UTICA — Art & Vine, Utica’s first “paint and sip” business, formally opened in downtown on Nov. 10. Located on 157 Genesee St. in a 1,419-square-foot space, the business is owner Connie Pratt’s first venture. In a “paint and sip” business, beer or wine is offered while patrons participate in an art class. The U.S. […]
UTICA — Art & Vine, Utica’s first “paint and sip” business, formally opened in downtown on Nov. 10.
Located on 157 Genesee St. in a 1,419-square-foot space, the business is owner Connie Pratt’s first venture.
In a “paint and sip” business, beer or wine is offered while patrons participate in an art class. The U.S. Small Business Administration reported this year that the nation has 200 paint and sip businesses nationwide, most of them independent and artist-owned.
Pratt earned a master’s degree in fine arts in painting and drawing from Syracuse University, and has experience teaching both college and high-school classes.
She will continue to work at Westmoreland High School, where she teaches classes like digital photography and general drawing. She hopes her business will eventually grow into her primary source of income.
Pratt had no trouble acquiring the space — she and her husband Philip Szeliga have owned the building on Genesee Street for 11 years. Her personal studio is located on the third floor, and Szeliga’s engineering consulting business, Human Electronics Inc., occupies the second floor. A software technology company previously leased the first floor. When that business moved out last year, Pratt jumped on the opportunity.
“I just happened to see this type of business profiled on the ‘Today Show’, and I thought ‘I can do this. I teach every day,’” Pratt says.
Renovations to the space cost a total of $40,000, and Pratt and her husband used their own cash to fund them. One of the contractors they hired was Boscar Electric Co. Inc. of Utica.
Although the formal grand opening took place Nov. 10, Art & Vine began offering classes Sept. 18. Welcoming both public and private parties, Pratt says classes are “perfect” for corporate team building, fundraising, family paint days, children’s parties, birthday parties, and bachelorette parties. Walk-ins are currently available only Saturdays, and private parties can reserve the space on Thursdays. Both private and public classes cost $38 per person. The maximum capacity is 40 people per class.
Pratt provides customers with paint, a canvas, and brushes. Each session features one of her original paintings, and Pratt leads patrons step-by-step through her process. Participants can drink beer or wine while they paint, and at the end of the night, take home their completed paintings. Pratt is currently leading all the classes herself, but hopes to one day hire other local artists to offer classes featuring their work.
“People leave so happy at the end of the class,” says Pratt. “It’s nice to expose people to the process of painting. It’s definitely not a serious class. We have a lot of fun.”
Thursday and Saturday classes run from 7 to 9 p.m., but drinks are served at 6:30 p.m. As demand increases, she plans to add more walk-in sessions to the schedule. Classes can be reserved online at www.uticaartandvine.com.
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