THE BEST TWIST IN THE STORY…
‘FUN’ ART, NOT ‘FINE’ ART BY CAROLYN S. PETERSON
When you want to have a new kind of fun with your family or friends, Painting with a Twist, the original and largest paint-and-sip franchise with a little something different is the place to go. Meet Anna and Chad Weatherford, Winston-Salem’s Painting with a Twist owners and franchisees! The couple’s experience began with Anna’s bachelorette party in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, which led to an unexpected career move. “My bachelorette party was amazing! I told Chad what a great time I had…and suggested looking into the franchise opportunity. After our wedding, we visited the first Painting with a Twist in Louisiana, and the more we learned, we knew we had to do it,” recalled Anna. Since Anna and Chad have full time jobs at Wells Fargo, they asked Anna’s mother, JoJo Skeriotis, to join them as the manager of Painting with a Twist, making this business a family affair.
CORPORATE TO CANVAS IS ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
Painting with a Twist opened this past August. JoJo said, “I have always worked with the public in some capacity, so when Anna and Chad presented this opportunity, I was excited to help. Many people are familiar with the idea of ‘sip and paint,’ but Painting with a Twist brings much more to the experience. All of our supplies are company branded, offering the highest quality in paints and brushes. Most of our classes begin with a blank 16 x 20 canvas, although a few may be pre-sketched. We have over 7,000 paintings to offer and all our instructors are local artists who offer suggestions but don’t touch the painting. Aspiring painters will recreate an existing painting, adding their own special touch to a piece, and what they will later create and take home is all their own. We provide supplies and our customers bring their choice of beverage and/ or food,” said JoJo. Anna and Chad were also drawn to Painting with a Twist because of the company’s belief in giving back to local charities. “Once a month we host a painting event that raises fund for local charities. We feature a special painting that everyone paints and we give 50% of our proceeds during the event back to the charity. In September, we supported Special Olympics and we’ll support Susan G. Komen in October,” Anna commented.
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JoJo, Anna’s mom is the ultimate matchmaker. Anna and Chad’s story begin when JoJo was promoted in her corporate job with Wells Fargo to Charlotte, NC from Pittsburgh, PA. Anna then decided to make the move to Winston-Salem, NC because she had family here. On JoJo’s first day in the office, a handsome young man walked by and said, ‘Hey, y’all.’ “As Chad walked by, I had an epiphany that he would marry Anna. Of course, Anna thought I was crazy and for nine months, refused to meet him.” In May 2010, JoJo finally got Anna to agree to meet Chad. They visited him at his home and afterwards, Anna conceded…he was the one! After that, Chad moved to Winston-Salem, and he and Anna became engaged…the rest is history! The twist is…Mom knows best!
‘LOOKS LIKE ART, FEELS LIKE FUN’
“Our location is next to HakkaChow, and our space is all windows with great light and a view. We have closed circuit TV, so the instructor can always be seen no matter where you are in the room. Most of our classes are two hours long, but there are also specialty classes, and we can also help you celebrate birthdays for kids and adults, bachelorette parties, couples’ or girls’ nights out… it is the perfect place to celebrate or to wind down after a hectic day! During the two hour class, we have time to mingle and have something to eat and drink. While the paintings dry, we play games, dance and have prize giveaways. Painting with a Twist isn’t like any other ‘sipand-paint’ that you have done. We make every moment you are with us fun and each group has its own twist,” Anna commented. One local couple who have made Painting with a Twist parties their night out is Renae and Larry Lail of Winston-Salem, NC. “I have been to four classes and love it!” stated Renae. “We enjoy the people and the fun atmosphere. You not only take home something that you’ve made, but great memories. There isn’t anything like it in town.” Many other people have made memories at Painting with a Twist as well, and JoJo has no doubt she, Anna and Chad were meant to be where they are with their business. “A customer contacted us about having a party for her mom who was having chemo treatments. When things came together, we painted, listening to the song ‘I Will Survive’ while Beverly, the mom, began to dance. It’s people and times like these that make me believe God put us here for a reason. I can’t imagine doing anything else!” JoJo said. Painting with a Twist is located at 633 St. Georges Square Ct., Winston-Salem, NC. For more information on upcoming classes or scheduling a party, visit paintingwithatwist.com/winstonsalem or call 336-448-0474. Hours of operation: Tues-Sat 12pm-6pm.