Art Licensing 101: Build Your Illustration Career
A course by Allison Cole, Illustrator and Surface Designer
Joined May 2021
Learn how to grow your business through essential pattern design skills and valuable licensing basics.
Joined May 2021
Creating unique products with an original design is a great way to build a successful business. In the process of doing so, it’s important to license your work and promote it. Illustrator and surface designer, Allison Cole, has made a career of monetizing her colorful, whimsical patterns, and has collaborated with clients such as Hasbro, Snapchat and Target.
Transform your unique pattern designs into a successful business. Allison uses her expertise and experience to teach you the basics of art licensing and how to create a professional design and presentation. Discover how to apply marketplace research to your work and what you need to do to sell it.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 7 downloads
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know Allison as she discusses what has shaped her as an illustrator and surface pattern designer. She shares her inspirations, how she began establishing her brand and her experience in the industry. Then get an overview of what to expect from the course.
Allison teaches you about what art licensing is and how it can be used to grow your business. Learn the important terms and definitions, the different ways you can arrive at an agreement with a client, and understand the markets for surface design.
Explore strategies for applying marketplace research to your own work to determine your target market. Then create a moodboard with references based on what you’ve discovered. Allison guides you through the process of designing a repeated pattern, and how to create it in Photoshop. Learn how to make a presentation print to show to potential clients.
Discover the various ways you can promote your work at trade shows, online, and through social media. Get advice on how to present and pitch your designs. Wrap up the course by hearing the best practices for pricing and what to do once you’ve sold them.
- 99% positive reviews (304)
- 9,239 students
- 12 lessons (1h 35m)
- 7 downloads
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, German, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Indonesian · Romanian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a surface design presentation print to market to potential clients.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for illustrators and artists who want to learn about licensing their work and build industry-specific business skills.
Requirements and materials
Some experience in illustration or design, and basic knowledge of Photoshop is required.
Reviews
Allison Cole
A course by Allison Cole
Allison Cole is a seasoned illustrator and surface designer renowned for her vibrant and engaging creations. With a passion for art that dates back to her formative years, Allison honed her skills at The Rhode Island School of Design, where she gained a comprehensive understanding of the creative process. Her career journey began as a graphic designer and freelance illustrator, during which she explored the world of surface design by crafting and selling her own products. This self-driven initiative led her to discover the potential of creating art for products, ultimately guiding her towards a career in surface design.
Over time, Allison has collaborated with an impressive array of clients, including Target, Keds, and West Elm, and has developed product lines with brands such as Paintbrush Studio Fabrics and Badge Bomb. Her work is celebrated for its unique motifs, vibrant colors, and compelling compositions that capture the imagination. Allison's dedication to her craft is evident in her strategic approach to building her brand and establishing licensing partnerships. She continues to inspire artists by demonstrating how to transform illustrations into captivating collections, offering insights into the world of surface design with the aim of empowering others to see their work on products.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Fundamentals of Art Licensing
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Art Licensing to Grow Your Business
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Licensing Terms and Definitions
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Markets and Research Tips
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U3
Creating Your Art
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Reflection and Pattern Design: Inspiration
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Repeating Patterns Explained
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Pattern Design: How to Make a Repeating Pattern
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How to Make a Presentation Print
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U4
Promoting and Selling Your Work
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How to Promote Your Work
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How to Present Your Work to Prospective Clients
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Selling Your Designs: Best Practices
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FP
Final project
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Art Licensing Foundations
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
Surface design involves creating patterns and artwork specifically for products like textiles, home decor, and stationery. It combines illustration skills with design techniques to make art that’s ready for licensing and product application.
This course is best for those with some prior illustration or design experience, as it covers intermediate concepts like licensing, portfolio building, and advanced pattern techniques.
You’ll need basic drawing or illustration skills, access to Adobe Photoshop, and an interest in creating art for products. Familiarity with digital design tools is recommended but not required.
You’ll learn how to create repeat patterns, build a professional portfolio, license your art, negotiate contracts, research markets, and present your work to clients and brands.
The course teaches you how to prepare your art for online marketplaces like Etsy, research licensing opportunities, and connect with agents or brands to license your designs for products.
Motifs are the individual elements or images used in repeating patterns. The course covers how to find inspiration, sketch, and abstract motifs from nature, vintage objects, and art history.
You’ll learn step-by-step techniques in Photoshop including using guides, the offset filter, and layer management to create, test, and adjust seamless repeating patterns for fabric and products.
Really well structured course giving all you need to get started.
Really good course, enjoyable, highly recommended!
Second course with Allison! I’ve learned so much from this class and really loved every minute of it.
Perfect! Highly recommended!
I’ve learned a lot from this class and really enjoyed it. Highly recommended!
Bom, mas um pouco básico.