In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Kay Wolfersperger to tackle a hard truth about making a living in surface design: one income stream just isn’t enough. If you’ve been told that licensing your art will pay all your bills, they’re here to set the record straight—with plenty of cranky real talk.

They dive into why relying solely on licensing is the exception, not the rule, how multiple income streams are a necessity (not a failure), and the best ways to diversify without losing your sanity. Whether you're freelancing, teaching, selling products, or building passive income, they break down the ways creatives can actually make a living—without burning out.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• How art licensing alone won’t pay all your bills (and that’s normal).
• The reality of balancing multiple revenue streams without losing your mind.
• Why having multiple streams isn’t a failure—it’s smart business.

If you’ve ever felt stressed about where your next paycheck is coming from, this episode will help you feel seen, empowered, and maybe even a little less cranky.

Notable Mentions

Shannon McNab’s Surface Industry Survey

Harvest.com

Kay’s Playlist
Flow Beats on Spotify

Kay Wolfersperger …

Kay Wolfesperger is a creative lighting bolt based out of Savannah, GA, USA. She funnels her boundless energy into her illustrations to create unique and compelling solutions for her clients such as Editions Auzou, Creative Bug, American Greetings and Design House Greetings. Her colorful and lively work often explores humor and positivity and her mixed race background provides invaluable insight and appreciation for diverse points of view and a penchant for empathy. Wolfersperger loves the convenience and speed of working digitally but embraces the wobbly lines in her work that reflect the mastery of her craft and humanness in her process. She balances her robust creative entrepreneurship with running, lifting heavy and traveling.

Two Cranky Creatives …

Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico, two seasoned art entrepreneurs who pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of making a living as a creative. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us every other week for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, the Cranks are joined by Ana Bianchi—a designer, artist, and color whisperer who says hell no to playing it safe with your palette. Together, they dive deep into the wild world of color: how to find your unique color voice, why signature palettes can sometimes box you in, and what magic happens when you step off the color wheel and into the unknown.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut of “what works,” or afraid to experiment because, gasp, it might clash, this episode is your personal permission slip to go bold, go weird, and make your color choices unapologetically you.

Ana Bianchi …
Originally from Mexico, Ana Bianchi is an artist, designer, illustrator, and twice-published children’s book author/illustrator. With degrees in both graphic design and fine arts, her 35+ years of creative work span disciplines ranging from printmaking and ceramics to illustration, surface design, and children's wear to graphic design and branding for clients, small and big, from local restaurants to major airlines.

Her lifelong love of color is what connects it all and helps her comfortably move from one discipline to another and from one technique to another. Her book Color Curious (Chronicle Books) illustrates her ideas and inspiration around a variety of color themes, combining essays with her photography, illustrations, and more, and as you read her texts, you will discover her deep interest in art history, world cultures, and the pursuit of creative ideas through the common thread of color.

When not working in her Bay Area studio, Ana loves to cook and bake colorful things, tend to her garden -her other color studio- and spend time with her tiny family and dogs.

Color Curious Substack

AnaLovesColor.com
@analovescolor

Her book Color Curious is now available for preorder at Chronicle Books, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes&Noble, and Target

Shipping on September 30th.

Two Cranky Creatives …
Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico, two seasoned art entrepreneurs who pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of making a living as a creative. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us every other week for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, Carrie and Toni are joined by Melissa Johnson. Together, they dig into the frustrating yet all-too-familiar challenge of executing the vision you’ve imagined in your head. It’s a topic every creative can relate to … that gnawing feeling when what you produce doesn’t match the image in your mind.

Carrie, Melissa, and Toni explore the patience, practice, and self-compassion needed to close that gap while sharing strategies to help you navigate the journey. From learning to step back and create space between you and your work to the power of asking “What if?” as a creative tool, this episode is packed with actionable insights for those moments when the struggle is most definitely real.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• Why being patient with yourself is the ultimate creative act.
• How stepping away from your work can lead to unexpected clarity.
• The role of practice in sharpening your craft and bridging the vision gap.
• Why asking “What if?” can open doors to creative breakthroughs.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or an aspiring designer, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and maybe just a little less cranky about the creative process.

Melissa Johnson…

Melissa Johnson is a Midwest-based surface designer, watercolor artist and creative educator who brings vintage aesthetics to life with a modern perspective. Her designs capture the rhythms of nature, bringing timeless charm and contemporary style to life.

Melissa has developed a career that blends her passion for creating with a commitment to teaching. She helps others embrace creativity and navigate their journeys through thoughtful education and personalized coaching.

Instagram: @m.johnsondesign

Website: https://melissajohnsondesign.co/

Two Cranky Creatives …

Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico, two seasoned art entrepreneurs who pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of making a living as a creative. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us every other week for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Xhico of Studio Xhico. Together, they tackle a crucial yet often overlooked issue in the surface design industry: cultural appropriation. They delve into the fine line between inspiration and appropriation, exploring what it means to find your authentic creative voice while respecting cultural boundaries.

