Conversations with Ali Hooten

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Hooten.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
Hello and thank you for featuring me. I’m the founder of Coit Creative, an art and illustration business. I started out by freelancing as a graphic designer while working full-time as an architect. I bounced around jobs as a mountain guide and as a university instructor, all while taking on more graphic design clients. I’ve always drawn inspiration from the mountains and other wild places, where I spend a lot of time rock climbing and skiing. I got to the point where illustrating about and advocating for the outdoors became my main passion. That’s why I recently decided to dedicate myself full-time to Coit Creative.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One struggle I faced was knowing if and when to leave my job and build Coit Creative full-time. It’s scary to risk failure and financial insecurity, but in the end I knew I would regret it if I never went for it. My decision is paying off slowly but surely. My products are in several shops across North America and I’ve licensed illustrations on products like murals, cards, and prints. I also get to learn something new every day. I love waking up and creating new things.

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I create illustrations and surface patterns inspired by outdoor adventure and wild places. My style blends imperfect hand-written letters, minimalism, and deep, earth-toned colors reminiscent of the wild places I feel so lucky to visit. My designs are sold on items like greeting cards, art prints, fabric, and wallpaper.

I’m most well-known for my outdoor illustrations. I hope to license more artwork in the near future and work with outdoor brands that share similar values. My most popular items are greeting cards, available for both retail and wholesale. I draw inspiration from my own outdoor adventures. It brings me a lot of joy to connect my love of the wild with my love of art and design.

What matters most to you? Why?
I deeply care about the planet and hope to advocate for wild places. I am saddened to learn about the impact of humans on non-human animals and the planet. As a way of offsetting my own carbon footprint, I am building an eco-friendly business. I use 100% recycled or post-consumer waste materials whenever possible. My products are also recyclable and compostable. I also hope that images of the outdoors can celebrate and even bring awareness to the importance of some of the wild places I love.

Pricing:

• $3-$6 | Greeting Cards
• $6-$11 | Greeting Card Club Patreon
• $20-$40 | Art Prints
• $150-$2,000 | Patterns
• Contract based | Art Licensing

Contact Info:

• Email: alexandra@coitcreative.com
• Website: https://www.coitcreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coitcreative/

Image Credits:
Image credit: Dustin Hooten