Ep. 09: Building Your Creative Career: Secrets to Success in Art Licensing with Jehane

In this engaging episode, Stacie sits down with Jehane, an accomplished art licensing agent and artist, to discuss the nuances of transitioning from a freelance artist to an agent. Jehane shares her 30-year journey in the creative industry, highlighting the importance of relationships, resilience, and authenticity in both art creation and business. They delve into the challenges artists face when navigating licensing, the vital role of relationship building, and how Jehane’s unique path led her to represent artists with her agency, Jehane Ltd.

Today on Art + Audience:

• Jehane's Journey: Jehane shares her evolution from a full-time freelance designer to founding her own illustration agency. With 30 years of industry experience, she reflects on how being an artist has informed her approach as an agent.

• The Role of Illustration: Jehane discusses the significance of illustration in various applications like books, branding, and packaging, emphasizing how it's often more about the narrative and commissioning process than just licensing existing work.

• Transitioning to Agent: Jehane talks about the pivotal moment of transitioning from artist to agent, driven by her love for collaboration and connection, and the need to continue working after becoming a mother.

• Building Relationships: Both Jehane and Stacie stress the importance of relationship building over sheer volume in pitching artwork, sharing personal anecdotes about mistakes and learning curves that shaped their careers.

• The Importance of Authenticity: Jehane advises artists to focus on originality and authenticity, steering away from following trends just for the sake of commercial success.

• Challenges in the Industry: The conversation touches on the unpredictability of the art licensing industry, the importance of perseverance, and how artists can sustain themselves creatively and financially without putting all their eggs in one basket.

• AI Art and Industry Evolution: Jehane shares her thoughts on AI-generated art, reassuring artists that the demand for authentic, human-created work remains strong, even as technology evolves.

Connect with Jehane:

• Instagram: @jehane_ltd

• Website: jehane.com

Connect with Stacie Bloomfield:

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• Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com

• Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart 

• Facebook: @ShopGingiber

• Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber

• Get the free 5-day email course at artlicensingplaybook.com