Building a New Life: One Mural at a Time

In 2014, Amanda Turner spent a month sleeping in a Florida gymnasium. It was her fifth try at alcohol rehab—in six months. But the day Amanda finished her program, she picked up a paintbrush. She began painting walls and furniture for friends and store owners and, within a year, launched her own business called Ugly Illustration.

by Shopify Editorial Team

Published on 22 Apr 2019

An illustration of Amanda Turner, who is wearing a purple dress. She is painting the word "Wanderlust" in front of a waterfall mural that appears to be pouring out from the wall. The scene is in a pink room with paint cans and rollers on the floor.

Starting a business can feel impossible when you're at your lowest point. But sometimes, the most challenging moments become the foundation for entrepreneurial success. Amanda Turner's journey from addiction recovery to running a thriving creative business proves that with determination and the right approach, you can build something meaningful from nothing.

Here's how Amanda transformed a single paintbrush into a sustainable business—and what you can learn from her approach to starting and growing a creative venture.

From rock bottom to first sale: Finding your starting point

In 2014, Amanda Turner spent a month sleeping in a Florida gymnasium during her fifth attempt at alcohol rehab in six months. She was on the verge of homelessness. The day Amanda finished her program, she picked up a paintbrush and spent 24 hours straight creating a mural on her bedroom wall.

"It was the first thing I did that I completed and really enjoyed," she says.

Amanda's story illustrates an important principle for aspiring entrepreneurs: your business idea doesn't need to be revolutionary. It needs to be something you can execute consistently and find fulfillment in completing.

Start with what you have

Amanda began by painting walls and furniture for friends—using skills she already possessed and materials she could afford. This approach allowed her to:

Test her abilities without significant financial risk
Build a portfolio of work
Gain confidence through small wins
Receive feedback from people who supported her

Whether you're interested in creative services, product design, or digital offerings, starting with your existing network helps you validate your idea before investing heavily in your business.

Scaling through strategic partnerships

Soon, store owners began hiring Amanda to paint murals for their shops. Within a year, she launched her own business called Ugly Illustration. This progression from friend referrals to paying customers demonstrates how you can systematically grow your client base.

Build relationships that lead to opportunities

Amanda's breakthrough came when she got bit by the travel bug and backpacked through Costa Rica and Guatemala, offering to paint murals in exchange for accommodation. In Ajijic, Mexico, she painted a mural for a spa for free to get introduced to the community.

The mural was a giant postcard with the phrase "Hola Ajijic." The spa's owner threw a block party that drew around 100 people—instantly connecting Amanda with potential customers and collaborators.

This strategy works for many types of businesses:

Service-based businesses: Offer your expertise to local organizations in exchange for testimonials and referrals
Product businesses: Partner with complementary brands for cross-promotion opportunities
Digital businesses: Create valuable content for established platforms to reach new audiences

Expanding your business model

Amanda's next step shows how successful entrepreneurs identify new opportunities within their existing expertise. She plans to launch El Gato Feo Cafe, a co-working space that sells local art—combining her artistic background with a sustainable business model.

This expansion strategy demonstrates several key principles:

Leverage your network: Amanda's connections in the local art community provide both suppliers and customers
Create multiple revenue streams: The cafe generates income from co-working memberships, food sales, and art commissions
Build on proven success: Rather than starting completely over, Amanda is expanding what already works

Key takeaways for creative entrepreneurs

Amanda's journey from recovery to business owner offers practical lessons for anyone starting a creative venture:

Start immediately with available resources: Don't wait for perfect conditions or complete funding
Use strategic partnerships: Offer value to others in exchange for exposure and community connections
Document your work: Every project becomes part of your portfolio and proof of your capabilities
Stay open to opportunities: Amanda's willingness to travel and work for free led to her biggest breakthrough
Plan for sustainable growth: Moving from one-off projects to a business with multiple revenue streams

"Painting has opened the door to some really great opportunities, and I'm so grateful," Amanda says.

Start building your creative business today

Amanda's story proves that you don't need extensive capital or perfect circumstances to start a successful business. Whether you're interested in visual arts, crafts, digital design, or other creative services, you can begin building your venture with the skills and connections you already have.

Ready to turn your creative passion into a business? Start your free trial and build an online presence that showcases your work and connects you with customers worldwide.

Infographic transcript:

In 2014, Amanda Turner spent a month sleeping in a Florida gymnasium. It was her fifth try at alcohol rehab—in six months. She was on the verge of homelessness. The day Amanda finished her program, she picked up a paintbrush and spent 24 hours straight creating this mural on her bedroom wall. "It was the first thing I did that I completed and really enjoyed," she says. Amanda began painting walls and furniture for friends. Soon store owners hired her to paint murals for their shops. Within a year, Amanda launched her own business called Ugly Illustration. Amanda got bit by the travel bug. She backpacked through Costa Rica and Guatemala, offering to paint murals in exchange for accommodation. In Ajijic, Mexico, she painted a mural for a spa for free to get introduced to the community. The mural was a giant postcard with the phrase Hola Ajijic. The spa's owner threw a block party that drew around 100 people. Amanda plans to stay a while and launch a co-working space that sells local art: El Gato Feo Cafe. "Painting has opened the door to some really great opportunities, and I'm so grateful," she says.

Reporting by Renee Morad
Images by Rebekka Dunlap