Mural Monday - Rough Ryders

Ana Gabriela
2 hours ago
3 min read

Before murals became the core of my business, photography was where it all began.

When I first launched my creative career, photography was my primary focus. It was the easiest entry point into entrepreneurship because I already had an extensive portfolio, client experience, and proven work. People understood what I could offer as a photographer, and hiring me felt straightforward.

Murals, on the other hand, were a dream I was still actively building.

At that point, I had the skill, the passion, and the vision, but I did not yet have the large-scale mural portfolio to immediately secure consistent work. So like many artists, I built my dream while simultaneously working through other creative avenues.

And honestly, that foundation ended up opening doors I never could have predicted.

The Photography Connection That Led to a Mural

During my photography years, I worked with CycleBar West Vancouver, capturing promotional content, branding imagery, and lifestyle sessions.

That is where I met Melissa.

Melissa was one of the trainers there, and from the beginning, she was magnetic. Full of energy, passion, and ambition. Over time, we built a wonderful working relationship through multiple photoshoots, and she even modeled for me on several occasions.

So when Melissa decided to take a huge leap and open her own cycle studio, Rough Ryders, she reached out.

And this time?

Not for photography.

For murals.

Bringing the Brand to Life

Melissa had a clear vision for her new studio. She wanted the space to feel electric.

Bold. High energy. Powerful.

Her concept centered around:

Hot pink
Neon yellow
High contrast
Vibrant movement

All set against a dramatic black interior.

The goal was to create an immersive environment that immediately energized every client the moment they walked through the doors. This was not just about branding. It was about creating an experience. And I was all in.

Designing for Energy

This mural was especially fun because it required me to think beyond aesthetics and focus on atmosphere.

Cycle studios thrive on motivation, movement, and adrenaline. The mural needed to support that.

So rather than soft, subtle design elements, we leaned fully into vibrant, punchy, statement-making visuals.

The black walls created the perfect backdrop for the hot pink and neon yellow to truly explode with energy.

It became bold, empowering, and impossible to ignore. Exactly what Melissa envisioned.

Painting the Space

Working on this project felt incredibly full circle.

Years earlier, I had entered the space as a photographer, helping businesses visually tell their stories through a camera lens. Now, I was physically shaping a business through large-scale mural work. That transition felt powerful.

As I painted, I could clearly see how far my business had evolved. Photography had built the foundation, but murals were expanding the dream.

And getting to help someone I genuinely admired bring her entrepreneurial vision to life made the project even more meaningful.

What This Project Taught Me

Rough Ryders reinforced something I have seen repeatedly throughout my career:

Your early creative work is never wasted.

Photography may not have been my final destination, but it built relationships, trust, and community connections that later became mural opportunities. This project reminded me that every chapter of your business can serve the next.

It also taught me how powerful prior client relationships can be. Melissa already trusted me creatively because of our years of working together, which made the mural process feel seamless and collaborative.

And perhaps most importantly, this project reinforced the value of building a multi-disciplinary creative business.

Photography led to murals. Murals led to branding. Branding continues to open even bigger doors. Sometimes the path to your dream career is not linear, but every skill you develop along the way matters.

Rough Ryders was more than a mural project. It was: