Real Christmas

I may have mentioned a time or two that I have been designing products for a jillion years or so (and loving it, I tell you!) and people like me design Christmas all through the year. And when we are not designing for it, we're looking at it, thinking about and at least once a year we actually celebrate it! Or as Jim and I call it, "Real Christmas". Sometimes it's hard to drum up enthusiasm for decorating the house when really, I was working on Christmas during Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July and yes, Labor Day.

But sometime around this time of year, I actually get a soft spot in my other-wise cold cold heart for twinkly lights, fake snow (I am in Florida after all) and the smell of ginger and cinnamon wafting from somebody's (maybe even my) kitchen. And then something big happens. I hear it. Someone singing Oh, Holy Night. Like I heard last night. And then, I drag the decorations from the loft in the garage and bore Jim with all the stories of how we acquired each one and then I'm officially In The Christmas Spirit!

Maybe I'll draw a picture about it.

Thanksgiving...

I love Thanksgiving...what's not to love about mashed potatoes and gravy as the focal point of a meal? Oh, it's the turkey, you say? Ooops, my bad. I especially love cranberry sauce-- particularly the straight from the can jellied variety, with the can marks visible when you slither it out (onto a fancy plate of course---I'm not completely without style!). My sisters and I have all become foodies over the years but I think most of us still have canned cranberry sauce on our table (right next to the whole berry, orange,walnut, brandy concoction).

But mostly I like this holiday for all that it's not...no presents, no religious affiliation, no decorating unless you include a few pine cones and candles artfully arranged (or not) about the table. I love the kid art place cards and I will never forget my nephew Nick reciting a Thanksgiving poem he learned in 1st grade (and that boy is an attorney now!). It's simple family time, and so darn American. It makes me happy to live here and happy to be in this family.

And I am so. darn. grateful. I am healthy, strong, have work that I love and am married to an amazing guy who makes me laugh every day. I am completely jazzed for what's on the horizon and still wake up every day with the notion that "I get to draw today!".

Have a wonderful day---enjoy every morsel of turkey, pie, mashed potatoes...and life!

It's Christmas at Macy's!

I'm happy to say that the new My Friend Ronnie products have debuted at Macy's in the past few weeks! They are safely tucked away in the Christmas Departments of the store as the spinners have Christmas designs and everyday sentiments included. There are really cute mini plaques that are perfect as ornaments, package decorations or hung on a wine bottle. The larger size is a great little gift ---for a friend, sister or by golly, get one for yourself!

When you make your living designing products, it's a very s-l-o-o-o-w process getting your designs to market. We first showed these designs to Macy's in May of 2009! And through a long decision making process, design approvals and manufacturing cycle they have finally made it into the stores! I am thrilled with the quality of the plaques and had a great working relationship with our client, Enesco/Department 56. We are currently working on next year's designs so I am keeping my fingers crossed that everybody stays happy and these babies fly off the shelf!

Why I love TV.

I am a child of TV, I pretty much loved it all, and still do---but I am slightly more discriminating these days. I once interrupted my Halloween candy gathering to run home to watch The Monkees. Since it was also a time when you'd send your 4th grader out with her friends and 6th grade sister (to supervise), I went out again after the show was over. After all, they were giving out candy!

I had my fill of the Law and Order franchise a long time ago and I cannot sit through any of the CSI's. Those shows either gross me out, scare me or I get stuck on things like: "Why is the coroner wearing false eyelashes?" "And why does David Caruso speak in that odd, halting manner?" But in summer reruns I have discovered "Castle", a clever over the top show that has been compared to the good years of Moonlighting. It has snappy writing, compelling characters and plots that don't make me fear for the future of humanity. So what does this have to do with anything regarding art, cartooning, or licensing? Well, in a recent episode, Rick Castle's young daughter is conflicted about studying or going to the beach with her friends, and how can she ever resolve this when she grows up? And he said;

"Find work that feels like play."

