Hello! My name is Cat Coquillette and I am a location-independent artist and designer. My success as a creative and businesswoman have afforded me the opportunity to travel the world as a permanent "nomad.” My passion for art, education, and entrepreneurship has led me to explore the globe 24/7 in search of creative inspiration for new projects and experiences to uplevel my personal and professional life. Learn more: catcoq.com/
Thanks so much both of you for this video...I am just thinking of getting started - still have to buy a new iPad and procreate tho! Do you sell your course to people in the UK Bonnie? ( Or Sarah Jessica Parker as I first thought was talking!!!) 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Hey Penny! Thank you for your kind words! I'm happy to hear you're thinking of getting started. It's great that you're getting ready with a new iPad and Procreate - you'll love it! Yes, Bonnie’s Surface Design Immersion is available to people in the UK as well! However, enrollment is now closed for 2024. But please feel free to join in my newsletter for updates and free resources: catcoq.com/subscribe. You can also go to the link on the description box to opt-in for updates regarding Bonnie’s 2025 Immersion :) Have a fabulous day! Best, Cat
When you sell designs on Etsy or initially started on Etsy how do you avoid from others stealing your designs and then reselling your design. I want to understand how to go about protecting designs from being copied and what that process entails. Thank you!
Hi @mariar2416! Thank you for your question! Protecting your designs on Etsy is definitely a concern for many sellers. There are some ways to protect your work like adding a watermark to your images, using low-resolution images, and monitoring and reporting if anyone else is using your design. You can take it a step further by consulting with a legal professional about copyrighting your work :) I hope this helps you feel more confident in protecting your designs. Best of luck with your Etsy shop! Best, Cat
Hi Agatha! Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy to hear that we made a positive impact on your creative journey! Have a fabulous day! Best, Cat
Hey there! I'm glad you found the insights timely and thoughtful! It's fascinating how the process of creating can mirror life in so many ways 🙂 Have a great day! Best, Cat
Hey there! You're very welcome! It's always great to hear that our conversation could provide some motivation and inspiration. : ) Thanks for tuning in! Best, Cat
Setting aside all ethical issues, the brain is a muscle. You have to be careful what crutches you use in the creative process because it can lead to robbing yourself of the ability to create, like being able to do a composition on your own. The things that I fudged up and had to go back and do again that took the longest, I remember the most from those experiences. Love the conversation. I look forward to the guidelines set for the use of AI, and that's not something I say often.
Hey Dawn! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You brought up a great point! I agree that our tools should complement our creativity rather than replace it entirely. There's certainly something special about the learning experiences that come from trial and error :) And I agree that they tend to stick with us the most! I’m glad you found the conversation engaging! Thanks for tuning in 🙂 Best, Cat
AI *scrapes* works from billions of creators-including writers and journalists-without their consent to generate these images and texts. That is the core issue of its use. So even though an artist (or writer) could use them merely as guides, the entire system as it currently stands is built on deceit and theft. There is no ethical use of AI-at all.
Hey Weyn! Thank you for sharing your perspective on the use of AI-generated content. I understand your concerns about the ethical implications surrounding the scraping of works from creators without their consent. As an artist myself, I understand the need to protect the artworks that I spent so much time on. While it's true that AI-generated images and texts raise significant ethical questions, some artists may use these creations as references or guides rather than direct copies. (Similar to using photos of elephants a a helpful artistic reference as you're painting an elephant.) By doing so, artists can still create art with their own input, style, and creativity into their work- this means that the final outcome is still unique and reflective of their artistic vision. Additionally, one of the purposes of using AI-generated content as a reference is to streamline the creative process and reduce the time spent searching for references. For instance, looking for reference for a very specific pose can take a long time- even more so when it’s a pose that we can’t do in the mirror ourselves or when we’re working on a different kind of subject like wildlife animals. This benefits artists who may have limited time or resources to devote to the research phase of their projects. However, it’s true that the ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated content are complex and multifaceted. And I appreciate that you’re bringing awareness around the topic. Best, Cat
THOROUGHLY enjoyed this Industry Chat! Thanks for all the ideas, advice and encouragement. I took Leverage last year and ALL the answers are there! Thank you both for your directness and total transparency .
