The Surtex, NSS and ICFF 2015 Shows - A Year of Flexibility and Transition

After 3 consecutive years of exhibiting at Surtex, this year we decided to take a break and take care of some personal affairs instead. However, we did walk the shows - Surtex, NSS and ICFF - as Press. Why did we do that?

Last year we started to publish some interviews and editorials in an On-The-Road Series and we will continue doing so as we travel around the globe. We also wanted to find out what's going on in the world of commercial art and share our findings with this very generous community of amazing artists. Many have asked me to report straight facts, so here we are, with no embellishments.

I also always advise to read up on all blog editorials to get the full view of what's going on. You'll find down below several links to posts I have found so far.

SURTEX 2015

We walked the show all three days and the traffic seemed to be pretty much the same as last year and the year before. Yet some manufacturers said to me that they felt that the energy was different from earlier years, that the show was missing something this time around. Exhibitors told me that they had better quality clients approaching them.

So what changed? Several things changed and I will list just a few that were the most obvious. To begin with, Surtex was smaller and was sandwiched in between the NSS and the ICFF.

The Furniture show expanded and in addition to the first floor, it took over part of the 2nd floor where the Surtex Atelier section used to be. Many veteran and non-veteran artists chose not to exhibit this year, for whatever reason. The show management changed, manufacturers were newly qualified by the show management, and fewer artists walked the show because of the higher entrance fee.

We gathered some informal and rough data by counting the number of booths for the past three years out of the Surtex Directories for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Below is the chart that shows the results, and although this graph is not the only way to measure whether the show was a success, it does indicate that it is in a transitional phase.

I am not sure how this transitional phase will play out, but Surtex is indeed changing, for better or the worse.

In my opinion, the transition with Surtex is but a piece of the larger transition enveloping the whole design industry as there are many other ways to sell or license a design now. New technologies allow for faster communication but that's not the only change. Artists are collaborating more and more amongst themselves in the form of collectives or joining in an exclusive partnership with manufacturers.

Agents are in demand, as the costs to exhibit through an agent are generally less if they bear all the fees. And of course, if they do so, they want a guaranteed return, so they pick the best selling artists to be in their portfolio. Or, some also share the costs of exhibiting with their represented artists. Some don't show at all but they are internet savvy and do online marketing instead. Today, there are many different business models being used.

There are also other design shows that have successfully increased their marketing, affiliates and exhibitors. Take for example, the newly launched virtual world of the Art Licensing Show, where artists virtually show their work for a fee. There are many online POD sites as well as professional sites like Linkedin, Pinterest and Instagram, where visuals are the key to connecting with clients.

Yet Surtex has positioned itself as the premiere event for selling and licensing original art and design. Many independent artists still prefer to exhibit there in addition to the above venues or other shows, like the AmericasMart Atlanta or the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas to name only a couple. There are so, so many more. It would be interesting to do a survey of who sells, licenses or freelances but I think it would be safe to guess that some combination is the new business model for most artists starting out and perhaps for veteran artists who need to keep relevant.

In short, the competition is fearless and flexibility is the password for such transitional times. Even the trend conferences we listened to at the show stressed the mix of styles and trends, the transition, and the flexibility of doing business.

I took some quick notes about the themes and trends, although I am sure other blogs have done more in-depth analyses and more will be talked about in upcoming weeks - don't miss the Ask Paul Brent on May 27, hosted by Tara Reed - Paul will be doing his fabulous SURTEX trend review as usual.

Aside from the still going strong birds (including owls !!!), butterflies, sheep, dogs, cats and other cute animals are all over the market. Lettering and editorial art is still strong. Humor and cuteness was displayed by many. Abstracts, geometrics and florals are everywhere. Black and white, a classic, is again on the rise and adult coloring book line art is highly desired by the Publishing market. In short, nothing particularly new that I could tell with the exception of more hand painted art, which is finally strong enough to compete against the flat digital art that started flooding the licensing arena some years back.

The most exciting thing about Surtex this year was to meet with many artist friends, agents and exhibitors. Here are some photos, although I wish I have taken many more!

Kelly Ventura - Surtex 2015

Kelly's fine art is very fresh and colorful. Her contemporary take on florals and abstracts is for sure unique amongst the numerous hand painted artwork at Surtex this year.

Caleb Gray Studio - Surtex 2015

Caleb Grey's art is so much fun and uniquely modern in style with a fun, retro vibe. In Italian we say "simpatico"!

