05/25/2024
I renewed my LLC paperwork today and realized I started Pop Up Paint Party in 2014, with a box of canvas, a bucket of brushes, some paint and a dream to help people live their best lives for two hours while they sat and painted with me, The Paint Lady.
Today I also did a Pop Up Paint Party Bond’s Brewing Company —a painting I invented back when the first Northern Lights were visible over Laramie--close to 10 years ago. It's my most popular painting. If you've done this one with me, you know we make fun sounds, we sling paint, we laugh and have a great time. You also know my mantra, that I can "fix anything with paint".
At this party I had an experience that lifted my heart so high and indeed made me realize that yep, paint sure fixes a lot. A young gentleman was in my class and was getting frustrated with how his painting was turning out. I went over to him and could see he was holding back tears, so I had him step back (go to "paint time-out"), take a deep breath, let the paint dry a bit and told him he and I would "fix" it together. I gave him a fist bump and a pinky swear that we could make it right. I came back over after making my rounds and we mixed some colors, stood up, grabbed the brush "like a wand," made the fun sounds and got his painting to where he was excited and happy with what it was becoming. After the party, when I was packing up and leaving, he said to me: "Thank you Paint Lady. This was the BEST day of my life." He left empowered, realizing that even though he was frustrated, sometimes it only takes stepping back, giving things a few minutes, and then trying again.
That, folks, is why I keep doing Paint Party after 10 years, through upturns and downturns and the difficulties of running a business in our little town of Laramie.
Thank you Laramie for 10 great years! The BEST years of my life! I hope you'll come create with me soon, so we can sling some paint together and make fun sounds--and turn a Paint Party painting day into one of the BEST days of your life. 😉