Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
For the past nine years, Halee Vaughan has used a paintbrush to do something many artists hope to achieve: brighten lives.
Through Halee Vaughan Art, she has transformed ordinary walls into welcoming spaces, preserved cherished memories through custom pet portraits, and created moments of joy for families across Central Alabama.
What began as a passion has grown into a thriving business serving Autauga, Elmore, and surrounding counties. Whether she’s painting a vibrant school mural, creating a portrait of a beloved pet, transforming a local business with custom artwork or putting a smile on a child’s face through face painting at a community event, Vaughan approaches every project with the same goal: creating something that brings joy, encourages others and leaves people feeling a little brighter than before.
Vaughan started her business in 2017, two years into working alongside Kasey Hope, owner of P’zazz Art Studio. She taught art classes and managed the studio while also continuing running her business at the same time. Vaughan credits Hope with helping shape both her skills as an artist and her confidence as a business owner.
She said the years she spent at P’zazz Art Studio taught her valuable lessons about creativity; customer relationships and the dedication it takes to build a successful business. Those experiences gave her the foundation she needed when she decided to pursue her own dream and establish Halee Vaughan Art.
For Vaughan, success has never been measured by the number of murals she paints. Instead, it is measured by the smiles they create.
“I always try to stay positive,” Vaughan said. “I do not dwell on the negative. My goal is to spread joy through my art.”
That outlook has become the foundation of her business.
Some of her most personal work comes through custom pet portraits. While those commissions often begin during difficult seasons after the loss of a beloved companion, Vaughan hopes the finished painting brings comfort rather than sadness.
“They can always see a picture of that animal forever,” she said. “It’s more of a positive thing.”
The same philosophy carries into every mural she creates. Bright colors, encouraging messages and thoughtful designs are intended to leave people feeling a little happier than they were before.
Vaughan’s work has become increasingly recognizable throughout Central Alabama, particularly in Autauga and Elmore counties, where schools and businesses have embraced her artistic style. Each project is tailored to the people and places it represents, allowing every mural to tell its own story.
While her business has continued to grow, Vaughan remains focused on what inspired her from the beginning: using her creativity to serve others.
“Uplifting is the greatest word,” she said when describing the heart behind her work.
That desire to give back is now extending beyond her commissioned artwork.
To celebrate the communities that have supported Halee Vaughan Art, Vaughan recently launched a Break Room Mural Giveaway for schools across Central Alabama.
The giveaway invites community members to nominate a school by sharing why its teachers deserve a refreshed, inspiring break room. The selected school will receive a custom mural designed specifically for its faculty space.
“I’ve been so blessed to paint murals across central Alabama and want to give back,” Vaughan shared in announcing the project.
Entries for the giveaway will be accepted through July 24, with the winning school announced July 27.
For Vaughan, the giveaway represents more than another mural. It is another opportunity to thank educators while continuing to spread kindness, create hope and brighten the lives of others, one brushstroke at a time.
More information about the giveaway and photos of Vaughan’s work can be found on her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/haleevaughanart or her website at: https://www.haleevaughanart.com.
