Advertise on podcast: Brush & Banter | A Zibra Podcast

Zibra’s first breakout product was not a paintbrush. It was a universal package opener that sold 110,000 units in five weeks after Mike Sherman and a small group of former colleagues spent six months working nights and weekends on a company that still had no product. In Part 2 of Behind the Brushes, Mike and his daughter Brie trace Zibra from a virtual business model and an idea bank to television appearances, Home Depot shelves, and the Square, Round, and Triangle brushes that still anchor the collection today. Mike explains why he entered a paintbrush category his industry friends warned him to avoid, how Zibra proved its value to major retailers without relying on old relationships, and why creative painters became such an important part of the company’s growth. He also shares what it has taken to pass leadership to his daughters, survive the higher highs and lower lows of owning a business, and accept that an interview on Brush & Banter occasionally feels like an appointment with a shrink. Mike Sherman founded Zibra in 2004 after selling a power-tool accessory business and deciding his next company needed to be faster, leaner, and more adaptable. His approach to product development, retail strategy, and paint application helped move Zibra from a universal package opener to an innovative paintbrush brand carried by major retailers. Connect With Mike: LinkedInRead the Zibra Story Creative finds: Open It!Square PaintbrushRound PaintbrushTriangle PaintbrushArtist Brush Set - SmallArtist Brush Set - MediumArtist Brush Set - LargeNEW Zibra Paint Rag Shop the full collection at enjoyzibra.com and use code BANTER10 for 10% off! Listen to the rest of the series: How Zia Sherman Engineers Zibra Paintbrushes for Longer Runs | Behind the Brushes Part 1 In this episode, we discuss: How Mike assembled a team with complementary skills and spent six months testing ideas during nights and weekends before asking anyone to leave their jobWhy an offhand complaint about impossible-to-open Christmas packaging became a product that sold 110,000 units in five weeksHow an idea bank helped the founding team filter scattered concepts into products that could support a standalone businessWhy Mike pursued paint applicators after industry colleagues told him the category was too competitive to enterHow the Square, Round, and Triangle brushes helped Zibra earn its first Home Depot launch in 2007Why Zibra has an “i” – and what Brie and Zia have to do with the company nameWhy proving customer demand and better paint application mattered more than Mike’s previous retail relationshipsHow Mike is passing leadership to Brie and Zia while staying close enough to help when the proverbial crap hits the fanThe 1" angled brush is finally here! Designed in collaboration with Marilena Madio of WallWear, this brush is the versatile tool artists have been waiting for. Grab yours today at https://www.enjoyzibra.com/products/set-of-3-1-angled-brushes. 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:  WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog

