Painting with a Twist Founders Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney were looking for a way to give back to their community after Hurricane Katrina. After learning about speed painting events, both thought the concept could be an interesting business.
But Maloney said, “‘Well, I’m not the most creative type,’ so I’m trying to think of how this would appeal to a broader audience,'” says Katherine LeBlanc, CMO.
To which Deano responded, “‘well, why don’t we drink wine while we do it?’ And it was that simple,” says LeBlanc.
Since the company’s beginning, paint and wine events have grown. Now, there’s Pinot’s Palette, Muse Paint Bar and similar businesses across the U.S.
How it works is you find a location and sign up for an event, which is typically two hours. Artists guide the class through a set painting. The majority of the locations are BYOW (bring your own wine).
LeBlanc notes that these events are an “engaging activity that really open up some parts of your brain that you don’t get to open up if you’re just out to the bar.”
“In addition,” she says, “the wine really helps you get to that point where it’s like, ‘OK, I know I don’t know how to paint, but this [artist] is going to show me how and once I’ve had a glass of wine I don’t really care that much. I’m having a really good time.'”
“I think the accessibility to art and approachability to creating things on your own has really definitely given rise to different types of concepts as well as kind of copycat concepts,” says LeBlanc.
So, no need to worry about your creative abilities. Just grab a bottle of your favorite wine and get painting.
Published: April 19, 2021
