Paint and sip parties have become very popular across the country as different companies curate their own spin on the event. Typically, the experience includes a small group of people painting on a small canvas, sometimes following an instructor or a specific object. Guests are encouraged to bring their own wine and cocktail mixes along with a smooth playlist for some background music.
For Tinesha Sharpe, an awful experience turned into a thriving business.
Sharpe went on a date at a paint and sip event that failed to live up to her expectations from the limited selection of wine and beer served and lack of food options. “No mixers were provided so we were left to paint without the ‘sip’ part, which really [put a damper on] the experience for us,” Sharpe tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We finished the class around 10 p.m. and were hungry after, and regretted that we didn’t bring snacks to enjoy.”
She went on to open Paint N Pour, based in Harlem. The idea was to provide a more upscale version–think good music, drinks, and vibes–of the usual fare.
“Most paint n sips will have guests re-create a painting of a boring landscape or sunset, meanwhile Paint N Pour offers a wide selection of art that ranges from a recreation of a Van Gogh piece or painting an artist like Drake or Prince—and everything in between,” adds Sharpe. “A lot of our art focuses on the pop/hip-hop culture and the nostalgia of our favorite decades, the ’80s and ’90s.”
The parties include top-shelf drink options, rather than BYOB, ranging from margaritas to delicious alcoholic punches. A small appetizers menus allows you to eat while you sip on your drink.
Sharpe has served over 100,000 people since her 2018 launch.In addition to her Harlem studio, the company has recently opened a location in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan.