Welcome to our Scholarship Recipients Hall of Fame! 🎉

One of the things I’m most proud of about The Art of Collections™ is being able to offer a small number of full-ride scholarships every time enrollment opens. These scholarships give artists complete access to my six-month mentorship program, where we focus on building pitch-perfect portfolios and creating a clear, realistic path toward a profitable art licensing career.

And the results speak for themselves! Scholarship recipients from previous launches are already building stunning, market-ready portfolios, landing licensing deals with big brands, AND getting selected for agency representation. Seeing that kind of momentum never gets old, and it’s such a powerful reminder of what’s possible when artists are given the right structure, strategy, and support.

If you’re dreaming of turning your art into a sustainable licensing career, this community was built for you. I love getting to support artists inside The Art of Collections™, watching their confidence grow, seeing their portfolios come together, and cheering them on as they take real steps toward the careers they want. It’s incredibly special to witness that transformation, launch after launch, and to see so many artists realize what they’re capable of when they have the right guidance and support. 💪

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to level up your portfolio, I’d love to have you join us when the doors open again. Join the waitlist for The Art of Collections™ and be the first to hear about upcoming enrollment dates and scholarship opportunities!

🌟 Krittika Mittal

Location: Baltimore, USA
Bio: Krittika Mittal is an Indian illustrator and designer based in Baltimore. She studied architecture in New Delhi, taught herself graphic design, and spent five years freelancing for clients before going back to school for an MFA in Illustration Practice at MICA. Krittika's illustrations draw from both digital and traditional techniques to create emotionally resonant art work centered on memory, identity, and moments of everyday happiness. Her work often weaves in South Asian symbols and folklore, aiming to make art that feels both personal and universal. Perhaps the biggest reflection of her upbringing is in the use of colors and patterns in her artworks. P.S. She loves drawing cats and dogs curled up in sunlight, and surrounded by plants. 
Website: www.artkrittique.work
Instagram: @artkrittique

🌟 Nikki Toldy

Location: Ontario, Canada
Bio: I grew up in a room filled with hand-painted floral furniture, squiggly teapots, and heirloom storybooks. Through playful florals, charming characters, and colourful patterns, I now create designs that bring warmth, joy, and a touch of whimsy to everyday life. Hi, I'm Nikki, the illustrator and designer behind Poppy & Poplar, a Canadian-based design studio. My journey to pattern design started with a formal education in graphic design. While that experience gave me a strong technical foundation, it also helped me realize that my heart belongs in the whimsical world of illustration. As I discovered pattern design, I realized it was the perfect way to bring a sense of visual connection and nostalgia into the homes and lives of others.
Website: www.poppyandpoplar.com
Instagram: @poppyandpoplar

🌟 Maria Lucia Saisse

Location: Mission Viejo, USA
Bio: I’m Lucia Saisse, a Brazilian-born designer and illustrator based in California. Illustration was always my passion but I spent years working in corporate graphic design, before taking a leap to build something of my own. Today I own Lucy Loves Paper, a stationery brand built around kindness, connection and inclusion. I pour my love of color, warmth and storytelling into everything I create, and am so excited to start this program and grow the licensing side of my business with heart and intention.
Instagram: @lucylovespaper

🌟 Pia Mannino

Location: Bohemia, New York, USA
Bio: Hi, I'm Pia, a surface pattern designer from Long Island, New York, and the creative heart behind Pupidda Designs. Inspired by my Sicilian parents' love of craftsmanship and their passion for creating beauty in everyday life, I create whimsical, playful patterns for products that brighten everyday moments. My work blends charming illustrations with cheerful color palettes and a touch of seasonal magic, with a special love for holiday-inspired collections. My artistic journey is rooted in my parents' appreciation for tradition, culture, art, and nature, which continue to inspire my designs. Whether I'm illustrating festive motifs, novelty icons, or playful characters, I'm always drawn to creating patterns that feel inviting, lighthearted, and full of personality.
Website: www.pupiddadesigns.com

🌟 Bianca Carias Oliveira

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Bio: Hi, I'm Bianca, a Portuguese artist based in South Africa, and I run Artybee Studio. I love making super cute, girly illustrations, patterns, hand lettering, and painting; the pinker, the better. In my free time, I am a unicorn. I draw inspiration from the natural world. I am originally from Portugal (my grandparents), but I was born and raised in South Africa. My art style has two: one in a clean, bold vector art style and one in Procreate that is more fluid with organic shapes using brushes and i like to add a bit of humour to my art. I do more cute, whimsical work, painting with an acrylic brush set, just like the textures I get. It allows me to be more artistic than graphic when needed. I love bold colours and some pastel ones too. I love colours and use them to tell a story. I am a graphic designer, illustrator, and pattern designer. I started learning hand lettering because I have always loved it. I started learning about surface pattern design back in 2024 from Elisabeth Silver, and since then I have just wanted to make patterns and get back into painting again on Procreate. I still do graphic design work and upload it to microstock sites like Freepik and Adobe Stock. I entered a few challenges from Creatsy, won one, and came 3rd in the second. I entered a few Minted challenges, too. I get my inspiration from the beauty of nature here in South Africa and my own backyard. I love plants and take care of them. And I love birds a lot. Fun fact: I love anime; I am a big fan of Demon Slayer and K-dramas, and I love unicorn plushies. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called multiple sclerosis in June 2025.
Instagram: @artybeestudio

🌟 Suchismita Deb

Location: Voorburg, Netherlands
Bio: Hi, I'm Suchi! My full name is Suchismita, which means "one with a pure smile" in Sanskrit. Originally from India, I now call the Netherlands home, where I've lived for the past 10 years with my husband and our two wonderful children. I'm a self-taught watercolor artist and surface pattern designer. My journey into surface pattern design began with a simple curiosity about how my watercolor paintings could become part of people's homes. Now I create hand-painted artwork for wallpaper, fabric, home décor and art prints, combining a love of traditional watercolor with a desire to bring personality, beauty, and a connection to nature into everyday spaces. I'm so excited to be part of The Art of Collections and can't wait to learn, grow, and connect with this wonderful community of artists.
Website: www.suchideb.com
Instagram: @suchidebdesigns

Mini Collection Challenge

Complete Cat's free Four-Week Mini Collection Challenge and you're automatically entered to win a full-ride scholarship spot. Just follow the weekly prompts and post your finished collection on Instagram with #CreateWithCatCoq by August 8th.

Skillshare-Endorsed Scholarship

Thanks to our partnership with Skillshare, one more artist is getting a full-ride scholarship to The Art of Collections, open to any Skillshare student! Applications close on August 4.

Live Call Drawing

One more scholarship winner will be drawn live on August 11th at 10am EDT. Complete the Mini Collection Challenge for extra entries. Details on joining the call are coming soon, get on the waitlist so you don't miss it!

🌟 Latifa Righi

Location: Algeria
Bio: I am an Algerian artist with a background in Architecture and a mom to two beautiful daughters. My studio is called Jasmine Blooms Designs. In the last four years, I have built my own little world of patterns and illustrations. I love to incorporate aspects of storytelling into my work and license it to multiple industries, from textiles to wallpaper and tech accessories. My style is a combination of delicate florals, playful animals, and a sprinkle of color to bring joy and sweetness.
Website: www.jasminebloomsdesigns.com
Instagram: @jasmin.blooms.designs

🌟 Beverley Glanville

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Bio: I studied graphic design, which comes through in my clean geometric approach to my motifs. Even my watercolour patterns are mostly organic geometric shapes and mark-making – I love the unexpected results that serve as a foil to my more controlled vector-based approach. As a mom to a 10 year old boy, I feel like I’ve had some unnecessarily up-close observations of bugs, snails, worms and even a starfish! That said, nature inspires me in so many ways, from its colours and shapes to its incredible geometric structures and forms.
Website: www.bevglanville.com
Instagram: @bev_glanville

🌟 Olena Kovalova

Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Bio: I'm a Surface Pattern Designer and Illustrator from Kharkiv, Ukraine, where I was born, and currently live and work. I've been keen on drawing and creating since childhood, and creativity has always been an essential part of my life. My style ranges from whimsical, textured illustrations to elegant, vintage-inspired patterns. I enjoy working with watercolor and ink as well as digital tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Krita. I'm inspired by nature, cozy everyday moments, and handmade beauty.
Website: www.olenakovalova.com
Instagram: @al_kovalyova_design

🌟 Julie Kuberski

Location: Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Bio: I'm a big fan of laughing, spending time with loved ones, and relishing the little things in life. Being creative has always been at the core of who I am. I am deeply inspired by the world around me and everyday moments and believe in the power of infusing our daily lives with beauty and joy. In 2014, I began selling hand lettered and illustrated paper goods online and in shops across the USA. I love using vibrant colors, fun motifs, and creating art that conveys a playful and positive energy.
Website: www.juliekuberski.com
Instagram: @juliekuberski

🌟 Rumana Latif Jamadar

Location: Thane, India
Bio: I’m a surface pattern designer based in Mumbai, India. My creative practice is inspired by nature, heritage, and storytelling, with deep roots in the landscapes of the Western Ghats mountain range in India, where I grew up. My work blends digital watercolor techniques, hand-drawn details, and illustration to create richly detailed patterns with a timeless, narrative feel. Drawing from traditional art forms, botanical studies, and cultural motifs, I enjoy crafting expressive standalone designs that feel both classic and personal. As a devoted tea lover, many of my ideas begin during quiet early-morning hours with a cup of tea, when I find the most clarity and creative flow.
Website: www.rumanajdesigns.com
Instagram: @rumana_designs

