Coloring Henderson

Tabitha Taylor’s Local Touch

Photos provided by Tabitha Taylor

For Tabitha Taylor, creativity was never a conscious choice; it was an innate trait that seemed built into her DNA. What started as a quiet personal hobby of making art for herself soon blossomed into a full-fledged local business, It’s By Tab, driven by growing demand from her community and a simple, persuasive piece of logic.

“I originally wanted to keep my art a hobby,” Taylor said. “But I figured, why not get paid to do what you love?”

Today, Taylor’s work is seamlessly woven into the everyday landscape of Henderson. A self-described artistic “chameleon” who adapts her style to suit any occasion, she has become a familiar, cheerful fixture along Main Street and throughout the city’s business district. Her portfolio spans an impressive range of media, from intricate outdoor murals and seasonal storefront displays to dynamic window paintings and fine art canvases.

Working closely with local shop owners, Taylor treats every project as a collaborative creative endeavor, exchanging ideas with clients to craft custom designs that honor a business’s identity while reflecting the community’s welcoming spirit. That collaborative process often comes to life right on the sidewalk, where her storefront displays turn glass into an interactive canvas.

While some may view painting directly on glass as a delicate challenge, Taylor finds the medium remarkably forgiving compared with traditional stretched canvas.

“If I make a mistake on glass, all I have to do is swipe it off or scrape it off and it’s a fresh slate,” she explained.

Instead, the primary obstacle comes from nature itself.

“The hardest part of window painting is the weather, I can only paint outside under certain conditions for the paint to dry correctly,” Taylor said.

Among her favorite local installations is a vibrant forget-me-not flower mural on the east side of Henderson, designed to brighten the surrounding neighborhood. Another standout project is an interactive wing mural painted for the Henderson Tourist Depot on the side of Butler’s Apothecary.

“I love doing interactive murals because I see them randomly pop up in my social media feed as a new memory for a stranger,” Taylor said. “It’s awesome.”

Working in the community also offers unexpected moments of human connection.

“I love doing window paintings on Main Street,” she added. “There’s so many interesting people I get to chat with while I paint.”

Inside her studio, Taylor’s daily workflow reflects a rotation of projects, mock-ups, custom commissions and preparations for large-scale projects.

“My studio is rarely photo-ready,” she said with a laugh.

A typical day begins with drafting mock-ups and working on private commissions or personal projects before heading out to paint a storefront window.

Beyond commercial displays, Taylor’s fine art canvas work is guided by a desire to evoke subtle, positive emotions in everyday life.

“I really like to create things that make people smile,” Taylor said. “Before you go to bed at night, you should try to think of at least one good thing that happened that day. If seeing a painting that made you smile is that one thing, then I’ve done my duty as an artist.”

As a working artist in Henderson, Taylor takes pride in seeing her work become part of local businesses and public spaces.

“It’s such an honor to me that businesses want to include my artwork in what makes their business special,” she said. “There are so many ways you can decorate your business, and when people want me to help with that, I’m really excited about it.”

Looking ahead, Taylor aims to expand her reach with additional large-scale window displays and public murals across the region.

For aspiring artists hoping to turn their creative talents into a career or local business, Taylor offers straightforward advice:

“Never turn down a conversation,” Taylor urged. “You find some of your best clients and artistic ideas this way.”

How to Connect

Social media: Follow It’s By Tab on Facebook and Instagram.

Website: Visit TabithaTaylorArt.com for commissions, project inquiries and booking details.