It took me a few (dozen) years to find work that didn't feel like mind-numbing, soul sucking work but now that I've found work that feels like play I can never go back. OK, I could...but I really hope the bottom doesn't fall out of the cartoon market any time soon. Because frankly, I am no longer qualified for any other work---just ask my former employers!

Ronnie's Work Habits

Hi Everyone,
Do you ever wonder what I'm doing when I'm not blogging? Oh, go on, I know you do! Here's a few things I've been doing: Working. Oh wait, that's just one thing. But when I "work" it looks like this:

Sit at my drawing table. Stare out window. Check my Facebook page. Make tea. Check email, answer a few. Panic that I'll never work again. Check my Facebook page. Draw something. Draw more somethings. Think: Hmmm...I think this could be something. Make it into something. Show it to a client. They say: Hmmm...I think this could be something. Celebrate! Repeat.
Wait 1 and 1/2 years for royalties to kick in. Make tea...

So there you have it. Any questions?

America's Mart---whew!

Hi Kids, Just returned (ok it's been a week or so) from the summer Atlanta Gift Market and Jim and I had lots and lots of meetings but managed to have a little fun with our licensing pals. Most of the shows we go to are between January and July so during the second half of the year, I really miss our business friends!

The new My Friend Ronnie plaque line was in a teeny corner of the Enesco showroom---and if all goes well, that teeny corner will grow a bit next time around! And they will be heading for a Macy's near you soon! For artists, there is no bigger thrill than seeing our "stuff" actually make it to market (well, that and a royalty check...) and I enjoyed watching people actually BUY the plaques!

I was going to post the obligatory shot of me next to the display but frankly why would I publish the unflattering shots that we took? Mama didn't raise no fool!

5 Steps to Successful Art Licensing

...From a writer, artist and licensing agent

I’ve been licensing my artwork since way back in the previous century and have seen the business grow up and get a life. I do have hundreds of designs under license and with my husband Jim, we run Two Town Studios, an art licensing agency. Here are a few (kind of blunt) tips to help you understand what this is really all about.

1)After you develop a portfolio of your work, show it to as many art licensing agents, gift and stationery retailers and gift and stationery manufacturers who will see you. Tell them you want 10 minutes of their time and ask if they will have a look at your work and give you an opinion. Here’s the deal---most of these people have seen thousands of images and product ideas come and go and they have very strong opinions of what will work and what will not. Expect that they will be direct with their comments and do not take it personally. Be quiet and LISTEN to what they say and do not argue with them. Thank them (profusely) and then go have coffee with your friends and bitch about how wrong they all are. BUT, if you hear the same things over and over (“gee, I’m not sure that style is saleable” or “I’m scared” or “Hmmm…yeah…not for us”), go back to the studio and refine your offering. Or, you know…rethink the whole idea.

2)Have something to say. Not the exact same thing as someone else, but say it in your own way. Most of the images that are licensable have a point of connection with another person. “I’m thinking of you”, “Let’s celebrate”, “Awwww…”, “you mean so much to me” or “screw this, let’s party!”. Be original but stay within the parameters of what is already on the market. This industry sometimes moves at glacial speed, but it does need refreshing new ideas.

3)Be patient. A career is built one contract at a time. A greeting card. A puzzle. A set of coffee mugs. 4 more greeting cards. A single fabric design. A fabric collection. A 72 sku Most Amazing Gift Collection Ever! You get the idea…so yeah, another source of income is a pretty good idea in the beginning.

4)Be nice. Extra nice. Most manufacturers I have worked with are working really hard to put out new, innovative products with tight schedules and even tighter margins. Whiners, complainers and prima donnas are not often invited back to the party. And those parties can be really fun!

5)I’ll cram a whole bunch into this one. Keep working. Try new stuff. Adapt to the comments you are hearing. Spell the word “stationery” correctly. And whatever you do, refrain from using the words: Live Laugh Love on anything. Ever.