One dab of paint, two blended colors, three brush strokes and four deep breaths of positivity.
Painting with a Twist has been on my to-do list for quite some time now, and, luckily, the opportunity glided into my life at the perfect time.
Though there are several locations throughout South Florida, the one I went to was conveniently close to campus on University Drive and Stirling Road and is run by one of the most amiable couples I’ve ever met Glenn and Ophelia.
As soon I walked in the Davie location, I was engulfed by a radiant energy. I knew I had found a true gem. Glenn and Ophelia didn’t hesitate welcoming me into their art studio, and, although I was a few minutes late for the session, they wasted no time getting me all set up. Within five minutes, I already had my apron, a vibrant easel full of vivid colors, two paint brushes, which they referred to as “Lil Wayne” and “Big Poppa,” and a blank canvas ready to be painted by my inner Van Gogh.
Each class teaches you to recreate a different painting. The class I attended happened to be painting the “Tree of Life,” which was perfect, considering I was feeling a little less grounded than I usually am. The teacher carefully guided attendees on how to create a flawless masterpiece. Her assistant also helped the slower painters like me who had fallen behind a few steps. He was attentive to my lack of painting skills; he continually assured me that there were no mistakes in art and that “there’s nothing you can’t fix with a little blending.”
A couple dabbles, spatters and coatings later, I was finished, and my beautiful “Tree of Life” had finally been brought to fruition. I was more than happy with my outcome, especially since I am devoid of any type of artistic skill known to mankind. I was highly impressed with my picture but more so impressed with the friendliness of the staff. My initial feelings of stress and disarray had completely dissolved by the end of this hour-and-a-half class. I was so amazed by my mood change that I had to share this experience with others — so I did.
There are two ways to enjoy Painting with a Twist: alone embracing the relaxing environment channeling your hidden artistic skills or with a group of friends who give painting a new meaning. The following day I invited my friends to enjoy this experience with me, but this time I added a few extra colors to the easel — so to speak. Two bottles of wine and a satiable cheese and grape platter was exactly what we needed to truly paint with a twist. This particular class was fuller and brought along a different energy. Unlike the soothing experience from the day before, this one had a much more jovial dynamism to it. From the moment we sat down to the moment we attempted to stand up straight — thank you pinot grigio — my friends and I had been consumed by gut-wrenching laughs, timeless inside jokes and an impeccable staff who made all of this possible.
Painting with a Twist is nothing less than an enjoyable experience. Whether you’re looking to wind down after a stressful day or simply looking for a place to hang out with your friends on a Saturday evening, Painting with a Twist is your go-to place. If the enthusiasm of the staff or the optimistic energy the location exudes aren’t reason enough to try a class, then the fact that you get to take home your very own Picasso-like piece and proudly hang it in your room certainly is.
Painting with a Twist is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. for public classes and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for private classes where you can have birthday parties, bachelorette parties and more. Public classes are open to those aged 18 and over and vary in length from one hour to three hours, depending on the picture. However, the one thing that each class guarantees is the inner artist who comes out in each and every stroke of paint, allowing you to literally paint a positive picture into your life.
