Art licensing is one of the best ways for an artist to make money off of their work. That’s because, from the licensing contracts, they are guaranteed of a regular payment for as long as the licensee makes use of their work. However, before you think of licensing your artwork, you need to understand the ins-and-outs of licensing deals. To help you out, here are 5 things you should know about art licensing.
- It is not easy
While licensing your art can give a good source of passive income, such deals don’t come easy. As an artist, you need to be consistent in the pursuit of such licenses. You also need to ensure that your artworks are of great quality. Otherwise, no one will be willing to license your work. In essence, while art licensing is great, don’t be under the illusion that such deals will come by easy. It takes work!
- You need to be versatile
Every artist has their own style and likes to work based on what blends best with their creative instincts. However, when working under an art license, you might be required to try out different artistic styles depending on the needs of the person licensing your work. That’s because once you decide to take the art licensing route, things go beyond art and take a business dimension too. The person or company licensing your work needs to recoup their investments. Otherwise, the whole deal would be untenable.
- You will need to work with deadlines
Most artists love working within their own timelines. It is not only liberating, but also adds to the creativity required to come up with amazing pieces of art. However, that is not always the case, when you choose to go for art licenses. Considering that money is involved and the company licensing you and your work are investing with an ROI in mind, deadlines will become a part of your life, and they have to be met. Without the ability to work with deadlines, it might be difficult to work under an art license. You have to learn how sacrifice time, for you to enjoy the passive income that comes with art licensing.
- It takes time to start making the money
While art licensing is a great way to make money from your artistic capabilities, don’t expect the big cheques to start rolling in immediately. You will need to put in some work to increase the intrinsic value of your work. As you become better known, so will the value of your art licenses. It’s just like any other business. The more popular it is, the higher the monetary gains you receive.
- There are websites that license new artists
In case you are a new artist and finding it difficult to have your work licensed, why not try out an art licensing website. Such a website can license your work and give you the platform to build your worth. There are many websites offering this service. Take a look at advocate art, and you will discover how such websites can help you out with art licensing.