We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kat Loetterle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kat below.

Kat, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

It was my very first art market, and what a memorable experience it was! The first weekend in October brought an unexpectedly hot day, but I was too excited to let that bother me. It marked my debut as a new business owner, ready to share my art goodies with the world. I set up my charming little 10×10 tent and arranged two 6ft tables, creatively scattered with my artwork to give the illusion of a fuller display. At that time, I had just prints and stickers, and I’ll admit, my table was pretty sparse. Soon, the market was officially open and people slowly began to walk through.

I’ll never forget the moment a lovely woman came up and started gushing about my stickers, saying how happy they made her. She ended up buying one of my favorites—the little cozy frog sitting under a mushroom, enjoying a warm drink. I was so touched; it nearly brought tears to my eyes! Just knowing that my art could bring a smile to someone’s face was incredibly meaningful to me. To make things even more special, my husband surprised me by framing that very first dollar I ever made. It felt nothing short of magical to think about this beautiful life I was living—me, pursuing my passion for art! Wow! Fast forward a few months, and I found myself at the Phoenix Fan Fusion, ready for new adventures.
I had done out a few outdoor art markets before but getting into Fan Fusion felt like my ultimate quest at the time. The vibe and setup were totally different, and I was a bundle of nerves! I kept wondering if I had enough items or if people would even like my work since I didn’t have a lot of fan art. When the announcement came over the speaker that the doors were open, I felt like an anxious little armadillo. It was a bit disheartening at first when folks just meandered on by without stopping to check out my booth.
Then, two text messages popped up on my phone that turned everything around. The first was from my husband, telling me how proud he was of me for taking this leap. My sister chimed in too, expressing that she was proud and reassuring me that I truly belonged in this community, doing what I love. It was just the boost I needed to calm my jitters. I had dreamed of being part of this community for so long, and now, here I was, living that dream!

Before I knew it, people began to stop by and bought some stickers and prints, complimenting my unique style. I ended up crying happy tears that night! I had always been so shy and self-conscious, especially when it came to sharing my artwork. Over time, though, I grew more confident in my creativity. I discovered a wonderful community and met amazing people – some of whom return to say hi and offer their love and support.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an illustrator who has a real passion for digital art, but I also love to play around with traditional mediums from time to time.
Growing up, I was always captivated by art—especially the magical world of fantasy! I eagerly watched every movie I could find and devoured books and movies that sparked my imagination. It wasn’t long before my little goblin self was sketching away, bringing to life fairies, dragons, and all the beloved characters from 90s and 2000s animated shows, Disney classics, Studio Ghibli, and so much more. My passion for art has stayed with me, and I’ve embraced it wholeheartedly! I’ve even taken my creative flair to the next level by selling my work at conventions and art markets.
Much like a crow drawn to shiny treasures, my art reflects my love for playful critters—my most popular pieces are definitely my prints and stickers of cats, frogs, and possums. I’ve also created my unique sword prints as a fun nod to fan art. Recently, I’ve been diving deeper into the realms of D&D and fantasy themes, and I’m excited to share that I’m building my own magical world for future projects!
I’m really proud of what I do and feel so lucky to be living out my dreams! Every day, I try to sprinkle a bit of magic and love into the creations I make and how I run my business. What makes my approach unique is my belief in creating art simply for the joy it brings, not just to me, but to everyone else too. My main goal is to put a smile on people’s faces and add a little sparkle to their day. As I navigate this artistic journey, I truly think art should be available to everyone – it deserves to shine bright for as many folks as possible. Even if someone doesn’t buy anything, knowing that my art can make them smile or brighten their day, even just a little, fills me with so much joy. I believe that spreading happiness and positivity through my work is what being an artist is all about!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I truly believe there’s so much we can all do to support artists, creatives, and everyone in between! It can start off pretty simply—just by attending art shows, exhibitions, conventions, and similar events. Even if you can’t buy anything, just showing up to cheer them on is so meaningful and heartwarming. I’m always thankful for those who stop by to say hello! If you’re thinking about making a purchase, try to shop locally and support small businesses whenever you can, and don’t forget to follow and tag them on social media! It’s also important to be mindful about not supporting AI art—as it takes away from the creativity and hard work of artists—so advocating for regulation around it is a great step too. After all, artists create a beautiful world filled with expression, community, and fresh perspectives. Use your voice and actions and support the arts in any way we can to keep our world vibrant and beautiful!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I really wish I had explored more art resources focused on the foundations and fundamentals of character and landscape design, especially on YouTube. There are so many amazing people sharing a wealth of free resources—Proko and Tim McBurnie are just a couple of great examples! I’ve also found fantastic information on sites like drawabox.com and lineofaction.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katthegoblin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katthegoblin/