What does it take to make a living as an artist? That’s the what we’re delving into on today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast. My guests are Lilla Rogers and Lisa Congdon.
Lilla Rogers steers the ship at Lilla Rogers Studio, a visionary art agency that represents some of the most sought-after artists in the world. The Studio has licensed their artwork on a huge variety of products, from bathing suits to teacups, piggybanks to wall décor.
Lilla Rogers
The Studio’s client list includes Crate & Barrel, Pier One, Land of Nod, Chronicle, the New York Times, Moda, Blue Q, Paperchase, and hundreds more. An accomplished illustrator, painter, author, and teacher, Lilla has been in the business for over three decades. Most recently she offers wildly popular e-courses and the extraordinary annual Global Talent Search.
Lisa Congdon. Photo by Caroline of Woodnote.
Lisa Congdon first started making art as a hobby in 2001, and five years later began showing and selling her work. Today, Lisa makes a full-time living as an illustrator and fine artist. Known for her colorful and intricate paintings, drawings, and pattern designs, Lisa works for clients around the world including the Museum of Modern Art, Martha Stewart Living, General Mills, and Simon & Schuster, among many others.
Artwork by Lisa Congdon.
Her projects range from book, magazine, product and stationery illustration to wallpaper and fabric design. She has exhibited her work around the country, including shows at the Contemporary Jewish Museum and Bedford Gallery. She is the author of Art Inc, Whatever You Are Be a Good One, 20 Ways to Draw a Tulip and A Collection a Day. Lisa keeps a popular daily blog about her life, work, and inspirations called Today is Going to be Awesome. She lives in Oakland, California with her wife and animals.
Artwork by Lisa Congdon.
In our conversation, Lilla describes her early career as an illustrator in New York in the 1980’s and traces how she began helping other illustrators develop their careers. She explains what she first saw in Lisa’s work that led her to take Lisa on as an artist.
Lisa tells us about her entry into the art world in her 30’s and her path to becoming a successful fine artist and illustrator. She describes how she diversifies her income to make it all work. We touch on how to work through feelings of self-doubt, how to be persistent, and how to stay grounded through it all.
Throughout our conversation we refer to Lisa’s new book, Art Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist, and Lilla’s book, I Just Like to Make Things.
It wouldn’t be an episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast without recommendations for great stuff we’re loving right now.
Lisa recommends:
- The Five Minute Journal
- Koi Brush Pens
- Cal Patch’s Pattern Drafting Class on Creativebug
Lilla recommends:
- UPPERCASE Magazine
- Flow Magazine
- MODO, the software for 3-D printers
You can listen to the show right here by clicking on the arrow below or subscribe in iTunes. If you like the show, tell a friend about it. Thank you so much!
LOVED this interview. So excited to hear more about both of these ladies history in the business and love of art! Thanks so much!
Thank you for this great episode, Abby. I listened to it during my daily drawing session and it made me tear up to hear Lilla’s soothing, almost maternal voice*, speaking about the guts it takes to put your work out there, and how normal it is to experience self-doubt and impostor syndrome. Not that it was the first time I heard this, but for some reason, today it went straight to my heart and made me feel almost brave instead of inadequate.
Lilla is so comforting and helpful. I really enjoyed getting to know her a little bit through this interview. Thank you for listening!
Really good listening , you have great guests Abby and it made a great show – you are good at this! So very interesting both of them. I sat here totally engrossed while crocheting away on my little skinny scarf, because my neck is reminding me that it’s Autumn soon. I love your pod casts. It was really fascinating to hear about the scary side of things, because I think we all feel that is just us – you know that we aren’t good enough, it can never work out blah blah. I’m not an artist however, but I like to think I am an artistic crafter. I”ve just positively decided to sign up for that water colour painting online course that scares me a bit but makes me excited at the same time. I loved hearing the discussion about age, as I am no spring chicken any more.
Thank you so much for listening!
Really enjoyed hearing both sides of an illustrator and agent, Abby! I also loved your answer about dispelling anxiety or comparison games by getting back to what you love the most. Thank you for bringing this to us.
Thanks, Cecelia! And I do find it to be true. Once you cut away everything else, designing and sewing stuffed animals is where it’s at for me. When I remember to return to that I feel instantly at peace again.
Thank you for sharing this interview, Abby…It was very inspiring to hear advice from Lilla & Lisa (two people who I look up to ). A great reminder to enjoy every step of this creative journey we are on.
A great interview to listen to while working on some new art. Thank you, ladies!
Thank you so much Abby, Lisa and Lilla. I loved listening to your podcast. So inpiring and with lots of insights on all sorts of topics. I especially liked your tips and notes on looking after the artist, and the discussion around developing a style. I work in quite different styles and worry that this makes me too much of a risk to be hired by an agent so it was interesting to hear that Lisa works in quite different styles and areas. And Lilla’s advice that you can share different styles/pieces of art on your website/blog, if thats where you’re at, was great too – you can only start from where you so it’s encouraged me to post much more of my work online. Great podcast! Thank you again.
Great episode! A suggestion for artists out there trying to “make it work” in practical ways, like these two fabulous guests: a friend of mine just published a really great good called Making Your Life as an Artist, full of great insights and tips for artists trying to balance life and work. Available as a FREE download too! http://www.artistsu.org/making/#.VDaiKo1dVy8
I am glad I went back to some of your older pod casts. Self doubt has reared its head lately in my life. This was just what I needed. I could not image that Lisa and Lilla would have doubt or fear about doing art as their work. It was encouraging to know that some people do make it in art even without a lot of schooling. I took a break from doing designs at Spoonflower for a little while and thought I would do some quilting. Now I am trying to do both. I am sure not making a living doing art, but it is sure fun. My project is setting up some designs for someone who does dog collars, but like me she has little money. I am learning about doing art for others from this.
I’m so glad this episode was encouraging to you, Kathy.
Great article! I was wondering if you would share the content of this podcast episode again? I was not able to find the link from this article and on itunes either. Thank you so much đŸ™‚
Hi Caroline, I’m sorry about that. Thank you for alerting me that the player had disappeared! I’ve restored it now so you can listen to this episode.
No worries Abby, thanks for your swift reply! It was lovely to tune in this lovely podcast.