Absence Minded- being gone on my mind.

I'm feeling a bit bad, I haven't been as dedicated to posting on my art licensing blog as I had hoped.  My absence weighs heavily.  So, in consideration that my website is being revised, and I've been directing a lot of the traffic here due to the revamp, I think it's time to wave hello and put pen to paper (proverbially).

While the timing wasn't good, all of my website stuff came up for renewal.  I had just been complaining about the down time, lack of tech support, the archaic customer interface and so on, from my existing host.  So I took the renewal as a prompt to divorce my hosting company.  Kiss that 10 years goodbye.  Problem being, with the spontaneity and gratification of doing so , I wasn't prepared with a new site and all the things that go with switching.  So, please pardon the "under construction" phase my site is in.  We will be up and running soon with added features and updated information.

In the meanwhile, I'm still creating new art, working with my existing contacts and making plans for the Atlanta Gift Show in January, 2012.  Of particular interest to me are wall art publishers/manufacturers, home dec and accessory companies, juvenile industries and holiday.  As promised, I've been working on new designs that flow outside of just wall art designs.  Consumers can look forward to seeing lines of products debuting this winter that are new categories, sourcing to new retailers for me, and I'm really excited.

Drop me a email or give me a call if you're interested in meeting up in Atlanta.

Thanks,
Aaron

Drinks Are on Me!

My latest wall art piece entitled Lounge and Libations visits the genre of cocktail and the lounges that pour them. In my pop vintage style, I've brought into fruition some of the classic items that embody the beloved spirits and cocktail ephemera. The piece(s) would make a wonderful addition for the consumer that has a home bar, den, man cave or within a restaurant environment. Available from Bentley Publishing Group as canvas reproductions and posters to the trade, the introduction is hitting store shelves through various popular retailers. These images and other companion works are available for licensing in various categories contact me for information.

Got Game, I do!

Included in the latest wall art releases for my Oopsy Daisy- fine art for kids, wall art line are the pieces entitled MVP Athlete.  These clean line graphic pieces are a compliment to the sleek designs of today's popular cribs, bedroom furniture and geometric bedding designs.  The can be purchased individually or as a 9 image collage.  As Spring introductions they are now available through retailers nationwide, that carry their line.   The design also has a coordinating growth chart and a series of peel and place multi-sport scoreboards.  Canvas reproductions are available through my children's design company Embellishments.

Freeways, Airports and Helicopter Chases, Oh what fun!

Lil' guys love transportation. All the action, all the fun of planes roaring, cars beeping and trains a clacking are captured in my latest wall art releases with Oopsy Daisy- Fine Art for Kids. Introduced in their spring catalog update, these 14 x14 individual and 39 x39 grouping canvas reproductions will be available through children's decor/furniture retailers and boutiques very soon. Honk if you like em'.

Over on my children's design blog I've posted 3 vignettes of how to incorporate the art into a boy's room utilizing the growing trend of vintage industrial and a modern influence.  Each one explores different buying preferences from higher end, one-of-a-kind down to budget conscious help from stores like Target and Ikea.

Secret Handshakes, Truth or Dare and Pinky Swear

Ah, the artist's life, a fun filled world of gallery parties, who's who events, coffee retreats and creative soirees. What would prevent anyone from becoming an artist, when they lead such glamourous and social lives. Reality, that's what.

I may be speaking for myself, but undoubtedly I know that many of my colleagues would agree that being an artist is anything but that. If anything most of the artists I know are shut ins, mandated by their self employed trade to unfortunately be isolated like a crazy aunt or uncle living in the attic. Don't get me wrong, they play well with others, they just don't get the opportunity to be social and attend such affairs, as stereotyped. Many live in rural areas, have busy family lives or just don't feel connected to that hip happenin scene.

Since my indoctrination into the world of art and art licensing, I've began to notice that most surface designers and licensing artists work for themselves. They work for the prestigious firm of Me, Myself and I, huddled in their home or off site studios, where they create in solitude. Visits from an occasional bird, pet or change in the weather outside their studio window is a wondrous moment worthy of lighting up their Facebook pages with detailed descriptions and play by play action.

Before you feel too sorry for your underprivileged artist, know that there's one event that shines, drawing artists to it like moths to a flame. And thanks to the internet, many of these reclusive right brainers meet up, liberated from their confines. It's the Atlanta Gift Mart, or America'sMart in Atlanta, Georgia.

The gift mart is the hub of wholesale buying. It is where retailers, big or small, go to browse and purchase merchandise for their consumers. The reason surface designers and art licensors attend is to set appointments with the very same companies in hope they will use their art on their products in the future. This rare meeting of manufacturer and artists also allows for signing events, artist meet and greets and face time with business people they may only know from email or internet introductions.