Thank you for tuning in! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the our little industry chat and found it valuable. It's fantastic to know that Leverage Your Art provided you with the answers you needed. Have a FAB day! Best, Cat
This was such a great video. I just signed up for Stacie's course and am looking forward to expanding my business into licensing. And Cat, I have learned so much from your skillshare videos. They are my favorite! ❤
That's fantastic to hear! Stacie's course is definitely a game-changer for anyone looking to dive into licensing. And thank you for the kind words about my Skillshare videos! I'm thrilled to hear that they've been helpful for you. Wishing you all the best! Best, Cat
Thank you for your kind words! It's always inspiring to see fellow artists reaching new heights in their careers. Wishing you all the best on your journey as well! Best, Cat
Thank you both so very much for such helpful information. How do you find quality products to put your art on? Like Stacie’s tea towels. I love tea towels but have no idea how to locate a company to produce quality towels using my art. Same with planners, mugs, etc. I’m brand new at this. 61 years old and very terrified embarking on a new career. Still working 8-5 in the same industry for 30 years. I want so desperately to follow a completely new path. I just feel so lost how to find momentum to get my business going. Thank you so very much again! You are both so talented and so inspirational!!
Hey Lesa! Thank you for your kind words! It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed when starting something new, but please know that you're not alone. Finding quality products to showcase your art on is an important step in building your brand and expanding your business. One way to find companies that produce quality items like tea towels, planners, mugs, etc., is to research and reach out to white-label print-on-demand (POD) companies or manufacturers that specialize in these products. Many POD platforms allow you to upload your designs and have them printed on various products without the need for inventory or upfront costs. I use Printful as my white-label POD manufacturer, so when someone orders a product from my Etsy shop, it's produced & shipped through them and sent directly to the customer. Additionally, you can consider attending trade shows or craft fairs to network with suppliers and manufacturers directly. Online marketplaces like Etsy can also be useful resources for finding manufacturers and suppliers who specialize in the products you're interested in. I wish you the best of luck :) Keep pushing forward! Best, Cat
@@CatCoq thank you so very much again for this additional information. There’s so much to know and this is again so helpful. Many many thanks! One last question, whenever you have a free moment to answer, in one of Pepo Studios RU-vid’s she mentioned a website where you post educational/instructional videos. I can’t remember the name of the website. Would you mind sharing that info? I’m trying to learn adobe illustrator and I believe Sarah from Pepo Studios said you had a tutorial about AI on that website. Thanks so much for your encouragement. Very scary but so exciting too. I really enjoy following your IG and RU-vid videos. You have such talent. Kindest regards, Lesa
Hey Lesa! You're very welcome! I'm glad the information was helpful to you. The website you're referring to is likely Skillshare. It's a platform where creators can upload educational videos on various topics, including Adobe Illustrator tutorials :) While I do use Adobe Illustrator for some of my designs, the main focus of my Skillshare classes is on comprehensive guides for using Procreate and Adobe Photoshop. My classes cover everything from creating illustrations and designs to leveraging social media for marketing, trend forecasting, and digitizing artwork to sell online. You can also find these classes, along with some exclusive mini courses, directly on my website: catcoq.com/classes One of the perks of getting classes from my website is that you'll have lifetime access to them without needing an active membership. Again, thank you for your kind words! Have a fabulous day :) Best, Cat
@@CatCoq YES! Skillshare! Once again thanks so much Cat for this information. I will definitely check out your website as well. The more I learn about surface patterns the more excited I am to continue learning. Again, many thanks for sharing such helpful information! Kindest regards, Lesa
Hi Lesa! I'm really glad I could help, and it's awesome to hear that you're enjoying surface patterns. Skillshare is such a great platform for picking up new skills, and I'm happy you found the information useful. I wish you the best of luck :) Best, Cat
Thank you so much to both of you for sharing all of your secrets, successes and failures with us constantly and helping us to build our own businesses from the ground up. It’s been invaluable to have you around and learn so much from you. Thank you. 💝
You're very welcome! I'm thrilled to hear that our experiences and insights have been helpful to you in building your own business. It's truly our pleasure to share my journey, including the highs and lows, and to support others in their own entrepreneurial journeys. : ) Best, Cat
Ladies!! Wooow you two dropped some nuggets of gold in this conversation, I made so many notes for my Trello board of Wisdom. Thanks for being so generous with your wisdom, time and love for those who are a few steps behind you. Loved this conversation between my two favorite teachers on this moment on my journey into surface pattern design. You both such inspiring woman and lately you both in my ear a lot thanks to your amazing content (I am a bit extra fan-girling after listening to this zoomcall)
