Hey, First name / friends!
Let me start by saying how AMAZING it was to see all of the mini collections come together from our series of fruit challenges! 

Here are just a few of the incredible collections that you all created using my free tear sheet templates. Click on the submissions to cheer your fellow artists on, and be sure to check out the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq for even more stunning artwork!
 
 
If you missed out on the April mini-collection challenge, here's the prompt: 
 
It's a summer fruit series! Create three hero illustrations or patterns featuring strawberries, cherries, and watermelon
 
Add additional blender patterns if you'd like, and pull it all together into a cohesive mini-collection using these free tear sheet templates
 
Want to learn more about the strategy behind mini collections? Check out this blog post about how to create a mini-collection for surface design! 
 
#CreateWithCatCoq - Cactus
This week's challenge is to create a cactus illustration! 
 
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I painted this cactus in thick acrylic paint because I love the texture of organic brushstrokes. 
 
I don’t vectorize my watercolor or acrylic paintings because the vectorizing process erases the authenticity of my original painting, especially when it comes to brushstrokes and the textural details. 
 
Instead, I scan the artwork in at a super high resolution, and printing raster designs on products has never been an issue. It makes for some pretty massive files, but for me it's worth it to keep the integrity of my hand-drawn work. 
 
Lots of people think that in order to license your work, it MUST be in vector format. But that's hasn't been the case for me. As long as your files can be scaled up without losing their quality, you'll be good to go. 
 
If you want to learn the difference between raster and vector files and which is best for surface design, I wrote a blog post with all the details!
 
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Whether they're raster or vector, I can't wait to see your cactuses! 
 
Remember, you can participate in this challenge using any medium. All you have to do to participate is share your work on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq, and don’t forget to tag me (@catcoq) in your post as well! 
 
Instagram has changed the way we view hashtags, so it’s harder for me to find your artwork with the hashtag alone. Tagging me ensures that I will see your work so I can like, comment, and share your beautiful creation!
 
Have a fabulous week!
 
 
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