Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Abi King of Atlanta

Abi King shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Abi, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Creating and running Abi Ink is 100 percent what I feel called to do, even though I was absolutely terrified to start it.

About a year and a half ago, I took the leap to pursue my creative dreams by starting my own illustration & surface design studio. A lot of things had to happen to lead me to that moment, not all of it easy, but they all pushed me toward finally taking a leap of faith on myself.

Let me be real. Fear is a constant companion when you are starting a business. There are days I feel on top of the world, and days I question everything. But I have learned to trust myself and trust the universe, because so many pieces have lined up to bring me here. That can’t be an accident.

After graduating college, I figured out I wanted to pursue surface design. I loved everything about it, as shapes and color have always been a part of me. But when I moved back to Atlanta, I quickly realized there were not as many opportunities in this field as I had hoped. I found one apparel company that hired print designers and set my sights on working there. I could not land an interview right away, but I thought that working in one of their storefronts could help me stand out as an internal candidate. So I did just that. I got a retail job with them, worked hard for months, and waited for the print design position to open up again.

When it finally did, I applied, hopeful that all the time and energy I had poured in would pay off. But I found out they already had someone else in mind, and I did not get the role.

I remember getting the email and feeling completely heartbroken. I was so sure I had found the route I was meant to go. Surface design felt like everything I had been working toward, and hearing “no” shattered me. I thought maybe this is not what I am called to do. Maybe I am not good enough. Maybe I need to stop dreaming and just go find a corporate job somewhere, because clearly my dreams are not going to happen. I distinctly remember calling my mom crying, telling her I felt like everything I had believed as a kid was not true. That following your dreams was not actually possible. That I had been stupid to believe in mine for so long.

At that point, it felt like all of me had given up. But over time, that rejection helped me see something I had not considered before. Maybe I did not need to work for some big company in order to follow my dreams. Maybe I did not need someone else’s approval or permission. All I really needed was myself, and the loving people around me who believed in me even when I had doubt.

Fear has been a big part of my journey, but it has also been necessary. I was scared when I got turned down from one of the only print design job I could find in Atlanta. I was scared when I realized I did not want to move to NYC or LA to chase this career. I was scared juggling three part-time jobs and figuring out how to build a life that actually fit me, because I quickly learned I love people, movement, and variety way too much to sit behind a desk all day.

I was especially scared to say the words out loud. “I am going to start my own business.”

Facing those fears forced me to grow. Each challenge made me step back, look at my life in a new way, and ask what I really wanted. Bit by bit, I started building something that felt more like me than ever before. So while fear was where I started, I am honestly really thankful for it. It made me stronger, helped me get honest with myself, and showed me I am capable of more than I ever thought. I do not think I would have discovered how resilient I am without it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Abi, the founder of Abi Ink, an illustration and surface design studio. I create & license playful, on trend art to companies in need of fresh designs for their products. As an artist, I create art to bring myself and all who see it a feeling of happiness.

I’ve always been fascinated by shapes and colors, the way they interact, contrast, and come alive on a page. I studied Apparel Design and Entrepreneurial Business at Auburn University, but I didn’t discover the industry of surface design until after graduating. Since then, I’ve been all in, building collections of work that reflect my love for vibrant and expressive visuals.

Travel is a huge source of inspiration for me. One of my favorite trips was to Belize, where the colors, textures, and natural beauty sparked a ton of fresh ideas. Later this year, I’m excited to explore Mexico and Italy, knowing those experiences will add even more depth to my work. My sketchbook and iPad come everywhere with me so I can capture inspiration wherever I am.

My art really is an extension of who I am. It’s playful, lighthearted, and full of energy. I live an active, joyful life playing soccer, swimming, hula hooping, paddle boarding, and more. That same spirit shines through every design I create because, to me, art should always make you feel something.

