Smart Creative Women

I caught just a snippet of Anne's energetic personality while at an event in NYC and it was an instant spark. Within several minutes on meeting each other (and me showing off fresh off the press clutches) she was dishing out advice suggesting I offer monograming on some of them. Loved the idea just as much as I love a women with IDEAS!

Anne has them, and she gets paid for having them! Fabulous job. We sink deep to trends, one of my favorite subjects and Ann dishes out great stories and advice for artists wanting their work on products!

She has such a heart for the work she does, I really see her as a talent spotter and idea lady. The work she is doing at Studio M as the director of product development is unique and commercial. The perfect combo, right?! Tune into listen how the entire process works, from idea, to art spotting, to product development from the manufacturing side of the business!

Today I have Josephine Kimberling with me! what a gem! She has such a sweet spirit and it shows in what she produces. I think her patterns and portfolio have depth and that she has a keen sense of color and pattern. She claims it came from years of experience as an in house artist. Tune in to this episode and learn why Josephine chose to go out on her own and how she thinks about putting collection together. She shares invaluable advice to new and seasoned artists. I know she is headed for even greater things!

Today I am interviewing the talented Meagan Morrison from Travel Write Draw. It is always such a treat to connect with someone who's work for have admired for sometime. Everything she does is right up my alley! She is a fashion illustrator with an eye towards the beauty of travel. Yum, right? She makes you want to pack your bags!! She is a highly skilled runway illustrator as well and I just love love that this form of media is making such a strong comeback!

Tune in and hear how she got her start, how she grew her instagram following which translated into a lovely large client base and to hear the advice she gives to someone just starting out. Hint: It's good money advice! She was such a delight to talk to.

Talent, fashion, travel...what is not to love about Meagan and what she does?! Follow her instagram feed here and check out her work here.

Wow! The day is here! I have been working away plotting, planning and just about everything else you can think. XO, Monica Lee is launching today and and I thrilled beyond measure! Today, the tables are turned on me as Jane Hamill from Fashion Brain interviews me on all the in's and out behind my start up and the products themselves. I am so happy to be sharing my journey with YOU, my Smart Creative Women peeps, because without YOU, I simply would not have been able to stay on course to get this all done. I have always felt you in my heart even as I disappeared for periods of time to spend hours googling swivel snap hooks and sourcing zippers! In today's podcast, I am spilling all the highs and lows of manufacturing a product and why I decided to do it! Head over and take a look at everything! When it all came together, I have never felt so creative. I would love, love for you to share it with your friends, it would mean the world to me! XO, Monica Lee

I have a great story for you today! Meet Julia Kelly from JK Expressions. Julia is a digital caricature artist (and a regular caricature artist too!) In fact she went from doodling to trial by fire at a California theme park doing live drawings of people while they waited to delighting audiences at events, conferences and weddings. Tune in to how she started out at $6 an hour to harness her talents at over $200 an hour. Julia shares how she learned that being introverted no excuse to bail on your marketing efforts and what she did to overcome her fear of cold calling. (Hey, I am not shy and even I am not a fan of cold calling!)

I have a great story for you today! Meet Julia Kelly from JK Expressions. Julia is a digital caricature artist (and a regular caricature artist too!) In fact she went from doodling to trial by fire at a California theme park doing live drawings of people while they waited to delighting audiences at events, conferences and weddings. Tune in to how she started out at $6 an hour to harness her talents at over $200 an hour. Julia shares how she learned that being introverted no excuse to bail on your marketing efforts and what she did to overcome her fear of cold calling. (hey, I am not shy and even I am not a fan of cold calling!)

My guest today to Jordana Paige who started her bag business right out of college. She needed a bag that could fit her knitting needles and couldn't find one so she made it (as in had it manufactured!) She then went on to service about every knitting store she came across. After filling that niche market she decide to get a big better handbag manufactured. In this interview she talks about working with factories overseas, what her customers have taught her and why it matters that she has her own business. She is a sweetheart and has learned A LOT producing a product! Tune in to today's episode to hear what she has to share!

“It’s a great time to be an artist.” This is not the first time I have said this and it won’t be the last.

It’s an even better time to be an artist and a business person. It’s a glorious time to be creative, value your creativity and leverage your smarts especially when you encounter people that think…

…artists are not built for business.

