Hey, First name / friends!

I’m back in Costa Rica for the next few months, and I’m so ready to soak in all the tropical beachy vibes. This climate is truly where I thrive! 🌴

 

I’m always gathering art inspiration from my surroundings, and this week I’ve been inspired by seashells and all the cute critters I’ve been seeing on the beach. 

 

And wouldn’t you know it, coastal motifs like seashells and sea-life are trending in the surface design world right now! I love it when I’m able to pair real-world inspiration with what’s on trend.

This week your #CreateWithCatCoq challenge is to create artwork with a seashell motif (or any coastal subject of your choice!). Share your beachy illustrations on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq so I can like, comment, and share your work!

I painted these seashells over a year ago knowing that it was an up-and-coming trend (here's the process video from back then!).  And here we are today with coastal motifs surging in popularity!

It’s important to key into trends early so that you have them in your portfolio at the height of the trend. Catching on early means you’ll have more opportunities to stand out and make sure that your trending designs are big hits. 

 

But trend forecasting can feel pretty elusive sometimes. How the heck do you predict what’s going to be trending a year from now?? Don't worry, First name / friend, I've got you covered!

 

Tracking trends isn’t just blind guesswork. There are a lot of strategies behind forecasting trends and in my ten years as a surface designer, I’ve figured out some tried and true techniques for keying into those trends early. 

 

I teach my exact process for keying into trends in my class, Trend Forecasting. You’ll learn how to discover new trends early so you’ll never feel behind the times again!

I can’t wait to see your seashell illustrations this week! Don’t forget to share them with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq. And I hope to see you inside my Trend Forecasting class! 

 

Have a fabulous week!