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, an amazing partner who helped pay my bills and keep things stable, but deep down, that wasn’t the dream I had when I said I wanted to be a full-time artist.

What I really wanted 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 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.

That yes came from The Valiant Ballroom, an event space I would later help manage for three years while continuing to run my business full time. They were just getting ready to open and decorating their space when I came on board. I shared my dream of painting murals, and the owner took a chance on me.

That chance turned into not just one mural, but three that very first year, and one more a few years down the road.

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.