Spotlight on Polarity Collaborations Part V

I don't remember how I first stumbled across Cat Ivins' two shops (Polarity and Uncorked) but I was immediately drawn to her designs.  One look at her shops and you'll see what I mean.  Her attention to detail, the simple elegance of her designs and her unique packaging all make for an attractive showcase of talent.  While working on this collaboration series, Cat pointed me to other artists when I was having difficulty finding them.  Her blog, Olivebites,  has often left me smiling, if not downright laughing, while keeping me informed at the same time.  She's a true etsy success and was a featured artist in September, 2009.  There's a beautiful interview with her on Etsy that I encourage you to read.  It gives you insight into her art and her fabulous sense of humor, click here for that interview.

For this article, I chose to focus on her collaborations, which are many, and she agreed to share her experiences with you.  I changed  Cat's wording just slightly to improve the flow.  

Collaborations

For my first collaborations, I chose a few sellers I knew from making treasuries, but now the artists usually find me. I try to work with artists whose work doesn't conflict with anyone I am already working with and whose work I love! We work together to select the images. They have an eye for what best represents their work and what has sold best for them in print. I consider the same things, but also look for what fills an open niche in my line up. I have a licensing contract which basically says I will pay them X amount for each sale and they can't license the images out to any other locket designers, but they can always make their own jewelry. The contract can be canceled by either of us at any time.

A good collaboration is made with a mutual respect between the artists and being very upfront about everything. I respect their amazing illustrations and the huge part that plays in the sale of the locket and they respect my design and physical labor that also plays a huge part. For promotions, I have done quite a few giveaways on various blogs with the artist lockets; sometimes a specific artist and sometimes giving the winner a choice of locket. Three of my artist lockets are currently in the Uncommon Goods catalog.

My favorite part of the collaboration process is the early stages; although that is also the part that takes the most time and I tend to procrastinate it when busy. I work with over 60 artists so there are lots of challenges! I am also about to do tradeshows with many of these lockets on my linesheets for the first time (in August) so I am expecting various issues will arise when we move the sales off Etsy.

Artist's seeking collaborations should work with people they like and respect. Set everything out, up front and very clearly. I would definitely recommend all sorts of collaborations; whether it be with your actual work, using each other's items in your photos, business card exchanges for customers, etc. I recently had a newish Etsy seller named FlowerBomber send me a few seedballs to send out with my orders along with his business card.  There are many ways to collaborate with each other!

The mosaic above are shots of Cat's home work studio.  I'm secretly hoping that my studio space will look as inviting some day.  I should say, a fantasy of mine, as I have no hope of achieving this without an intervention of some sort.  Her work space is as artistic as her designs and the organization is a necessity.

I've had a few people ask me how I approached the collaborations I've done recently.  I did not have an organized approach, I went were the inspiration struck me as I was working on this series and I kept them very simple.  Cat brings up several interesting ideas for approaching collaborations.  They do not need to be complex; start with a business card promotion with artists you know and whose work compliments your own.  

I have one last interview in the pipeline for this series as well as another of my own collaborations to show (just waiting for those beads to come in to finish it off).  If you'd like to learn more about Cat Ivins, you can find her on the following sites:

Blog = Olive Bites 
Twitter = UncorkedEducation 
Facebook = Cat Ivins

Spotlight on HouseofCats Collaboration Part IV

Zen Bridge

Today continues my collaboration series as we talk  with Bill, owner of House of Six Cats.  Imagine my surprise when I found he hails from Oregon, one of my favorite places.  The Japanese garden pictured in his original print above was a favorite weekend destination of my husband and I during our brief time living in the Portland area.  It is my great pleasure to share Bill's profile with you and his thoughts on collaborations and what makes them work.

The Beginning

My love for photography started when I got my first 35mm camera for my 16th birthday.  It was a minolta X700, and I still have it!  Fast forward twenty-seven years; that includes a burn out with a ten year hiatus from shooting, three cross country moves, a marriage and birth of our daughter.

It was the birth of our daughter that reignited my passion for photography, that's why she is my shop's avatar [picture that appears on all shop communications]. Because of my renewed love for photography, I finally decided to try to sell my art. I opened my Etsy shop in June of 2007, and quickly became the leader of the then dormant POE (Photographers of Etsy), street team. Now it is the biggest team on Etsy and is approaching 2000 members!

