Well friends, this was such a fun conversation! I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Becky Stockert, an Indiana artist and illustrator and the creative force behind Cat People Press.
Becky and I talked about cats (of course!), trying new creative mediums, running a creative business, and what it really looks like to work through those messy, uncomfortable parts of making art.
🎨 Finding Your Creative Lane
Becky started Cat People Press with cat greeting cards and has grown it into a creative business featuring prints, stickers, T-shirts, illustration, and even handmade pottery.
I loved hearing how she balances her love of experimenting with the need to stay focused when running a creative business. Sometimes you really do have to stay in your lane—while still giving yourself room to play and explore!
🌿 Embracing the Discomfort
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was Becky’s reminder to embrace the discomfort. Her abstract work is all about layers, marks, shapes, and letting go of some of that need to control the outcome.
And let's be honest—sometimes the artwork looks like complete garbage before it starts coming together! Becky’s advice? Keep going and work through it.
We also talked about creative blocks and the simple things that can help: taking a walk, taking a nap, looking through art books, or simply giving yourself permission to step away for a bit.
✂️ Making Creativity More Playful
We had so much fun talking about collage, too! Becky loves making collages with friends, while I shared a few ways I like to take some of the pressure out of finding the “perfect” image.
Try giving yourself just five minutes to gather collage pieces and then start making. Or roll some dice and let the number decide how many pieces you can use!
Sometimes having fewer choices is exactly what we need to get unstuck.
And of course, I shared one of my favorite vintage finds—a 1945 Sears & Roebuck catalog! I love using old catalogs as inspiration for collage, color palettes, mixed media, and so much more.
This conversation was such a good reminder that creativity doesn't have to be perfect or predictable. Try something new. Follow your curiosity. Work through the messy middle. And most importantly, have fun!
So go make something, friends—even if you don't know exactly where it's going yet. You might just surprise yourself!
Happy creating,
Joleen 💕
PS: 🎥 Watch the full episode below:
Guest Bio
Becky Stockert is an Indiana artist and illustrator and the creative force behind Cat People Press. Her work celebrates cats, nature, humor, and sustainability through illustration, prints, apparel, and pottery. Becky loves experimenting with different mediums and finding new ways to keep creativity fun!
Follow Becky
Episode Chapters with Timestamps
[00:00–09:30] — Joleen’s Happy Things
[09:30–15:00] — Meet Becky & Cat People Press
[15:00–22:00] — Screen Printing & Creative Business
[22:00–32:00] — Watercolor, Abstract Art & Layers
[32:00–39:00] — Getting Unstuck & Embracing Discomfort
[39:00–47:00] — Collage, Creativity & Creative Challenges
[47:00–54:00] — Happy Time Questions
[54:00–59:30] — Books, Happiness & Goodbye!
Quotes from the Episode
“You really try something new all the time.” — Becky Stockert
“Embrace the discomfort.” — Becky Stockert
“Artists really can change the world.” — Becky Stockert
“You just have to keep going and work through it.” — Becky Stockert
“Everything is potential.” — Joleen Emery
Resources & Calls-to-Action
🐱 Cat People Press — Visit Becky’s website to explore her artwork, shop, and newsletter.
☕ Firefly Coffee House — Becky creates handmade mugs featuring the local coffee shop’s logo and nature-inspired designs.
📖 Art Inspiration — Becky recommends exploring books about abstract painting, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and Art21 for creative inspiration.
📚 Vintage Sears & Roebuck Catalogs — Joleen’s fun creative-reuse recommendation for collage, image harvesting, color inspiration, and gel plate printing.
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