They also share practical advice on responsibly using cultural references in your work and offer insight into the importance of awareness and sensitivity in today’s global art landscape. If you’ve ever wondered how to ensure your designs are original, respectful, and rooted in your personal voice, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The difference between cultural appropriation and cultural inspiration.
• How to discover and nurture your own unique artistic voice.
• Tips for responsibly incorporating cultural elements into your work.
• Why cultural sensitivity is essential for ethical creativity

Notable Mentions

The Otomi People

Xhico…
I’m a traveling artist, designer, photographer, and creative entrepreneur with my studio in sunny California. With over thirty-five years of experience building brands, visualizing ideas, and design-thinking, my attention is now focused on surface pattern design and online education. You can catch some of my design classes on SkillShare.

When I’m not designing or creative coaching, I'm hosting my annual design retreat in Oaxaca, Mexico. You'll often find me in remote locations in the cloud forests of Chiapas or on the hillsides of volcanoes in Guatemala. I work with indigenous artisans to bring attention to their work through fair-trade collaborations.

Website: https://studio-xhico.com/
Instagram: @ studio.xhico

Two Cranky Creatives …
Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico, two seasoned art entrepreneurs who pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of making a living as a creative. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us every other week for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Mandy Corcoran of Amanda Grace Design. Together, they unpack the ins and outs of pitching schedules in art licensing and explain why working smarter and crankier matters. You'll also hear why small companies might be your licensing sweet spot over those intimidating big-box stores.

In This Episode, You'll Hear About:

• Why you should be designing one season ahead to stay relevant and competitive
• The benefits of designing for seasons, not holidays - timeless over timely
• Real-world experience pitching art in an ever-changin industry

Whether you're just starting out or deep into licensing, this episode will leave you feeling prepared, proactive, and just the right amount of cranky.

References Mentioned

Notion
Mable Tan’s Newsletter

Mandy Corcoran…
Hey there! I’m Mandy Corcoran, the creative force behind Amanda Grace Design. With a deep passion for turning art into seamless patterns, I’m here to help artists like you merge creativity with technology and transform those artistic dreams into thriving businesses. My journey in surface pattern design is all about making tech tools fun and accessible, turning the transition from sketch to digital masterpiece into an exhilarating adventure.

Through my courses, eduletters, and engaging reels, I’m dedicated to helping you streamline your processes so you can focus on what you truly love: creating. Let’s dive into the vibrant world of digital art together and manifest those wild creative visions into reality. Ready to turn your art from under appreciated to unstoppable? Let’s do this!

Website: amandagracedesign.com
Instagram: instagram.com/amandagracedesign
Procreate Patterns Unleashed (affiliate link for Toni)

Two Cranky Creatives …
Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico, two seasoned art entrepreneurs who pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of making a living as a creative. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us every other week for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Cat Coquillette. Together, they tackle the controversial “T-word” in the creative industry—trends. Is trend-chasing selling out? Can you still be considered an artist if your work aligns with market demands? Spoiler: Yes, and yes!

This week, we’re embracing the cranky side of being a surface designer in a commercial world. Carrie, Cat, and Toni explore how surface design is, by nature, commercial and why wanting to be paid for your work isn’t the betrayal of artistry some might claim. Learn how to apply your own creative voice to trends, make them uniquely yours, and stay authentic while keeping your work marketable. Because, spoiler alert: You're still an artist—even if your art pays the bills.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• Why “trend” doesn’t have to be a dirty word.
• Finding the balance between market demands and your creative identity.
• How to interpret and personalize trends in your work.
• Challenging the myth that commercial art isn’t “real” art.

Whether you're a trend trailblazer or someone who rolls their eyes at the word, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the art-meets-commerce tightrope.

References Mentioned

Pinterest Predicts 2025
Pantone Color of the Year 2025
Backblaze
Cat’s Kittens & Shrooms Mug
Cat’s Trend Reports
Toni’s Blog

Cat’s Playlist

Sunny Sloth by Monster Rally
Taxi Dancer by Dengue Fever
Lebanese Blonde by Thievery Corporation

Cat Coquillette …
Cat Coquillette is a nomadic artist and founder of CatCoq, a brand that draws inspiration from Cat’s travels around the world. Her artwork, ranging from tropical florals in Bali to Amazonian wildlife and Scandinavian textile patterns, offers a unique perspective to her audience. Cat’s creative courses and art workshops have helped over half a million students gain the skills and confidence to pursue their creative passions. Cat remains dedicated to delivering art, education, and value to the community she loves. www.catcoq.com

Two Cranky Creatives …
Two Cranky Creatives is hosted by Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico, two seasoned art entrepreneurs who pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of making a living as a creative. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with navigating the art world as a business. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us every other week for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.