Marketing Yourself as an Artist Without Feeling Salesy

How Following Up Helped Abby Pawley Paint for Amazon and IKEA

Abby Pawley started by painting surfboards in Virginia Beach, then said yes to a 50-foot mural festival wall that changed everything. Five years later, her work has shown up in Amazon’s main entrance, an IKEA Monet collaboration, local landmarks, and commercial spaces across her community. Abby shares how she left a warehouse job with no perfect plan, followed up until clients answered, handled the panic of large-scale projects, and learned to keep painting through the ugly middle when even she needed to trust the process. She also talks honestly about AI-generated client requests, social media pressure, public rejection, and the kind of persistence that can turn a “no” into the next wall. Abby Pawley is the Virginia Beach artist and muralist behind Pawley Prints, creating colorful murals, coastal-inspired pieces, and large-scale commercial work for brands and local spaces. Based in Virginia Beach, her work carries the influence of her high school art teachers, who encouraged her early on, and the community that helped her grow. Connect with Abby: * Website [https://www.pawleyprints.com/] * IG [https://www.instagram.com/pawleyprints/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@pawleyprints] Creative Finds: * Zibra 1/8" Detail Brush – our most requested size, launching July 30 at enjoyzibra.com [http://enjoyzibra.com] (use code BANTER10 for 10% off) In this episode, we discuss: * Why Abby left her warehouse job after her first mural, even without a perfect plan * How steady follow-up helped turn an Amazon referral into a real project * Why referrals still require persistence, clear communication, and self-advocacy * What changes when your work moves from small surfaces to 50-foot walls * How artists can get through the ugly middle of a project without spiraling * Why Abby’s most effective social media posts are often the simple, honest ones * How sharing rejection can build trust with your audience and help other artists keep going Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project.  Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/]; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs [https://www.instagram.com/itsadiscoday/]; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio [https://www.instagram.com/rosemontlane/]. Connect with Zibra:  * Website [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zibrapainting/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@zibrapainting?lang=en] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZibraPaint/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@enjoyzibra9240] * Blog [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/blogs/how-to-series]

Why Saying "No" Is the Key to a Sustainable Creative Business

Every creative starts in “yes mode.” Say yes to every project, every client, every opportunity, because that’s how you grow. But at some point, that pace stops working. In this minisode, Jen Talley, Courtney Wiesel, Alli K Designs, and the Off the Walls Murals team share what changed when they started getting more selective. Turning down projects that don’t fit. Referring work instead of forcing it. Protecting time, energy, and family life. These are the decisions that shape a business you can actually keep up with. If you’ve been stretched thin or stuck taking on work that doesn’t feel like you anymore, this conversation brings you back to what matters, and shows how saying no creates space for better work, better clients, and a business that fits your life. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Why Jen Talley shifted from saying yes to everything to choosing projects that actually fit her life and direction * What changes when you stop trying to be everything to everyone and start building around your strengths * How Alli K Designs handles out-of-scope requests by referring, delegating, or bringing in the right people instead of doing it all * How understanding your market helps you say no with confidence, and avoid work that won’t sell or scale * The mindset shift that helps you price, choose, and operate like your ideal client. * The Off the Walls Murals team’s approach to setting work hours, protecting family time, and keeping the business sustainable Hit rewind on these episodes: * Selling on Marketplace in 2026 with Jen Talley of Perfectly Imperfect Furniture Refinishing [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/selling-on-marketplace-in-2026-with-jen-talley/id1452005106?i=1000748007908] * Coming Back From a Creative Break with Courtney Weisel of Steel Birch Studios [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coming-back-from-a-creative-break-with-courtney/id1452005106?i=1000729496482] * Setting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K Design [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/setting-your-prices-as-an-artist-with-alli-k-design/id1452005106?i=1000753034004] * Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-a-creative-business-with-your-best-friend/id1452005106?i=1000744114690] Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project.  Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/]; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs [https://www.instagram.com/itsadiscoday/]; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio [https://www.instagram.com/rosemontlane/]. Connect with Zibra:  * Website [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zibrapainting/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@zibrapainting?lang=en] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZibraPaint/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@enjoyzibra9240] * Blog [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/blogs/how-to-series]

Mural Pricing Mistakes That Cost Artists Thousands (And How to Fix Them)

