Indira signed her first licensing deal just 3 months into the program!
Indira joined The Art of Collections ready to transition away from client work, but had no idea how quickly things would move! Within three months, she secured her first licensing deal, and it wasn’t just one collection. The artwork selected came from the first three collections she created inside the program, following the monthly collection challenges.
Just two months later, her momentum had multiplied.
More of Indira’s artwork was accepted for a major wallpaper company!
She also designed a coloring book for a client
…aaaand she was selected to collaborate with Nike!
Five months into the program, Indira’s journey shows what can happen when artists combine structure, strategy, and follow-through. One deal turned into multiple opportunities, and her licensing foundation continues to support bigger and bigger wins. 👏
“Feeling very grateful, very encouraged, and more convinced than ever that this path works when you stay the course.”
–Shelly Craig
Shelly scored multiple licensing deals and saw her work selected for major retailers, all within months of joining!
Shelly’s journey inside The Art of Collections is a powerful example of what happens when strong artwork meets clear strategy and a genuinely supportive community. Time and time again, she credited the community for helping her refine her work and push her collections to a truly pitch-ready level.
That openness to feedback paid off quickly.
Within months of joining, Shelly landed her very first licensing deal with a fabric company!
And the momentum didn’t stop there. Just a couple of months later:
Shelly secured another licensing deal to license 30 pieces of her artwork for online and big-box retail
Her work is being considered for big retailers like as Target, Wayfair, Michaels, Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Kohl’s
She won an online challenge with the Reef Restoration Foundation, with her artwork selected for their 2026 product line.
She was interviewed and published by Visual Arts Journal
Shelly’s story proves that staying open to feedback, refining your work with intention, and trusting the process can lead to opportunities far beyond your first yes. One win turned into many, and her licensing journey is just getting started. 🚀
Jenn Yu landed her first licensing deal with her dream stationery company
Jenn spent years creating artwork but felt stuck and unsure how to break into licensing. Inside The Art of Collections, she built her first pitch-ready portfolio, gained confidence through personalized feedback, and started pitching consistently. That focus and persistence led to her very first licensing deal with her dream stationery company.
And she didn’t stop there!
Jenn studied what the company responded to, aligned her work with their aesthetic, and continued pitching new collections month after month. That strategy paid off in a big way.
Jenn’s wins include:
• Landing her first-ever licensing deal!
• Getting more artwork selected for another product line.
• Designing a 2027 planner to be sold at HomeGoods
• Building confidence through consistent pitching and portfolio refinement
A year earlier, Jenn had purchased a planner from this same brand in Hong Kong and told herself that one day her art would be there. Now, it is.
Maria leveraged her art into paid commissions, a brand collaboration, and podcast feature
Maria’s experience is a perfect example of what happens when artists stop guessing, start designing with purpose, and put their work in front of the right opportunities. By leaning into strategy, Maria started seeing real-world traction almost immediately:
Maria landed three paid commissions after sharing her work on Instagram
She also successfully pitched her artwork to a luxury yoga mat company
She was invited as a guest on a podcast, expanding her visibility and credibility
But just as important as the wins was the mindset shift: Being surrounded by other artists on the same path gave her confidence she didn’t have access to before.
“This collective group of artists has been so amazing! You all have been so great and help me with my confidence as an artist. Your support means a lot to me!”
–Maria Overlay
Hilary turned a client “no” into seven newly licensed designs
Hilary’s experience inside The Art of Collections is a powerful example of how professionalism, strategy, and follow-through can directly impact licensing outcomes. Instead of walking away after a pass, she leaned into our follow up strategy. Here’s what happened:
She pitched new designs to a wall art licensing client who had already licensed nearly 25 of her designs
The client initially passed on every new design she submitted
Hilary followed up professionally, asking for brief feedback to better tailor future submissions
The client revisited the work and decided to license seven designs they had originally passed on
Beyond the licensing win, this moment reinforced the value of the Pitch Follow-Up business step inside The Art of Collections. Hilary didn’t second-guess herself or disappear after a pass. She followed the exact follow-up framework taught in the program and converted a client ‘no’ into seven more licensed designs.
Kristin was selected for major publications and a Times Square billboard
Kristin’s experience inside The Art of Collections shows how intentional collections can lead to powerful visibility and credibility wins. By creating focused work and putting it forward strategically, her artwork began getting selected for high-profile opportunities:
Her collection was accepted for publication in Visual Art Journal, including a featured interview
She was selected for a four-page spread in Create! Magazine’s fall publication, celebrating female artists
She was chosen to have her work displayed on a billboard in Times Square
Each win significantly expanded Kristin’s visibility, credibility, and confidence as a working artist. Being selected repeatedly reinforced that her work resonated and that strategic collections can open doors to opportunities many artists never imagine.
Kristin’s journey shows how saying yes to visibility and putting your work forward can create momentum that builds on itself, one opportunity at a time.
“I can't tell you how happy I am that I took the leap and signed up for your Collective. It honestly has been the catalyst for so much goodness in my life.”
