Business & Tech

New Business Will Bring Out Your Inner Artist

Veteran art teacher Theresa Gritti's new business PaintDrinkCreate offers "Paint Your Pet" nights as well as group painting parties at several different local venues.

An area artist and former art teacher has created a new local business aimed at providing a fun and creative night out for people. 

Theresa Gritti, who spent 35 years as an art teacher in Everett and who still teaches part time, founded the Wakefield-based PaintDrinkCreate in late 2013, and had a ribbon cutting event last week with the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce. Before opening PaintDrinkCreate, Gritti was the owner of the former Curves in Lynnfield. She has lived in Wakefield for the past 10 years, having previously been a longtime Stoneham resident. 

PaintDrinkCreate events are held at the Clarion Hotel in Wakefield, The Ship in Lynnfield, and at Gaetano's Restaurant in Stoneham. After ordering food and drinks at one of the previously mentioned locales (billed separately), it's time for the creativity. 

"As an art teacher I can teach them in a fun, non-frustrating way," said Gritti in a recent conversation with Patch. "They've never even painted before and they do an unbelievable job." 

Gritti leads the groups through one of numerous pre-selected paintings, with a teaching style that has even those who have never picked up a brush learning with relative ease and quickness. Those interested can sign up for upcoming events listed on her calendar - Or parties of 10 or more can reserve their own events. She also intends to have her business do corporate events, local fundraising, school events, and bridal parties in time. 

She also has another increasingly popular option - a "Paint Your Pet" night. A couple of weeks in advance, people email a favorite photo of their pet for Gritti to do a basic sketch of, and then the owners, under her guidance, proceed to fill in the rest during their night out. 

"I try to teach them about form and painting and texture," said Gritti. "In a three hour class they leave with a really nice painting." 

To learn more about PaintDrinkCreate, visit Theresa's website at this link


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