Explore art licensing and art leasing as ways to take your art business to the next level and generate new sources of income outside of the traditional realm of art exhibitions. Successful artist Blakely Bering of Bering Art Collective and art consultant Michele LaRocco of 360 Degrees of Art present practical guidelines on how to license your artwork for commercial reproduction as well as opportunities for your work to be leased out to businesses.
Topics covered:
- * What is art leasing and what is art licensing
- * The process of leasing & licensing; how to prepare for either world; what steps to take to get your work noticed, etc
- * What is the role of the agent/consultant
- * What is your role as the artist & what to be prepared for
- * What you need to know to avoid being taken advantage of
Blakely and Michele will be interested in seeing your work to see if it is a good fit for leasing or licensing. Please bring your portfolios in easy to handle format (prints or images on laptop are ok).
Fee: $5 for Spacetaker members; $15 for non-members
(Become a Spacetaker member today! Visit our Culture 365 member page for more information.)
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Michele LaRocco
Founder & Managing Director, 360 Degrees of Art
Although a native Texan, Michele moved to London, England after graduating from the University of Houston (Magna Cum Laude) with degrees in both Communications and Art History. While in London, Michele earned a Master’s degree in Art History (graduating Suma Cum Laude) from Richmond the American International University, as well as a Master’s degree in Art Business (graduating with Merit) from the renowned Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
During her career, Michele has worked for the National Gallery in London, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) Education Department, as well as art investment funds. Michele has published articles both in England and the Untied States, as well as produced educational material for the MFAH’s Education Department. Aside from managing the daily operations at 360 degrees of art, Michele is also an adjunct professor of Art History and Art Appreciation at Houston Community College.
While art has always been a passion of Michele’s, she realizes it can be an intimidating and confusing subject for many people. Michele’s goal is to alleviate the confusion by utilizing her experience to educate artists and collectors alike on the many nuances of the art world and market.
Blakely Bering
Fine Artist, Owner of Bering Art Collective
After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 1998 Blakely Bering's professional art career began. Blakely put her studies in costume and set design to direct use by working in opera design and television proaction around the U.S. including Los Angeles, Florida, New York, and finally returning her artwork throughout her career. Transitioning from large scale design to fine art was seamless and natural for her.
Painting figurative abstractions and "Blooms" at first, Blakely's art evolved into pure abstraction. Experimenting with techniques, mediums, and styles; the "Oil slick" developed in 2006. To collectors around the world, the "Oil slick" is recognized as Blakely's classic style. The "Oil slick" is a frozen moment, a landscape, a figure, an ocean, an aerial view; it is subjective. She has been noted as a colorist for her intricate rich layers of oil. Her abstractions are in flux, serious, and unassuming. Reflecting her theatrical sense, the artwork is powerful from thirty feet away.
Inspired by her love of cooking, Blakely combines oils, powdered pigments, crushed metals, and secret ingredients, from scratch, to create her own paint mixtures, primarily, painting on panel. Her work is known not only for its beauty and sense of frozen movement, but for its sustainability over time. Selling over 4,000 paintings, she has produced art for both national and international exhibits.
Today she lives in Houston with her two children Granger and Baylies. Her studio and home is fondly called "Artfarm." Here, she regularly works creating pieces produced with acrylic, charcoal, pastel, oil pastel and found objects on panel or canvas. She is also the proud owner of Bering Art Collective, Houston's source for contemporary art, framing, installation services, and artist licensing.
Blakely's work resides in corporate and private collections around the country including: Phillip Van Heusen, NY; Devon Energy; National Oilwell Varco, KBR, Griffin Partners, Houston & Dallas; Triumph Hospitals, Perry's Steakhouse, Three Forks Restaurant, and more.
This workshop is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts
