We recently connected with Kara Payton and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it wasn’t that way from day one. I built it step by step by focusing on a clear niche and creating a dependable, professional process around my work.

My biggest priority was relationship-building with the people already connected to my ideal clients, interior designers, builders, architects, realtors, and business owners. Instead of spending most of my energy prospecting, I wanted to serve the “fertile ground” where people were already seeking the exact skills I offer. Cold pitches are still valuable for uncovering new leads, but the most consistent growth came from becoming a trusted go-to resource inside existing networks.

Major milestones were tightening my message, building strong portfolio touchpoints, pricing sustainably, and developing a referral engine through repeat collaborations. If I could speed up the process, I’d start those industry relationships sooner and get clearer earlier on who I serve and how I solve a specific problem for high-end spaces.

Kara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Kara Payton, the muralist and artist behind **Atelier de Fleuriste**, based in the Kansas City area. I create heirloom-inspired murals and custom artwork for elevated homes and thoughtful commercial spaces, the kind of pieces that feel like they’ve always belonged there. My work leans European in spirit (classic botanical motifs, vintage pattern influences, old-world composition), but it’s grounded in the places my clients actually live and gather.

I got into mural work because I’ve always loved the intersection of fine art and environment, how art can completely change the feeling of a space, not just decorate it. I started with commissioned painting, design work, and smaller interior projects, and over time my practice naturally evolved toward larger-scale installations as clients began asking for “the statement wall” or “the moment that ties the whole room together.” Murals became the perfect medium: immersive, architectural, and deeply personal.

I create:

Bespoke interior murals for stairwells, entryways, dining rooms, powder baths, nurseries, fireplaces, and feature walls
Textured plaster floral walls and sculptural, tonal designs that feel soft, elevated, and timeless
Custom large-scale paintings and one-of-one pieces for collectors and interior projects
Pattern-driven or botanical installations** inspired by heritage design and natural forms

Most of my clients have a beautiful home or business, but they’re missing the “soul layer”, that one element that makes the space feel finished and unforgettable. I help them translate a feeling or a vision into a cohesive, livable art piece that fits the architecture, the light, the flow of the room, and the personality of the people who live there. I also make the process approachable: I handle design direction, planning, and execution so clients aren’t left trying to figure out what works on a large wall.

**What sets me apart:**

* **A fine-art approach to murals**: I’m not installing a trend, I’m building a composition with longevity, depth, and craft.
* **Design sensitivity**: I work with the entire room in mind, materials, palette, furnishings, and the client’s personal style.
* **Heirloom mindset**: the goal is always “timeless,” not just “cool right now.”
* **Professional, collaborative process**: clear communication, thoughtful mockups, and an experience that feels calm and high-touch.

What I’m most proud of:
I’m proud that my work has become a meaningful part of people’s daily lives. These pieces aren’t just backdrops for photos, they’re part of a home’s story, a family’s rituals, a business’s atmosphere. I’m also proud of building Atelier de Fleuriste intentionally: choosing a direction, refining a signature style, and becoming a trusted creative partner for clients and industry collaborators who care about quality.

What I want people to know about my brand and work:
Atelier de Fleuriste is built around the belief that spaces deserve artistry. If you’re drawn to interiors that feel collected, romantic, and quietly bold, I’m here for that. My work is for people who want more than a blank wall, they want a lasting, handcrafted statement that feels personal, elevated, and beautifully integrated into the space.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of my biggest pivots was transitioning from a 20-year photography career into mural work and fine art.

Photography gave me so much, an eye for composition, light, storytelling, and how to make something feel emotionally alive. But over time, I started to feel a shift in the industry. The work became less about creating true art and more about mass creation for social media: faster turnarounds, constant content, trends that changed weekly, and a growing pressure to produce for algorithms instead of for meaning. I could feel it starving the part of me that wanted to make something from the inside out.

I realized I missed the physicality of creating. I wanted my hands dirty again. I’d always had this pull to return to studio days, the kind where you’re covered in paint, solving problems with your body as much as your brain, building something layer by layer. That craving wasn’t going away, it was getting louder.

So I listened to it. I began taking on small mural and painting projects, then bigger ones, and eventually made the full transition. It wasn’t just a career change, it was a return to the kind of creative life that felt honest to me. And in a funny way, I didn’t leave photography behind, I carried it with me. My mural work is still rooted in the same things I loved most: composition, mood, story, and making people feel something when they step into a space.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, there’s a very clear mission behind what I do: I want to be living proof for my kids that you can build a real, thriving career doing what you love.

Growing up, I was heavily discouraged from pursuing art as a “serious” path. That kind of messaging sticks with you. It teaches you to play small, to treat creativity like a hobby you’re allowed to enjoy only after the practical stuff is handled. But now, as a mother of three artists, I feel a responsibility to rewrite that story in real time.

My goal is to lead by example. To show them that creating isn’t just a passion, it can be a profession. That you don’t have to choose between artistry and stability. And that success doesn’t belong only to the fearless or the “lucky,” it belongs to the people willing to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep expanding past the limits that fear and naysayers try to hand you.

If they watch me build this, imperfectly but intentionally, I hope they’ll grow up believing: not only can you do what you love, you can succeed beyond anything that once tried to convince you to stay small.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karapayton.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karapayton_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karacpayton
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-payton/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Karapayton

Image Credits

Deanna Johnson Photography