Shari Warren Teaches Art Business & Licensing 

I started teaching at the Academy of Art University (AAU) in the Illustration school in 2013 to present. I authored the curriculum for my class named “Illustration for Consumer Products”. I structured the content, class activities and assignments based on my real-life career as a published and licensed commercial artist and illustrator, creating art collections for consumer retail products and children's books. The students I have taught are diverse and come from all over the world!

"My goal as a creative instructor is to teach art students best practices in running
​their own businesses and help​them design and pursue their own creative careers."

Last day of class photo with my students at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA.
Yes, I always have a party (hence the food and drink in the photo) to celebrate my students hard work in
​combination with a fun group activity to reinforce concepts taught during the semester!

Student Art Collections

I am so proud to show premium examples of my student's work from the portfolio assignments given to them throughout the semesters. Notice the range of art styles, unique to each student's interests and skills. Each of the students had to research the retail market for trends and popular themes and then create art collections and product mock-ups targeted to a demographic consumer of their choice.  All of the student art collection presentations are very professional and ready to submit to manufacturing companies for art licensing or create and sell their own products in their own store.

Class Overview

Overview of the Art Licensing Industry
Students learn what Art Licensing is, how the industry works and what the business opportunities are the each artist. They will also learn the terminology for Illustration styles, product categories that use licensed artwork and a listing of the industry players; artist, agents, product developers, art directors, and intellectual property (IP) lawyers.

Research Trends in Products in the Retail Market
They research the retail market, identify current trends, and create themed art collections and product mock-ups for products such as paper products, home furnishings, wall decor, giftware, and other lifestyle products. 

Create Marketable Art Collections
In this class, students create marketable art collections and product mock-ups for their portfolio to license to manufacturers and publishers who make consumer retail products and to create their own products.
Students become skilled at evaluating their own illustration style and how it relates to specific product categories , customer demographics and how to "create art that sells".

Create Branded Marketing Materials and a Portfolio Website
Students create their own branded tools and promotional materials, such as their logo and tag line, business cards, art collection sell sheets, post cards, social media promo posts and an art business portfolio website to launch and market their own art collections to potential corporate customers and online stores, where they create their own products.
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How to Find Potential Customers and an Artist Agent
Students will learn about the role an Artist Agent can play in representing artist's work to manufacturing and publishing customers, how to find the right agency, and how to write a great inquiry letter for representation. They will also learn how to research and contact new customers on their own, and how to professionally submit their art collections for consideration for licensing. 

Running an Art Business and Best Practices
We cover basic art business practices such as registering their artwork for copyright protection, learning important terms and conditions in licensing contracts, and how to keep accounting records and tax documents in running their business.

Industry Resources and Social Networking
There are art licensing industry trade shows, websites, blogs and professional groups that students can learn about and participate in to network and make business contacts to further their career and licensing opportunities. They will also learn how to use their Social Networking, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. to research companies who license artwork and contact new customers.

Artist Entrepreneur Opportunities
In addition, students explore further entrepreneurial opportunities for creating, selling and marketing their own products direct to consumers and wholesale to store buyers through trade shows, art fairs, and online shops and POD (print on demand) shops.