with host artist Miriam Schulman
Today, I’ve invited artist Tara Reed to chat about art trends and how she works with an art agent.
I met her at the annual Surtex Show in New York. This is where manufacturers go to check out artwork and designers. So if you ever wondered how that floral pattern got on your Kate Spade bag- the design was most likely licensed to Kate Spade by the artist. (sometimes manufacturers have their own in house design team)
Part of being an artist who creates patterns and artwork for home decor, giftware and fashion means keeping an eye out for trends.
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In this podcast, you will discover…
- What’s trending now in art
- What’s it like to be a licensed artist
- How to work with an art agent
- Discussing the trends Tara and I spotted at Surtex (03:30)
- The amount of influence trends actually have on Tara (06:47)
- How Tara prepares and produces artwork for shows (10:28)
- How art licensing works (11:34)
- What Tara’s tropical bird collection looks like (13:12)
- Whether it matters what medium you work in (15:08)
- How changes and alterations work when it comes to finalizing a deal (17:57)
- How the number of collections Tara has to show were less when she was her own agent (19:02)
- Why Tara decided to have an agent rather than representing herself (19:54)
- How Tara ended up having an agent (22:05)
- How Tara plans her collections around trade shows (23:39)
- Feedback Tara’s agent has been giving her that is improving her work (26:52)
Links Mentioned
About Tara
Tara Reed has been licensing her art since 2004. With a degree in marketing and love of business, she did all of her own marketing, exhibited at industry trade shows and created art. In 2008 she founded ArtLicensingInfo.com – the go-to website for artists to learn about the business of licensing their art. She sold the site in 2015 when her dad’s health was declining due to Alzheimer’s and something simply had to give (and she didn’t want it to be her!) In 2017 she decided it was time for a change and joined the Roaring Brook Licensing agency. While it was a hard decision to make after “steering her own ship” for 13 years, working with an agent has freed up time and energy so she can focus more fully on creating art. She also changed her watercolor painting style and is really happy with how things are working out!
- Instagram: @artisttarareed
- Facebook: Tara Reed Designs
About the host, Miriam Schulman
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m an artist and founder of The Inspiration Place, where I help other artists learn how to profit from their passion. Through online classes, business coaching programs, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love. My signature coaching program, The Artist Incubator, helps artists go from so-so sales to sold-out collections.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and M.I.T, I initially pursued finance but after witnessing 9/11, I abandoned a lucrative hedge fund job to work on my art full time. Since then, my art and my story have been featured in major publications including Forbes, The New York Times, Art of Man, Art Journaling magazine as well as featured on NBC’s “Parenthood” and the Amazon series “Hunters” with Al Pacino. My forthcoming book with HarperCollins Leadership on how to make it as an artist is scheduled to be released January 31, 2023. When I’m not in the studio, you can find me hanging out with my husband, adult kids, and a tuxedo cat named Ebony. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for art lovers (of every passion level) at schulmanart.com/freebies
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Listener shout out of the week!
“Thank you so much to yourself and Tyler that was a fantastic podcast. I am sorting my social media out at the moment and I loved all the tips. 3 is the magic number 3 posts a week and 3 links. Everything Tyler said was just so true and I loved the tip about following Interior designers (I do love their work and should follow more) but I didn’t realise this could get followers to like what I do or even buy from me. That would be great. And putting up stories about a piece of art that was fascinating. Again thank you so much. I really enjoyed the Podcast”
~Denise Shepherd
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Great show with Tara Reed. I learned quite a bit about art licensing that I didn’t know. I really found it enlightening that she didn’t use gallery’s and other platforms. I must say though, I was a little taken with some of her descriptive words. I guess I am showing my age :). Guess I would rather say ‘em than hear ‘em. Always enjoy your podcast Miriam.
Laura.
Thanks so much for letting me join you on your podcast and share my views on art licensing from where I sit! 🙂
Tara