Before Zia Sherman engineered Zibra paintbrushes, she formulated lipstick and foundation at Estée Lauder. In the first installment of Behind the Brushes, Zia sits down with her sister, Brie, and their dad, Zibra founder Mike Sherman, to explain what actually makes a brush hold more paint, release it smoothly, and maintain a crisp line. They get specific about filament shape and diameter, why Zibra has used the same proprietary formula and manufacturing process since 2005, and how Zia tests paint pickup, release, run length, stiffness, and flexibility before a new brush makes it into an artist’s hand. Zia also shares the near-disaster of finding a factory capable of producing brushes smaller than one inch and the Cut-In Brush prototype she shaped on Brie’s front porch with her husband’s electric razor. Mike brings up his secret two-and-a-half-inch Palm Pro, everyone defends their favorite brush, and rapid fire confirms that ranking your daughters is considerably harder than designing a paintbrush. Zia Sherman is the engineer and product designer behind Zibra’s paintbrushes. After developing cosmetics and managing manufacturing processes for Revlon and Estée Lauder, she joined the family business and introduced new testing standards, quality controls, and product-development processes. Mike Sherman is the founder and CEO of Zibra. He started the company more than 20 years ago with a simple question: Why were painters being asked to choose between so many brushes that all claimed to do the same thing? That question led to Zibra’s proprietary filament, application-specific brush shapes, and a family business now run alongside his daughters, Brie and Zia. Learn More About Zia, Mike, and Zibra: Explore Zia’s product-development work at ZibraConnect with Mike on LinkedInRead the Zibra Story Creative Finds Mentioned in This Episode: Chiseled WedgeCut In Paintbrush1/4" Artist Brush Set - Medium1/8" Artist Brush Set - MediumArtist Brush Set - LargeArtist Brush Set - SmallArtist Brush Set of 3 - 1/2" Round BrushesArtist Brush Set of 3 - 1/4" Square BrushesArtist Brush Set of 3 - 1/4" Triangle BrushesSquare Paintbrush Round Paintbrush Triangle PaintbrushPalm Pro PaintbrushPalm Artist - Flat Paintbrush 🖌️ Grab your brushes and creative tools at enjoyzibra.com and use code BANTER10 for 10% off. In this episode, we discuss: How Zia turned her experience formulating cosmetics and managing manufacturing for Estée Lauder into better quality systems for ZibraWhy the Cut-In Brush began with an electric razor, a test wall, and Mike trying to turn the Chiseled Wedge into something elseWhat nearly went wrong when Zibra needed a new factory capable of producing artist brushes smaller than one inchHow filament shape, diameter, packing, and processing affect paint pickup, release, durability, and line controlWhy Zibra has used one proprietary filament formula across its brushes since 2005 rather than asking painters to choose among confusing blendsHow Zia weighs paint pickup and release, measures run length, and adjusts filament length to find the right balance of stiffness and flexibilityWhy the Square and Chiseled Wedge brushes hold so much paint—and how factory partnerships have helped Zibra protect that performance without dramatically increasing pricesWelcome 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

Lauren Cooper has breaking news: after years of announcing that she hates painting, she likes it again. In the first banter episode of Brush & Banter, Annie Bolding and Lauren Cooper skip the guest and catch up like the mural besties they are. Annie, 28 weeks pregnant and about to leave a rental full of gray walls, talks about the artist version of nesting, the nursery mockups piling up on her iPad, and a Disco Day aesthetic that's growing up a little. Lauren shares baby news of her own, confesses that her toddler's room still has no mural, and makes a case for the hustle phase, including why she'll still go below her minimum five years in. They trade working-mom advice, get honest about comparison once your business hits a comfortable plateau, and rapid-fire their best studio habits before dreaming up tribute murals for Dolly Parton and Bob Mackie. Creative finds: Triangle PaintbrushPalm FlexPalm ArtistSpeed Drop 🖌️ Grab your brushes and creative tools at enjoyzibra.com and use code BANTER10 for 10% off. In this episode, we discuss: Why Lauren still goes below her minimum five years into her careerWhy the hustle phase deserves more credit with new artistsHow Annie is preparing her business for maternity leaveHow to lean into each season as a working mom without the guiltHow comparison creeps in once your business feels comfortableWhy new muralists should track every paint color from day oneWhat a Dolly Parton or Bob Mackie tribute mural could look likeThe 1" angled brush is finally here! Designed in collaboration with Marilena Madio of WallWear, this brush is the versatile tool artists have been waiting for. Grab yours today at https://www.enjoyzibra.com/products/set-of-3-1-angled-brushes. 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:  WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog

