Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Hennessey.
Hi Lacey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My art career started back in college at Clemson University, long before I ever thought to call it a business. A fraternity “mountain weekend” cooler painting tradition ended up being my accidental launchpad. I painted one for a date, other girls noticed, and suddenly I was getting paid to paint theirs — complete with lists and checks left inside like a DIY order system.
One day in accounting class, a friend told me to put my cooler photos on Facebook and suggested the name Hennessey In The Home. I took his advice, made the page, and unknowingly planted the seed for what would eventually become my first brand.
After graduating, I worked in radio promotions and later at a marketing agency, where I learned events, business operations, and the importance of loving your work — even when the paycheck didn’t match the effort. When Instagram took off, it reignited my creativity. I started posting my art, #hashtagging everything, and creating pieces as gifts. Before long, I was working full time, while painting until midnight, taking orders through my DMs and building what became my side hustle.
By 2018, I left the corporate world and that side hustle became my full-time career. I built a website, so I didn’t have to chase payments, taught myself business basics through YouTube, and said yes to every opportunity. That momentum led to murals, a rebrand to LACEY DOES, and a growing audience who kept telling people, “See if Lacey does it,” because I probably did — or would — or could point them in the right direction.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it’s all about perspective. Am I doing what I love? Yes. Am I figuring it all out as I go? also yes. So course there are bumps, but if you look at the challenges or losses as wins, you really can’t lose. Most people struggle in the beginning because there are so many outside sources and noise telling you that “it will be hard”. Don’t listen to them and don’t let that stop you.
The moment I stopped worrying about what my friends and family thought of my business, I began to thrive. I believed in my skills and had a genuine curiosity to learn and knew I could achieve great things if I let go of insecurities others were projecting on me. If I had listened to even half the people who told me a career in art wouldn’t lead to success, I wouldn’t have the thriving business that I do. If you are lacking confidence, lead with blind confidence. Fake it til you make it! Put your head down, focus on YOUR goals, and you can do big things.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m Lacey Hennessey, a self-taught, traveling artist who creates vibrant visuals for brands, spaces, and products. What started as a love of color and a hatred for vacation policies —quickly turned a corporate exit into an exciting career, painting my way across the map. You can find more than 300 Lacey Does® murals across the U.S. and 1,500+ commissions in private homes. Known for my transparency, humor, and authentic storytelling, I’ve built a thriving community by sharing my journey publicly. In addition to murals, my expertise extends to licensing, speaking, and coaching — offering a library of creative resources — all designed to help others build a life and brand worth talking about. Join the party and go see what @lacey_does!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Become obsessed with achieving your goal – if you can’t find the time to work on your goal/your business, then it’s probably not the right plan for you. You’ll know you are on the right path because you won’t be able to stop thinking about ways to implement and execute. Be curious. Google what you don’t know. Talk to experts. You don’t know it all so ask for help and then practice what you learn.
Try new things. My business has been built on saying YES to new projects all the time. There was a time when I had never done a mural, and now it is my main source of income. If I hadn’t tried, I never would have found the biggest revenue stream for my career. As a self-taught artist I am living proof that with a little curiosity, effort and practice you can turn a passion into a lucrative profession.
Pricing:
- Hand painted murals typically range $35-70 sq/ft
- Vinyl installations are typically 35%-45% of the cost of a hand painted mural (for design work)
- Prints start at $40 and go up by scale
- Commissions are available for a variety of pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laceydoes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacey_does/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaceyDoes/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceyhennessey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lacey_does
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lacey_does