I have a lot of fun things to share from my trip to NYC, speaking at Surtex and walking the Stationery Show.But first I want to address a prevailing attitude that popped up several times while encountering people who were not artists.

I am not sure if this attitude is more prevalent in art licensing since signing a contract with a manufacturer is like signing a mini prenup or because of the mass rush of artists to enter this arena. It is time to dissect it and as a community correct it.

For starters, art licensing can be complicated, this is an area where you do need to untangle a lot of “what if’s”…what if this company goes under, is sold with my outstanding products on the shelves? You need measures in place to protect yourself. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn everything you need to know before signing on the dotted line! But that also means….

You should not be sticking your head in the sand to claim, “I just want to be creative.” This is where the old Dr. Phil quote rings true, “You teach people how to treat you.” If the business side of ANY industry is treating you like you are less than brilliant, smart, able to make wise decisions that is because you are letting them.Make the decision to STOP that right now.

“Value yourself and other people will value you. Just because you don’t currently know something does not mean you cannot learn it.”

If you don’t value yourself (hey, it happens) call a life coach, therapist or your best friend today and let’s get that straightened out!

Comb over every aspect of the business you are in and LEARN it. I know you have it in you because I encounter it every day at Smart Creative Women. Everything is figure-outable (Marie Forleo.) The women I interview are just like everyone else! They have had to push up their sleeves and be creative in a business sense as well as aesthetically.

So at some level the (not evil) people making this assumption have run into creatives who simply are not up for the challenge of decision making and taking responsibility for, and valuing their own work. They meet enough of them (and this number could be as low as 2 or 3) and then the assumption begins. Let’s work as a team together to change all these assumptions! When sell your art to someone who in turns sells the item your art is on, you are partners and partners respect each other. If you are partnering with someone who does not value you or thinks you are easily replaced, do yourself a BIG favor and break up now because to quote the movie, “He’s just not that into you.”

The flip side:The attitude that artists are inherently not equipped for business is OLD FASHIONED and there are plenty of old fashioned businesses stuck in prehistoric (pre internet) models of making money. There are A LOT of ways to make it as a creative person, licensing is NOT the Holy Grail. More and more artists are turing DOWN business because they are actually making more income going directly to the consumer and they don’t see why they should make time and the effort to use their earning power for less than they are worth. It really needs to be a win win for everyone and some business people are a little surprised to realize that.

This is where we all come in to educate anyone who under estimates your value. Business involves transactions, you hold the power to make the transaction beneficial for you.

How?

Stand on your own two feet. I saw so many artists collaborating at Surtex! They came from all over the world (with FABULOUS ART) and managed to get it together to share booths, arrange travel and coordinate effective branding as groups. I cannot begin to tell you what a feat that is! Good, good and more goodness. It was SO incredible to see their ideas and creativity flow.

Now take it to the next level, form mastermind groups with each other. Thoughtfully invest in each other as artists and human beings on the planet and figure out how you can market and monetize your creativity either collectively or simply by bouncing ideas off each other. Was there possible a product idea of your OWN hidden in your marketing efforts? I saw a few!

What ever you do, don’t wait around to be picked.

There is power in picking yourself first and owning what you do.

Don’t put all your eggs in the basket hoping that the perfect deal is going to be a game changer for your entire career. Every decision you make for yourself no matter what the size, is a step the right direction. Figure out a way to bring $ in the door today and don’t despise small beginnings because they lead to great ideas. Cultivate your own business ideas, invest in yourself.

To quote my wise taxi driver, “Business is nothing more than a transaction.” You make them everyday. You’ve got this. Artist are built for business and it is a great time to be an artist.

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For me, this trip was also about catching up with real LIVE people. When I interview someone I always want the continuation of their story, it was so great to catch up with people I had interviewed and with people I have YET to interview!

Lisa Congdon and Clay Wash, dynamo duo. Interview with Lisa here.

Cat Seto, I just love her. If I lived in SFO, I would have coffee with her every week. Interview with Cat here.

Sugar Paper, never get tried of their sweet spirits and chic ideas. Interview with Chelsea here.

Matrick and Eve, Interview with Allison here.

Stephanie Ryan, always makes me laugh. Interview with her here.

Bella Pillar, so sweet and hip. Interview with her here.

Mary Beth Freet from Pink Light Studios (what a cutie!) Interview here.