Dandelion Wishes 

Over the past three years, I have developed a knack of finding unique and functional ways of using my images. Some of these ideas have been more successful than others. I currently offer ceramic art coasters, night lights and jewelry, as well as prints. With the coasters and night lights, I also offer collaborations with other Etsy artisans.

 

Beside Etsy, I do local craft and art shows. I am in six local Portland shops including a gallery, and I am also in a new, Wichita, Kansas shop that just opened!

I love how these artists work together building on each others' strengths. For example, House of Six Cats offers five incredible ways to enjoying his art: print, pendant, coaster, locket, and night light.  Four of these offerings are his own creation, but the locket was a collaboration with another shop, Polarity.

Bill was gracious enough to provide advice to others seeking collaborations.  I've edited his replies only enough to place them in conversational form.  I asked him to describe how his collaborations formed, what he enjoyed best, what posed a challenge and advice he might give to readers in forming their own.

Collaborations

Merchant of Venice, Photopia

Initially, I formed collaborations by contacting members on the POE Team list that I had some contact with in the past. Now, people come to me asking to collaborate. I'm always open for new artists who are interested in a collaboration. Either with me and their art, or my art and their creations.

For my collaborations, artists typically give me permission to use their images for the coasters. I can sell them in my shop and they can also sell them in their shop. There have also been times where I have made direct off Etsy sales to friends and family members. For each sale the collaborative artists make a percentage, and we both sign a simple agreement. In addition to the listing, I utilize social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to promote each new listing or new sale.

I truly enjoy getting sales from the collaborative shops!  It's exciting and rewarding.  The only downside to the process is seeing artists that don't get any sales from the collaboration, that is always a bummer.

When forming your own collaboration, if possible, work with shops that you have a relationship with, or fellow etsians they know. Second, make sure they write up a simple contract/agreement to help protect both yourself and the artists you collaborate with.  Third, use your common sense and don't collaborate with someone you don't feel comfortable with.

The biggest joy I've discovered in my new on-line presence is the wealth of learning and sharing that occurs within this community. As a final note, Bill is generously giving away a set of coasters, you can find out more at Bee's Go Buzz, and take advantage of an excellent opportunity to enjoy one of his creations. You can also learn more about this incredible artist at the following sites:

Facebook Fan Page
Facebook Personal Page
RedBubble
Etsy
Twitter @houseofsixcats
Flickr

EBW Monthly Challenge

It's time once again to vote in the Etsy Beadweavers' monthly challenge.  The theme this month was phenomenon and there are many fantastic entries for you to enjoy.  My entry is in honor of Mt. St. Helene's.  I was not there when it erupted, but moved to the area over 10 years later.  The stories of those who survived and those who did not, the landscape, and it's dark beauty left a lasting impression.

 

To place your vote, go the the team blog:

Etsybeadweavers.blogspot.com

Work in Process Part 2

I thought I'd share a couple more pictures with you of my Barrel of Monkey's collaboration.  It's coming along nicely, with only a few "tear outs" and "start overs".  It is freeform, like my first cuff.  

I did tear out the blue surround I had originally placed along the outside edge of the pin.  I found it interferred with the flow of beading, although I've come to regret that decision as it did provide a nice termination for the the beadwork.  I'm basically following the lines of the fabric with some modification to add interest and movement.

You can see that I could not resist adding fringe around the pin.  In my defense (although there really is none) I was seeing a gap when I bent the bracelet around my wrist (where I had removed the blue surround).  I wanted to know if the fringe would cover that gap.  Of course it did (I knew it would but needed the excuse to fringe away).  I love the fringe and it would look spectacular on a pendant, I'll have to hunt down more of the teardrop shaped beads. Unfortunately the fringe does make beading in the immediate area difficult, so avoid adding fringe until you're finished with the beading in the immediate area of your focal (do as I say, not as I do).

You can also see I've added eyelets to the outside edge.  I'm going to use ultra-suede lace for this bracelet's closure.  Not only does it add to the whimsy, it allows for some flexibility in sizing.  I'm on the hunt for a cinch button.  I have a couple that will work, but I'm still looking for the perfect one.

I have a long way to go, but it's a fun project and definitely outside of my normal beading.  These are becoming addictive and I have plans for at least three more.