From Paintbrush to Product

I get questions all of the time from people asking exactly what I do…or people say, “you should sell that painting to XYZ boutique up the street” or “I saw a shop where you should sell your art”. I thought I would take a few minutes to explain how art licensing works…how I don’t directly sell any products. I strictly license my artwork for use on products.  I get all of the  benefits of my artwork being sold to various shops and boutiques all over the world without knocking on all of those hundreds of thousands of doors! There is no way I could do that- especially being the mom of three VERY busy girls!

This is a quick and simplified version of how my artwork makes it from my paintbrush to a product in your home:

First, I come up with a concept.

Kate McRostie Shades of Fall Concepts

Next, the creative juices start flowing and I complete the final artwork or grouping of art.

This is just one of the elements of my Shades of Fall Group

Another element of my Shades of Fall grouping

One more element of the Shades of Fall group

Then, Kristin Ashman, our VP of Licensing & Business Development, looks for a licensee or several licensees for the group. There may be many different manufacturers that license the same group, they must all make different products that do not conflict with each other.

Next, when necessary, I sketch out custom shapes for products. In many cases the licensee has specific products on which they would like to use the artwork.

The artwork is then cut out, broken apart, reconfigured, and married to the products either by the manufacturer or by Meghan Laviola, our VP of Marketing & Product Development and our Marketing Assistant, Monica Boddie.

Shades of Fall Rug Concept

The manufacturer then sends of the concepts to their manufacturing facilities where samples are made and then any little tweaks are worked out prior to producing the final product.

Once the sample is finalized, the manufacturer takes the products “to market”.  Most of the manufacturers that I work with have showrooms in the cities that have large home decor and gift market centers such as Atlanta, Dallas, and New York. The products featuring my designs are on display in these showrooms along with other products that the manufacturer produces. Retailers large and small attend these markets and if they like what they see, hopefully, they place an order for products that feature my art!

The manufacturer ships the products to the retailer and the next thing you know…it’s in a store near you!

The manufacturer of this pitcher and more products, Evergreen Enterprises changed the group name to "Harvest Blessings"

Loloi Rugs sold this design exclusively to Tuesday Morning stores...so you won't find it on rugs anywhere else.

It can take anywhere from 3 months to 1 1/2 years for this whole process to take place believe it or not!

I hope you enjoyed the little journey that my art takes from my paintbrush to the product (and then onto stores).