Taking place on May 10-11, we find out why PG Live is an essential date in the diary.
Step foot into most high street retailers and the chances are that they will have a greeting card range somewhere in store, carefully selected to complement their particular product offering. From fine art watercolour paintings to bold modern designs, the greeting card market is one of the most natural partners for commercial art and design.
In fact, for many artists and designers, a greeting card range marks their first tentative step into the wider world of art licensing. It’s the perfect way to test out the commercial viability of an artist’s style – and if retailers (and consumers) like them, then it’s relatively simple to expand on that initial collection.
For others, the cards themselves are the end goal, but a successful range can quickly create consumer demand for related goods. These unintentional licences are often some of the most popular, flowing seamlessly into the wider retail market.
As such, putting together a strong greeting card collection can be one of the strongest tools in the artist’s paintbox. And there’s nowhere better to take a look at the latest ranges for 2016 than at the UK’s only dedicated greeting card trade show, Progressive Greetings Live.
With over 250 exhibitors ranging from major publishers celebrating decades in business to one-man-bands making their trade show debut, the aisles of the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, will be coming together to form an impressive and eclectic gallery for two days from May 10-11, 2016.
While many publishers embrace licensing, the natural home for artists and designers is the Artists’ Quarter, which is proudly displayed at the front of the show. It plays home to a friendly group of talented artists, creative designers and knowledgeable agents such as Bright Art Licensing, which represents hundreds of talented artists, with a portfolio spanning all genres.
Showcasing a wide variety of styles and influences, the Artists’ Quarter sees exhibitors presenting their latest designs to publishers and licensees alike. Portfolios are packed to the brim with fantastic new creations, each one available to buy or licence.
We asked some of exhibitors to reveal what they’ll be unveiling at the show and they were delighted to share their exciting plans.
Amy Charlotte (Stand 156) is a London-based luxury greetings card designer selling artwork licences, including trend graphics, characters, textile and print design.
“I will be selling a diverse range of greetings cards and art licences at PG Live,” Amy comments, “and it will be a chance for customers to get the first look at new ranges, view artworks exclusively on show at PG Live and get inspired by trend-driven graphics and illustrations before the rest of the market.”
Amy’s work often entails whimsical or sentimental ideas with a touch of humour, while her print design is often trend-led as she has experience in fashion trend forecasting.
“I will be able to provide consultations on new trends in the fashion and textile industry,” Amy continues, “and my designs are available for all types of licensing.”
Pallavi Prakash (Stand 158) is an artist specialising in floral designs inspired by nature and landscapes, working in mixed media, such as watercolour, gouache and design software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
“My designs are unique, colourful and vibrant,” Pallavi says. “They are mainly showcased on greeting cards, but have the potential to be used very effectively elsewhere as well.”
Pallavi will be showcasing her adaptable designs across various products on her stand at the show, allowing retailers, industry buyers and licensees to view her products from a licensing perspective.
David Lyon (Stand 160) is an artist inspired by organic shapes and the natural form. His favoured media are acrylic, ink and charcoal, which he uses to interpret his expressive sketchbook studies to create his paintings and drawings.
“I am aware that my creativity is part of a process,” David explains. “My art is a product of that process. It starts with something that catches my attention, (maybe from reading, listening to music or just looking); an object, colour or idea, figurative or abstract, that engages my imagination.”
He continues: “Ideas wax and wane but my creativity has always defined the person I am from childhood. It makes me aware that the process is ongoing. That my art is a product of that process.”
All David’s art is available to buy and licence.
Yellow House Art Licensing is a dynamic UK art licensing company with a growing reputation, representing established artists, leading brands, and rising stars. Jehane Boden Spiers and Sue Bateman founded Yellow House in 2011.
“We are excited to be exhibiting at PG Live again this year,” comments Jehane. “After first launching our agency at PG Live in 2012, we are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating our fifth year in business at PG 2016. With a keen eye for new talent, we are delighted to be introducing a new rising star at the show, the artist Catherine Rowe.”
Yellow House is well-known for offering a carefully curated collection of artists, growing artists’ reputations, and bringing new brands to market. Its key attention to detail, a creative eye and focus on quality is testament to its unique vision.
Good art is made to be seen and enjoyed; good commercial art is made to be seen, bought, given and enjoyed. And with so many exhibitors at this year’s show, PG Live 2016 is the ideal hunting ground for anyone looking for artistic inspiration and great design.
This feature originally appeared in the Summer 2016 edition of Art & Design Licensing Source Book. Click here to read the full publication.