Hey Sanny! Wow, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you found our conversation valuable and that you're finding inspiration in my content. : ) It means a lot to me to know that I'm able to support you on your journey into surface pattern design this way. I wish you the best of luck! Best, Cat
I wish I found Bonnie and her course a couple months ago. I just missed the window to join and Im at that “Have to make this happen stage right now”. Have to do a career change due to permanent injuries and was figuring how to apply my artistic skills and design education to work for myself. Im focusing on surface pattern design and starting an Etsy shop but really I want to get into licensing.
Hey there, I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but it's inspiring to see your determination to make a change despite the challenges you're facing. Transitioning into surface pattern design, starting your Etsy shop, and pursuing licensing opportunities are fantastic ways to leverage your artistic skills and design education. While you may have missed the opportunity to join Bonnie's course, there are still plenty of resources and support networks available to help you on your journey. This free resource bundle I put together might help give you a head start: catcoq.com/creative-business-bundle Additionally, don't hesitate to reach out to fellow artists and designers in the licensing industry for advice and mentorship. Building connections and learning from others' experiences can be incredibly valuable as you navigate this new chapter in your career. Remember, the most important thing is to keep moving forward and staying focused on your goals. I wish you the best of luck! Best, Cat
Hey there! You're welcome! I'm glad you found this Q&A session with Bonnie helpful :) We understand how daunting the industry can be and we’re just doing our best to help fellow artists ❤ Have a wonderful day! Best, Cat
It’s really helpful to get trend ideas. I’m struggling to find animal sections/pages/filters on ModCloth or Anthropologie. Are you just searching ‘animals’?
Hey! I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed my Q&A session with Bonnie :) We’re happy to help other artists in their journey to earning a living through surface design and art licensing ❤ Have a great day! Best, Cat
Hey Tina! Thank you so much for your support :) New business classes are definitely something on the list of things I’m working on and I have started with the Creative Workflow Blueprint mini workshop which you can find here: catcoq.com/creative-workflow-blueprint. Please feel free to join in my newsletter or follow me on Instagram to be one of the first to know when I drop a new class :) Best, Cat
I don't think people should take credit for something made with AI. You are not the creator, you are the commissioner. You commissioned the AI to make you something by telling it what you wanted, same as any client commissioning a designer. It's not at all the same as you actually working it out yourself.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I think your comparison of AI prompters to commissioners is a clever analogy. And considering the nature of the process of AI-generated art, I agree that it is not at all the same as creating art by your own hands. As highlighted in the video, we find ourselves navigating a gray area with the integration of AI across various industries. However, it's clear that AI's role is becoming increasingly inevitable in our generation. The concept of AI has evolved over time- but I think it has been around for a while- from basic spell checkers on our devices to more complex applications such as art generation. I acknowledge the concerns surrounding AI-generated designs. That is why I advocate for the ethical use of this technology to streamline the artistic process. For example, AI can generate poses that may otherwise require hours of searching and only for a few seconds. References have always played a pivotal role in illustrations and design, and I believe that as long as AI-generated art is used solely as a reference or to kickstart your process- I think you’re still upholding ethical boundaries. Best, Cat
Question for you! Would I be able to upload my watercolor paintings on procreate and create a surface pattern infusing other elements into the paintings digitally? My goal is to use them as surface pattern designs like you do. I'm taking a couple of your courses currently with Photoshop : )
You can definitely upload your watercolor paintings to Procreate and infuse additional elements digitally to create surface pattern designs. Procreate is an excellent tool for digital painting, however, if you're looking for even more flexibility and a broader range of design possibilities, editing your watercolor paintings in Photoshop is my recommendation over Procreate. While Procreate is fantastic for its intuitive painting features, Photoshop offers additional tools and functionalities specifically designed for intricate pattern designs. The layering options, textures, and versatile design tools in Photoshop provide a higher level of flexibility for combining traditional watercolor with digital elements. Since you're already taking courses with Photoshop, you'll find it to be a powerful platform to further refine and expand your skills in creating unique and detailed surface patterns. Feel free to leverage both Procreate and Photoshop in your creative process, using Procreate for its strengths in digital painting and Photoshop for its extensive design capabilities. I have a class that shows you exactly how I edit my watercolor artwork in Photoshop if you're interested: catcoq.com/digitize-your-art-to-sell-online I hope this helps! Best, Cat.
