If you are an artist who is wondering how you can possibly support yourself selling one painting or drawing at a time, you might consider looking in the area of licensing one of your designs. A contract to use that seashells design you sketched at the beach one day might just be the ticket to provide you with the capital you need to continue your serious painting. 

In a recent article in Newsday.com, Keiko Morris offers some real-life stories of artists who have successfully done this to propel their careers forward.

The Giordano brothers learned about this niche from their father, Joseph, and continue to develop their respective fine art careers while having the financial security provided by their various licensing agreements which frequently continue to pay royalties. For many artists, this seems like a crass way to go, but Greg says, “When I got out of art school it was kind of taboo to be so commercial,” Greg Giordano said. “But I always did representational art. And it was more of a culture in our family to make art that goes on products that give people joy.”

In another example, Debbie Taylor-Kerman didn’t have a family business as a model when she discovered a market for licensing her products five years ago. A former textile designer, she was a stay-at-home mom who became enthralled with children’s picture books and wanted to do her own whimsical illustrations. She started with greeting cards and graduated to tableware and table accessories about three years ago, landing contracts with Oneida and Caspari Inc. She and her husband, Elliott, who also manages the business — called Debbie Taylor-Kerman — have bought a

Harlem brownstone, intending to house the company on the top two floors. “I had no idea how big the market was,” she said. “To be honest, I just invented myself working in a small room by myself, creating whimsical illustrations, and it’s gone way beyond me.” You can read the article at http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzlice0622,0,5358751.story?coll=ny-business-leadheadlines. Check out the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association at www.licensing.org