Conversation with Veronica Kovacs.

What it takes – in your opinion – to be successful as an Artist in today’s world?

Feeling that creative pull and wanting to do art is a wonderful feeling but it can be challenging, too. I’m an 80s baby and I often heard people saying you can’t make a living being an artist. I think that was the biggest hurdle I had to overcome. That comment continued to live in my mind, unchallenged, until I was feeling completely lost in my late 30s. Nothing I wanted to do made financial sense.

But then I met a wonderful mentor, Cass Deller, who completely rewrote this narrative. What it takes to be a successful artist? Never letting go of the joy of creating. Tuning into that, following little whispers of inspiration, playing with your craft and letting the world go silent is all you need. Keep creating and sharing what you love from the heart and opportunities will find you. Being successful means different things to different people. It’s not only financial things, although it’d be foolish do deny they don’t matter. But I also feel successful when someone loves my work and we have that moment of true connection. So be patient, follow your heart and never let anyone tell you it won’t lead anywhere. Believe in that vision that was given to you for a reason.

How did you start to create your art and share it with the world?

Like many artists, my love for creating started young. My dad taught me how to paint and draw when I was little, and some of my happiest childhood memories are the two of us painting together at the kitchen table or sketching outside in nature. I even won an international art competition when I was 7 with a painting of my cockatiel parrot, Bobo!

But somewhere along the way — like so many of us — I started to believe that art wasn’t a “real” path. Life got busy, and I slowly drifted away from creativity, even though that longing to make beautiful things never really left me.

Then in 2018 along came Sia — my first ragdoll cat, full of fluff and personality. She lit up my world in ways I didn’t expect and somehow steered me back to what I was meant to do all along. She and later her brother Felix inspired my range of greeting cards and prints now available in my Etsy shop.

I still work part-time and run my little shop alongside it — art is something I’m growing slowly, with love and hope for where it might lead. My business is small, but it’s a start. Turns out that was the hardest part! I’ve also begun a new creative chapter studying surface pattern design with the amazing Cass Deller — another way to bring my art into the world through prints, patterns, and products. (if you’re interested in learning more, check out my blog post on this course here: https://ronniekovacs.com/learn-pattern-design/)

Tell us about the art of surface pattern design.  How do you get to create and promote your art as a surface pattern designer?

One day, while scrolling Instagram, I came across an ad for a free workshop. It mentioned something called “surface pattern design” — a phrase I’d never heard before — and showed an image of a repeat pattern printed on fabric. I was instantly curious. I signed up for a free five-day workshop — and it opened up a whole new world of possibilities. In just a few short days, I learned how to gather inspiration, turn it into artwork, and build it into a repeating pattern using Adobe Illustrator.

It was like magic. Suddenly, I began noticing patterns and potential in everything — leaves, wildflowers, tree bark, cobbled streets, butterfly wings. Nature became a sketchbook, and everyday walks turned into quiet treasure hunts.

Due to lack of space and the amazing simplicity I mostly paint digitally on Procreate nowadays. This way I don’t need to scan and edit, I create the repeat patterns right there in the program, then export it to my computer. It’s also easy to transport, allowing me to create anywhere without having boxes of art supplies. Don’t get me wrong I love traditional watercolour and acrylics – nothing can compare to feeling the brush strokes across the paper – but due to lack of space and time Procreate is more ideal for now.

I’ve recently setup my website and currently working on a pattern library so I can start licencing my designs. I’ve also recently completed a course on Pinterest marketing with the amazing Meagan Williamson, which will hopefully help not having to rely on Instagram for promotion so much. Did you know Pinterest was a search engine? Content is evergreen there and searchable as opposed to Instagram where you have very short term visibility.

It’s a lot of work but so much fun! The most important thing is to take little steps every day. And enjoy the process! Once my pattern library is ready I’ll actively be pitching my work, but I don’t rush to get there. It takes as long as it takes.

Where can we see more of your art?

I have a website and Etsy shop and I also network on Instagram and Pinterest.

Etsy: https://bethatcatdesigns.etsy.com

Website: https://ronniekovacs.com/

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/ronniekovacsart/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronnie.kovacs/?hl=en

***

Veronica and I met at the Cass Deller surface pattern design course on line.  Cass Deller is the Artist from Australia who teaches surface pattern design and adobe.  Veronica visited me in the UK, at my work, and we spent some time painting and creating in the garden.  – Thank you Veronica!

To learn more about Surface Pattern Design visit Cass Deller website here.

or to learn from Cass about Adobe and AI for beginners, click here.

Enter coupon code:  ASKALICJA, to receive 10% off.

Click here for a Polish language version of this blog.

.buy-me-a-coffee { margin-top: 20px; }