Painting with a touch of elegance is what customers will find when attending an event at Paint Party Place in Missouri City.
The painting party studio, located at 3434 Murphy Road, was opened by mother-and-son duo Bren and Houston Morgan after they moved to the area from Alabama. With Bren's background as an artist and Houston's background in entrepreneurship, the pair combined their skills to open the studio in the Township Square shopping center.
Bren said she liked the boutique look of Township Square, which she compared to a community in the way that the stores all support each other.
"We came from a small town, so that feel was important," she said.
Bren operated a similar venue in Alabama, but said the bring-your-own-drink painting party concept is very competitive in the Greater Houston area. So when Bren chose the location, she purposefully created an ambience that was more upscale to help set the business apart.
The decision to open in Missouri City instead of Houston has paid off as neighborhood response has been tremendous, Bren said. The studio hosts between five and 10 parties each week, which includes everything from a girls' night out to neighborhood get-togethers, team-building events and birthday parties, Houston said.
The studio features two party rooms. The front room can hold up to 50 people, and the back room can hold up to 20 people and also includes a black-light option where painters can use paints infused with materials that light up under a black light, Houston said.
Customers can view the online calendar to see events and reserve a spot for public events. The business does not offer walk-in hours but private parties are available.
At Paint Party Place, customers are provided with easels, paintbrushes and aprons, and a professional artist guides customers through the painting process.
"Our customers say that the artists and attention to detail is the No. 1 thing that brings them back," Houston said. "They tell us that our artists give so much more instruction and care during the classes that they feel they are bringing home something they can be proud of."
Customers can also bring their own food and drinks, and the studio provides a refrigerator, wine chillers, ice, ice buckets, wine openers as well as plates, cups, utensils, napkins and wine glasses.
"We get a kick out of hearing people who have visited other places like ours, who walk in and immediately say 'Wow, this is so nice,'" Bren said.
Most events are $35 per person but there are also some premier paintings that cost $45 per person, Houston said. The premier paintings are typically events for couples that include two paintings that fit one motif, he said.
The close-knit atmosphere almost ensures customers leave with a new set of friends, Bren said.
"Especially when we have two groups at the same time, one party will end first, and they will mingle with the other party," she said. "By the time it is all over, everyone knows each other."
With the holiday season approaching, Bren said she has been experimenting with ideas, including paintings that incorporate lights and jewels.
Ultimately, the goal is for customers to have fun and paint, she said.
Houston said the long-term goal is to franchise Paint Party Place.
"We want to make sure there is a good foundation first—so there is a brand to franchise," he said. "When customers say they didn't know they were capable of this, we know we are doing it right."
3434 Murphy Rd., Ste. 310
Missouri City 281-969-7326
Visit website to view events open to the public or call to schedule a private event.