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
• IG
• TikTok

Creative Finds:

• Zibra 1/8" Detail Brush – our most requested size, launching July 30 at 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; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio.

Connect with Zibra:

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Blog

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
• Coming Back From a Creative Break with Courtney Weisel of Steel Birch Studios
• Setting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K Design
• Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals

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; Annie Bolding, Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio.

Connect with Zibra:

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Blog