🌟 Stacy Hsu

Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Bio: I'm a Seattle-based illustrator and designer creating detailed botanical and wildlife artwork inspired by the ecosystems I love to explore. I began my career in architecture and design, but a few years ago, I took the leap into illustration to focus on making more personal, place-based work. My pieces often start with quiet observation outdoors and evolve into pencil drawings layered with digital color. I'm especially drawn to plants, birds, and ecological stories, and many of my illustrations naturally grow into larger bodies of work.
Website: www.stacyhsu.com
Instagram: @stacy.hsu.art

🌟 Ani Guidos

Location: San Salvador, El Salvador
Bio: I create joyful art inspired by color and nature 🌴. Designing from sunny El Salvador 🌞✨, my artwork is inspired by tropical landscapes, light and colorful palettes. I love creating art that feels warm, expressive and full of life 💛.
Instagram: @anigui

🌟 Rayane Alvim

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bio: Hi! My name is Rayane Alvim, and I’m a Brazilian artist specializing in hand lettering, illustration, and surface pattern design. As a lifelong fangirl, my interest in art and design started while creating fan art in Photoshop as a teen – so yes, my career literally began because I love things way too much! My work typically features bold hand lettering and vibrant illustrations, with a mix of textures for that hand-drawn feel and clean vector artwork, often incorporating pop culture references.
Website: www.rayanealvim.com
Instagram: @rayane.alvim

🌟 Anna Black

Location: Cascais, Portugal
Bio: Hi! I'm Anna, of Anna Black Creative. I’m originally from Scotland but have been in Portugal for over 20 years now, where I live with my husband and two teen girls. My background is in science and I worked for a long time in the tech industry, but as I approached 50, I started to yearn for a career that I felt really passionate about (and that didn't tie me to a grinding daily commute!). I finally broke free from the rat race a few years ago and dove right in to building my own creative business.
Website: hwww.annablackcreative.com/
Instagram: @annablackcreative

🌟 Indira Prieto Aranguren

Location: Hollywood, FL, USA
Bio: I’m Indira Prieto, a Cuban-born designer and illustrator based in Miami. I’ve always been drawn to vibrant colors, expressive lettering, and anything I could make my own. After working with agencies and in-house teams, I realized I needed more creative freedom; so I launched IndySign, blending my love for lettering and design. My work is rooted in culture, community, and storytelling.
Website: www.indysigncreative.com
Instagram: @theindysign

🌟 Michelle Charles

Location: Trinidad, Caribbean
Bio: I’m a mom to two wonderful daughters and a grandmother. For the past 2 years I’ve been teaching myself Photoshop, taking courses on Skillshare and creating a lot of art in order to discover my unique Caribbean style that would be a good fit for the Home Decor Niche. My vision for Designs by Miche is to include a storytelling of this multiplicity of concepts in my designs so that they resonate powerfully with my audiences, the Caribbean diasporic populations as well as with international art directors, creative directors and makers. Caribbean design is truly unique and mostly undiscovered. It represents a new chapter in authentic design which is sure to attract both existing and new clients and I look forward to sharing my designs with the world.
Instagram: @designsbymiche

🌟 Marcela Flores Thompson

Location: Mandelieu, France
Bio: Hi, I’m Marcela, a Mexican illustrator based in France. My work is all about spreading joy and hope through colorful, expressive illustrations — especially portraits and vibrant scenes full of life. I’m deeply inspired by tropical plants, flowers, and bright colors. I also believe in not taking life (or problems) too seriously — maybe that’s my Mexican roots speaking.
Website: www.lalaetlola.com
Instagram: @lalaetlola

🌟 Emily Grogan

Location: Brighton, UK
Bio: Hi, I'm Emily - an artist and surface designer from the seaside town of Brighton, UK. I create bold, playful prints with a vintage, handcrafted feel, often inspired by childhood memories and an imaginative view of the world around me. As the daughter of an upholsterer, pattern has always felt like home to me. I’m especially drawn to creating prints that carry a sense of nostalgia and storytelling - vegetable gardens, retro florals, sea swimmers - filtered through a bright, joyful colour palette and quirky graphic shapes.
Website: www.pemilyland.com
Instagram: @pemilyland

🌟 Hillary Holt

Location: Barcelona, Spain
Bio: I’m an Australian artist, illustrator, and surface designer, now based in beautiful Barcelona. Using modern watercolor techniques, I hand-create illustrations and patterns for products with bright, vibrant colours, inspired by the natural world, botanicals & pop culture. After studying photography and visual communication at university and a 15 year career as a graphic designer and editorial art director, she returned to hands-on art during the pandemic, rekindling a creative spark that began with hours spent in the darkroom. Now working full-time from her home studio, she draws from memories of the Australian coast and the creative energy of her adopted city. Surrounded by her family, two cats and rescue dog, she is always chasing fresh ideas between local Catalan cultural festivals, gardening and morning coffee sketchbooks.
Website: www.fibrebasedfiction.com
Instagram: @hillaryholt_art

Inspired by these artists?
Join The Art of Collections waitlist to be the first to know when enrollment opens again and get details on future scholarships and opportunities!