Properties from Finland, especially from the worlds of design, digital entertainment, and publishing, are expanding their activities on the global market this year. Many are classics, or at least well established, but their profiles are on the upswing, each for its own reasons. On the design side, Marimekko, which has been known for its brightly […]
Archive | Art
The Many Hues of Adult Coloring
Although publishers report continued strong sales for adult coloring books (at least in the U.S.), and licensors are still entering the market or looking into doing so, this now-crowded sector is starting to mature. One indication is its diversification and expansion in several directions: Adjacent categories. Buffalo Games has a line of puzzles that come […]
True Colors, Part 2
If you’ve done any holiday shopping this year, you certainly have noted the prominent and often vast displays of adult coloring books in stores of all types. Nearly every publisher seems to offer at least one adult coloring book, with more to come. Less than a month ago (November 19), we noted the rise of […]
Man’s Best Friend
Art trends come and go, but photographs of cute dogs and cats—often dressed, digitally or otherwise, and/or behaving anthropomorphically—always seem to be in style. That ongoing popularity has translated to well-established global licensing programs for pet photographers based in territories all around the world: American Keith Kimberlin offers a large archive of photographs of kittens […]
Made by Hand
A trend in the world of commercial art and surface design—and, by extension, in the world of art licensing—is an affinity for imagery that is hand-created. Even when digitized for production, the hand-made qualities, such as brush strokes, show through and give the work a singular look. A couple of the artists and art studios […]
A Tale of Two Art Shows
Artists often seem to weigh the positives and negatives of SURTEX versus Licensing Expo as if they are similar opportunities, with the main difference being their respective locations in New York and Las Vegas. And it is true that there is some crossover between the two when it comes to the artists exhibiting. But a […]
Marketers Seek Artistry in Promotion
A number of artists recently have raised their profiles by participating in promotions that support consumer products and entertainment ventures. For marketers—which have initiated most of these partnerships—bringing in an outside artist or artists is an opportunity to give fans a fresh perspective on their brand or property and generate buzz in the media. For […]
Feeling Good About Emojis
Not surprisingly, the emojis and emoticons that are so ubiquitous in social media, texting, and email are making their way into the physical world as a theme for a variety of consumer products. In the toy industry, Jakks introduced Emoji Bears, a line of plush bears that allow children to express their emotions by placing […]
Day of the Dead Lives As A Licensing Theme
A handful of properties featuring imagery associated with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), most with roots in the worlds of entertainment or art, have launched limited licensing programs. Properties such as the animated series Muertoons, created by actor Wilmer Valderrama and his WV Enterprises, focus mostly on the U.S. Hispanic consumer segment. […]
Artful Interpretations of Comics and Cartoons
Licensors of classic comic strips and cartoons are partnering with contemporary artists to offer fresh graphics and a publicity hook. Three examples from the past year include: DC Thomson Consumer Products creating two new style guides for The Beano and Dennis the Menace, one with British designer Wayne Hemingway and the other with artist Jon […]