Marilena Madio didn't start with a business plan. She didn't register her company name for years. She raised three kids while building WallWear into a 20+ year mural powerhouse, and she did it by simply saying yes to work and showing up consistently. In this episode, she walks through how she grew incrementally around her family, priced her work fairly from day one, built a thriving membership community for other muralists, and watched 22 years of daily social media posting finally explode into 75,000 new Facebook followers in a matter of months. She also reveals the unexpected 5-year journey with Zibra behind creating the 1-inch angled brush… the most requested product the brand has ever made. Marilena Madio is a Toronto-based muralist and founder of WallWear Inc Murals, a 20+ year mural business spanning residential, commercial, and large-scale installations. She built the business while raising three children, grew it incrementally without formal business registration for years, and has since expanded into a membership community for muralists, live masterclasses, and one-on-one business consultations. Her collaboration with Zibra on the 1-inch angled brush has become one of the most requested products in the brand's history. Connect with Marilena: WebsiteIGFacebookTikTokLinkedIn Creative finds: WallWear Mural Membership 🖌️ Grab your brushes and creative tools at enjoyzibra.com and use code BANTER10 for 10% off. In this episode, we discuss: You don't need a business plan to start, sometimes slow and steady actually winsHow raising three kids while building a business forced her to make smarter decisionsWhat happens when you post on social media for 22 years and then suddenly get 75,000 new followersThe day Property Brothers called and changed everythingWhy one high-profile project can shift how an entire market perceives your workClient communication skills matter just as much as your paintbrushBuilding a membership community that generates recurring revenue and helps other muralists avoid costly mistakesThe 5-year story behind creating one of Zibra's most requested brushesWelcome 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

Abby Askew hit a massive milestone last year when she bought her first home as a direct result of building her furniture flipping business and content brand, @FlippedByAbby. Now she's been taking viewers along the renovation journey, filling it with vintage treasures and DIY projects. This is Abby's story of how she started with curb alerts and Facebook Marketplace flips as a side hustle, scaled it into millions of followers across platforms, and turned the transformation documentation into income. She believes in spilling the tea, sharing the actual numbers, the strategies, the profit margins, because transparency doesn't threaten your success; it builds community. In this conversation, she walks us through how she actually monetized it, what quality furniture really looks like (solid wood vs. the stuff that won't resell), the brutal reality of comments from strangers, and why she deleted social media off her personal phone to protect her peace.  Abby Askew is a social media influencer and content creator with a BFA in Furniture Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. Based in Orange Park, Florida, she built Flipped by Abby into a thriving content and business brand across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. She created online courses to help followers learn how to flip furniture for profit and maintains a blog with DIY project guidance. Connect with Abby: IGWebsiteYouTubeTikTokLinkedIn Creative finds: Secondhand Spaces with Abby Askew In this episode, we discuss: How Abby turned furniture flipping from a side hustle into full-time income and eventually homeownershipThe business side of things like sourcing, pricing, and selling, etcHow to spot quality furniture (solid wood, dovetail joints) vs. the stuff that won't moveWhy her content shifted from "making money off flips" to "documenting the transformation itself"Harsh internet comments, unsolicited ADHD diagnoses, and why she deleted social media off her personal phoneThe truth about the 17 to 1 rule, from an actual psychologist Filling her first home with intention, one small project at a time (and loving what you've made)Why she "spills the tea" about money and numbers, and why transparency on income doesn't threaten her successHouse hunting for the ultimate fixer-upper in Florida (Where the Crawdads Sing energy)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:  WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog

Most artists treat seasonal work as a gamble - feast when demand peaks, hustle for leads when it doesn't. Lindsey Stimpson Lewis - owner of Lindsey Mae Art - flipped the script. By building a loyal roster of clients who lock her in a full year in advance, she's turned seasonal work into predictable, recurring revenue. In this episode, she walks through her "Christmas in July" booking strategy, how she manages capacity with a priority system, and why eliminating the constant churn of new client acquisition is the real business move. Lindsey Stimpson Lewis is a Winston-Salem–based muralist and window painter who specializes in large-scale custom work for residential and commercial clients. After spending years painting sculptures at her husband's metal fabrication company, she went full-time with her own business and built it around predictable, recurring seasonal revenue by cultivating a roster of year-in-advance clients.  Connect with Lindsey: WebsiteIG Creative finds: Zibra's NEW 1" Angled Brush is coming soon! Keep your eyes peeled on enjoyzibra.com and use code BANTER10 for 10% off your order. In this episode, we discuss: Why Lindsey Mae's "Christmas in July" booking strategy works and how to use it with your own client baseHow a priority system for repeat customers eliminates constant new lead acquisitionWhy capacity planning is actually the competitive advantage in seasonal creative workWhat Lindsey Mae's business coach helped her figure out about strategy and scalingHow predictable seasonal revenue beats year-round client churnWelcome 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

