Local residents and tourists alike now have a new outlet to express themselves with the opening of the Big Picture Paint & Sip Studio. Located in the busy community of Olde Towne Mall at Sandyport, the company offers a variety of art-inspired programs designed for patrons to paint, sip, mingle and have fun.
The 1,018 sq. ft. space features an elegantly designed studio with 24 work stations equipped with canvases and paint supplies. Owner Gennyne Hepburn, a certified public accountant, was inspired to open the studio as a way for people to incorporate art into everyday living.
"Art has always been a passion of mine since childhood. Even while working in the corporate environment for the past decade, I always found myself seeking to balance my technical mindset with creative projects, " she explained. "Opening a full paint studio allows me to share my talents with clients and give them a different way to celebrate special occasions. At Big Picture, they are able to paint in a relaxed, social environment and reconnect with their inner artist while creating memories."
A 2005 graduate of Hartwick College in New York, Hepburn holds a bachelor's degree in accounting with a minor in studio art. And while the greater part of her career involved crunching numbers and producing financial audits, she continued to hone her artistic talents throughout the years. In 2009, Hepburn hosted the first of many private exhibits where art lovers were able to acquire her pieces for their personal collections.
Last year, she began art tutoring sessions on the weekends, teaching specific painting techniques to young learners. "That's when it clicked and I finally saw the 'big picture', where I could combine my love for art and my passion for sharing it with others into a viable business."
The studio is currently accepting bookings for private paint parties, group events, corporate team building functions, bridal showers and interactive "Little Picture" sessions for kids. Weekly in-studio paint sessions are also available Wednesdays to Saturdays. Session prices range from $45 per painter for kids to $60 and up for adults and includes the guidance of an instructor.
Each in-studio sitting includes wine and light refreshments for adults and lunch for kids. At the end of the paint session, clients are able to take their keepsake paintings with them as a reminder of the day. Offsite private paint parties start at $35 per painter for kids and $40 per painter for adults.
"So far, the response from the community has been a mix of excitement and curiosity," Hepburn said. "People are stopping by to inquire about booking events and we've had several in-studio paint sessions already since our official start date on Friday, April 8th. Our opening event created quite a bit of buzz and we look forward to persons visiting our studio and having the full experience."
For more information on Big Picture Paint & Sip Studio and to book paint sessions or private events, visit https://www.bigpicltd.com, call 242-601-0144 or follow them on facebook.com/bigpictureltd, Instagram and Twitter @bigpictureltd.
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