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

• IG
• Website

Sophie Groenstein – Color Crush

• IG
• Website

Julia Kenyon – Vision to Reality

• IG
• Website
• TikTok

Sydney Rae – Stroke of Genius

• IG
• Website
• Facebook
• My Mural Studio

Sabah Bardhan – Detail Devotion

• IG
• Website
• Facebook

Creative finds:

• The 2025 Golden Brush Awards
• Muralgarten
• Sunny Dayz Mural Festival
• My 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-plus
• Why full creative freedom became its own challenge when Eugene chose to paint Buddhist nun and peace activist Jun Son
• How Sophie layered exterior house paint to give Tulsi its saturated color and velvety softness
• How sample swatches helped Sabah earn a client’s trust for a bold orange-and-blue peacock design
• Why Sydney spent extra time experimenting with coffee-inspired texture instead of falling back on her usual crisp lines
• How Julia used a human figure, difficult hands, flowing smoke, and white space to create movement inside a Denver restaurant
• How recognition helped Sophie advocate for bolder color, Julia pursue travel work, and Sydney seek more textured commercial murals

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

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:

• Website
• IG
• TikTok

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 plan
• How steady follow-up helped turn an Amazon referral into a real project
• Why referrals still require persistence, clear communication, and self-advocacy
• What changes when your work moves from small surfaces to 50-foot walls
• How artists can get through the ugly middle of a project without spiraling
• Why Abby’s most effective social media posts are often the simple, honest ones
• How sharing rejection can build trust with your audience and help other artists keep going

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

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 direction
• What changes when you stop trying to be everything to everyone and start building around your strengths
• How Alli K Designs handles out-of-scope requests by referring, delegating, or bringing in the right people instead of doing it all
• How understanding your market helps you say no with confidence, and avoid work that won’t sell or scale
• The 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 Refinishing
• Coming Back From a Creative Break with Courtney Weisel of Steel Birch Studios
• Setting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K Design
• Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

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 instead
• How Alli K approaches pricing through curiosity, community, and asking better questions
• What 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 systems
• Why outsourcing the parts of your business you avoid can actually make you more money
• How to balance being the artist and the operator without burning out
• The 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 Design
• Booking Brand Collabs with Artist Kyle Mosher
• Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals

Resources mentioned:

• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• United Way
• Children in Crisis

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

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 moment
• The one element that stops the scroll (and it's not what you think)
• The metric Instagram cares about that most creators ignore
• Why designing for the algorithm doesn't mean losing yourself
• The pricing mistake almost every creative makes
• How certification turns assistants into brand ambassadors
• The financial sustainability detail most creatives overlook

Hit rewind on these episodes:

• Social Media Expert Shannon McKinstrie Tells Us How to Grow on Instagram
• Turning DIY, Motherhood, and Mess Into a Creative Business with Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We Built
• Building a Creative Business with Your Best Friend feat. Caroline & Tianna of Off the Walls Murals

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

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 work
• What experimenting across projects teaches you about your style faster than waiting
• How recurring elements and influences make your work recognizable over time
• Why sharing the messy, behind-the-scenes process builds a stronger audience connection
• How 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 & Brush
• Turning DIY, Motherhood, and Mess Into a Creative Business with Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We Built
• The Messy Middle of a Project... And Your Career as an Artist | Reflecting on Creative Beginnings with Olga Muzician & Lauren Hull

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

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 pieces
• How to balance your creative style with what buyers actually want
• What to look for when sourcing furniture (and what to avoid)
• The hidden cost of time, and how it impacts your profit per piece
• When to say no to projects (even when it’s hard) to prevent burnout
• How 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 Refinishing
• The Messy Middle of a Project... And Your Career as an Artist | Reflecting on Creative Beginnings with Olga Muzician & Lauren Hull
• Coming 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 - Small
• Palm Artist - 1” Flat Paintbrush
• Zibra’s “Bundle & Save” Sets

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

When you’re ready to turn your passion projects into income, it can be difficult and overwhelming to know where to start. Enter Kyle Mosher, Alli K., and Cyn Santos, working artists who have cracked the code to make more money as an artist without sacrificing your creativity. 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:

• How Kyle Mosher built an artist-in-residence program to build the brand for an apartment complex
• Why Alli K. said “no” to projects more often even as competition increased
• How Cyn Santos leveraged her website to reach the right clients
• Presenting yourself as an influencer vs. a contractor
• Negotiating brand collaborations so you have creative freedom as the artist

Hit rewind on these episodes:

• Booking Brand Collabs with Kyle Mosher
• Setting Your Prices as an Artist with Alli K Design
• Landing Paid Art Projects with Major Brands & Finding Your Creative Voice with Cyn of Chalk & Brush

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

What does it actually take to build a mural business that lasts more than a decade… and still feels steady? Alli Koch shares the behind-the-scenes structure that supports her 11-year career: outsourcing before burnout hits, building a personal “board of directors,” charging for site visits, and pricing based on context instead of formulas. She talks candidly about setting boundaries even when it’s tricky - like saying “no” to free work (even for family). From being approached to publish art books to installing a 25-foot public sculpture, Alli’s story is a reminder that longevity isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right work, with the right boundaries, at the right pace.

Alli Koch is a Texas-based muralist, author, and sculptor known for her large-scale public art and modern how-to drawing books. With 11 years in business and repeat clients booking her into 2026, she mentors artists at every stage on building sustainable, confidence-led creative careers.

Connect with Alli:

• IG
• Website
• Mentoring

Creative Finds:

• Zibra Speed Drop (Redesigned) - use code BANTER10 for 10% off
• Alli K Designs Book Shop
• My Fancy Sticker Storybook by Alli K Designs

In this episode, we discuss:

• The three-person “board of directors” that keeps self-doubt in check
• Why outsourcing isn’t indulgent, it’s how you protect your momentum
• Defining success by time freedom and relationships, not just revenue
• Pricing murals through community conversations, not rigid formulas
• Staying open to opportunity while holding firm boundaries around your worth

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog

If Instagram feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. Shannon McKinstrie sits down with Lauren and Brie to break down what’s actually driving growth right now, and it’s not chasing viral spikes. It’s retention, belonging, and messaging that makes people feel seen. They talk strong hooks (and her REP formula), why talk-to-camera reels convert better than trends, how to repurpose content within weeks instead of months, and how to use Stories to build real trust (even if your life feels “boring”). If you’ve been stuck in 200-view jail or burned out trying to keep up, this conversation will help you simplify your strategy and post with more intention, and a lot less pressure.

Shannon McKinstrie is a social media strategist and educator who helps creators stop guessing and start posting with clarity. She’s the founder of Reels Lab and has helped thousands of business owners build sustainable Instagram strategies that actually convert.

Connect with Shannon:

• Website
• Reels Lab
• Podcast
• Instagram
• TikTok
• LinkedIn

Creative Finds:

• Zibra Edger Series Brush - use code BANTER10 for 10% off

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why retention matters more than viral spikes in 2026
• How to write stronger hooks using relatable identifiers
• Repurposing content within weeks (not months) to reduce burnout
• Using Stories to build trust and drive DMs
• Trial Reels as a low-pressure way to test talk-to-camera content
• Creating a posting schedule that prevents burnout

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: 

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook 
• YouTube
• Blog