How do I sell my design to a company?

How do I sell my artistic design to a company that manufactures posters?

• I am an aspiring artist. I have a very unusual style and technique. I use a special type of ink and pens to draw very intriquite and large pictures which could be described as abstract. In any case I was thinking that since each one takes me hundreds of hours to draw it is a bit of a shame that more people do not get to enjoy them, and yes I think I could make some money off of them. I want to sell my drawings to a company that sells posters. The kind you buy at say Wal Mart that people hang up on the walls of bedrooms, hall ways , offices etc. My question is how do I sell them? How do I market them to a poster company wthout risking loosing the creative idea behind them? It is risky... I know that no one is producing these drawings any where else at all. I do them by hand which I think increases the artistic value behind them but I also know that if someone were to see the idea and style of my pictures they could very easily steal the idea and mass produce high tech knockoffs with a computer. Granted it would lack the human touch and art value, but they could do it and they could make a fortune because people now days love the computer generated crap the mass media companies are producing and selling.... so I have to be able if there is a way to protect the creative idea and process. How do I protect my technique, my idea and style and how can I market and make contact with someone who might be interested in using my work on posters for mass sales and publishing?

• Answer:

  First, anything you sign your name on, and particularly if you put a copyright mark on, is legally copyrighted. It may cost you something to enforce it, should you be ripped off, but it's legal and it costs nothing. As for finding a poster company to print your design... that's a very long shot. Walmart and other stores want posters that move through the store quickly, Justin Bieber and crap like that. What's more, people don't go to Walmart looking for unusual art or fine art. If they did, then you'd find posters from huge established artists at Walmart. Poster companies are actually marketing concerns, there are companies that can print posters almost every where. Your challenge will be either finding someone who wants to spend the money on printing your poster in hopes of selling it for a profit OR finding the money so you can print the poster and sell it yourself. The latter option is more feasible. Printing companies will appreciate the business, but it will be completely up to you to find buyers... and don't expect to even get a foot in the door at Walmart. As for people reproducing your style or technique using a computer... that's just life. You can't patent or trademark a style or technique, only the tools or materials used to create it IF you actually invented them. Short of that, the first amendment allows people to express themselves just about anyway they want. You can dress and sing like Elvis without paying the estate - but you have to pay for using his songs because they are copyright protected. That's how it works. Thousands of people take photos of Yosemite Park, in black and white, every year.. that doesn't mean the estate of Ansel Adams gets a royalty. If your work is really unique, try selling originals at an art show or festival. If you get enough interest, you might find a printmaker to work with you on more limited edition stuff. Chances of going right to high speed lithography sold at mass retail are slim to none.