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Since launching in 2013, Make Art That Sells has rapidly gained a reputation as the go-to place for anyone serious about making commercially viable art whilst staying true to themselves. We have been completely blown away by the response of our participants (many of whom have come back to repeat the course), and have been thrilled to see huge leaps forward in their artwork. Collection by Lynn Gaines inspired by Margo’s ‘Field Flowers’ class trend board Make Art That Sells really works, as can be seen in these blog posts sharing some of the many jobs participants have landed since graduating: How MATS artists are rocking it Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 and all of our Alumni Success stories here Here are a few words from graduates of MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor: “I felt like my world expanded while taking this course, not only through the insight

For graduates of our other Make Art That Sells courses, Lilla’s pep talks are legendary. The MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor course brings you a whole set of weekly pep talks about the creative life, packed with tips, tricks and advice from your Fairy Artmother. Lilla also shares a series of thoughts about growing your creative business, which are sure to inspire some a-ha moments. Behind-the-scenes of the filming of the course Did we mention they are filmed in her newly decorated studio, with a ton of gorgeous products and quirky vintage finds to drool over… Besides the pep talks, MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor is packed full of resources you can’t get anywhere else, including: Finishing notes for manufacturing in metal, ceramics, fabric, glass and wood/mdf (this is what helps you speak the language of the art directors, and get your products manufactured how you want) A series

All the Make Art That Sells experiences are special, not only because of what you learn and how you grow, but because of who you share the experience with. Each course offers you the opportunity to join a private online community of artists just like you – others who want to make it as a professional, who also have growing pains, successes to celebrate, and advice to share. Often class participants form strong bonds with other artists in class, organizing local meetups, becoming friends and even exhibiting together at trade shows. This class is just like that—you will share the experience with a community of artists from all over the world. You can be part of something amazing, and that is something to be treasured. MATS manifesto by alumnus Annabel Tempest Gone are the days when art school was the only place to learn how to make art and get

At the beginning of the course you will be provided with three cutting edge trend boards. These have been put together for you by art director Margo Tantau who knows exactly what is hot and what is not. You will choose one of these trend boards as your guide and inspiration for the entire course. Each week you will get a mini exercise to loosen you up, and then a full Assignment to help you develop a professional-level portfolio piece. Each Assignment will be inspired by the trend board you choose, to ensure that the work you produce is on trend or ahead of trend. Class work by Sandrine Monnier, inspired by one of Margo’s trend boards After the full five weeks, you will end up with an outstanding, commercially-viable and very current presentation of a full home décor collection, featuring products made from the five most popular substrates of

MATS classes are generally not technical classes, but in the case of MATS Creating Collections for Home Décor, we include technical guidance on how to mock up your collection ideas onto innovative product templates. ‘Happy Together’ collection by course graduate Sophie Dufresne Top art director and co-course leader Margo Tantau provides you with a host of interesting product templates for each of the five most popular materials used in the home décor market—fabric, metal, glass, ceramics and wood/MDF. As a class participant you have permission to use these rights free in your portfolio, and they will spark a ton of ideas for creating your own templates too. Furthermore, through participating in the class, you will see the work of many other talented artists, which will inspire you to dream up new ideas and present your collections in innovative ways. There is NOTHING else out there quite like this. Feel like

Attracting clients is hard work. Often they will buy or license a single design from you, and then perhaps give you repeat business in the future. Wouldn’t it be better to land an entire product line or collection deal in the first place? MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor is your key to selling more to each client. Why? Because the course teaches you how to think differently, and see your art in three dimensions instead of two dimensions—think ‘art on products’. And then it teaches you to see your art on multiple products, which work together. This isn’t about taking one pattern and putting it on several different products, but about presenting coordinating art pieces on complementary products, so your client, and their customer, wants to buy more than one thing at once. Concepts developed in class by Sam Osborne The course will make you think differently about materials,

We all have dream clients. Maybe you swoon every time you walk into Anthropologie, your heart races when you see a new home collection in Crate & Barrell, or you daydream about seeing your work on Land of Nod bedding. The clearer you are about your dream client, and the more you understand what they want and what their customers look for, the more chance you have of landing work from them. However, dreaming is not enough. You need to demonstrate to them that you have the concept ideas they want, and attract them with compelling presentations. Home collection by course graduate Patricia Lebedel MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor will teach you exactly how to template your work onto product ideas, and present these as exciting collection concepts which will make potential clients notice you. Each week of class you will create a presentation board for a series of

One of the main mistakes artists make when showing at Surtex and other trade shows for the first time is not having enough work in their portfolio. Clients want to see diversity, but they also want to see depth. To understand what you are capable of, they need to see a host of pieces. All of the MATS courses can help you build your portfolio, but MATS Creating Collections for Home Décor goes one step further by teaching you how to present your work as collections, showcasing your ideas for product concepts, making your work instantly more appealing to art directors, and therefore more commercially viable and valuable. Not only are they more likely to notice you, but they are more likely to buy more from you, and work with you for longer because suddenly you know how to speak their language. Class graduate Diane Neukirch’s ‘Field Flowers’ collection Career

“This course is teaching something desperately needed in the industry. It’s a gamechanger.” – Margo Tantau, Creative & Design lead MADISON PARK GROUP MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor has been developed in collaboration with top art director Margo Tantau in response to something she saw lacking in the industry. Time after time talented artists were showing their portfolios to her, but only demonstrating what their work looks like in two dimensions, as flat art, such as patterns and illustrations. However, as a Creative Director, Margo needed ideas for products, and felt that if artists could only show concepts in their portfolio, it would make them stand out because: She would know that they have great ideas that could be developed together She would immediately see the potential applications for their art on products She would know that they get what she needs, so will probably be good to work with