My Journey into Print on Demand (POD)

In 2015, I started my business

In many ways, my art licensing business was inevitable, after years of groundwork. I made my introduction to POD when it was just finding its legs, and I grew with it, appreciating the challenges, strengths, and potential.

College

In 2003, excited about the emerging field of digital textile printing for apparel fabrics, I spent my senior year scratching the surface of digital printing. A few years after college, I moved to Los Angeles (LA) and worked full-time for product companies as a designer. I painted on the side and began looking into ways to sell or license my original designs. Following college, it was amazing to see how far digital printing had come.

POD Discovery

In 2010, A colleague mentioned Spoonflower, and around the same time, another friend was selling her artwork on Society6. I was intrigued by the idea of licensing my art.

In 2011, I connected with an art agent to license my designs, got a few art licenses, and was thrilled to get sales on POD sites and even an art license introduction and deal through one platform after joining a year prior.

I started selling my artwork

This led to sales through both the agent and the platforms!

With varying submission guidelines and pay structures, surface design for home decor was most familiar to me, but I also saw an opportunity to explore subjects of interest where I had less experience, such as illustrative art and print for fashion. I set out to see what I could do to take things further. Before sponsored content, many of my designs went viral on Pinterest, boosting my confidence.

The Plan

From 2013-2015, my last two years in LA, I worked at a stationery company on the west side near the LA River, and my lifestyle felt small-town in all the best ways. Small-town life grew more appealing and prompted my husband and me to plan a move to Santa Barbara, a European-style town 90 miles north of LA.

He found a job and moved ahead of me while I kept working in LA for several months to save money. Then I proposed a freelance arrangement to my employer, which, to my relief, was well-received. I joined my husband in Santa Barbara and worked remotely for a few years on a project basis, which helped a lot while I built up my business revenue.

Santa Barbara offered simplicity, charm, and the inspiration of beautiful surroundings. I loved the walkable downtown brick-lined sidewalks, the white stucco buildings with terracotta roofs, and the bike-friendly streets. The sleepy seaside town was surrounded by rural farms and nature reserves. The vibe and character of the area inspired me while developing my artistic style. It helped me gain a unique perspective that became foundational.