Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Burns.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
There I was just having graduated with a Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts and feeling all the pressures of having absolutely no idea how to earn a living and be happy doing what I love. Now, it was time for me to get a job, but doing what? Painting? How? I had literally no idea how to go about this. With student loans and other bills to pay, I had to figure something out and fast!
For a short while, I worked in an office where I was mainly miserable and spent most of the day decorating my space and doodling. That job didn’t last long. There were a few more years of working for other companies doing a bit more creative of work, but I still was not happy with where my career was overall. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. I knew I had more in me and wanted to share my passion of art. I wanted to make MY dreams come true, not just someone else’s.
One summer day, I couldn’t take it anymore and left my job. I had no idea what to do next or where to start. The only thing that I really knew how to do was to create. I found some old wood pallets, ripped them apart in my backyard and transformed them into rustic painted signs. I walked around downtown Plymouth with my signs for hours asking business after business if they were interested in selling them. After many ‘No’s’, I came across a shop were the owner loved them and placed an order. In the midst of my first sale with this business, a woman who happened to be shopping at that moment bought a sign from me and even asked me to sign it! What an incredible feeling! I thought, “This is amazing! I just sold my own work!”
I started talking to restaurants and bars and other businesses about what I could offer them. “I think a mural on this wall would look amazing!” or “I think these chandeliers could use a pop of color.” And to my surprise, they started saying “yes” to me and I began earning some real money. I painted sidewalk sandwich signs, painted signs on brick walls, made artwork for restaurants, murals, – anything and everything!
My next opportunity arose from just having fun, playing around with ideas in my room at home. What started out as a small Christmas ornament, became what is now copyright as “Beach Globes”. I quickly sold these nautical ornaments to sixteen different stores around the South Shore. I was doing it! I was making money to pay my bills and I wasn’t miserable going to work everyday! Now, my drive for creative adventure certainly didn’t stop with these signs and Beach Globes. I knew there was something else I had to offer!
Not too long after the Beach Globes were going strong, I started to see some social media excitement surrounding an idea where people go to bars and paint. They were just getting popular – paint parties. “Hmm…This looks really cool!” I thought.
I played with the idea of applying to this company to be an instructor, however a few things were stopping me from doing this. First, I’d be working for some else again. Second, I would have to physically stand up in front of everyone and actually teach. This thought was scary to me. I had never done something like that before. Public speaking? Me? Could I really let that stop me though?
The thought of trying this was exciting and intriguing to me! It came to a point where I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I started talking to my friends and family about starting my own paint party events, but I was nervous. Can I really do it? How do I even go about it? There were so many thoughts running through my mind holding me back. I was also nervous about buying the supplies to do it. Yes, I was selling my work, however I only had a small emergency fund set aside and that was all.
The day finally came where I bit the bullet! I cracked open that piggy bank to follow my dreams! I spent all my savings on supplies and booked my first event at my friend’s restaurant. I had no idea if it would work or not. To my surprise, that first event sold out.
Standing in front of everyone, sharing what I love, and taking them step-by-step through the painting while encouraging them to make it their own was an amazing feeling. After we were finished, I had people coming up to me saying they had a blast and they were so impressed with themselves. They said they couldn’t even draw a stick figure before and yet here they were proudly displaying their works of art! They were dying to know when the next event would be! It was that night that I realized this is what I need to be doing. To be doing something I love and to have an effect of someone else’s life was my calling.
From there, I went to different restaurants and bars where I then found myself needing extra help and having to hire instructors. I started to book private parties, fundraisers, and corporate events. I booked events at assisted living facilities, juvenile detention centers, and even after school programs, just to name a few.
Here I was working out of my tiny apartment where my business was taking over my personal space. I knew, I needed my own studio at this point. However, the wedge of doubt showed its face again. I was nervous about how to go about this and if I could even really afford to do it. I decided to take that leap, and I opened Kreativ Paint Studio! Finally, my own space to hold public and private events for people of all ages! I love my studio. It’s my favorite place to be! Yeah, my work is my favorite place to be!
When I stop and think about how far I’ve come, I can only think about how many walks of life I’ve influenced with the power of art. It makes me proud to know that through people’s many stages of life, we are all connected with the ability to create something beautiful and have fun with art as a whole! To have this type of positive effect on someone’s life and having a blast while doing it was my goal from the very start! It really is true what they say about how you’ll never work a day in your life if you’re doing something you love – as corny as that sounds!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It certainly hasn’t been easy getting to where I am today for sure. I went to school for drawing and painting and was never taught about the business aspect of everything. From pricing my artwork, knowing my own self-worth, understanding competition, how to advertise, hiring help, social media, accounting, insurance, business taxes, copyright law, etc. I literally had no idea where to start. Everything was extremely intimidating to me. If I had to give another young woman advice who dreamed of starting her own business, I would simply say to do your research, know your passions, strengths, and understand where your resources lie. Be sure of yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask questions to people who have already been on that road before you. If you are in school, look into some business classes. I would always encourage people to major in art, just be sure to fully understand how you can earn money with that degree once you’ve graduated. I’d also say to take that leap and make your ideas come to fruition.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kreativ Paint Parties – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Kreativ Paint Parties is more than just painting at bars and restaurants. I set myself apart from other businesses by being an essential part of the community and giving the gift of art to all walks of life. I’m sharing my passion with anyone that wants to learn or take the chance to be “kreativ”!
I am most proud of the feedback I get from my painters. Each event I get to see what art is doing for others. It is challenging them and showing them they can do something they may have thought they couldn’t. They really get to celebrate themselves and have a different type of fun than just the normal Tuesday night.
For the kids in juvenile detention, they would ask me if they could continue painting with me after they get out asking me if they could work for me. They are so proud of their work, giving it to family members who visit and lining their gray concrete walls with beautiful works of art. I would love watching them paint, seeing them just being kids and forgetting what mess they had going on or had gotten themselves into. One of my favorite memories from working with them was watching this “tough” kid spinning around with his painting – holding it in both hands, smiling, trying to make it dry so he could continue working on it. I mean this was what it is all about – sharing the joy, the escape that art offers.
At an assisted living facility event, one woman called me over and told me she was 98 years old and had never painted before in her life. My event was her first art experience and she was in love with it, but sad that she had waited this long to have tried. Since then, we have painted many times together and she shares her artwork with her family.
After school events that usually consist of 90+ kids are also amazing. I love watching their personalities come out on the canvas. After one of these events, I got an email from one of the parents with a picture attached. She told me her daughter had such a wonderful time that when she got home, she made her own headset microphone (like mine) out of pipe cleaners and was putting on her own art class. She was only in kindergarten!
I think what sets me apart from other paint events is my patience. The way I instruct and how I describe the steps are entertaining and motivating. However, I take the time to give one-on-one attention to those who need it or want it. I am really good at feeling people’s energy and that helps with knowing how to work with them. I make it fun and I always challenge my group of painters by showing them ways to “take it to the next level”.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Podcasts:
Chalene Johnson podcasts – The Chalene Show and Build your Tribe
Earn your happy Lori Harder
Dave Asprey Bulet Proof Radio
The Art History Babes
Books:
The Universe has your back By Gabrielle Bernstein
Enter Leadership by Dave Ramsey
Harthorne on Painting Collected by Mrs. Charles W. Hawthorne
You are a Badass by Jen Sincere
Contact Info:
- Address: 687 State Road Plymouth
- Website: www.KreativPaintParties.com
- Phone: 5084986689
- Email: KreativPaintParties@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreativpaintparties/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kreativdrinking/
Image Credit:
A few were taken by: Dan Rapoza
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