Most of the artists I know, myself included, have used the internet as a porthole to the outside world. We've sought each other out, befriended each other in search of peers who understand the in's and outs of our daily artistic quests. Using social media like Twitter, Facebook and LinkIn has opened up our social circles and become the catalyst for many of us to meet in one place.

My personal adventure in Atlanta, earlier this month, started with a evening get together co-hosted by Paula Joerling, Tom Haney and Paula's Canadian guest host and friend Robin Davis. Locating and entering their amazing street-side, urban studio had a sense of exclusivity to it when you had to wring the door bell, on an unassuming door, waiting to be asked “who's there?”. Like a secret handshake, your name was familiar, granting you access to the wonders on level two. Vintage visions of the Flinstone's Water Buffalo fraternity hats cross my mind, but are no where to be found. Akk akka dak....for those of you that remember.

Beyond the whizits and ephemera that are Tom's artistic muse and the large, night sky filled windows, that Paula surely paints near, was a room with friendly faces, many I only recognized from their Facebook photos. I'd catch the eye of someone across the room and we'd both smile realizing we knew each other but strangely were a bit unsure without posing like our profile pictures. Meeting and greeting them in person, for the first time, was amazing. It was a bit of a coming home, to faces and friends you've shared life's experiences with but oddly not know how tall or short, how young or old, black or brown eyes nor what their voices sounded like.

To outsiders, one would think that the room was filled with competition. Each of us striving to parse the following days market with our share of art, but nothing could be more to the contrary. The night was filled with excitement for the show's opening. There was comradery, the sharing of candid and honest encouragement to “seize the moment” with everyone enjoying it as if it were some form of artist truth or dare: “Approach them, they'll love your work”. I imagine many of the artists achieved great things during the show because they were pumped up during the party, as if it were a locker room motivational speech before the big game.

There was an open invitation spread throughout the digital universe that artists were welcome to meet up on Friday for an after show cocktail cool down. After a grueling day at the show everyone deserved to put their feet up, have a beverage and share their opening day stories. Considering there are hundreds of manufacturer suites, countless meetings and events to attend, a great number of artists met up. Many of them, including myself, were meeting for the first time. Again, it was a terrific experience to greet my cyber friends in three dimensions.

The lighting was perfect for such a lounge event, but it wasn't kind to my cell phone camera's capabilities. Thankfully, Karen Embry was camera equipped allowing me to share this picture she had of the get together with you.

From front left to right-

Debbie Cole, Phyllis Dobbs, Robin Davis, Myself, Robin Pickens behind me.

In the back row left to right-

Jane Maday, Karen Embry, Beth Logan, Cash Wall Browning – Smith, Sue Zipkin, Michael Chad Barrett, Beth Yarbrough, Paula Joerling, Lyn Barrett, Brenda Pinnick and Suzanne Whitaker.

As one of the newer faces added to this eclectic band of artisans, I spent a lot of my time listening and observing, trying to figure out who knew who and how often they've visited the mart. Many of them are seasoned, having been to the show multiple times, having met each other on various occasions there or at other trade shows. Several have become great friends, staying with each other in the hotel and counseling each other with technical art or business matters. There seemed to be life long relationships made. They shared their time, promises to encourage one another and two even shared a symbolic pinky swear to attend each others signing so they would know at least one person in the crowd. They giggled like teenagers once they realized the silliness of the gesture but were glad to know someone would be there for them.

The Atlanta'sMart- It's a migration of sorts, the coming together of people who make our world more beautiful. Their migratory trip to spread their art and make the retail world a bit more colorful, stylish or fulfill our need to own a piece of an artists vision.

There's a bit of solace in knowing we all share the same journey and can leave our studios at least once a year for a cup of coffee, a cocktail soiree or a who's who event, even if the who's who is just us facebook friends. After all, we artists have to live up to our reputations even if for a brief moment. To live the big life....

I am thankful to have met some great people and to have been welcomed with non-virtual, real flesh and blood open arms.

Sincerely,

Aaron

P.S. You may ask...what about the show? How did it go? That part is unfolding, with doors opening everyday. I made some great new connections, nurtured some existing one and have lot's of art underway to fit the demand. To much of the success, I owe thanks to my artist friends for their mentorship and “butt kicking” encouragement (thanks, you know who you are).