My mission is to license my art to brands that value creativity, happiness, and heart. Whether it’s on stationery, home goods, or something totally new, I’m excited to share my work with the world and bring a little more joy into everyday life.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
It’s not a single moment, but rather the spirit of my entire childhood that shaped how I see the world. Looking back, I remember feeling overwhelmed by how magical life was and how lucky I was just to be here. I wasn’t blind to the hard parts of the world, but I think I learned to see the beauty before I saw the pain, even when both were right in front of me.

As a kid, I was endlessly curious, full of light, and quick to find the good in others, even when it wasn’t obvious. I felt love everywhere. I believed in magic, not just the storybook kind, but the kind that makes you believe anything is possible. And honestly, I still do.

That magic looks different now. As an adult, I’ve seen it show up in new ways: in chance meetings, gut feelings, perfect timing, and paths that unfold in ways I never planned but turn out better than I ever imagined. I think those nudges are life’s way of asking, “Are you paying attention? Are you open to the possibilities?”

Believing in magic as a child taught me to believe in my own magic as an adult. And that belief is what gave me the courage to build this creative life I love. There’s magic all around us. You just have to be open to it.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell myself how much I love her.

Loving yourself is one of the most important parts of life and yet it is talked about so little. It has been a foundational part of my journey both as an artist and as a person.

As a kid I was unapologetically me: loving, quirky and fully authentic. But as I got older, like so many of us do, I started to care more about what others thought. I began shaping myself around what I believed people wanted me to be rather than simply being who I was.

I think that tension is something a lot of people experience growing up. We want to be ourselves but we also want to fit in. On top of that I found myself wrestling with the version of me I thought I should be versus the version I naturally was.

If I could say one kind thing to my younger self it would be I love you exactly as you are.

It has taken time to return to that truest version of me but I am so glad I did. And honestly it makes me smile to think that my younger self would be proud of me. She would see that I kept showing up, kept growing and stayed true to myself.

It is funny, as I’ve gotten older I thought I did not want to grow up. But now I see that you are always growing up as long as you keep growing.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to building Abi Ink no matter how long it takes. I knew from the beginning that many surface designers typically don’t feel fully established until three or four years in. When I heard that, I thought to myself, I can handle that. Honestly, the older I get, the faster time flies, so I’ll probably be there before I know it.

That said, I’m not in a rush. Even if it takes ten years to thrive, I’m all in. I truly believe it won’t take that long because I’m creatively driven, business minded, and I genuinely love marketing. All that to say, I’m in this for the long haul because this is where my heart lives.

And if you don’t know me yet, I’m all about heart. I have a lot of faith in myself but for those moments of doubt, I’m surrounded by people who believe in me too, and that makes all the difference.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I have definitely had days where I felt like I was tap dancing to work. That being said, I have multiple part-time jobs that allow me the flexibility and time to devote to growing my business. I substitute teach elementary school, which I wouldn’t say makes me happy dance, but I do enjoy it. I also coach a year-round swim team, where I get to work with kids and share my love of swimming. Last but not least, I work on my business. Working these flexible jobs allows me time during the week to devote a lot of energy to Abi Ink.

A time when I truly felt like I was tap dancing was the day I had the aha moment to start Abi Ink. I had learned a lot about what I didn’t want to be doing, which led to working many part-time jobs while trying to figure things out. At one of those jobs, my boss had been encouraging me for a long time to pursue something of my own. After I was turned down for the print design job I mentioned earlier, they kept nudging me to try my own thing. One day while we were brainstorming, they casually said the name Abi Ink and everything clicked. For some reason, that name, combined with all the ideas I had been sitting on, just felt right. I bought a website domain that same day and started learning. I remember feeling so over-the-moon excited about the business I was just starting to build. I probably did do a little dance that day.

Each day I show up for Abi Ink, which is just about every day, I think my heart does a little dance for me too. I know I’m on the right path because working on my business brings me genuine joy. Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted a job where I love what I’m doing. Every job, no matter how amazing, comes with parts that are less fun, but since I’m building something of my own, even the mundane tasks have a spark of joy in them.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abi-ink.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abiinkstudio/