Giordano Studios - Surtex 2015

Bob Giordano is a veteran of art licensing. Every year he exhibits at Surtex, Licensing Expo and AmericasMart Atlanta. I will publish a full interview with him this summer. I can't wait to have him as our guest! You can find his lovely work here: www.giordanostudios.com.

Monika Forsberg - Surtex 2015

I recently interviewed both Monika (above) and Jennifer(below), who exhibited at Surtex as part of Cloverly Art Collective - such lovely and unique work!

Jennifer Orkin Lewis (August Wren) - Surtex 2015

Sarah Frederking - Surtex 2015

Sarah has done Surtex for the 3rd year, although she also exhibited many years ago. Her textile books are really cute and fun! You can find out more about her patterns and designs here: http://sarahfrederkingdesign.com.

Kate Austin - Surtex 2015

Kate has exhibited in the Atelier section of Surtex last year and this year decided to be in the art licensing section instead. Her colorful patterns stood out at the show. You can find out more about Kate here: www.kateaustindesigns.com.

Ashley Rodriguez Reed - Surtex 2015

Ashley walked the show a couple of years ago and this year took her designs to Surtex - her lovely hanging wall planters and patterns looked very playful! Her website: www.ashleyrodriguezreed.com.

NATIONAL STATIONERY SHOW

It was fun to walk the NSS this year. Of note, letter press and hand painted art were nicely displayed by large companies as well as small businesses and independent artists.

I took some pictures with the exhibitor's permission, although the lighting wasn't the best. I will publish more interviews and articles in future weeks.

Katharine Watson - NSS 2015

Katherine hand painted her backdrop wall and has block printed her images on paper. Her stationery and textile products are fantastic in both quality and design. You can find her work here: www.etsy.com/shop/ShopKatharineWatson.

Our Heiday - NSS 2015

Patricia Shen walked away from a legal career to pursue her dream and launched her own business in June 2014. Her work is colorful and fun! You can find her designs here: http://ourheiday.com/.

Mara-Mi - NSS 2015

This display was one of the best at the NSS, although my photo doesn't do it justice. The design was lovely. You can find more about Mara-Mi here: www.mara-mi.com.

INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE FAIR

I loved it! It was so much fun to see some of the trends coming in from Europe and how the interior design in the 21st Century is influenced by many trends and the flexibility of emerging designers who are also artists. Small businesses created by them exhibited here amongst large or well established businesses. Very brave indeed!

The eco outdoor/indoor themes were very present and it was great to see how they were incorporated in interiors to play together.

We saw more of exotic and sophisticated rustic textures, vibrant and neutral colors, and hand painted art was also visible at this show, along with natural fibers and other innovative concepts.

Fom Icon Mag 2015

Sylvie and Mira of Lisa Peck's home accessories company.

Sylvie's method reproduces her watercolors for interiors, curtains, rugs and wall paper - made in the USA.

Valerie Laudier

Valerie created these Japan-inspired interiors with a European twist, featuring some of her exquisite hand stitched artwork - made in France.

Ronel Jordan

Ronel has been a textile designer for 26 years. Inspired by nature, she featured these beautiful hand crafted felt florals - made in South Africa.

La Fabbrica del Lino

La Fabbrica del Lino manufacturers a beautiful stone-washed linen and other high-end goods - made in Italy.

Garden on the Wall

Garden on the Wall exhibited real plants treated with non-toxics chemicals to adorn interior walls of houses and buildings. Really nice work made in the USA.

Antolini

Antolini showcased some beautiful marble textures in geometric forms - made in Italy.

PRESS & PROMO KITS

Here some of the best promo kits we picked up from the Press Room. There were many, many more but we couldn't get them all. Watch out for upcoming interviews with artists who did have a Press kit!

Fox & Fallow & Design Design

One Canoe Two

Kelly May - Krenz

Printable Wisdom

Our Heiday

Miriam Bos

Neiko Ng

SUMMARY

We think Surtex is still a great show and per what we gathered the quality prevailed over quantity, however since the attendance of the exhibitors significantly dropped this year in all three categories of exhibitors (Atelier, New Exibitors, Veterans), it will require some stronger and innovative marketing to draw an increasing number of qualified manufacturers to make it worthwhile for independent artists to continue to bear the high costs of future exhibitions. Manufacturers are the clients, true, but without the artists there is no show.

We will continue to go to shows and explore the increasing landscape of possibilities for designers and artists. Trends are not as important as the quality of the art itself and the connections between the artist and the manufacturer. We did talk to several of them after some of the conference workshops and we will write more editorials on those topics as well in upcoming weeks - we just couldn't condense everything here.

The NSS is still strong although it also seemed smaller compared to other years. I don't have the directories for 2013 and 2014 though, so I can't say for sure. We liked the more sophisticated letter press mixed with hand painted art. It looked fresh and very crafty.

The housing market is on the raise and so therefore is the demand for good Interior Design. It's now another venue for creating and selling art on a commercial basis through manufacturing your own home decor and accessories. The combinations are infinite! Wall art, curtains, wall paper, small objects, eco-friendly accessories, you name it!

In short, it seems there have never been more opportunities for artists to find ways to get their art into the hands of their public - though this means that the world of art and art licensing is growing even more ambiguous and challenging than ever before!

OTHER BLOG EDITORIALS ON SURTEX

(I will add more as they get published)

https://blogjnet.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/national-stationery-show-surtex-observations, by J’net Smith

http://www.nicoletamarin.com/blog/surtex-2015-under-new-management.html 

by Nicole Tamarin

http://annietroe.blogspot.com/2015/05/photo-review-look-at-surtex-booths.html

by Annie Troe

http://www.annewashereandthere.com/2015-surtex-national-stationery-show-recap 

by Anne was Here

Making Art for a Living - Artist Rachel Place

We are preparing to fly out to NYC for the Surtex and NSS shows that will start on Sunday. This year we decided to take a break from exhibiting but we will be walking both shows as Press and do interviews with artists and manufacturers.

Artist Rachel Place is an illustrator and surface pattern designer who will exhibit for the first time at Surtex this year. We want to wish her and all other artists at the show good luck. See you all there!

The Moon from My Attic: What's exciting about your creative work? I get really excited about making art for a living. For as long as I can remember it's all I have wanted to do.

Artist Rachel Place

TMFMA: Who or what has inspired you in your art? My Mom and my Nana are my biggest inspirations they were both strong women who believed in me with all of their hearts. My Nana lived on Martha's Vineyard in a tiny white cottage. She always sent me letters on the cutest stationary. My mom was a weaver and taught me the meaning of handmade.  At a young age she would have me help her card and spin wool into yarn. Later she taught me how to sew. We used to visit the local fabric stores and buy the prettiest fabrics.

TMFMA: Share with us a fun and memorable event or project. Selling my first design for use in fabric is pretty high up there.

TMFMA: What's your story in art licensing? Growing up with artist parents, I always wanted to love what I did for a living. I tried so many different creative pursuits hoping to find the right fit. I learned a lot about myself from each one, but nothing was quite the right fit.

Through my obsession with fabric and stationery I learned about Surface Design but wasn't sure how it all worked. Fortunately for me the timing was right and several classes were being advertised. I signed up for a few and learned as much as I could about it.

I decided to walk the Surtex show floor last year with a friend. At that time I knew I wanted an agent so I spent a lot of my time looking at their booths to see if my art would be a good fit.

I was able to speak with Lucky Day Studio for a few minutes while the show was slow. A few weeks later I signed with them, and it didn't take long to know I had made the right choice. One of my first job requests was from one of my dream clients! Donna and Julia, the owners, have been really wonderful and I couldn't be happier. So far my work has been exhibited twice at PrintSource and will be at BluePrint and Surtex for the first time in May.

TMFMA: What advice would you give other artists that are considering the art licensing field and that maybe want to exhibit in a show like Surtex? My advice to other artists is to learn as much as you can about the business and have lots of patience and courage. Knowing all you can about art licensing really helps you know what to expect along the way. One of the things that stands out the most is having patience.

I have heard it said multiple times, but a little less than a year in I know how true it is. You just have to keep moving along and take little leaps of faith along the way.

TMFMA: Any useful tips that you'd like to share about art and licensing? Finding other artist friends that I can connect with has been invaluable. It is so motivating to feel that connection and see the great work that everyone is doing. It is wonderful to be able to ask questions, share techniques, and support each other along the way.

Rachel's website: www.rachelplace.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Place/430504417128419

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachel.place

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rachel_place

A Long Term View of Licensing - Artist Bee Sturgis

The Surtex show is less than a week from today and we can't wait to see what is happening this year! One thing for sure is that art licensing is a long-term view, as my guest Bee Sturgis correctly says in this exclusive interview.

Bee is a contemporary mixed media artist with over 25 years of art, design and advertising experience.

Artist Bee Sturgis

"Often I paint a single motif using gauche or acrylic. I scan the pieces I have painted into Photoshop where I digitally modify and merge the motif with previously painted background acrylic washes, pastels, alcohol inks, monoprints, etc. I also use digital textures and Photoshop brushes to create textural, engaging designs", she says.