Lacey Hennessy’s art career started with painted fraternity coolers at Clemson and a Facebook business page she named during accounting class. Years later, one Instagram post about wanting to paint a mural led to a taco restaurant project that paid the equivalent of one month of her corporate salary in three days. In this episode, Lacey explains how she grew that experiment into Lacey Does, a commission-driven business with more than 300 murals and a client process built around clear expectations. She breaks down her “box method” for matching a mural’s scope to the client’s budget, why she collects 50% before beginning the design, and how detailed contracts helped other muralists take over her scheduled projects after a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Lacey also shares the hands-on Instagram strategy that grew her audience, her plans to build income beyond murals, and how she protects roughly 10 weeks each year for travel. Plus, why it would take a truly unreasonable amount of money to get her painting fraternity coolers again. Lacey Hennessy is the Greenville, South Carolina-based artist, muralist, and entrepreneur behind Lacey Does. Her bold, playful work spans murals, custom commissions, originals, prints, textiles, licensing projects, and coaching for other artists. Connect with Lacey: Website IGTikTokFacebook Creative finds: The 1" Angled Brush officially joins the Zibra lineup on September 17! Save 10% on your Zibra order with code BANTER10.  In this episode, we discuss: How one Instagram goal led to Lacey’s first mural… and $6,500 in three daysWhy she replaced Hennessy in the Home with a personal brand that leaves room for murals, textiles, licensing, and future partnershipsHow the “box method” gives clients clear choices based on their wall, priorities, and budgetWhy painting is step seven in Lacey’s 10-step mural processHow collecting 50% upfront protects the value of the concept and design workWhy detailed contracts and a trusted muralist network kept her projects moving during cancer treatmentHow targeted engagement, batch content, and shameless self-promotion helped grow her audience without turning every post into a sales pitchWelcome 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

Hannah Eddy has built a career across murals, snowboards, apparel, products, and gallery walls while keeping her bold colors and playful characters easy to spot. Her roots in skate and snowboard culture helped turn old camp connections into collaborations with Vans, Patagonia, Hydro Flask, and more. She opens up about the project choices, business boundaries, and lifestyle decisions that protect her creative energy. You’ll hear how she stays easy to hire while keeping the work unmistakably hers. Hannah Eddy is a Reno-based artist and muralist known for bold color, crisp lines, playful landscapes, and recurring characters influenced by skateboarding, snowboarding, and the outdoors. Her work appears across murals, gallery walls, skateboards, apparel, products, and collaborations with brands including Vans, Patagonia, Santa Cruz Skateboards, and Hydro Flask. Connect with Hannah: IGWebsiteHannah Eddy at Gallery ERGOHannah Eddy at ABV Gallery Creative Finds: The 1" Angled Brush is coming back for good. Keep an eye on enjoyzibra.com for the drop date and save 10% on your Zibra order with code BANTER10. In this episode, we discuss: Why a recognizable style can make the right brand projects easier to land – and the wrong ones easier to decline.A look at how years inside the skate and snowboard community opened doors no cold pitch could force.What Hannah’s camper, six off-grid years, and low-overhead life taught her about protecting creative freedom.Why a one-year licensing term can keep an artist’s characters from quietly slipping out of their control.What artists often overlook when Instagram starts replacing gallery openings, local art nights, and actual conversations.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:  WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog

One artist joined the voting push with 26 votes while another submission had more than 300. Another almost skipped the application altogether. In this Golden Brush Awards roundtable, Eugene O’Neill, Sophie Groenstein, Julia Kenyon, Sydney Rae, and Sabah Bardhan unpack the decisions behind five winning pieces: painting a monumental portrait of Buddhist nun Jun Son while working until 2 a.m., layering exterior house paint to create a saturated hometown portrait, earning a client’s trust for bright orange-and-blue peacocks, experimenting on the wall to recreate coffee-watercolor texture, and wrestling with a human figure and one particularly stubborn set of hands inside a Denver restaurant. The recognition gave each artist fresh evidence that the risky idea, unfamiliar technique, or last-minute submission was worth following through. Eugene O’Neill, Sophie Groenstein, Julia Kenyon, Sydney Rae, and Sabah Bardhan are the artists behind five winning projects from Zibra’s 2025 Golden Brush Awards. Their work spans large-scale community murals, portraiture, restaurant interiors, coffee-inspired realism, and a peacock-covered anniversary chest. Connect with the 2025 Golden Brush Award winners: Eugene O’Neill – Transformation of the Year IGWebsite Sophie Groenstein – Color Crush IGWebsite Julia Kenyon – Vision to Reality IGWebsiteTikTok Sydney Rae – Stroke of Genius IGWebsiteFacebookMy Mural Studio Sabah Bardhan – Detail Devotion IGWebsiteFacebook Creative finds: The 2025 Golden Brush AwardsMuralgartenSunny Dayz Mural FestivalMy Mural Studio A Quick Note from Zibra: 🚨 Zibra’s most-requested brush size drops July 30… The NEW 1/8-inch Detail Brush will be available in square, triangle, and round. Use code BANTER10 for 10% off when you shop the launch at enjoyzibra.com! In this episode, we discuss: How Eugene rallied real-life community groups after seeing his 26 votes next to another entry’s 300-plusWhy full creative freedom became its own challenge when Eugene chose to paint Buddhist nun and peace activist Jun SonHow Sophie layered exterior house paint to give Tulsi its saturated color and velvety softnessHow sample swatches helped Sabah earn a client’s trust for a bold orange-and-blue peacock designWhy Sydney spent extra time experimenting with coffee-inspired texture instead of falling back on her usual crisp linesHow Julia used a human figure, difficult hands, flowing smoke, and white space to create movement inside a Denver restaurantHow recognition helped Sophie advocate for bolder color, Julia pursue travel work, and Sydney seek more textured commercial muralsWelcome 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

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: WebsiteIGTikTok 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 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

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 directionWhat changes when you stop trying to be everything to everyone and start building around your strengthsHow Alli K Designs handles out-of-scope requests by referring, delegating, or bringing in the right people instead of doing it allHow understanding your market helps you say no with confidence, and avoid work that won’t sell or scaleThe 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 RefinishingComing Back From a Creative Break with Courtney Weisel of Steel Birch StudiosSetting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K DesignBuilding a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls MuralsWelcome 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

Pricing your work is your favorite guessing game, you say? Don’t worry. For most artists, it’s their least favorite - and frankly, it shouldn’t have to feel like one. This minisode gets real about the messy middle between undercharging, overthinking, and learning the hard way, with honest perspective from Alli K Design, the Off the Walls Murals team, and Kyle Mosher. From showing up to walls way bigger than expected to losing thousands on early mistakes no one warns you about, these are the moments that actually shape how artists start pricing with confidence. What comes through isn’t a perfect formula (because there isn’t one), but something more useful: a grounded way to think about your numbers, your time, and your value, built through curiosity, community, and experience. If you’ve ever second-guessed a quote or wondered if you’re doing it “right,” this one will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why pricing murals will never be a plug-and-play formula, and what to do insteadHow Alli K approaches pricing through curiosity, community, and asking better questionsWhat a certain muralist learned about time, energy, and setting boundaries (including charging for site visits)The real cost of early business mistakes… and how Kyle Mosher turned them into better systemsWhy outsourcing the parts of your business you avoid can actually make you more moneyHow to balance being the artist and the operator without burning outThe bigger vision behind Off The Walls Murals’ work – and how pricing well allows you to give back in a sustainable way Hit rewind on these episodes: Setting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K DesignBooking Brand Collabs with Artist Kyle MosherBuilding a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals Resources mentioned: Make-A-Wish FoundationUnited WayChildren in CrisisWelcome 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

