Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Lampinen.
Hi Caroline, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was the kid in elementary school my friends would ask to draw their names “in bubble letters” and now I’m working on a three story mural that says BALTIMORE, each letter being four feet high.
I grew up in Michigan, studied graphic design in undergrad, then abandoned art almost entirely for ten-ish years. I worked in education, non profit, and arts organizations across the US – Arkansas, Mississippi, Colorado, Arizona, Maryland. The work was impactful and exhausting. I hit a critical point in 2021, and ultimately to leave the non-profit world.
When I moved to Baltimore in 2017, I found myself working on chalkboards, then window painting, then assisting murals. It all felt somewhat accidental and filled with joy. I was and continue to be in awe of the kindness and supportive nature of the Baltimore art scene, local business owners, and all the people that employ artists like me. Every person I worked with and asked questions of was warm and welcoming, and I feel our city is the embodiment of community over competition. While I expected to do education consulting with art on the side when I quit my job in 2021, I was quickly making enough money to pursue art full time, so I did!
I now run Okay Everything, which specializes in murals, windows, and chalkboards. I’m currently working on scaling up, and have an incredible roster of skilled assistants that I hope to hire more and more, as well as a project manager / assistant I’m hoping to one day hire full time. I also opened Everything Studio in April of 2025, which is a large studio space with a common area and six individual artist’s studios. I currently have seven tenants. It’s quite literally a dream life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a business is never a smooth road, but I think most entrepreneurs thrive in the bumps. One of my biggest struggles has been time management. I am very used to managing projects and people, but with me as the sole enforcer of deadlines and expectations, it can be tough to have the right priorities every day. There are so many different things I can and want to do, so many details to button up, and unlimited outreach and marketing I need and want to do to grow. But I am one single person, and it’s not feasible for me to live life and be completely consumed by work.
What I’ve learned as a result is to surround myelf with competent people, and hire them to play to their strengths. My project manager / assistant has been working for me for about six months, and I now have know idea how I functioned without her. I sometimes have her just sit in a video meeting with me as I go through my inbox to hold me accountable and help move tasks from email to our Asana boards. Outsourcing and asking for help has improved my business enormously.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Baltimore artist that loves to use bright, playful colors and hand drawn lettering. I primarily paint murals and windows, and sometimes create chalkboards for businesses. The vast majority of my work is commercial, and I sometimes will get hired to install the design work of others (like logos, sign painting, and branded environments). I love all of it.
I’m brand new to directing a studio, but very excited to be building a collaborative workspace that is beautiful and functional. Thee six studios are currently housing eight artists (including myself), and I have hopes for it to be a thriving event space on weekends. It’s been a super fun new adventure and is called Everything Studio.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I use Instagram so much for my business, and mentorship is definitely one reason for it. I often have people reach out to me about pricing, materials, or other questions about my work – I try to answer as best I can, as I’ve only been doing this for three years! I also use Instagram to find other muralists and artist business owners who are further ahead than me in the process so I can ask my own questions! People have been super receptive and kind. As far as networking, I love going to Creative Mornings each month, try to attend as many art events as I can, and keep an eye on what new projects are going up in my city at any given time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/okayeverything
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okay_everything/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Madison R Short
