Cat Coquillette shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Cat, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are pretty chill, actually. I live in Thailand, so there’s about a 12-hour time difference between me and most of my clients and customers in the U.S. That means all the emails and updates land in my inbox while I’m sleeping, so I don’t bother setting an alarm. I just wake up naturally and ease into the day.
First thing I do is make coffee, then head outside for a walk through my neighborhood.
That walk isn’t just for me. It’s also to check in on the street cats I care for. I’m on a mission to get all the strays in my neighborhood vaccinated, sterilized, socialized, and healthy. They’re a big part of my life and an even bigger part of my heart.
So my mornings usually look like this: sipping coffee, hanging out with cats, checking emails on my phone, and easing into the day. It’s a joyful and grounding way to start the morning.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Cat Coquillette, the founder of CatCoq. I’m a watercolor and digital artist, surface designer, and educator. You can find my artwork on everything from throw pillows at Target to wallpaper at HomeDepot to stationery at HomeGoods. I license my designs to brands around the world, so instead of selling each piece one at a time, I earn royalties whenever a product with my design sells in stores or online.
I also teach other artists how to build sustainable careers through art licensing. I run a course and community called The Art of Collections, where I help artists create marketable collections, build a professional portfolio, and connect with licensing partners. Right now, I’m focused on growing that community and helping more artists gain traction in the industry.
I’m originally from Kansas City, but now I travel full-time. Living abroad and exploring new places has become a big part of my life. My travels inspire a lot of my artwork, and I’ve built my business around the lifestyle I want. Creative. Flexible. Full of freedom. Now I help other artists do the same.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Honestly, I feel like I’ve come full circle. As a kid, I was endlessly creative. I loved making art, being outside, and spending time with animals. I grew up exploring the woods behind my childhood home, wading through creeks looking for tadpoles and turtles, getting muddy and sunburned, and then heading inside to paint or draw. I was always working on something creative. I also had a deep love for animals. I’d read books to my cats in bed, teach them to fetch, and walk them on harnesses like they were little dogs.
Then life moved forward. I grew up, graduated college, started a job at a design agency, and entered the real world. Like a lot of people, those early passions got quieter as I focused on career-building and responsibilities. I didn’t lose them, but they weren’t at the center of my life for a while.
About ten years ago, I quit my job, started my own art business, and moved abroad. I’ve been really intentional about getting back to that core. I’m choosing a lifestyle that supports my creativity, my love for nature, and my connection with animals. Thailand is my home base now, and I care for the street cats in my neighborhood. I’ve got the time and resources to actually make a difference, and I pour that energy into something that feels meaningful.
Even the way I travel is shaped by what I loved as a kid. I used to go to nature camp in the summers, and now I seek out mountains and hiking trails wherever I go. I’ve built a life that looks a lot like the one I dreamed of when I was little. It’s creative, purpose-driven, and full of freedom.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t have to follow the same path as everyone else. The things that make you different are going to be your greatest strengths. Keep exploring, stay curious, and stay kind. You don’t need to fit into a specific mold. Instead, start asking yourself what your ideal life actually looks like, and then figure out what steps you can take to move toward it.
It won’t all fall into place at once. Trajectories are rarely a straight line. Give yourself grace and be open to the detours, but keep paying attention to what brings you joy and fulfillment. That’s how you know you’re heading in the right direction. Life really does get better when you start trusting yourself and building your own version of success.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies is the idea of the “starving artist.” That stereotype still lingers, and I want to push back on it hard. There are thriving artists out there who are building successful, sustainable careers. I know, because I’m one of them. I’ve turned my art into a business that supports me financially and gives me the freedom to travel the world full time. That didn’t happen by accident. It came from learning how to be intentional, strategic, and entrepreneurial with my creativity.
Creating art is powerful, but creating with a purpose can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Once I started shifting from making art just for the sake of it to creating with the intention of getting it licensed, everything changed. I started landing deals for fashion, home decor, stationery, tech accessories, kitchen and tabletop, and more.
There are real strategies that artists can use to create work with strong commercial appeal. So much of it comes down to understanding how to position yourself, how to present your collections, and how to think like a commercial artist. That’s exactly what I teach my students. I show them how to take their talent and channel it into something that can actually support their lifestyle and goals.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I think the artists who would miss me most are the ones inside my private community, The Art of Collections. That’s where I pour so much of my time, energy, and focus right now. It’s a close group of incredibly dedicated artists who are learning how to build careers in art licensing, and it’s become just as meaningful for me as it is for them.
I launched the program last year, and it’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. We just held a graduation ceremony for the first cohort, and seeing how far they’ve come over the past year was incredible. I’ve been celebrating alongside them as they break through mindset blocks, land their first licensing deals, negotiate with clients, and see their artwork on real products. It’s been amazing to watch their progress.
In many ways, it feels like I’m experiencing the early days of my own licensing journey all over again, but through their successes. Helping them navigate this path and grow into thriving artists has brought a sense of purpose I didn’t expect when I first created this community. If I retired tomorrow, that connection and support would be the thing they’d miss most. And honestly, so would I.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catcoq.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/catcoq/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/catcoq/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyzQKInOeYt84zUv42B7QA
- Other: https://www.catcoq-collections.com
Image Credits
Credit: Cat Coquillette
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