4 Cool Art Collaborations
illoguild #31 | Art Chats, Art Gym, A Book + An Apothecare
Want to listen while you’re drawing or painting? Just click play to hear me read the post!
Hi everyone!
As artists, we have the chance to collaborate with so many people and companies. We can start projects with fellow artists or be a commissioned by a company to create some art. There are so many opportunities out there, and it feels really special when we get to make some magic happen in this world with our art!
Below I’ll share about four really cool collaborations I’ve had the chance to do. I’ve chosen two collaborations with people and two collaborations with organizations to show some different types of collabs that are possible.
I’ve also included a little note about how each project came to be, because I’m often interested in how others stumble upon various opportunities.
Collaborations with People
Lilla’s Art Chats with Katie Stack
Actually… this one hasn't happened yet—it starts tomorrow! But I am so excited for it! Read all about how it to came to be in this post from
.How it happened: I have been a MATS students for some time. Since Lilla and I live in the same area, she invited me over for coffee, and before we knew it, this whole Lilla’s Art Chats thing had been created!
Art Gym with Adam Ming
and I lead a monthly workshop called Art Gym. I love this collaboration, because we’re both artists. That means we can learn so much from each other about all the nuances of being an illustrator, AND we learn so much from everyone who attends. It’s so fun to see the galleries fill up with artwork, and it’s motivating to see that our prompts lead to really amazing pieces. There is community, motivation, and learning amongst a bunch of artist peers, so it feels like a really fun and relaxed collaboration! Working with artist friends is such a fabulous way to collaborate, whether that’s starting drawing sessions (like Adam and me!), setting up a critique group, or simply setting up a system for helping each other stay accountable to making art.
How it happened: Adam and I are have been in the same critique group (which you may know as !) for a few years, so we know each other pretty well. When we were both thinking of hosting drawing sessions, so we decided to create Art Gym together. We now have thousands of subscribers and get to hang out with amazing artists every month, which is pretty cool!
Collaborations with Organizations
My ABCF at School with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Western Australia
I got to work with the nonprofit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Western Australia (CFWA) on a book titled My ABCF at School. The purpose of this book is to be used as a resource in classrooms that have a student with cystic fibrosis. The book can help peers build an understanding and empathy for those with CF. As a former teacher, I felt very connected to the mission of this project and wanted to help make it accessible to kids in school.
One cool part about collaborating with an organization on the other side of the world was learning about some cultural differences. For example, did you know kids in Australia wear hats during recess as sun protection? We don’t do that in the US, so when I first sent roughs of the kids playing outside, CFWA gave me some feedback to add the hats. What a cool way to learn about daily life around the world - by illustrating a book!
Working with a non-profit also meant that they had some marketing and education resources. Look at this Resource Pack that was made to accompany the book. It’s fun to see how my art was used in these materials.
And my favorite part… the video below! CFWA outdid themselves with this video. It makes the book look so professional! I saw this on Instagram before I had a physical copy of the book, so it was a really cool experience to see it all together.
How it happened: I was recommend for the job by who had illustrated the first My ABCF book. Since she was busy writing and illustrating her Tiny Dogs series, she passed along my name and I got the job!
Brand Illustrations for Jean’s Apothecare
This was actually my first paying job from someone I didn’t personally know. It was exciting! This was a few years ago, and although I was definitely still finding my style, I’m proud of this collaboration since it was my first “professional” commission.
Here are a few posts from the Jean’s Apothecare instagram that show some of my art. It was so cool to see my art printed on products that people were buying. This is probably when I got interested in licensing more of my art. Also I highly, highly recommend her products if you’re looking for candles, skin care, or tea!
That last one with wrapping paper and gift tags was especially fun to see.
How it happened: A friend from high school worked with the owner of Jean’s Apothecare, so she passed along my name and I got to create some illustrations.
All of these collabs have one thing in common…
I’m noticing that all of these collaborations happened because of connections through people I know. Hmm… what’s the called? Networking 😅 As someone who’s introverted and definitely values my alone time, it’s hard to accept that networking is important, but it truly is!
Two of these collaborations resulted from my critique group, one from taking classes, and the other from my friend seeing my Instagram posts. So maybe “networking” can happen by just being present in art spaces? What do you think? By being present, I mean taking actions to be fully present such as connecting with people, posting, being an active participant in class, etc… I think as long as I continue to show up in these types of spaces and be present, it’s more likely there will be future collaborations, too.
Before reflecting on these similarities, I guess I had thought so many of my illustration opportunities were pretty random. But maybe it’s actually about being in the right place and making your time in that space count.
So that’s what I’ll continue to do more of, including being here and writing weekly newsletters to all of you.
I am curious to hear your thoughts though… how do you think collaborations happen? Tell me about something cool you’ve done and how it came to be!
Thanks for reading and see you TOMORROW for Lilla’s Art Chats!
Katie
Upcoming Live Events
Thursday, February 6 | Lilla’s Art Chats with Katie Stack (free)
In these live chats, Lilla will share tons of insight, and I’ll be asking questions from the perspective of a someone who’s navigating the early stages of an illustration career. Join us for our first live chat on Thursday, February 6, at 11 AM ET! See you there! (PS - it’s free.)
Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85929044978
Tuesday, February 18 | Art Gym Workshop: Texture Library (paid)
In this session, Adam Ming and I will lead you through some exercises to explore various textures and build up an entire library of textures. You will have the opportunity to elevate your artwork and build your creative skills. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just beginning your journey, this upcoming session offers valuable insights to help you grow and develop your style. We hope to see you there! Find the sign up link at the bottom of this Art Gym Replay post:
Monday, February 17 | illoguild Live (free)
Get ready to dive into the topic of collaboration! This live session will explore how we can build stronger connections with fellow creatives as well as with clients. Whether you’re navigating your first commission or looking for new ways to collaborate with peers or clients, this discussion will be sure to provide inspiration and practical insight for your next steps. We’ll cover how to identify opportunities for meaningful collaboration, what sets successful partnerships apart, and how to make the process worthwhile for everyone involved. this is a conversation you won’t want to miss, so bring your questions and we’ll see you there!
Use the button below to sign up and check your local time, as clocks change this month: