Hey First name / friends!

 

Happy December!! Is it just me or has this year totally flown by? 

 

I'm working hard behind the scenes on my 2026 Trend Report which you'll be getting soon! Keep your eyes peeled around New Year's for the drop!

 

I'm going to keep things pretty chill in this newsletter for the next few weeks because I know it's a busy time of year! And as we head into the holiday season, I'm going to gear these challenges towards cozy, festive motifs! 

 

My agent from Jewel Branding recently spoke to my private community inside The Art of Collections (the doors are opening again early next year - get on the waitlist here!) and one of the nuggets of wisdom she shared was that agencies are always looking for seasonal collections from the artists they represent. 

 

Holiday/Christmas is the number one seasonal category out there, so these upcoming prompts will not only be fun to work on during this season, but will help you build a strategic portfolio that agencies and art directors will love!

 

This week's prompt is to design a holiday card! Make sure to share your card designs on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq and tag me @catcoq in the actual photo. It's harder to find things with hashtags alone, so tagging me ensures that I'll actually be able to see your work!

 

Pro Tip: Make sure your design is geared towards the product you're designing for. Card designs tend to feature a greeting or phrase so keep that in mind as you're working this week! Illustrations and patterns can also work on cards, but they tend to get licensed more as box sets rather than standalone greeting cards! (Read more about art to product fit in this blog post!)

 

Here are a few incredible holiday collections from my students in The Art of Collections to help get your creative juices flowing!

 

Did you hear the news? I'm offering 5 full-ride scholarships to my art business program, The Art of Collections!!! ✨ Last round's scholarship recipients have already been landing licensing deals and building stunning portfolios. And you could be next!

 

I know that not everyone has the means to invest in large educational programs like this one, so I’m excited to be awarding **5 full-ride scholarships** for those with economic need.

 

Applications are open for one week and close December 9th at 11:59pm EST.

 

I look forward to reading your application : )

Here are a few of the submissions from last week's challenge! Make sure to check out these artists and give them some love!

 

If you want to be featured in this newsletter and on my Instagram stories, make sure to use the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq on Instagram and tag @catcoq in the actual photo you post so I can find your work! 

Have a fabulous week!