SURTEX 2012 Will Showcase New Talents, Energy & Ideas
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Not for nothing is SURTEX known as the go-to show for fresh, new art and design.
The constant flow of new artists, agents, and designers keeps the Javits aisles jumping with fresh ideas, new takes, and untapped talents from all across the globe. Starting with this issue of On the Surface, we’ll preview some of the newcomers who will be bringing innovations and energy to SURTEX 2012.
Tamagrams by Tamara Brown. From upstate South Carolina and the greeting cards that launched her career, artist Tamara Brown is looking to expand the reach of her four-year-old company beyond a lifelong “passion for paper,” to fabrics, gift wrap and other products for the gift industry.
After testing the waters at the National Stationery Show® last year, Tamara says, “The doors for licensing have seemed to open very naturally….Licensing is growing…there are so many opportunities for artists, as well as licensees.”
And with the creative process itself “so close to my heart,” Tamara reports, “Licensing lets me focus on just that!”
-ize on design LLC. The creative force behind the –ize on design brand, Karen Harris holds a degree in architecture from the University of Virginia, and has already achieved a career in designing contract interiors. Now she’s bringing her interpretations of modernism to what she calls a “lifestyle” brand – signature silhouettes and motifs derived from her original freehand ink drawings and translated to surface design and three-dimensional objects.
And is she excited about showing at SURTEX! Encouraged by other artists like Khristian Howell and Tara Reed, Karen says, “I can safely say that participating in SURTEX as an exhibitor will probably go down as one of the best decisions I have ever made…and I am not even there yet!”
DSW Licensing Company is a “boutique licensing agency” headed by Donna Westman,who says that after a “short hiatus due to the economy,” she’s looking to bring her business to “the next level” by exhibiting at SURTEX again this year. “As we begin 2012, I see a positive outlook in the economy due to the recent uptick in retail sales…as well as an overall optimistic attitude about the future of art licensing – great news for manufacturers, retailers, and licensors!”
Partnering with artists who have a combined total of 75 years’ experience in the design industry, Donna reports, “I have certainly seen my business grow in the past year. As a result, I’ve added a couple of new artists to my repertoire of skilled talent…and have no doubt that my agency will grow exponentially in the number of licensing partnerships.”
Barefoot Studios, headed by artist Pamela Wingard, comes to SURTEX after focusing primarily on the stationery industry. There, Pam reports, “I provided solid art, fresh ideas, and a quality product…traits that are transferrable,” she believes.
After visiting SURTEX in the past, walking the aisles and taking advantage of the Conference sessions, Pam says her goal for the 2012 show “is to learn, meet manufacturers and other artists in the industry, and leave with a more specific list of manufacturers that would be a good fit for my art.”
Which she says falls into two distinct styles, whimsical, hand-drawn, light, happy and inspirational on one hand; on the other, loosely painted themes such a wine and food.
No surprise that she has been a serious painter whose work was sold through art galleries. “But I missed the commercial side of the art business,” Pam confides. So here she is at SURTEX, “excited about taking the next step to expand my art business!”
Tammy Smith Design. Artist Tammy Smith had chalked up a career with Hallmark Cards, designing gift wrap and party ware, before she went freelance as a product designer and illustrator.
“I realized that I missed surface design and wanted to get back into it,” Tammy reports.Having covered SURTEX in her earlier career, she says, “I can’t think of a better venue for connecting with potential clients and also meeting other artists.”
She’s hard at work developing a range of collections for the show, from general geometric designs and some florals, she says, to holiday designs. “I’m also interested in home décor and textiles – my Hollywood Regency group is more subdued for home décor.” But not to miss an opportunity, she says she’s also done a version in Christmas colors.
“I think that a lot of companies are reducing their full-time staffs and looking to freelance artists to fill their needs for design. That’s good news for us!”