– Kristin Steinke
Rachel scored a wall art licensing deal for 2 images she created years apart
Rachel’s experience is a perfect example of how building a strong body of work and staying prepared can pay off, sometimes long after a piece is created. She was ready when the opportunity came.
She pitched her work and a wall art company selected two designs for licensing!
Rachel felt confident discussing exclusivity, territories, and royalties during the licensing conversation.
Being immersed in a community of working artists helped Rachel feel prepared, connected, and supported in a way she had dreamed about for years.
Rachel’s experience shows that strategic work doesn’t expire. When you build intentionally and understand the business side of licensing, past artwork can turn into present-day opportunities.
“I'm honestly just so excited to be here. Seeing everyone's work, learning and connecting with such an amazing group of artists is something I've dreamed about for years.”
– Rachel Hallquist
Shenequa licensed three illustrations for a paint set product line
Shenequa’s experience is a perfect example of how consistent portfolio-building and follow-through can lead to real licensing opportunities!
She licensed three illustrations to a brand for use on paint sets
This win came while she continued building collections, reworking older artwork, and refining her portfolio
But just as important as the licensing win was the validation. Seeing her work move into production reinforced that her art is market-ready and desirable. Each licensed product builds credibility, confidence, and leverage for the next opportunity.
Katrina signed her first licensing deal with a major fabric company
Katrina’s experience is a perfect example of what can happen when artists stop waiting to feel “ready” and start taking strategic action. After years of hesitation and second-guessing, she committed to pitching professionally and following through.
Katrina signed her first-ever licensing contract with a well-established fabric company with major retail reach
This win came after she began using professional pitch decks provided inside the program.
She followed up on past pitches instead of assuming silence meant rejection (using our Pitch Follow Up business step!), which led to renewed interest and ultimately a signed contract!
But just as important as the deal itself was the shift in approach. Katrina stopped waiting for perfection, started pitching with confidence, and used follow-up strategically. The licensing deal validated years of skill-building and portfolio development that had previously gone unseen.
“Thanks so much, Cat! You deserve so much of the credit for this win. Your advice is always so spot on and you've really helped me hone my portfolio, make my pitching more professional and (most important of all) give me the confidence to actually pitch… and FOLLOW UP!!”
– Katrina Miller
Susan landed licensing deals that put her art in major retailers nationwide
Susan's experience is a perfect example of how shifting from random one-offs to strategic collections can completely transform your licensing career. For years she created art with no focus, but once she learned The Art of Collections framework, everything changed.
She built focused collections, found confidence to share her work, and pitched consistently until she landed multiple licensing deals!
Her wall art is now selling in Target, Michaels, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wayfair, Lowe's, Amazon, and Walmart.
She also secured an wallpaper licensing deal featuring three of her designs in multiple colorways.
Being part of The Art of Collections community gave Susan the structure, confidence, and support she needed to finally break through. She said, "So many of these collections were created when I was in the CatCoq Collective!"
Susan's experience shows that strategic collections and consistent pitching work. When you stop creating random art and start building with intention, major retail deals become possible.
“The AOC course was helpful in so many ways as it plunks you into a community of people who love to do what you do! It's truly a goldmine waiting for artists to pop open the chest!”
– Susan Lugar
Nat pushed past her fear of "not being ready" and signed her first licensing contract
Nat's story shows what happens when you stop waiting for perfection and just start pitching. She had been putting it off for months, thinking she needed more work, more collections, more everything. The Art of Collections gave her the push she needed.
She finally sent that first pitch and got an immediate response—they loved her style and wanted to work with her!
They discussed licensing terms, royalties, and how they typically work with artists.
Within weeks, she signed her first licensing contract.
Nat's experience proves you don't need a massive portfolio to start pitching. You need the confidence to hit send and a support system that keeps you going. That's exactly what she found inside the program.
"I'm finally feeling good about the progress I'm making and I couldn't have done it without this community. Everyone here is so supportive.”
– Nat Wilks
Aby went from pitch paralysis to landing multiple deals & was approached by an agency!
Aby's breakthrough came when she finally overcame the mental block that kept her from pitching. The Art of Collections community gave her the accountability and confidence she needed to actually hit send.
Once she joined the program, she started pitching more consistently than she ever had before.
An art licensing agency reached out after seeing her work and wanted to discuss signing her as one of their artists!
A Spanish water bottle company licensed two of her designs for their "artist club" edition bottles—one of them was the very first pattern she ever created!
For the first time in her life, she hit €1,000 in monthly income from her art.
Aby's story shows that when you have support, structure, and a portfolio you're actually proud of, the mental resistance dissolves. You stop overthinking and start doing—and that's when the deals come.
"This is like having Cat holding your hand showing you the path to your journey! The encouragement from Cat and the community was holding me together to stay in that chair and send those emails. Other members are also here with the aspiration to thrive and improve, so they will help you stay on track and build your skills and confidence."
– Aby Morales