It’s been a little over a year since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know artist Paul Brent. On the day this post goes “live”, I will be exhibiting at the SURTEX show in New York a few rows over from Paul and his art. I took his class the first year I exhibited at SURTEX. I said hello and how much I admired his business and art in years since. Now, I call Paul Brent a friend, mentor and inspiration. How did that happen?
It all started with him requesting to be my friend on Facebook in January 2009. I remember looking both ways in my office wondering if someone was playing a prank on me! Really? Well sure Paul, I’ll be your friend!
If you don’t know Paul Brent, you might be confused by my reaction. Paul is an artist who licenses his art just like I do… but he has been in the top 100 Licensors according to License! Global Magazine for the past few years. So it is laughable to say he is way ahead of me in size and success of his business. (I will concede he’s been doing it a lot longer too!)
Like Mary Engelbreit, Paul Brent was on my “to be as cool as list” too so to have him ask me to be friends on Facebook was pretty cool!
I then decided to ask him if he would be willing to do an “Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call” – I was just starting the calls and had been doing them myself. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask and just maybe he’d say yes. HE DID! Not only did he do the first call in March 2009 (the replay is available for free at www.AskPaulBrent.com if you’d like a copy) but he will be doing his 4th call on May 26, 2010.
Since the Facebook request / question exchange, Paul has done 4 Ask Calls and a teleseminar called “Brand Yourself for Success in Art Licensing” which was amazing. I’ve made several changes to my branding strategy as a result and highly recommend any artist interested in understanding how to build an art brand take a look at it. He focuses on art licensing but many strategies apply to any type of artist.
I have also become friends with Paul and his wife Lana Jane. While they live in Florida, they just happen to have a house on the Oregon Coast that is a little over an hour from me. So when they head west, I get to see them. They are even teaching me to cook! (Something they love and I would love to do without.) How wonderful to be able to sit and discuss the business we all do and love with such an accomplished couple. (Lana Jane is the president of Paul Brent Designer, Inc.)
So that is how I came to be friends with my inspiration and you know what? I’m even more inspired by Paul Brent the more I get to know him. He is an amazing artist, talented business person and a kind, down-to-earth and sincere man.
Learn more about the art of Paul Brent at www.PaulBrent.com
So I’ll ask you again, who inspires you?
– Tara Reed
Paul Brent has inspired me ever since I first met him when he and Lana Jane moved back to Florida in the late 70s. I envy you for being his friend.
Tara, Paul did give great advice on branding and I have been busy making those changes everyday. I highly recommond people buying and listening to it over and over again. If you have a chance, go to my website and give me your thoughts on my art style.