From Client Work to Creative Freedom: My Shift to Art Licensing

Shifting Focus to Art Licensing: A New Chapter in My Creative Journey

After several years of working as a freelance textile designer, creating custom prints for fashion brands, I’ve decided to pivot my business toward art licensing. This change isn’t just strategic, but it’s deeply personal.

It’s been two months since I made the call to stop all client work, and after some much-needed rest and reflection, I genuinely believe that licensing my (massive!) existing body of work is the way forward.

While it’s bittersweet to no longer offer custom print designs or commissions, I know in my heart it was the right decision.

Despite it being my primary income stream as a surface pattern designer, custom client work no longer brought me the joy it once did.

Don’t get me wrong... I’ve had some lovely client experiences (the good ones, anyway!). But over time, I found myself mostly referencing other people’s designs or mimicking seasonal trends. The creative spark started to fade, and if I’m being brutally honest… I was beginning to feel like a human copy machine. Undervalued, underpaid, and creatively underused.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done, but constantly working to someone else’s brief, juggling tight timelines, and living in “people-pleaser” mode was taking a toll on my mental health. The pressure to constantly produce began chipping away at the passion that initially led me into this career.

So I’m choosing a new path - one that feels lighter, more aligned, and more sustainable.

From here on, my focus is on art licensing. That means creating from a place of inspiration, developing collections that reflect my creative voice, and collaborating with brands that resonate with my aesthetic and values.

By my count, I’ve designed over 500 patterns in the past few years. So why let them gather digital dust just because I had one teeny, tiny meltdown from taking on too much? 😉

This pivot is about reclaiming creative freedom and building a business that supports both artistic expression and mental well-being.

If you’re a fellow designer feeling stretched thin by the hustle of custom freelance work, I hope this encourages you to explore alternative paths. There are different ways to thrive as an artist, and you deserve to run a business that lights you up.

To view my extensive library of surface pattern designs that are available for licensing, check out the following links:

Shop fabric, wallpaper and home decor on Spoonflower.

Browse my collection of non-exclusive and exclusive patterns on Patternbank.

Or check out my exclusive designs in my online Pattern Library.

If you are a brand or business and are interested in licensing any of these designs to print onto your products, please email me: hello@carolynquan.design

Here’s to blooming in a new direction!

Carolyn