We had the good fortune of connecting with Ali Wilkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ali, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My business actually started by accident. I was working at a restaurant in my town, Clayton, Georgia, and I would always use this chalkboard for each week special. They asked me one Christmas if I would wanted to paint the windows, but I had never done that so I was nervous. I decided to do it and it took off from there. When I was about to graduate college, I realized that I had to quit that job at the restaurant and focus full-time on my path with painting and my other job personal training. That was when I realize I had to make the painting in actual business because of the gross in the last year.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I started my art career, I never knew that it would become my full-time business. I feel extremely blessed to do what I do, which is window painting, and Mural work. I also create digital work that involves custom ZIP Code, art and logos for other businesses. There were many challenges along the way, which included fully investing in myself, and never being afraid to say no to a job. I have painted just about everything from windows, walls, trains, cars, buses, silos, gas tanks, and pretty much everything in between. When I first started and even now, when people ask me if I could paint some thing I would say well I’m not sure but I can try. And I always gave 115% on everything I did and it has paid off today. I think that my brand truly has become not being afraid to take on any job and always working until the job is done. I start most of my mornings between 5 and 6 AM and most days I’m not getting home until nine or 10 PM. I love what I do and I’m thankful. Do you have such a drive to do it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Clayton Georgia has really come up a long way in the last few years. If someone was coming to visit while it was warm, I would highly recommend hitting some hiking trails or getting out on the lakes. I love all of our local restaurants on Main Street in the shops are just so cute and unique. I would also venture out to other places in Rabun county like Tallulah Falls, Raven, gap, and Lakemont. There are so many hidden gems throughout these areas. There’s just about anything you want to do including good drink, good food, beautiful scenery, unique shopping and kind people. A side venture. I have done in the last two years is open up a gym called Rips Fitness with my best friend. We are located in the downtown area of Clayton. We are right next to an amazing holistic shop called Holistic Mountain Market. I would highly recommend catching a workout and a smoothie while in town.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I always talk about how I am so thankful my boss, Shane Burns and jack Nolan at Fortify Pi for trusting me, and believing in me enough to paint the window for the first time. Let me tell you it was nothing to write home about, but they had me continue to do it. I am so thankful for that opportunity that gave me a nudge to grow into something else. I also want to shout out Lizzy falcon a very, very talented artist in our area that gave me a platform and a push to start a different type of art besides my window painting a year after I started. She always gave me the confidence to keep going and anywhere I started was a good place to start. She believes in me far more than I did when I started. I also want to shout out my community in Rabun County, because they continuously support my small business and give me a platform to do what I love each season.

Website: Aliwilkinsdesign.com

Instagram: Aliwilkinsdesign and rips.fitness

Facebook: Ali Wilkins Design

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