Studio blends artistry with sociability

The Painting With a Twist studio in Kakaako is Hawaii’s newest entry in the growing paint-and-sip trend that turns art lessons into a social occasion.

The business, owned by Cynthia Fujieki with her daughter, Megan O’Donnell, and son-in-law Jimmy O’Donnell, is holding a grand opening 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, but classes already are being offered. Two-hour adult classes are $45. Fees include an apron, 16-by-20-inch canvas, brushes, paint, step-by-step art instruction and a glass of wine. No experience is necessary.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before class to mingle. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available for purchase at the bar, but no BYOB allowed. However, it is OK to bring your own light snacks.

Each class features a single artwork, ranging from landscapes, abstracts and cityscapes to island scenes. Participants can check out the scheduled artwork on the Painting With a Twist calendar. The artwork for Friday’s session, led by instructor Brooke Glaser, is “Tiki Sangria.”

Friday and Saturday evening classes are for ages 18 and older. Family-friendly classes, recommended for children age 7 and up, are offered during the day for $35. The studio also is available for private parties. (One recent project at a party at the studio in College Station, Texas, saw guests paint panels for an elephant mural to decorate a baby’s room.)

Painting With a Twist, at 320 Ward Ave., Suite 114, across from Sports Authority, is a franchise of a company that originated with Corks N Canvas, started in 2007 by Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney in Mandeville, La. The company began franchising the business as Painting With a Twist in 2009. To date, there are 233 franchise locations nationwide with copyrights to more than 3,500 works of art.

Find a calendar of classes at paintingwithatwist.com/honolulu and on Facebook.