Child Style Magazine Interview with Aaron Christensen

Child Style Magazine is a children's Market Resource Publication, that features the best products in the children's, industry as well as one on one interviews with some of the best designers and business owners in our industry. Child Style is popular with retail buyers, store owners, consumers, stylists, producers, manufacturers, tradeshows, and designers. Gemma Booker, the editor of Child Style posed a few questions to me about my business, my art and the future for the October issue.

My story as an artist and art licensor is directly related to the children's decor, furnishings and products market. The very first licensing program I launched was with a children's wall art company. I had been a designer focusing on children's spaces for 12 years prior to licensing, so I had familiarity with the products and the recognized names and brands. Now, only a year or so into actively pursuing new licensing gigs, I'm delighted to say I have products and programs launching with several of those brands and the list is growing. Being included in Child Style's list of the industry's best, is flattering. It's an exciting industry to be involved with. When your job is to make children smile and parents happy by creating products to enhance their lives, how could you not be happy yourself. Thanks Gemma and Child Style Magazine for the opportunity to share!

If Your Ears are Burning, Someone is Talking About You.

If the old wives' tale about ears burning when someone is talking about you is true, what happens when someone is blogging about you? Do your ears pop, eyelids twitch, cheeks quiver? This, my inaugural post on my new art licensing blog is a great opportunity for me to blog a little about someone other than myself. I wonder if her ears are burning? Do I have you confused? Let me fill you in.

In starting a blog, I felt compelled to tell you a little about me. But the idea of a autobiographical statement had me cringing. Having been involved in the gallery side of the art business, I remember seeing the look of fear in artists eyes when you would ask them for their bio or artist statement. You would think it was a eulogy. And quite often they read like one.

As opposed to penning a "here lies Aaron Christensen" statement, I've asked my friend, and fellow art licensor Sue Allemand to hit me with a few questions and I'll answer them here. I'm hoping it's less post mortem and a more interesting way to do things. Over the next few months, I'll invite others to ask a few questions that help me introduce myself to you. Along the way you'll meet some of my friends, peers, mentors and idols (provided the idols answer my emails, I promise I'm not stalking you....call me! :)

My guest quiz master, Sue Allemand is a self taught artist, whose folk, primitive and whimsical designs have brought her notoriety in those categories. For 17 years, Sue has been designing for the sewing, painting and creative industries. She's been a generous and inspiring artist to many, as she is a regular contributor of designs to national publications and magazines. Her work adorns products in the wall art, decor, gift and button market. Sue and her husband Dan live and retreat between the lovely state of Wisconsin and sunny California. She explains her attraction to that art genre as "I like warm, simple designs that add a feeling or inspiration to a room without making it look cluttered or busy." I've had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Sue, through our mutual facebook friends. Here are some examples of Sue's enthusiasm for prim and folk on one of her blogs.

Sue Allemand asks and I reply;

1) Did you always know you wanted to be an artist? Yes. My Mother was artist, as was her Grandfather. As far back as I can remember, she shared painting and drawing, with me. I was serious about art from a very young age. So the idea of "wanting" to be an artist never crossed my mind because it was already and always part of me. So, I guess I'm just trying harder as the years march on.

A goal "coat of arms" I created in middle school depicting my goal to be an artist. I had a thing for big idea "light bulbs".

2) Every artist has a "path" that led to where they are now- one step leading to the next...and so on. What was your path? In a condensed version, my initial goal was to become an architect. But, I quickly fell out of love. It was way too linear, you weren't allowed to think outside the lines until you were accomplished. Where's the fun in that? While rethinking my career path, I took a position managing a health club (side note- where I met my wife). One of my pet projects was to make the pro shop more profitable. This lead to redesigning the company logo, creating shirt designs, event marketing and educating myself about new ways to merchandise and outfit a store with fixtures. The merchandising, art and store design bug lead me to a stint as an artist for Tower Records and a display designer/manager for several major department stores. This craft was about creating set-like environments for windows, holiday decorations and orchestrating fashion shows and events. Growing tired of the 60 plus hour, on call work weeks and no holidays off, I began freelancing on the side, searching for the perfect new path. This lead to dabbling with murals, designing children's rooms and retail spaces. In 1997, our own two children's rooms were published in a magazine. So, I went out on my own, launching my design company Embellishments Studio which specialized in those forms of interior design. In 2005, I opened up my studio/gallery in a street-side location. My murals and art caught the attention of some companies that license. For the next several years, I continued building Embellishments up, providing services up and down the west coast to a client list that included everything from celebrities, professional athletes to first time home buyers. Licensing was secondary. It wasn't until January 2009, that I decided to pursue art licensing actively. So for the past year and a half, I've been creating new collections and partnering with some wonderful new companies. It's been non-stop ever since.