Marketing advice online often pushes creators toward trends, virality, and constant output, but it turns out that’s not what actually builds a sustainable business. This minisode brings together insights from Shannon McKinstrie, Off the Walls Murals, and Alyssa Vilardi to show what really moves the needle: clear messaging, content that makes people feel connected, and paying attention to the metrics that actually matter (like retention, not just reach). It’s a shift from chasing spikes to building something steady, from underpricing to standing behind your value, and from guessing what works to creating with intention, so that your marketing feels like an extension of your work, not something separate from it. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why building genuine community matters more than chasing one viral momentThe one element that stops the scroll (and it's not what you think)The metric Instagram cares about that most creators ignoreWhy designing for the algorithm doesn't mean losing yourselfThe pricing mistake almost every creative makesHow certification turns assistants into brand ambassadorsThe financial sustainability detail most creatives overlook Hit rewind on these episodes: Social Media Expert Shannon McKinstrie Tells Us How to Grow on InstagramTurning DIY, Motherhood, and Mess Into a Creative Business with Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We BuiltBuilding a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls MuralsWelcome 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

Creators spend years trying to define “their style,” but what if it’s already there, just not fully formed yet? This minisode pulls together honest moments from Cyn, Alyssa Vilardi, and Lauren Hull with Olga Muzician, tracing the real path of finding your style: evolving through client work, pushing through the “ugly phase,” and slowly recognizing the patterns that make your work yours. It’s less about discovering something new and more about noticing what’s been building all along, and having the confidence to follow it. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why your art style is already forming (even if you can’t see it yet)How pushing through the “ugly phase” leads to your best workWhat experimenting across projects teaches you about your style faster than waitingHow recurring elements and influences make your work recognizable over timeWhy sharing the messy, behind-the-scenes process builds a stronger audience connectionHow confidence with clients helps protect and refine your creative voice Hit rewind on these episodes: Landing Paid Art Projects with Major Brands & Finding Your Creative Voice with Cyn of Chalk & BrushTurning DIY, Motherhood, and Mess Into a Creative Business with Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We BuiltThe Messy Middle of a Project... And Your Career as an Artist | Reflecting on Creative Beginnings with Olga Muzician & Lauren HullWelcome 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

When you’re flipping furniture, the biggest shift isn’t learning how to paint – it’s learning what’s actually worth your time. This minisode pulls together real-world perspectives from Jen Talley, Lauren Hull, Olga Muzician and Courtney Weisel on how they balance creativity with demand, choose pieces that will sell, and avoid projects that quietly drain profit. From simplifying your style to setting boundaries around what you won’t take on, this is about creating with intention so your work stays both sustainable and rewarding. In this minisode, we’re rewinding the actionable and inspiring soundbites from their Brush & Banter interviews to help you turn your passion into profit.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Why “simple and timeless” often outsells trendy or overworked piecesHow to balance your creative style with what buyers actually wantWhat to look for when sourcing furniture (and what to avoid)The hidden cost of time, and how it impacts your profit per pieceWhen to say no to projects (even when it’s hard) to prevent burnoutHow diversifying your style can expand your market without losing your identity Hit rewind on these episodes: Selling on Marketplace in 2026 with Jen Talley of Perfectly Imperfect Furniture RefinishingThe Messy Middle of a Project... And Your Career as an Artist | Reflecting on Creative Beginnings with Olga Muzician & Lauren HullComing Back From a Creative Break with Courtney Weisel of Steel Birch Studios Creative finds from the episodes: Melange Paints - Jen’s discount code mentioned: JEN10 Brushes mentioned (use code BANTER10 for 10% off): Artist Brush Set - SmallPalm Artist - 1” Flat PaintbrushZibra’s “Bundle & Save” SetsWelcome 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