I just received this interview that Terrys Fabrics Co, UK conducted with me and am delighted to share it. Thank you to Terrys Fabrics!
For the top 5 choices above, Number 2 is from Lori Siebert Studio Blog, and number 4 are tea towels from Robin Pickens.
Phyllis
I attended the Atlanta Gift Market last week, a trip that I always enjoy and wanted to share some of my photos. I love to attend market and while there, check out new products and trends, as well as meet up with friends. Atlanta is considered the best of all the gift markets.
Needless to say, July in Atlanta is so NOT cool, so I really enjoyed seeing Christmas with snow in some of the showroom windows. I felt cooler just looking at these windows. This white reindeer was in the Cody Foster and Co. showroom. This reindeer, combined with snow-covered white trees, made me instantly feel cooler.
This whole display in the Mark Roberts showroom was really refreshing and had me on the verge of singing “Jingle Bells” (well not really since I can’t carry a tune). They did have another deer that was singing Christmas songs, but I didn’t join in.
I love looking at the displays at Market. This vintage bicycle was standing outside the Vintage showroom and was one of several vintage type bicycles I saw displayed throughout Market.
The Kalalou showroom is always on my list to visit as it’s always fun to see what they will display at the entrance to their showroom. This huge elephant greeted their visitors this time.
I walked the market a little while with friend and talented artist Jane Maday. We went by the Evergreen Enterprises showroom to see the display of the very cute baby products using her art.
A bunch of us artists meet up during market to catch up with each other and to participate in lots of talking. This group includes Genevieve Gail (standing), Shelly Comiskey, Karen Embry, Chad Barrett, Dan DiPaolo, Robin Davis, Caroline Simas, Paula Joerling, Jan Beach, and myself.
I also returned home with lots of work, so it’s back to the “drawing board”.
Phyllis
Lori Siebert, a very successful licensing artist, tells why she is excited about being a part of the artist retreat ArtBizJam next month. Lori, licensing artist Paula Joerling, and product developer Anne Brown and I will be hosting a fun packed and educational artist’s retreat at the beach in Destin, Fl. It promises to be an unforgettable weekend.
You can find out more at www.Artbizjam.com
In addition to happy hours, a shrimp boil and lots of freebies and surprises we will also be sharing valuable information on running an art-driven business.
We are keeping this gathering small and we are almost at full capacity. Also registration closes on August 10th (Saturday).
For the past month I have been sharing interviews with the “instructors” that will be participating. This weeks interview is with Lori Siebert but be sure to check out interviews with and Anne and myself.
Why did you want to be involved with ArtBizJam?
What will people get out of attending this particular workshop?
What will people get out of attending this particular workshop?
A lot of camaraderie, fun, bonding and support from other creative people…thought provoking conversation about your dreams and goals, practical classes about the business side of things, good fun, wine, the beach.
What makes this workshop/retreat special and different from other workshops?
When we talked about how to make this different,we decided on two things…make it small and intimate so we can really cater to the people who attend…and make it about BOTH side of the brain. We all love to create…that is a given…but,we also have to find ways to be efficient and make money…so we can continue to make a living creatively. This is what we want to share.
How do you reconcile your passion of creating art with the business side of art?
I am really lucky in that my husband is my business partner and we have an agent,CourtneyDavis. I really do get to focus on the creative. But,it is important to have an understanding of our business as a whole and where it is going.
What are you looking forward to fun-wise with ArtBizJam?
Time with really great, creative folks…great food,sharing,learning from one another…an overall re-charge!
You can read more about the classes, schedule, instructors at ArtBizJam. If you have any questions, please contact me or one of the other instructors.
We hope to see you at ArtBizJam!
Phyllis
This week’s interview is with Anne Brown, Director of Product Development for Magnet Works and Studio M. As an artist, I find it completely spellbinding listening to Anne talk about the development side of creating product lines. You can have the opportunity to learn from Anne as one of the instructors at ArtBizJam, an artist retreat/workshop taking place in Destin, FL September 18-22, 2013.
You can join Anne, licensing artists Lori Siebert, Paula Joerling and myself for fun on the beach, a little wine and lots of information about the business side of art licensing as well as creative play time with new techniques!
We want to keep it small so that some of the discussions can be tailored to your specific needs. We are almost full and registration closes August 10.
You can find all the details at ArtBizJam.com
Among other things, Anne will be discussing the following topics at ABJ.
