Hey, First name / friends!

It’s that time of year! 🎃 Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back in coffee shops ushering in the start of spooky season. I’m still soaking up all the summer vibes here in Costa Rica, but there’s no denying that people everywhere are ready for Fall!

 

It feels a little wild to be thinking about Halloween when September has barely begun, but as surface designers it’s important to stay on top of seasonal trends and plan ahead for them.

 

I mean, take it from Starbucks – They don’t release their pumpkin drinks the week of Halloween, they put them out into the world early to capitalize on the excitement that their customers have for the upcoming Fall season. The same goes for surface design. You need to have your seasonal artwork complete ahead of time so it’s there when customers are ready to shop.

With that in mind, this week’s #CreateWithCatCoq challenge is all about pumpkins! Share your pumpkin illustration on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq so I can like, comment, and share your art!

 

I have Halloween art in my portfolio, but I realized I didn’t have an illustration that focused solely on a pumpkin motif. So I grabbed my iPad and whipped up these adorable pumpkins from a hammock on the beach using techniques I teach in my class, Floral Animal Silhouettes.

Take this week's challenge as an opportunity to capitalize on a popular seasonal trend AND a popular pop culture trend too. We’ve all heard of the PSL and it’s only been increasing in popularity over the years!

 

Seasonal trends like pumpkins  are easy enough to plan for, but it can be harder to figure out what trends are going to be popular the rest of the year. If you want to hone your trend forecasting skills so you can create on-trend artwork that will sell well all year long, check out my class, Trend Forecasting.

 

 

I can't wait to see your pumpkin illustrations. Don't forget to share them with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq so I can see what you make!

 

I hope you have a fabulous week!