Heather Davulcu from April Heather Art! She is always so good about me calling her April!) Interview here.

Suzanne Cruise, art agent-shared a panel with her. Interview here.

The team from Ideaologie, ground smarts and know how. Interview here.

Marty from MHS Licensing, pulls no punches, knows the BIZ! Interview here.

Susan January, such a looker! She know greeting cards! Interview with her here.

Tara Reed, always optimistic! Interview with her here.

Kathy Davis, Big business, kind lady! Love her! Interview here.

Jennifer Nelson, her enthusiasm simply bubbles over, in business that is a good thing! Interviewhere.

Sheila Meehan, up to all sorts of new stuff! Interview here.

Emily McDowell, rocking the world and TV! Interview here.

Needed to hug but didn’t, sob! Margo Tantau, interview here.

Cori Dantini, OMG! One the the first women I tortured for an interview! She is still as hilarious as ever! Interview here.

Ok, when I started making this list I have NO idea it would be so long!! Even with this list, I missed some people I wanted to connect with. I love Smart Cookies in the business of creativity! (I may have hit up Laduree while I was in NYC)

Stationery! Invitations! Paper! There is something about it that people just don't get tired of. Even though you may not send as much paper as much as you used to, you are thrilled when you get that invite or card in the mail. Today's paper needs to be more special and customized than ever and Allison from Invitation Consultants and the newly launched Matrick and Eve sees to just that. Allison is a great example of early adapting in business and owning what you do! As it turns out, the entire family is involved with this business! Tune and listen to how the De Meulder's are forging their own path in the print and stationery industry. If you are at the national Stationery Show, stop by and hug her and tell her you saw her on Smart Creative Women! They are in booth #2351.

Lots of buzz when a new agent appears on the scene. It reminds me of when Emmy nominees are released. (Not exactly the Oscars, that involves a lot of designer clothing and most artists I know work in comfy pants)

When Jennifer Nelson announced the opening of her art agency, Jennifer Nelson Artists, there was a collective squeal of delight. Everyone wants to know about her and about the artists she represents.

I am always happy to see an good artist/agent marriage. I think when you have a good partner in your corner, you can really flourish. Over a series of long lunches (Jennifer lives close to me) I quickly saw that Jennifer is a terrific partner to her artists. She is smart, knowledgable and full of excitement that bubbles over. I sat down with her in this interview so she could tell what she and her group are all about, how you can excel with or without an agent and the mentoring she is doing for artists beyond her group.

Her very busy new agency is a GOOD sign for everyone who wants to make money doing art. That means people are hiring and that there are deals out there. Tune in to this episode to stay motivated.

Her artists are all in different booths at Surtex this year, you can find out what booths they are in on this post. The agency is a fun, colorful follow on Instagram @JenniferNelsonArtists

A lot of people come to me asking what they should charge for their work. Whether it is for services, finished art, collaborations, because of social media you might be approached by someone in a different field than you are used to working in, so I thought I would put together a podcast that might help you.

This is a mini one on one session where I explain all the different ways I have been paid for my art (and even for some sponsored posts.)

I think the more knowledge you have the better you can evaluate a potential offer. I remember years ago when I heard Penelope Dullaghan talk about putting a proposal together for some jobs, it changed the way I worked completely! At that time, I was just starting out so I was being approached by what I classify as "non art directors" for art. That does not make them bad or poor, in fact I made good money being approached this way, it is just up to you to manage the process.

I plow pretty quickly though all this, so pay attention, add comments if you have gotten paid in unusual ways that I don't mention.

My way is not the perfect way. This podcast is to have you see a different perspective. I am a bit opinionated and that doesn't mean I am wrong or right, they are just my opinions. The bottom line is (and I am quoting a Proverb) "A workman is worthy of his hire."

This also is not a war declaration on people who don't want to pay what you think is enough. You control that bus, your attitude and your worth is everything and I want you to see all you bring to the table. You might charge different amounts for different people at different time of your career and that is OK.

This podcast is not about dollar amounts. It is an overview of what you might see when you start working in different areas. I want you to be smart, protect yourself and understand your value. Don't ever think that person wanting to hire you is the bad guy but don't be push over either. Ultimately, you both want to be happy at the end of any job.

Tune in to this episode so you make sure you are bringing your best "pie" to the table.