3) What mediums do you use to create your artwork. What do you like working with the most? My current works encompass acrylics, latex, glazes and a variety of resists and resistive techniques. Painting is my favorite, although three dimension mediums are a close second. I love to woodwork, carve and sculpt. I'm hoping to reveal new product designs based upon my dimensional work.

A few friends over look my drawing table.

4) What's you favorite time of day to create? Day, what is this day you speak of? Oh, you mean night! Yes, I'm one of those late night inspired artists. I do like to paint late into the evening, but I do keep a regular schedule in the studio of 9:00 - 5:00.

5) You design awesome rooms! Do you design artwork based on the themes you need, or do you design the rooms around the artwork? Thank you, the room comes first, inspiring the art. Although, I have created rooms to match my art when requested. Most rooms are inspired by the child or the client's wish list. During the planning stages, I've been handed bits of scrapbooking paper, fabric swatches, doodles on napkins, clothing and videos to watch and asked to create a room around them. That's where the fun lies, in creating a big idea from little bits.

6) What kind of art do YOU like? What's hanging in your house? Sadly, the way our 1920's Bungalow is laid out, we have very little room for art on the walls. We have a few dimensional pieces, sculptural plaques and vintage finds combined with a variety of local artists works on board and canvas. The remainder of the wall areas display photographs of our family. As far as likes go, I enjoy contemporary folk art, outsider art and am drawn to the works of Hopper, Chagall and Jasper John. In my studio I have collections of art, memorabilia and eclectic finds. I collect vintage Dr. Seuss. He's one of my idols, not solely as an artist, but from his strides to overcome adversity, think outside the box and reinvent the publishing, art and authorship fields. My favorite quote is "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

One of my Dr. Seuss collectables.

7) Your recent work has a lot of "texture" and "nostalgia" to it. Is that what style fits your personality? I like to envision my art as if it's a nostalgic memory incarnate. I didn't grow up in a Nuclear Family so, it's not from my memories but the perception I have of other's memories. My imagery hints at the campy advertising, art and marketing that was prevalent during my childhood. By channeling that period, I'm working towards re-capturing the simplicity, the optimism and charm of those theme filled sub cultures of days gone by. When something is nostalgic, it comforts and reminds us of better times or fond memories. In using textures and various patinas I'm taking my contemporary pieces and lending them some of that nostalgic charm. I wouldn't say my personality is nostalgic, I would think of it being more contemporary or forward thinking. I'm driven by "what's next", tomorrow and the future. I guess that sounds like a contradiction, but then again I enjoy being an enigma, it makes things interesting.

8) Do you have any decorating tips for customers whom buy your pieces? Great question! I receive a lot of wonderful emails and phone calls from customers that have purchased my art. I'm honored to help them. The questions range from wall color choices to fabric matching and about purchasing coordinating props and one of a kind items I feature in my room designs. A quick tip would be to avoid being overly matchy matchy. Too often we define our living spaces with a narrow color palette and feel we must stick to it in order to show "style". I design most of my art to encompass a broad spectrum of colors and variety within so it coordinates with a vast number of paint choices. If you look closely at some of my work you'll see a broad spectrum from pure saturated color to antiqued, subdued and mixed hues. The more variation in color, I believe, creates more charm and intrigue. The same holds true for interiors.

9) Where would you like to see your art career going in the next 10 years? It is my hope that my work will continue to be welcomed and licensed into a growing variety of categories. There are so many products to design for and create, it's mind boggling to try and narrow ideas down to just a few favorites. Of course I'd be continuing on my path painting. I'd love to be creating in 3 dimensions and realizing some of my Christmas and Halloween decoration and product ideas. As well as expanding my children's lines to include more accessories and decor items. I enjoy sharing, so writing a book on children's rooms from a do it yourself, how-to aspect may come to fruition. In 10 years, I'm confident I'll have some great retailers, manufactures and publishers to work with, we will be having fun, selling some goods and marching forward into the next 10.

Thank you Sue!

Sue's request to see some studio picks has been squelched by the need to repair some of the studio walls. We experienced a pipe burst earlier this spring and I've yet to decide on a wall color for the new sheet rock. I'm thinking muted turquiose, but we'll see.

I look forward to sharing with you some of my adventures in art and art licensing as well as introduce you to some of my artist friends. Feel free to drop by leave comments or cruise by my Facebook page.

Keep your eyes open for my work when visiting some of your favorite retailers like Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Nordstrom, Rosenberry Rooms, Target, Land of Nod, World Market, Art.com, Posh Tots and an expanding worldwide list of independent retailers. I have a lot of new items hitting the shelves soon that I'm excited to share with you.