S05 EP01 – The Artist Who Patented a Technique

Learn about patenting art techniques!

You’ve heard of patenting mechanisms, toys, and electronics, but have you heard of patenting colored pencil art techniques? Learn how to do just that in this episode with today’s guest, Tracy Frein!

In this episode, Tracy and I discuss his patented technique, subtractive drawing, the story and techniques behind it, and touch on his workshops, framing, and other career-related stories and advice. We will also begin a new segment where I ask my guest five rapid-fire questions.

Watch the full interview!

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00:19 – Pronouncing Tracy’s Last Name
00:47 – 5 Rapid-Fire Questions
04:13 – The Appeals System
05:01 – What is Hyperrealism?
6:29 – Tracy’s Special Technique – Subtractive Drawing
6:58 – Patenting Techniques
9:03 – More About Subtractive Drawing
11:19 – The Story Behind Subtractive Drawing
12:36 – The Process of Subtractive Drawing
15:26 – Learning Tracy’s Techniques
16:48 – Tracy’s Criticism of Workshops
17:48 – What Tracy Does for His Workshops
18:46 – Tracy’s Products
20:44 – Standard Contracts
22:35 – How Tracy Got Involved with Graphics
24:12 – Recapping the Discussion
25:46 – Tracy’s Other Products
26:07 – Discussing Commission Work
26:45 – Tracy’s Commission Process
28:04 – Discussing Owen Garratt’s Hyperrealist Works – Listen to Owen Garratt episode on the podcast. 
30:13 – Presentation – Framing
34:57 – Pricing artwork
36:24 – How Tracy Prices His Work
38:25 – Time Tracking
39:36 – How Tracy Amplifies His Audience
40:23 – Hashtags and Tagging Models
41:45 – Tagging VS. Hashtagging
43:11 – Tracy’s Posting Frequency
44:23 – Getting into Magazines
45:46 – Finding Calls for Submission
48:15 – Shows Tracy Goes To
49:43 – Conferences
51:51 – Combining Hyperrealism and Hyper-abstraction
53:10 – Tracy Shows His Artwork
54:39 – Tracy’s Career as a Product Designer
56:28 – Tracy’s Motivation to Transition to Hyperrealism
58:02 – Measuring Success as an artist and illustrator