Mural Monday — Murals 1-3

The Day I Went Full-Time as an Artist

On October 11th, 2021, I took the leap and went full-time with my business. At the time, I had one steady design client who covered my bills, a few small art projects here and there, and a whole lot of free time.

My goal when I started was to sell my own products, have my work in galleries, and ultimately paint murals all around the world. But in those early days, I did not know how to make that happen, but I had a lot of free time on my hands, so I decided to make the most of it.

Even though I’m naturally more introverted, I pushed myself to get out and network. I talked to anyone who would listen: small business owners, big business owners, realtors, you name it. I shared my vision and asked every single one of them the same question: “Do you have a wall I can paint?”

Most said no. But I didn’t stop asking until someone finally said yes (and then I kept asking).

That “yes” came from The Valiant Ballroom, an event space I helped manage part time for three years while simultaneously running my business full time. When I joined the team, we were just beginning construction and transforming the space. I shared my dream of painting murals, and the owner took a chance on me. She asked me to paint her not one but three murals!

What It Taught Me

This wall taught me something I’ll never forget

You don’t need to have the full vision to start the journey.

What you do need is:

• Skill — the foundation that allows you to perform when an opportunity finally appears.

• Confidence in yourself — even when the path ahead feels unclear.

• The resilience to pick yourself back up after every “no” — and keep asking anyway.

Those early months showed me that momentum doesn’t come from having everything figured out. It comes from trusting your craft, showing up for your dream, and continuing to move forward even when the answers aren’t obvious. Every no brought me closer to the yes that changed everything.

That first opportunity at The Valiant Ballroom was where it all began, the moment that turned a dream into a lifelong path. In this blog series, I’ll be sharing the story behind every mural I’ve ever painted, how each one came to life, what it taught me, and the journey it represents.

Supply List

You’ll find a little supply list at the bottom of each post with the items I used, just in case you want to snag any of them for your own projects.

• Tripod