New School for Design. Her experience ranges from managing high-profile corporate projects at Nickelodeon to inspiring and mentoring small design teams and students at Parsons. Noël’s professional background is rooted in editorial design, advertising, promotion and creative branding. Her teaching experience covers a range subjects including design, illustration, typography, zines, merchandising and marketing. She’s not shy to rely on her stellar baked goods to provide inspiration and sustenance to her co-workers and students. Noël is a judge for the Global Talent Search 2016
What should an art agent do for you?
Are you making great art and are a bit at a loss as to how to find clients, deal with contracts and promote yourself while still finding time to grow creatively? Then you are probably wondering whether you should find an art agent. “What I love about being an agent is bringing cool, great jobs and income to wonderful artists!” – Lilla Rogers There are many advantages to having an agent, but it is important that you find the right agent for you. Not all agents are effective. As always, do your research! This is what Lilla Rogers and her team of agents do for their artists
Behind the scenes with… Emily Kleinman of Mudpuppy
Emily is the Art Director at Mudpuppy, a producer of engaging children’s activities that facilitate creativity and artistic play. She has 9 years of experience in the specialty children’s market, focusing on product development, art direction, and package design. She loves brainstorming innovative product ideas and discovering new illustrators! Based in New York, Emily keeps her finger on the artistic pulse of the city, finding inspiration in everything from museum and gallery exhibits, boutiques, craft fairs, and street art. She is also a traveler of the world and always planning her next adventure. Emily is a judge for the Global Talent Search 2015. She’s also offering a choice of 5 products from Galison or Mudpuppy to this year’s winner! Here’s what Emily’s office looks like!