Surtex in May and Licensing in June, signed our Sure, I act like Mr. Magoo, but I don’t hurt and I’m
fi rst license in September, and that company, still convinced of my charm and good looks!”
Trends Intl., had product on the market at the
Atlanta Gift Show this year (11.5 months). I’ve What qualities do you look for in
entered into three other license agreements for artwork to be licensed? Is it important
our artists since then and added another three that the art can apply to product across
artists to the agency’s roster.“ more than one retail area?
What does Art of Possibility off er artists “I do think this is important but I wouldn’t turn
with disabilities that other studios do an artist away if their work didn’t possess that
not? quality. Of course I ask a lot from the artists; I’m
bringing their unique vision under my brand
“My goal is simply to help as many physically and expect work to be consistent with that
disabled artists as possible. The market will brand. No “poor me my life is so sad” urban art,
decide whose work it likes and I can trust the no “I been done wrong by the man” art. At some
professionalism and design sensibility of the point a haughty waiter has snubbed all of us; it’s
product managers and creative directors from the common human experience even though
those companies. Meanwhile, I contract an everyone takes it personally. I don’t want art that
art director and production artist (Jen Norton, dwells on misfortune, I want art that transcends
represented for her own work by Painted misfortune.
Planet Licensing Group, and Darci Phillips of We off er a mix of fi ne art and graphics. Our
Freebird Studio) who believe in the important current licensees are Trends Intl. (off ering a
work I’m doing and bring their gifts to the collection of Art of Possibility bookmarks),
Art of Possibility mission. They provide the Phenominoes/PUREMCO (off ering novelty
technical expertise to support the artists’ vision domino pendants), Fine Art Tapestries/Pure
in translating fi ne art to a commercially viable Country Weavers (off ering home decor) and a
product model. major international textile manufacturer which
We do work for the artists they could never is off ering an Art of Possibility textile collection
do for themselves, in terms of graphics and slated to debut at the October Quilt Market.”
fi le management and in rights management
and negotiation. We’re able to accept artists Which of your artists have you found to
for representation who only have a handful of prove particularly popular? Why do you
pieces for licensing. No other agency could take think this is so?
on representing an artist with only eight images,
but I do, because I can off er them as one look in George Mendoza’s art has been a huge hit. We
the Art of Possibility brand. laugh about it because, as George says: “hell,
By developing an art brand and bringing we’re blind!” Jen (Norton, art director) said
these artists’ work under the tent, I’m able to George’s work would be the biggest grab and
off er an additional income stream to those How did you fi nd the other artists on she’s been right. She attributes his success to the
artists as a result of their own eff orts. It’s very the portfolio? What are their respective use of vibrant colours and his ability to compose
empowering for them. disabilities, and how have they worked using contrasting values.”
As I build the Art of Possibility global empire with them to
I’ve plans to include professional development Do you have any expansion or
training and resources for the artists. Building “Here in the States we have a charitable development plans for the future?
their sktheir skillsills t too understand and pr understand and producee organizationganization f foor arr artsts and disabilities called VSA.
deliverables will onlerables will only help them do their job y help them do their job (http://vsaarts.org/)g/). W. e’re all VSA members. “Global. Brand. Domination! This job is the
bettbetteerr.”.” Our wOur weebsitbsitee has a curr has a cu ent list of each artist we perfect amalgam between humanitarianism and
represent but at the moment its me esen megalomania. I’d like to build an art brand that
(bl(blind), Georind ge Mendoza (blind), serves artists and the art community for as long
SSuzuzy Combs (partially deaf), as there are disabled artists.
EnEnid Swift (paralysis due to Although I didn’t set out to have this extra
MiMiller Fisher Syndrome) and bonus goodness, I love that as a consequence
Thhelma Johnson (sarcoidosis). of what I’m doing people can ’vote their values‘
George, Suzy and I aren’t in through their Art of Possibility purchase. That I
any pain or having emergency can emancipate doing good from those charity
roroom visits. It makes me so banquets with the chicken dinner is my gift to
grateful for what I’ve got. the world.”
33
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68