Today we’d like to introduce you to Abi King
Hi Abi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ll start from the beginning! I grew up in Atlanta, visiting the High Museum and seeing art throughout the city. I always loved drawing as a kid but didn’t have much confidence in it. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I realized I could really draw. I would get so incredibly bored in class that my margins filled up with doodles, and by the end of the year, I had unintentionally created a portfolio.
Curious to see where I could take it, I taught myself the basics of Adobe Illustrator and turned those “doodles” into a true portfolio I used to apply for college. My brain naturally gravitates toward patterns, and one day, a mentor told me that one of my designs could be sold on a scarf. That was the first time I ever thought about my art going on a product.
I decided to study Apparel Design at Auburn University, where I really learned how to use Adobe Illustrator and create repeating patterns—though I still didn’t know what surface pattern design was yet. I graduated with a major in Apparel Design and a minor in Entrepreneurial Business, knowing I wanted to start my own business but unsure of what that would look like.
After college, I completed three internships, trying to figure out my path. I quickly realized that I love talking to people and being active too much to sit behind a desk all day. That summer, I worked as a camp counselor on the Chattahoochee River and managed the pool I grew up at. I loved being outside and working with people, so these jobs were a perfect fit.
Once summer ended, I started working at a restaurant, nannying, and teaching art at a kids’ studio. That winter, I officially started my business, Abi Ink Studio. At first, I focused solely on surface pattern design. For those who don’t know, surface pattern design is the art of creating patterns you see on products like clothing, home decor, water bottles, phone cases etc.
I got ambitious and started selling scarves with my patterns and painting murals. While I loved these aspects of my business, I quickly realized I had to narrow my focus to truly grow. My dream for Abi Ink Studio is in surface pattern design, so I decided to go all in on that.
Now, I’ve found day jobs that I enjoy and that give me the flexibility to work on my business. I substitute teach and coach a swim team, which I love because I enjoy working with kids. This balance allows me to create art and grow my business while also doing work that energizes me. It’s been quite the journey, but I wouldn’t change a thing because every step has led me to where I am today!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has been anything but smooth. At the start of my business, I had a lot of self-doubt. I’d constantly ask myself: Can I really do this? How am I ever going to get to where I want to be? Is my art good enough? There were times when I dove in fully and times when I stepped back out of fear.
I also overloaded my plate early on, like I mentioned, juggling surface pattern design, manufacturing and selling scarves, and painting commissioned murals. I quickly realized I needed to narrow my focus if I wanted to make real progress toward my goals.
Another challenge I have faced is learning to promote myself through Instagram. I have come to learn that a lot of artists and surface pattern designers are discovered through social media. It is an amazing way to promote my work but takes a lot of time and thought. At first it felt like a bit of a chore to create content, but now I’m enjoying this part of my business because I see it as a way to connect and build a community around my art.
On top of that, this past year has been full of big life changes—I got married, adopted a dog, and moved! That took a lot of time and energy, and I had to learn to give myself grace. I’m the type of person who wants to do everything and do it well, but I’ve realized that if I give all my energy away, there’s none left for myself.
Starting my own business has definitely been a learning curve, but with every challenge, I’m growing. Each obstacle teaches me something new, and I’m learning to embrace the process instead of focusing only on the end goal.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an Atlanta-based artist who specializes in colorful, playful surface pattern designs. My medium of choice is simple—pen and paper. There’s something so satisfying about drawing with ink. From there, I use Adobe Illustrator to turn my hand-drawn designs into repeating patterns, add color, and refine them digitally.
I’m known for creating fun, bright patterns. The goal of my art is to bring joy and positivity to the people who see it. One of the things I love most about surface pattern design is that it brings life to everyday products, turning ordinary objects into something unique and beautiful. In terms of business, I license my designs to companies and manufacturers, and I occasionally sell them outright.
I’m really proud of myself for having the courage to build my business from the ground up. Even though I studied apparel design in school, I didn’t learn much about surface pattern design—I had to teach myself most of what I know. That has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
I think what sets me apart from other artists in the industry is that I bring my authentic self into my work. I draw inspiration from my own life and experiences, which makes my designs unique to me. People who know me would describe me as playful, loving, and a child at heart, and I think that energy shines through in my art. I’m passionate about shapes, colors, and movement, and I love creating designs that feel full of life.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you’re a fellow creative or entrepreneur, my biggest piece of advice is to just start. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away (because let me tell you a little secret I’ve learned, no one does). There will be challenges and moments of doubt, but every step you take adds up over time.
And if you’re a company looking for fresh, vibrant patterns or would like to follow along on my journey you can find my work on Instagram @abiinkstudio or visit my website at abi-ink.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abi-ink.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abiinkstudio/
Image Credits
No photo credits necessary. The two photos of me where taken by my grandma and my husband!
