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doorknobpdf2 Make Art That Sells Doorknob special! (+ Last chance this year for Creating Collections for Home Décor)

Doorknob special! (+ Last chance this year for Creating Collections for Home Décor)

In our recent Bootcamp class we shared some brilliant analysis from Margo Tantau into doorknobs. A pretty random, niche item you might think. But what this shows you is that there are literally hundreds of opportunities and products out there for your art. Understanding doorknobs could open the door to new possibilities for you (sorry, we couldn’t resist…) Anyway, we thought we’d share a little peek into the info we posted in Bootcamp…. Aren’t these knobs just delicious? They incorporate so many subtle techniques and finishes, as well as many interesting combinations. They are like little wonderful gems of ideas…miniature product, each and every one. Here’s a quick key so you can practice recognizing what each is made of! Most of the material is glued or screwed into a metal base that has standard threading to be able to be used as a knob or handle. Great options and detail.

bhldn Make Art That Sells #homedecsecrets Part 5: WOOD/MDF

#homedecsecrets Part 5: WOOD/MDF

When making art to pitch to an art director to get one’s very own home decor collection, most people think of plopping their art on pillows, lampshades, and something to hang on the wall. Did you know that there are tons of products you can show that will help you stand out? You can take a product like a ceramic plate, for example, and indicate a raised or embossed design? These extras are called ‘finishing techniques’ and all this week we have been sharing a peek at some of the finishing techniques showcased in our upcoming class ‘MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor’ (which starts on Monday 16 May!). We are giving you daily prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Our last material is… WOOD/MDF. Wood is such a basic part of our every day, it’s something we almost forget about. Take a look around your house… what is

asentia Make Art That Sells #homedecsecrets Part 4: CERAMICS

#homedecsecrets Part 4: CERAMICS

How would you like to have a top creative director tell you all about what she looks for in a top-notch home decor pitch? All this week Margo Tantau is 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 CERAMICS. This is another ancient element that comes from the earth. One of the main ceramic making centers in China is called Dehua. It’s a fascinating area to visit, tucked deep in the mountains. They’ve been making ceramics there, especially porcelain, for over 2,000 years. Every product is hand touched and handmade to some extent. Clay vessels are one of the earliest forms of decorative and functional art on record. There are myriad ways that you can express yourself with and take your art to ceramics.

gillinderglass Make Art That Sells #homedecsecrets Part 3: GLASS

#homedecsecrets Part 3: GLASS

Did you know that you can take your home decor product pitch from good to great by adding what’s called “Finishing Techniques”? All this week we are 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 start seeing more possibilities for your art. Next up is GLASS… Glass is always a little mystifying and daunting, because it seems fragile yet strong all at once. It is ethereal, beautiful, purposeful, and practical. And we need it! Glass can be the basis of some amazing Home Décor pieces. Lighting, is a major use of glass – think lamp bases, pendant lamps, glass or crystal baubles hanging from a chandelier. Think pressed glass – something that would come out of a mold, like glasses, plates, or perhaps some decorative artwork pieces or glass tiles. Think serving

sukanart Make Art That Sells #homedecsecrets Part 2: FABRIC

#homedecsecrets Part 2: FABRIC

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

Sundance heart Make Art That Sells #homedecsecrets Part 1: METAL

#homedecsecrets Part 1: METAL

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

MATS Home Decor Student Showcase part 1 {January 2016 class}

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 January session of Creating Collections for Home Décor *** Mitzie Testani My showcase image is from Week 4: ceramics. It’s a mix of painted line converted to vector and traditional media (watercolor and gouache paint). It’s my favorite because I was able to combine typography, pattern and paint and I finally figured out how to step away from some of what I made and integrate more of my unedited, painted images. I made a ton of imagery that I didn’t use. I’m getting better at critiquing myself, I think. How did the Home Décor class help you grow? The pace and the challenges of designing for specific substrates really pushed me. I feel like I’m making better gut decisions when I work.

cbkhandcarved Make Art That Sells Want to know some #HomeDecSecrets? Join our fun free creative challenge

Want to know some #HomeDecSecrets? Join our fun free creative challenge

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 are very cool techniques that you can play with on your product to make your presentation to the client even more exciting and marketable! Finishing techniques are different processes that can be done by the manufacturer’s factory to enhance the material you are working with. Examples include: Placing pom poms, trims or embroidery on a pillow Embossing, shaping, or silkscreening on metal Painting or decoupaging on wood, etc. Example of some finishing techniques used on wood – products from CBK Understanding and knowing about different techniques is a great way to stand out, to be creative, and to show that you know how to add value to a design. Every day next week, we are going to

mt18 Make Art That Sells A day in the life of an art director

A day in the life of an art director

Margo Tantau, co-teacher of our upcoming class ‘MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor’ spends a huge amount of her time on the road, mostly in Asia, where she visits the very factories where they make the 5000+ products she oversees each year. Here is a glimpse into her work travels, so you can see just what is involved in bringing your art to life on products. *This is an excerpt from our online class ‘MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor’ which begins on May 16. Book your spot here. A day in China… Visiting the ceramic factory #inasiaagain. This is how I’ve started tagging all my trip pictures. I am both fascinated and humbled by the experiences I have as I work. I take it all in with respect and appreciation for the fact that I am part of the cycle of life here.. but also merely an observer. I learn something every

Screen Shot 2016 04 05 at 1.22.57 PM Make Art That Sells Wondering which class is right for you?

Wondering which class is right for you?

We often get asked which of our courses are right for a particular artist, and it can be hard to choose from all the awesome courses on offer! So we have created a quick roadmap of where to begin! So watch Lilla give an overview of all of the awesome classes we offer. (And don’t miss the chance to access our classes at bargain prices in our Spring Sale, on until Friday April 8!) [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/160884095[/vimeo] We have also prepared a handy PDF to help you work out which class is for you. Download it here. Our BIG Spring Sale is here!  Special pricing on all of these fabulous classes. See you in class!