Hey, First name / friends!

I hope you’ve been having a very merry December so far! A few weeks ago I mentioned that this month we’d be focusing on holiday-themed challenges for #CreateWithCatCoq. And there’s a strategic reason for that. 👇

 

While it’s a bit too late to license holiday artwork for this year, it’s always important to work on building the holiday section of your portfolio. It’s the biggest category for art licensing, so it’s crucial to include holiday designs in your surface design portfolio. 

 

Plus, it’s always fun to work on holiday-themed artwork during the holidays rather than in a random month halfway through the year! So think of these challenges as a way to build your 2024 holiday collections in advance!

This week, your #CreateWithCatCoq challenge is to create an illustration or repeat pattern using ornaments as the main motif! If you want an extra challenge, try using an analog medium like I did in this example! These ornaments were painted in acrylic paint, scanned into my computer, and arranged in Photoshop! (Check out the full behind-the-scenes process HERE)

Share your ornaments on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

If you’ve followed me for very long you’ll know that tracking business and design trends is a key thing I focus on to keep my creative biz moving forward. 

 

Want to know what trends to look out for in 2024 and how they’ll affect your business? I have an exciting invite for you!

 

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be hosting a free event with my friend, creative agency owner and biz coach Audra King, (@shelovesherbiz) to dive into business trends of 2023 that directly impact creatives and how you can use them to strategically plan for 2024! 

 

 

📅 When: January 4, 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST (Replay Available!)

🖊️ Save Your Seat at shelovesherbiz.com/catcoq 

💰Price: FREE! 

 

Key Topics:

🌸 Impact of AI on Creative Businesses

✨ Shifts to Paid Listings in POD

💖 Tapping into Community

 

Curious about my take on these trends and how I'm adjusting my business post-2023? This candid chat is for you!

 

I hope you have a cozy week! I can't wait to see your ornament illustrations on Instagram! Don't forget to share them with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq!