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:WebsiteIGTikTokCreative 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 planHow steady follow-up helped turn an Amazon referral into a real projectWhy referrals still require persistence, clear communication, and self-advocacyWhat changes when your work moves from small surfaces to 50-foot wallsHow artists can get through the ugly middle of a project without spiralingWhy Abby’s most effective social media posts are often the simple, honest onesHow sharing rejection can build trust with your audience and help other artists keep goingWelcome 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: WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog