Alana Valentine opened Pinot’s Palette, a BYOB painting studio, in The Woodlands in 2012.[/caption]
Five years after opening Pinot’s Palette in The Woodlands, Alana Valentine still gets emotional discussing how far her business has come.
“I love this job because it is fulfilling from day-to-day,” Valentine said. “I am so proud to be a minority woman who owns her own business because I know how difficult that can be. It makes me proud that I can show that example for my daughters.”
The BYOB painting studio has two rooms, which can hold up to 72 people, and contracts with 10 artists who teach classes, private parties, and team-building and fundraising events.
Some of the specialty classes Pinot’s Palette offers include family day, with simpler paintings for all ages, project pet, during which participants can paint a portrait of their pet, and date night, where two canvases are put together to create one masterpiece.
Artists also teach classes that involve black light painting, and painting on wood, aprons, T-shirts and burlap canvases.
The studio offers summer camp sessions for children, ages 4-6 and 7-11, in collaboration with Nutty Scientists. The Woodlands location of Pinot’s Palette was the pilot program for this concept and now, Valentine said all other locations host similar camps.
Also unique to The Woodlands location, Valentine began an art club earlier this year for children ages 7-11 and 12-14, which was inspired by Valentine’s 10-year-old daughter.
“I wanted the artistic kids to have a place where they could be with other kids just like them,” she said. “They learn water color, charcoal painting, and sketch so they learn a lot beyond just a regular class here.”
Art club members pay a monthly fee and meet twice a month at Pinot’s Palette. They also receive discounts to classes and will be taking field trips this summer.
Valentine said although her future plans do not involve an expansion, she does hope to continue growing her clientele and adding new members to the children’s art club.
“I’m not even an artistic person, but when you sit down and you hear the music and have a glass of something and start painting, it’s just so relaxing and brings you good thoughts,” she said. “And when you’re done, you just feel so accomplished. It really does make you feel good—that’s why I do it and that’s why I love my job.”
3091 College Park Drive, Ste. 123, The Woodlands 936-321-2787 www.pinotspalette.com/woodlands Hours: Sun.-Wed. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thu.-Sat. 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
