Releasing Your Inner Muse With Wine and Paint

Red wine pairs beautifully with steak and chocolate, but who knew it’s perfect for Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”? For those looking for more than a night out at the bar, the latest trend combines drinking with painting. Whether your artistic skills earned you praise at your college art center or peaked with elementary school drawings hung lovingly on the fridge, two NH businesses are helping folks release their inner muse.

Muse Paintbar offers guests food, alcohol, painting lessons and socializing all wrapped into one at its Manchester location while The Canvas Roadshow takes its lessons to private homes, restaurants, businesses and other groups and organizations. “Ultimately, we want to teach some technique, but mostly we just want our customers to have a good time—to leave with a new knowledge and appreciation for art,” says Vanessa Leigh, lead artist and co-founder of Muse Paintbar, which opened in December.

Co-owner Stan Finch says the paintbar movement swept through the Southern states in recent years. “We wanted to bring this concept to New England," he says. Finch says the business took off quickly, offering classes Wednesday through Sunday for individuals or groups of up to 50. Muse employs five artists and classes are often full. During classes, Leigh or another artist/instructor paints on a canvas at the front of the room, taking participants through a “layer-by-layer” recreation.

Some lessons cover recreations of famous paintings, such as Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” while others are commissioned exclusively for Muse. While recreating your painting, you have the opportunity to “feed your muse” with dishes ranging from Asiago risotto balls, spanakopita, Thai spring rolls and a chardonnay or, if you prefer, candy and vitamin water. Classes range in price from $29 to $39 per person.

While Muse’s  customers are mostly women, more men are venturing in for the experience. “We get all types of people in here,” Finch says. Muse also hosts private events, kids’ birthday parties, couples painting, baby and wedding showers, corporate events and fund raisers. The paintbar plans to add singles mixers to its event offerings. “When you’re older, you reach a certain age where you don’t remember how to do something new. You’re afraid to try it,” says Leigh. “It’s important to get out of your box, and with Muse, you really have something that lets you do just that.”

Muse is already in the process of expanding and will open a location in West Hartford, Conn. later this year. “This isn’t something we want to have in one place. We want as many people as possible to have this experience,” Finch says. In addition, the company donates five percent of all profits to local causes.

Debbie Ellis, a professional photographer, has also been inspired to bring her love of art to the southern NH community. Since October, Ellis and her Canvas Roadshow have traveled throughout New England to teach pre-selected works in a step-by-step painting process. The Canvas Roadshow, which includes Ellis, three artists and two assistants, allows customers to pick their own time and location, and they provide the necessary supplies. The business visited more than 14 venues in May alone.

“The Roadshow’s main focus is from Manchester to Nashua. What’s unique about our business is that we’ll come to you. The furthest south we’ve gone is Stoneham, Mass., but we’re looking to get out to the seacoast and to Peterborough,” says Ellis. “Our main demographic is educated and upscale women.”

The Roadshow also partners with nonprofits and recently signed a lease for a studio in Bedford that will open in July.

Ellis has already recouped her $1,000 investment. “For such a young business, we’ve done remarkably well. A business like ours gives people a chance to escape from their hectic lives for a while and have fun at the same time,” she says. “Wine helps,” she adds with a laugh. Sessions range from $35 to $45 depending on the time it takes to finish a painting, and a minimum of 12 people is required for a private party.

For more information, visit musepaintbar.com and thecanvasroadshow.com.

By Emily Winters of the Young Reporter’s Project, a partnership between Business NH Magazine and Southern NH University.