1. Finding Your Creative Spark. Everyone has one but some have yet to define and commit to it. Anne will discuss the importance of identifying your Spark, what ignites it and how to stay true to it.
2. Share Your Spark. Learn from a Product Developer ! Anne will discuss her perspective of what a product developer wants to see in portfolio presentations and their expectations during development. You will learn how to determine which products best work for your artwork.
3. Ignite Your Spark. A trending field trip to learn the in’s and out’s of determining trends, plus much more information on correctly predicting trends.
You can see the full class schedule for ArtBizJam.
Anne’s Interview:
Why did you want to be involved with ArtBizJam?
When Lori, Paula and Phyllis called me to share their vision for the retreat, I was inspired by their passion and purpose. I was thrilled to be included as a guest teacher.
What will people get out of attending this particular workshop?
I hope the participants walk away with a better sense of their creative purpose and tools to enrich their business and art.
What makes this workshop/retreat special and different from other workshops?
ArtBizJam is a creative renewal that encourages realness, vision and kinship. I love that it was tailor-made for an intimate group of artists who are interested in growing personally and professionally while having a blast doing it!
How do you reconcile your passion of developing product with the business side of art?
My passion and job is developing products with licensed artists and designers. As a Product Developer, it is crucial I am always looking through the lens of my retail customer and end consumer. This means there are times I have to pass on an artist I admire personally because it is not the right fit for my product.
What are you looking forward to fun-wise with ArtBizJam?
I am looking forward to a long weekend of learning, sharing and creativity…on the beach. Our hostesses have taken great care in planning every detail and know this will be a memorable weekend!
We look forward to seeing you at ArtBiz Jam!
Phyllis
This week we are starting a series of interviews with the instructors at ArtBizJam, which is a creative/art business retreat being held in Destin, FL September 18-22, 2013. The instructors along with myself are Anne Brown, Director of Product Development at Magnet Works and Studio M and artists Lori Siebert and Paula Joerling. My name was drawn out of the proverbial “hat” to be the first interviewee!
I just returned from the the Atlanta Gift Market, which is always a favorite trip of mine! There is always so much visually stimulating eye candy, swirls of color, and great times meeting up with friends.
The trends I saw this time in still bold colors, were bags. Bags, bags, bags, everywhere – tote bags and purses. The gift showrooms all had some kind of bag as well as jewelry and most likely some kind of clothing like a top or scarf. As far as motifs, the owl was still who-who-ing away.
As artists, we have so much fun getting together and networking, and it’s vital to our business. (Who says you can’t have fun while working!) Since all of us teachers at ArtBizJam were at Market, Paula Joerling, who lives a couple of blocks from Market, had us all over (picture above – Anne Brown (Anne is the Director of Product Development of Studio M at Magnet Works), Lori Siebert, Paula and myself). We had a blast planning and talking about the ArtBizJam retreat that we are hosting in September. We also came up with lots of surprises for the retreat to make it even more fun and memorable.
ArtBizJam is an artist retreat being held in the coastal town of Destin, Florida, September 18-22, 2013. The focus will be on maximazing your business growth, creative time, as well as lots of fun, networking and great food. Please check out the ArtBizJam website to read all the details. Spaces are limited so please sign up soon if you plan to be a part of this “happening” so that you don’t miss out!
The above image was created for us as a surprise by artist Robin Davis who is just as excited about ArtBizJam as we are and wanted to show all that you will experience at ArtBizJam! She captured it perfectly!
Have a color filled day!
Phyllis
I’m so excited to be part of a new and unique artist retreat, ArtBizJam with Lori Siebert, Paula Joerling and Anne Brown! It will be held in the beach resort of Destin, FL, home of sugar white sand beaches and turquoise blue water, September 18-22, 2013.
ArtBizJam is different from other retreats as half of the focus, the Business Side, is devoted to the business aspects of being a professional artist to give you the tools to maximize your business growth. I guarantee it won’t be “business boring”, but filled with exciting classes that you will love and with information you will take to your studios and begin using immediately. The Creative Side of ArtBizJam will rejuvenate your creativity.
Being creative is the nature of the artist, however, its easy to loose our spark or get in a repetitive rut. We all need to try different things and techniques to keep our art fresh and exciting. All of the classes are being taught by 3 professional artists with years of experience in creating art for textiles, giftware, garden and stationery products, and wall art publishers and by a product developer who has worked with leading top gift companies and will share her expertise in developing concepts, product lines and working with licensing artsts.