She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Colorado Rockies but she enjoys taking frequent trips to recharge her creative juices. "Some of my favorite places to visit are Santa Fe, New Mexico or to the soul-satisfying beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast. I am owned by 3 little Alaskan Klee Kai doggies. They keep me laughing with their daily antics and energy," she adds.

I asked Bee to share her professional experience in art licensing with us as she has been doing it for 11 years. She started licensing her art while she was a senior designer at Leanin‘ Tree in Boulder, Colorado.

The Moon from My Attic: How long have you been doing art licensing? I worked for Leanin’ Tree for 16 years and I had a lot of access to top agents and agencies. I am a fine artist first and foremost so the thought of approaching manufacturers on my own never appealed to me. I have been more than happy to let my agent approach the contacts they have developed to sell my artwork. I like to focus on creating, my first love. For 11 years my licensing art has been shown at Surtex, and the Licensing Expo. I am very proud to currently be represented by one of the top licensing agencies in the USA, Julie Newman at Jewel Branding.

I love creating licensed artwork. I like the idea of designing art once and selling it many times to different manufacturers. I have been around the business of art licensing for over 16 years and before that I was a senior designer at a quilting magazine. That is where I really developed my love of pattern and fabric design. I was thrilled when I received my first quilt fabric licensing contract with industry leader, Cranston Printworks.

TMFMA: How does one go about getting licensing deals? What's the "protocol" if any? My agent and her seasoned staff attends all the major trade shows - Surtex in New York, Art Licensing Expo in Vegas, etc. She and her staff set appointments with many manufacturers during the show where they show my portfolio. Throughout the year, as soon as I complete a collection, Jewel Branding sends out digital samples of my new artwork to the many contacts they have in the industry. Every "deal" is unique to the manufacturer, the product, the artist, and the agency. If you have a good relationship with your agent, you can trust that they have your best interest at heart and will always negotiate the best deal they can. Your agent knows which manufacturers will respond to your unique style of artwork. This is why an agent is so valuable. They know where to show your art, when to show it, and what products will work with your style.

TMFMA: What brought you to art in the first place? Art is more about who I am than what I do. As a child I was always interested in art, music, and dance. I decided to study fine art in college and have been in love with all artistic endeavors since.

TMFMA: What is exciting about your creative work? It is very exciting for me to have an idea in my mind, to toss it around in my creative brain space, to re-color it, to re-design it, and then create the artwork in Photoshop and have it turn out exactly as I imagined in my mind. If I smile when I see my finished design then I feel proud to release it into the world.

TMFMA: Who/what has inspired you in your art? Honestly I am inspired by everyone and everything. I find that there is an element of unique creativity wherever I look. I appreciate the fresh perspective of watching a child create with a new art medium for the first time, and I am always inspired by all the professional and self-taught artists that share their art in the digital world on their Facebook pages or on Twitter. I find a lot of inspiration in the colors and textures in nature. One of my favorite things to do is wander the art galleries and shops in Santa Fe. I always come away with a new, inspiring way to see color and design.

TMFMA: What advice would you give other artists that are considering the art licensing field? Above all, new artists should create artwork that they love doing, because if you love what you do it shows in the quality and energy of your artwork. It is important to look for what is currently selling in the marketplace and to pay attention to design trends, color pallets, etc. I like to walk the Atlanta Gift Show to see all the new products being offered.

If new artists can manage to go to Surtex or the Atlanta Gift Show they can see what other licensing artists are creating and presenting. It is good to look with a critical eye to see if your work is up to snuff or fits in. The one thing I see with new artists starting out in the industry is the belief that they can get rich quickly and easily or that there is a simple magic formula to being a successful licensing artist.

My advice is to take a long term view of licensing. Find an agent you respect and trust and one that has a good reputation in the industry. Then finally, be prepared to work long and hard with no return for a long time. It takes years to get your art in the pipeline and you must be willing to continually create new art, whether you are selling or not. It is a lot of work for a pay day that occurs sometime in the future. So if you do the art because you love to do art you will find artistic satisfaction, if you do it to sell art you will find that your creativity dries up when there is no huge paycheck waiting in the mailbox each week.

Surtex 2015 - Pre-show Promotions, Part 4

OK, this is it! Here is a final wave of talented artists who will be displaying their beautiful work at the show starting in just a little over two weeks.

We will be around to interview various artists, manufacturers, and show personnel as well as report on trends. Here's hoping everyone has a terrific show - see you there!