Works of art
Posted Aug 28, 2016 at 3:32 PM
New paint party business brings out people's creative sides
Participants at a recent paint-and-sip softball fundraiser at Spoon River College work on paintings they will take home when finished. - Michelle Langhout/The Voice
Teresa Bassett, owner of Canvas Connections (center), looks over a participant's canvas and offers suggestions at a recent paint-and-sip softball fundraiser at Spoon River College Outreach Center. - Michelle Langhout/The Voice
MACOMB - Teresa Bassett's willingness to help out is paying off in ways she couldn't have foreseen a few years ago. Bassett is the owner of Canvas Connections, a paint party business that caters to people looking for an evening at home creating artwork with friends or a unique opportunity to raise funds for a good cause. Canvas Connections officially opened for business this April.
Bassett said she has always enjoyed drawing and doing arts and crafts. While in junior college, she took classes in drawing and graphic arts. Her enjoyment of art later translated into volunteering to help teach children in Robein Elementary School to paint while she taught Jr. High art as a volunteer. It was there she said she got experience teaching people to use different art mediums.
Until this year, Bassett was working as a senior pastor's assistant at her church in Morton, Illinois doing "just about everything." For her this meant working as the volunteer director, promotion and event planner, and many other jobs. Working as an event planner for the church has helped her with event planning in the new business, she said.
She didn't necessarily think of her love of art as a business opportunity, however. Then, when her son John Bassett, the athletic director at Spoon River College, held a fundraiser for the SRC Snapper softball team, she realized she could do as well as the fundraising company he had hired - and perhaps even better.
After buying supplies, she held two paint party fundraisers for the team. Her Coffee and Canvas fundraiser garnered 50 registrants, and the next week's Paint and Sip fundraiser netted 100. The parties raised $3500.
They also sparked interest by the participants in having in-home painting parties of their own. Within a week of the event, she had a website and Canvas Connections was in business.
She does parties at people's homes or the venue of their choice. This sets her apart from other companies, which often have event space to maintain, she said.
Bassett conducts paint parties for a wide range of individuals, organizations, and events. Paint parties typically last between 2 - 2 ½ hours. Participants do not need to have any experience, but will be led through the process and given assistance if needed by Bassett or one of her helpers, Brandi Shelby or Jessica Harmon.
Bassett brings all the necessary supplies including plastic aprons, paints, brushes, easels, and canvas. Hosts provide refreshments and beverages for the participants. For more information or to schedule a paint party event, see the Canvas Connections website at https://www.canvas-connections.com/.
