Send us Fan Mail She’s been a fine art major, a print designer, a Barbie packaging designer at Mattel, a surface pattern designer, an art licensing exhibitor, and, for the past 10 years, an artist coach. In this episode, we sit with Jeanetta Gonzales, Ilana’s first art licensing mentor, for a conversation that goes way beyond business strategy. We’re talking about the long, winding road of building a creative career, what it was actually like to exhibit at art licensing trade shows, and why the seeds you plant at a show might not sprout for years. Jeanetta also shares all about her brand new book series, Free Pass, four illustrated coupon books published with Chronicle that are essentially permission slips for creatives, workers, resters, and parents. The creativity book was born directly out of her coaching work after she noticed that the moment she gave an artist the green light, everything changed. If you’ve felt stuck in a creative funk, wondered if your winding career path was “wrong,” or needed someone to just give you permission to rest, this one’s for you. All that and more when you listen to this episode: How Jeanetta went from UCLA fine art major to Barbie packaging designer at MattelStumbling into art licensing and what Surtex was (and why it mattered)Whether art licensing trade shows are still worth it, and what the long game really looks likeWhat it’s actually like to design and work on a trade show booth The story behind her new book series, Free PassHow she illustrated 72 pieces in the middle of a cross-country moveWorking with ADHD: procrastination, pressure, and finally getting it doneWhy your environment has more impact on your creativity than you thinkBeing honest about being in a creative funk, and not rushing to fix itHer plans to rebrand for the first time in 10 years Connect with Jeanetta Gonzales Website: https://www.jeanettagonzales.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nettdesigns Free Pass Book Series: https://www.jeanettagonzales.com/freepasscoupons Jeanetta select client work: NY Times, Pantone, Target, Michaels, Edible Arrangements, and Brumate. Mentioned in this episode: Free Pass, Jeanetta’s 4-book series Surtex (art licensing trade show) National Stationery Show Las Vegas Trade Show Upper Limit Challenge (concept from The Big Leap) Connect with Katie & Ilana from Goodtype Goodtype WebsiteGoodtype on InstagramGoodtype on YoutubeWe wrote a book! Grab a copy and sign up to access the audiobook when we release it! Love The Typecast and free stuff? Leave a review, and send a screenshot of it to us on Slack. Each month we pick a random reviewer to win a Goodtype Goodie! Goodies include merch, courses and Kernference tickets! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the show Tag us on Instagram @Goodtype Follow us on Tiktok @lovegoodtype Learn from Katie and Ilana Grab your tea, coffee, or drink of choice, kick back, and let's get down to business!
