Painting With a Twist Helps Patrons Tap Their Inner Artist

ST. PETERSBURG - Marvin and Leslie Gay know all about taking chances.

Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the couple took a chance and moved to St. Petersburg to start a new life.

They rolled the dice again, when they opened an unusual business on Central Avenue that offers novices paintbrushes and canvases, then helps them tap their inner artist.

The couple owns and operates Painting With a Twist, which provides the studio, all of the supplies and an art instructor. Visitors not only leave with a picture, they also seem to have a lot of fun. And that's the whole point.

Sessions range from $35 to $45 for two or three hours in well-lit, colorful studios, at 2527 Central Ave. Painters of all skill levels follow the instructions of the artist. They're encouraged to bring their friends and refreshments to make a party of it.

The business model got its start as Corks N Canvas in New Orleans in 2007. St. Pete was the first franchise of Painting With a Twist, a nationwide company. Leslie and Marvin opened their second franchise in Tampa in January.

Leslie, a former accountant, took time from an afternoon session to answer a few questions about the business.

Q. What makes your business different from art workshops or studios?

A. We're not actually art lessons. You wouldn't take a six-week class here. You can come once or as many times as you want. We do art as entertainment. It's meant to be fun. It's social painting. You'll start with a blank canvas and at the end of the class you'll have something to take home and hang up on your wall.”

Q. Some patrons bring wine to the studio?

A. That's the "twist" in our name. You are welcome to bring your favorite bottle of wine or whatever refreshments you would like to bring. The idea is that it's an event. It's a whole experience of having fun, and the wine just kind of makes it more of a relaxing atmosphere for everybody to enjoy.

Q. What do you hope folks get out of it?

A. It's a fun evening to be with friends. Some people just like the experience of painting with other people, and don't like sitting and painting alone. I think most people are surprised at just how good their painting turns out. Even the biggest skeptics.

Q. What made you decide to open a painting franchise?

A. I wouldn't have gone back into business without it being something that people have a good time with. That's what attracted me to it. I'm having a good time and there's probably a lot of others in my circumstance who are totally not in the art field. I worked as an accountant with numbers all day long.