Thank you so much for all the amazing classes you create! I'm a Skillshare member -- I'm just wondering whether you think my Canoscan Lide 400 would be of comparable quality to your Epson V19? I'm happy to upgrade if needed so I can make commercial-quality art, but if they give the same results there would be no point, of course!
Hey Anna! Thank you for your kind words and for dropping a comment on this video! To answer your question… I used the "Canon CanoScan LiDE 220" for quite a few years because it was super light & portable, making it a breeze for travel. However, in 2020, I decided to give it a well-deserved "retirement" and switched back to using Epson scanners. The Canon was good and all, but I've got to admit, I've developed a soft spot for Epson because of its knack for capturing sharp scans and nailing those true-to-life colors. If you're happy with the results you're getting from your current scanner, I'd say stick with it. No need to fix what isn't broken, right? You can always consider an upgrade when it becomes a necessity. : )
@@CatCoq Thanks for replying 🤗 I get what you mean -- I'm not getting quite the colour results I wanted from the Canon! It's so helpful to know that can be improved with a different scanner in roughly the same price range. Appreciate your help!!!
I REALLY wanted to finish watching this great interview, but the repetitive music was hurting my brain. I got 20 minutes in and literally couldn't take any more. :(
I signed up for Leverage Your Art! I didn’t know anything about it and randomly saw an email from you about it a few days ago. What an unexpected blessing this is! So thank you Cat for letting your fans know about this program! ❤
Hey Niko! That's fantastic to hear! It's always wonderful to stumble upon unexpected opportunities that turn out to be blessings in disguise. Thank you for your kind words, and I'm delighted to have played a small part in connecting you with this program. Have a wonderful day :) Best, Cat
Hey Lisa! You're very welcome! It's always a pleasure to support fellow artists. Mutual support and encouragement are what make our creative community so special. Have a fabulous day! Best, Cat
I love this with the two of you! There’s so much information here, and I’m so glad I watched it. Thanks girls. This is gold….. Love the collaboration which I think is the way to go, rather than competing, which is oh sooo boring….. Great energy. I’ve saved this to watch again, it’s so good. Thanks girls 🙏🏻💕🌺
Hi there! Thank you for your awesome feedback! We're happy to hear that you found our conversation valuable and enjoyed the collaborative energy. We're all about sharing insights and ideas to help fellow artists in their journeys! Feel free to revisit the video anytime :) Thanks again for tuning in! Best, Cat
Hey there! Certainly! You can absolutely use just Photoshop for surface pattern design if you're not that comfortable with Illustrator. While Illustrator is often preferred for its vector-based tools, Photoshop offers a versatile set of features for working with raster graphics, making it a great choice for surface pattern designs :) I've actually got some classes that cover using Photoshop for surface design :) You can check them out here: catcoq.com/classes I hope this helps! Best, Cat
