Ask almost any artist interested in licensing their art if they have heard of Mary Engelbreit and you will be met with a resounding "YES!" Mary is one of the industry icons - the artist newbies and veterans alike look to her as a source of inspiration for what can be done in art licensing.
When I first became interested in licensing my art, I looked to Mary for guidance.
Not personally of course, but on Google, on her website, in articles and in books.
Anywhere I could learn more about how she got started and how she built her business was in my hands.
Of course each artist will have their own path, but I believe that learning how others have gone before us may give hints for how we might follow.
Many artists would be surprised to learn that Mary Engelbreit doesn't, in fact, paint.
Her delightful designs are created with a combination of marker and colored pencils.
"I use colored pencils to completely color over the markers, which preserves the markers.
" Mary explains.
"Everybody thinks it's paint, but I actually can't paint, though someday I'd like to learn.
" Mary Engelbreit is known throughout the world for her distinctive illustration style, imbued with spirited wit and nostalgic warmth.
The unmatched following for her work has grown with a range of licensed products that stretches from calendars, to best-selling children's books, millions of greeting cards sold each year, and thousands of gifts, crafts and home accents.
Starting in 1977, Mary Engelbreit licensed her art for a greeting card line and today boasts a list that's grown to include nearly 6,500 products in all, with more than $1 billion in lifetime retail sales.