Daily Inspiration: Meet Cat Coquillette

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cat Coquillette.

Cat, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve spent the past five years living out a suitcase while building my art brand from the ground up. My name is Cat Coquillette and I’m an artist, entrepreneur, teacher, and the founder of CatCoq, which is my art and education brand.

In 2015, I made the leap into entrepreneurship. In the years since then, I’ve grown my company as I travel the world full-time as a “digital nomad”. In that time, I’ve visited over thirty countries, sometimes staying for a week, sometimes months on end. My art studio/office changes daily, but it’s usually in a coffee shop, co-working space, or Airbnb somewhere in the world.

My artwork and designs can be found worldwide in stores, including Urban Outfitters, Target, Barnes & Noble, Modcloth, HomeGoods, Nordstrom, Bed Bath & Beyond, and more. I’m a keynote speaker for entrepreneur and design conferences around the world, and my writing, interviews, and design work have been featured by Forbes, CNN, US Weekly, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, and The New York Post.

Recently, I’ve begun hosting art and entrepreneur retreats around the world. My upcoming watercolor retreat in France is absolutely going to be the highlight of my autumn. Education has become a cornerstone of my brand as well. I teach others how to do exactly what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis: earn an income through art licensing, grow their brand using social media marketing, paint with watercolors and acrylics, edit artwork digitally, create patterns for surface design, and more. My classes teach a mix of creative and business skills.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a business while traveling full-time definitely comes with it’s own set of challenges. An early struggle for me was finding a supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs. In my first few months of self-employment, didn’t have many connections to other founders, so I didn’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of or ask for advice with my growing business.

My breakthrough moment was when I first arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand, back in 2016. Chiang Mai is known as a “digital nomad hotspot,” and it’s the first place where I become immersed in a community of location-independent entrepreneurs from around the world. For the time, I felt like I found “my people”.

Their jobs ranged from tech startups and software services to copywriters, designers, and online teachers. Even though we were all enmeshed in different industries, our fluid lifestyles brought us together. I prioritize travel, growing my business, and an independent lifestyle, so when I initially met these people with similar convictions, I felt at peace with my decision to start my own business while traveling full-time.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My brand is split between art licensing and education. I teach others how to do exactly what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis: earn an income through art licensing, grow their brand using social media marketing, paint with watercolors and acrylics, create patterns for surface design, and more. All in all, my classes teach a mix of creative and business skills.

It’s always a compliment to see my artwork hanging in someone’s home, but teaching is what gives me a deep sense of purpose. My personal fulfillment comes from hearing from my students and reading the reviews they leave on my online classes.

When someone reaches out to tell me that I’ve helped them gain confidence in their artwork or overcome a creative or entrepreneurial challenge, I feel like I’ve actually made a difference in someone’s life. This is the ultimate compliment I could ever receive and it’s what drives me to continue pursuing education.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I am so inspired by how strong our creative community is in Kansas City. I grew up in the suburbs of KC, and I spent the early days of my career in KC as well. After graduating with a dual-major in graphic design and illustration from The University of Kansas back in 2011, I began my career as a designer at a local KC agency, Willoughby Design.

I had so many opportunities while working there and learned from the best in the business. I worked alongside a team of talented creatives as we whipped up logos, branding identities, websites, packaging, photoshoots, you name it. My job was incredibly fulfilling and challenged me in all the right areas. A lot of the methods I use today are based on the things I learned during that job, like crafting the perfect proposal, working with clients, and laying down a solid strategy before diving into the creative process. I have so much fondness for the experience I had working at Willoughby Design. It’s one of many incredible design agencies in Kansas City that contribute the creativity of our city.

Contact Info:

• Email: https://catcoq.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catcoq/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catcoq/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/catcoq

Image Credits
Cat Coquillette