To quote Albert Schweitzer (1875 -1965) In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
Join us and light your inner fire! All information about this unique artist retreat can be found at ArtBizJam.
Due to the small intimate setting of this jam, spaces are limited, so BOOK EARLY to insure you will be a part of ArtBizJam!
Phyllis
Today is the last day of the 101010 Project, 10 Women, 10 Businesses, 10 Questions. I will give my answer to the question in the final series post.
But first, a little information about me and my business:
Business name: Phyllis Dobbs Art & Design
Phyllis’ Zazzle store
Phyllis’ Zazzle store for business products
Years in business: 27
A little more: As an artist, I create art for licensing on products in the textile, gift and home goods industry. In textiles, I have designed fabric collections for 7 years with collections for Quilting Treasures. I also focus on designing quilt and sewing patterns and have written a new quilt book “Asymmetrical Quilts”.
The Question #8: Who is that one person you would like to sit and talk with about your business?
Phyllis:
I am in a huge network of people with the same type of business as mine. So I would go in a different direction. Tony Ford is the one I would love to sit and talk with. I think of him as a tech guru for social media. I have attended several of Tony’s seminars and came away with so much information. He is very up to date with all of it. In today’s world, social media is so important for business so I would discuss the rapidly changing world of social media and technology and how to use it effectively with my business. I would also like to know how more on how to work with the Panda Slap, which I didn’t know existed until the last seminar I attended of his. (Tony Ford is the COO of ArtFire.com and the Technology Expert for the Craft and Hobby Association, CHA).
My current projects: I am currently working on a lot of new art for licensing including art for a new fabric line as well as adding more art to products for my Zazzle stores and for products in Little Red Tulip. I also just entered into a collaboration with another quilt designer for a quilt related project.
Thank you for visiting the 101010 Project posts. Below are the other artists and the questions they will be hosting. Please check them out! Thank you for visiting the 101010 Project blog series!
Phyllis
Laure Otero – #1 – Is it necessary for your business to line up with your soul purpose? What value is there to having that aligned?
Stephanie Guimond – #2 – Do you have a business mentor? What value does that offer to your experiences as a business owner?
Shari Sherman – #3 – What animal would represent your first year of business.
Robin Norgren – #4 – What business/businesses have you chosen to model your business after?
Dani Keith – #5 – At this moment, what one idea do you need to start executing for your business?
Paula Joerling – #6 – What part of your business have you delegated or put on hold in order to focus your energy more efficiently?
Valerie Weller – #7 – How did you finally decide on the look of your brand? What did the evolution look like?
Due to life’s twists and turns, this session of the 101010 Project features 8 participants instead of 10.
Do you want to know more about the in’s and out’s of either designing or licensing? I was delighted to be interviewed by Monica Lee in her video series Smart Creative Women. In the interview, I discussed my career of over 25 years. I talk about some of the many, many things that I learned over the years in the business of designing and licensing. And it has been a very rewarding career, especially from the view of doing something that I really love and in getting to be creative on a daily basis.
I hope that you will check it out. But warning, you need to understand the “southern” way of talking! Thank you to Monica for the interview!
Phyllis
I love Little Red Tulip, a new online store from which you can get assorted one-of-a-kind personalized products for kids and adults. My Wine Time! art images are now available on products including notebooks, binders (for notes, recipes or your favorite wines), coasters, and clipboards featuring both red wine and white wine art. These are perfect for you wine lovers.
More Wine Time! products will soon be available on journals, note cards and invitations. All of the items can be personalized with your name or initial. The coasters and notebooks have designs on both sides, with one side available for personalization.
Please check Little Red Tulip out for a wide assortment of gift, stationery, office, baby, and home accent products, all with unique art from various artists. I will also have more of my art collections coming soon. And while you are at it, please check out my bio on the Little Red Tulip blog along with the bio’s of the other artists.
Bottoms up!
Phyllis
SHOWCASE YOUR ART ON PRODUCTS! 105 Photoshop and Illustrator templates.
UNIQUE ART BUSINESS CONFERENCE - Learn more to expand your art business and network with other artists. The 8th annual ArtBizJam conference will be held virtually 2020 with live sessions with product developers Sept 23-26 and other sessions available for viewing at your own time on a variety of topics. The live sessions will have a lineup of experienced speakers for product development from top gift and home companies. For more details, please visit the ArtBizJam website and join the ArtBizJam Facebook Group
