Nearly 15 years ago, Hurricane Katrina hit Leslie Gay’s home in New Orleans and she found herself seeking refuge temporarily in St. Pete. In a state of confusion and fear, she found St. Pete to be an incredibly friendly and helpful city. Everyone went out of their way to help her find resources and a place to live. A few years later, the retiree with an entrepreneurial mind came back for good and became a small business owner in the Grand Central District. She got her business idea from a little company in Louisiana called Corks and Canvas.
Within a state of devastated homes and hearts, this little company started hosting guided painting projects where the class would all learn to paint a specific piece with a local artist and sip a little wine together. It was a simple yet fun concept that served to brighten spirits a little. Corks and Canvas became Painting with a Twist and Leslie brought their first franchise to sunny St. Pete 10 years ago in August. There are now over 300 studios across the country.
What Is It?
Join resident artists as they guide you through the creation of your own homemade painting of a lovely tree scene or maybe a fun family of owls. The resident artist creates or chooses the painting ahead of time. It might seem stressful to some, but the pieces chosen to paint are meant to be fun and easy to complete in the 2 hours allotted and to keep the focus on painting, any difficult stenciling is done ahead of time.
Painting With A Twist resident artists are a fun bunch, keeping you entertained while they walk you through the process. One leads the class while another walks around to address any questions. Sometimes you’ll paint on canvas, but they’ve incorporated several other fun mediums into the rotation including wine glasses and wood. If you want to bring in a bottle of wine to sip while you work, they’ll provide the party cups, ice, and corkscrews. If not, no problem! There are a few rules to follow, however. My personal favorite? “No paint brushes in your cup of wine!”
Who Is It For?
Painting together is a great way to bond; all kinds of groups come through the door at Painting With A Twist. Date nights are a big hit, but it’s also a fun activity for friends and great for birthday parties and bachelorette parties. The vibe is light and easygoing. It’s less rowdy than the bar scene and it’s safe to be a little creative while sipping a drink. Since most of Leslie’s participants are women, so she put a lot of thought into location. The space has ample, well-lit parking so there are no issues getting home after the 9pm wrap up.
Leslie’s location also has two spaces that can be rented out for special occasions. The upstairs rooms are popular for kids’ birthday parties and can accommodate up to 20 people. Their main room downstairs holds up to 32 and has hosted all kinds of groups, including corporate team building functions. One team-building exercise allows each employee to paint a piece of a larger mural that is then be installed back at the office. There have been plenty of unconventional nights. too; at least 3 proposals have been successfully pulled off onsite.
Painting With A Twist also carries out a social mission. Leslie felt so welcomed in her time of need in St. Pete, so giving back to the community is important to her. From the beginning they’ve held monthly Painting with a Purpose nights where they partner with a nonprofit and split the proceeds with the chosen organization. To date, they’ve helped produce over $100,000 in cash donations for organizations like Ronald McDonald House, CASA, Suncoast Basset Rescue, The American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society.
In August, Painting With A Twist celebrated their 10 year anniversary! They had a painting party to celebrate the occasion and gave away prizes to all who attended. The big prize being a party for 10 people. Sign up online for a preselected painting that fits your vibe at www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/stpetersburg or text PARTY to 727-327-4488 to book a room for your own soiree.