Pricing your work is your favorite guessing game, you say? Don’t worry. For most artists, it’s their least favorite - and frankly, it shouldn’t have to feel like one. This minisode gets real about the messy middle between undercharging, overthinking, and learning the hard way, with honest perspective from Alli K Design, the Off the Walls Murals team, and Kyle Mosher. From showing up to walls way bigger than expected to losing thousands on early mistakes no one warns you about, these are the moments that actually shape how artists start pricing with confidence. What comes through isn’t a perfect formula (because there isn’t one), but something more useful: a grounded way to think about your numbers, your time, and your value, built through curiosity, community, and experience. If you’ve ever second-guessed a quote or wondered if you’re doing it “right,” this one will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Why pricing murals will never be a plug-and-play formula, and what to do instead * How Alli K approaches pricing through curiosity, community, and asking better questions * What a certain muralist learned about time, energy, and setting boundaries (including charging for site visits) * The real cost of early business mistakes… and how Kyle Mosher turned them into better systems * Why outsourcing the parts of your business you avoid can actually make you more money * How to balance being the artist and the operator without burning out * The bigger vision behind Off The Walls Murals’ work – and how pricing well allows you to give back in a sustainable way Hit rewind on these episodes: * Setting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K Design [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/setting-your-prices-as-an-artist-with-alli-k-design/id1452005106?i=1000753034004] * Booking Brand Collabs with Artist Kyle Mosher [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/booking-brand-collabs-with-artist-kyle-mosher/id1452005106?i=1000738507719] * Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-a-creative-business-with-your-best-friend/id1452005106?i=1000744114690] Resources mentioned: * Make-A-Wish Foundation [https://wish.org/give-hope-granting-life-changing-wishes-0?utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=mw-ads-google-search-brand-d2d-evergreen-0825&SubSource=mw-ads-google-search-brand-d2d-eoy-1225&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20354973518&gbraid=0AAAAADtkmainUQa5wl-ap3qTye_xbi8CS&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJTKBhCjARIsAIMC448YdOquBKxVEt2sucCR59Z8Aa95im4Sp5V5K0_tZZLgTV1iKkP12S0aAg8KEALw_wcB] * United Way [https://www.unitedway.org/] * Children in Crisis [https://cicfl.org/] Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project.  Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/]; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs [https://www.instagram.com/itsadiscoday/]; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio [https://www.instagram.com/rosemontlane/]. Connect with Zibra:  * Website [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zibrapainting/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@zibrapainting?lang=en] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZibraPaint/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@enjoyzibra9240] * Blog [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/blogs/how-to-series]

Marketing Yourself as an Artist Without Feeling Salesy

Marketing advice online often pushes creators toward trends, virality, and constant output, but it turns out that’s not what actually builds a sustainable business. This minisode brings together insights from Shannon McKinstrie, Off the Walls Murals, and Alyssa Vilardi to show what really moves the needle: clear messaging, content that makes people feel connected, and paying attention to the metrics that actually matter (like retention, not just reach). It’s a shift from chasing spikes to building something steady, from underpricing to standing behind your value, and from guessing what works to creating with intention, so that your marketing feels like an extension of your work, not something separate from it. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Why building genuine community matters more than chasing one viral moment * The one element that stops the scroll (and it's not what you think) * The metric Instagram cares about that most creators ignore * Why designing for the algorithm doesn't mean losing yourself * The pricing mistake almost every creative makes * How certification turns assistants into brand ambassadors * The financial sustainability detail most creatives overlook Hit rewind on these episodes: * Social Media Expert Shannon McKinstrie Tells Us How to Grow on Instagram [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-media-expert-shannon-mckinstrie-tells-us-how/id1452005106?i=1000750314468&l=es-MX] * Turning DIY, Motherhood, and Mess Into a Creative Business with Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We Built [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turning-diy-motherhood-and-mess-into-a/id1452005106?i=1000736405046&l=es-MX] * Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-a-creative-business-with-your-best-friend/id1452005106?i=1000744114690&l=es-MX] Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project.  Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/]; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs [https://www.instagram.com/itsadiscoday/]; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio [https://www.instagram.com/rosemontlane/]. Connect with Zibra:  * Website [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zibrapainting/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@zibrapainting?lang=en] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZibraPaint/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@enjoyzibra9240] * Blog [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/blogs/how-to-series]

How to Find Your Art Style (and Know When It’s Yours)

Creators spend years trying to define “their style,” but what if it’s already there, just not fully formed yet? This minisode pulls together honest moments from Cyn, Alyssa Vilardi, and Lauren Hull with Olga Muzician, tracing the real path of finding your style: evolving through client work, pushing through the “ugly phase,” and slowly recognizing the patterns that make your work yours. It’s less about discovering something new and more about noticing what’s been building all along, and having the confidence to follow it. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Why your art style is already forming (even if you can’t see it yet) * How pushing through the “ugly phase” leads to your best work * What experimenting across projects teaches you about your style faster than waiting * How recurring elements and influences make your work recognizable over time * Why sharing the messy, behind-the-scenes process builds a stronger audience connection * How confidence with clients helps protect and refine your creative voice Hit rewind on these episodes: * Landing Paid Art Projects with Major Brands & Finding Your Creative Voice with Cyn of Chalk & Brush [https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/landing-paid-art-projects-with-major-brands-finding/id1452005106?i=1000734020697] * Turning DIY, Motherhood, and Mess Into a Creative Business with Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We Built [https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/turning-diy-motherhood-and-mess-into-a/id1452005106?i=1000736405046] * The Messy Middle of a Project... And Your Career as an Artist | Reflecting on Creative Beginnings with Olga Muzician & Lauren Hull [https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/the-messy-middle-of-a-project-and-your/id1452005106?i=1000731966310] Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project.  Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/]; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs [https://www.instagram.com/itsadiscoday/]; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio [https://www.instagram.com/rosemontlane/]. Connect with Zibra:  * Website [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zibrapainting/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@zibrapainting?lang=en] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZibraPaint/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@enjoyzibra9240] * Blog [https://www.enjoyzibra.com/blogs/how-to-series]