Wild Apple is always on the hunt for talented artists to license and publish. We accept art submissions on an ongoing basis. However, it is only fair to let you know that we end up taking on a very small percentage of the very large number of artists who approach us.
What We Look For
- ● Popular themes for publishing include - but are not limited to - florals, landscapes, decorative objects, abstracts, contemporary
● Artists creating fresh, marketable artwork, with broad decorative appeal, focusing on current design and home decor trends
● Artists willing to work collaboratively
● Artists with portfolios of 20+ images and a continuous flow of new imagery
● Popular themes for licensing include - but are not limited to - holiday imagery (Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving/harvest), coffee, wine/grapes, chefs, kitchen designs, pets, coastal, wildlife, fashion and world travel. (To view recent art licensing presentations click here)
What To Send & How
After you email us your submission, we will review your artwork. If we need more information or physical samples of your work, we will contact you within approximately 4 weeks. If you do not hear from us within this time frame, it means that we are sadly not able to use your work.
(Please Don’t Phone!)
We hate to sound impolite, but unfortunately we are susceptible to the time pressures of a demanding business. We just can’t give individual responses on the status of your submission or specific feedback on your artwork. So please do not phone. We wish we could send long letters and chocolate to everyone who submits, but reality gets in the way!Next Steps
If we are interested in your work, we ask to see it in its original form. We talk with you about current home and gift market trends and how we might align your work to be successful in publishing and/or licensing.The next stage is to clearly spell out our mutual understanding. We do this with a publishing contract and/or a licensing contract that details your and our rights and obligations and, most importantly, royalty payments. Once agreed to and signed, we welcome you to our family of artists.
Once you join Wild Apple, we select images to publish and discuss new pieces we would like you to create. Initially we may only publish a few prints, and then gradually increase the collection. We will work with you to broaden your portfolio for the home furnishings industry. A diverse portfolio is important to a successful licensing program. We are happy to view new artwork by email and to provide you with feedback before having originals shipped. We publish new work monthly, and present work regularly to our customers through email, in-person presentations, trade shows, our website, and iPads.
Our philosophy is to create outstanding products from beautiful artwork, and to enjoy ourselves in the process. We are fueled by chocolate and our artists’ creativity. Thank you for considering us to represent you.
Art Licensing and Publishing Basics
Wild Apple works with artists in two different businesses: Art Licensing and Art Publishing. Art Licensing places your artwork onto products made by manufacturers in the world of home and gift products (dinnerware, rugs, kitchen textiles, stationery). These manufacturers (licensees) pay a royalty on their sales, which is split between the artist and Wild Apple. Art Publishing encompasses art reproductions for wall decor in the form of paper posters, canvas prints, and other materials. The artist receives a percentage of Wild Apple’s sales.
Copyright: You own the copyright to your original artwork Unless you specifically transfer the copyright to another party, that “intellectual property” is yours, even if you sell the original. With either of Wild Apple’s Publishing or Licensing contracts, you are transferring reproduction rights for specified products and time periods.
Why License or Publish? One reason is to make money. Artists deserve to make a living! Manufacturers need artwork to enhance their products and are willing to pay you for the right to use it. You can sell your original, have it published as a print, and have it licensed onto a variety of products; each providing a separate income stream.
Another reason is the personal satisfaction of having your artwork grace the products and give enjoyment to people whom you could never meet. Collectors may be able to afford your originals, but publishing and licensing make your art affordable for a much broader market.
Why not do it myself? Some artists publish and license their own work and are very successful at it. In addition to being talented artists, they are skilled business people and promoters. However, it is hard to be the creative person generating artwork AND the organizer / salesperson / negotiator / accountant. Most artists are eager to have someone else promote their work and manage the business side so that they can have more time to create art. Or maybe they just don’t like the business stuff – which we like!
Where might my artwork appear? In a wide variety of stores from upscale to mass market. Published artwork is sold through custom framers, galleries, furniture stores, interior designers, and the wall decor sections of mainstream home furnishings chains (e.g. Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohls, Target). Licensed artwork appears on products throughout these large retailers, as well as regional or stand-alone gift, furniture, and decorative accessories stores.
Why Wild Apple? The company has never missed an artist royalty payment in its 20+ year history. Wild Apple has long term relationships with leading framers and manufacturers and actively promotes all artists and new artwork. Wild Apple is one of, if not the most, prolific in bringing fresh, trend-right artwork to the market, utilizing web, email marketing, trade shows, in-person presentations and prototypes. Wild Apple’s digital image capture is museum quality. And no other art publisher/licensing company we know of is fueled by chocolate the way we are.