Tabitha Taylor: Painting The Town

Photos by: Darrin Phegley

Throughout Downtown Henderson, vibrant window art has captured the attention of many community members and businesses. The artist of many of these pieces, Tabitha Taylor, has been able to transform her artwork into a fully-fledged window painting business, bringing color and expression to 2nd Street and beyond.

Building a Business

Tabitha’s venture into window art began with some part-time gigs during her late teens about six years ago. She was working at local Downtown restaurant, Hometown Roots, as a hostess and helped put together signage and chalkboard menus. Eventually, she said, another business asked if she would be interested in doing decorative paintings on their windows.

“I decided then and there that yes, I paint windows. I started painting windows and gradually figured out a method that I feel is really high quality for my standard. I don’t do a window painting that I’m not proud of,” she said.

She began to bring in a large following in 2022 around Christmas time after creating a window painting for Antler’s Specialty Goods, which garnered a lot of attention from the community. Ever since, she said, she has been doing paintings all year-round rather than just during the holidays, allowing her to leave her full-time job and pursue her passion, creating window art and commissioned art pieces full-time.

Tabitha’s window paintings are semi-permanent and weatherproof, but still completely removable, though for those wanting to keep the signage long-term, she does recommend a touch-up after about six months.

Though window art is her signature, Tabitha also does commissioned art pieces and murals. Each project, she said, is an opportunity to keep a paintbrush in her hand and keep doing what she loves.

“It’s been absolutely fabulous. I mean, I did not anticipate at all having as much business as I did this year. And I only plan on getting better from here,” she said.

While her life predominantly revolves around her art, Tabitha is also an avid supporter of local businesses. She enjoys spending time with her fiance and dog, trying new coffee places, thrift shopping, and exploring the vibrant community she contributes to through her art. As a small business owner, her life is a delicate balance between creativity and personal fulfillment.

The Process

From Hometown Roots and Roast Coffee Bar, to Butler’s Apothecary and J’Petals, her art graces the windows of a diverse array of establishments. What sets her apart is her commitment to capturing the essence of each business. By molding her subject matter and style to reflect the aesthetic of the establishment, she ensures a personalized touch that resonates with both business owners and the community.

“I really just focus on the business that I’m doing the work for,” she said. “I really like going in there and getting the feel of the aesthetic. And then making sure that these businesses and places get a really specialized piece of work that represents their business well.”

Tabitha said her love for art started when she was just a child. She draws a lot of inspiration from real-life references, such as pictures or things she comes across on social media and online, as well as from the outpouring of support she receives from her community.

The community feedback she has received since starting her business, she said, has been positive and uplifting, with many expressing that they enjoy seeing all the art and businesses throughout Henderson really brought to life.

“It really just warms my heart hearing that people are able to enjoy what I’m able to create. It’s super inspiring for me,” she said. “I just want to create art. That’s always what I wanted to do.”