Relaxing nights with merlot and acrylics turned into a business when local artist Violet Tremblay opened Painting and Pinot in 2010.
Painting and Pinot, located at 7248 Perkins Road, offers unconventional painting classes where students can bring their own wine and food.
Tremblay’s interest in art started as an attempt at relaxation, when her husband and his three brothers gifted her an art set for Christmas.
“It helped me quit being such a crazy control freak,” Tremblay said.
After painting for some time, she said she got the idea to start the business as a second job to accompany her job at the Princeton Review.
Tremblay, who has a background in science, said starting Painting and Pinot with no prior business experience was a learning curve. She hadn’t conducted any market research and said she’s thankful the business was successful.
Originally only a part-time job for the Tremblays, the couple said the business has grown every year since its inception. Tremblay recently decided to run Painting and Pinot full time, resigning from The Princeton Review.
She acknowledged that her business is alluring because of the alcohol mixed with the class environment. Tremblay said wine offers a different element to painting, loosening creative inhibitions.
“Usually the people who drink — it looks a little bit better,” Violet said.
Her husband Chris was flipping houses when Violet started the business and said when the business became a full-time operation, it was time to give back the support Violet had given him during the start of his career ventures.
Chris, who currently manages rental properties, still finds time to work at the Painting and Pinot. He said he was able to have an outlet for social interaction through Painting and Pinot he was missing at his real estate job.
“I’m such a people person that I love going to the studio with people and interacting,” Chris said.
Violet and Chris both agreed while the working dynamic
between them is fun, business still gets conducted, with Chris managing accounting and scheduling and Violet teaching classes.
Violet said she’d call herself a perfectionist while she’d call her husband the exact opposite. While their contrasting personalities make for a productive business partnership, it’s still necessary to separate work from their marriage.
“Sometimes we have to say we’re going to dinner, and we can not talk about work,” Violet said.
She said she calls the business her retirement, and when she resigned from her job at The Princeton Review, she threw a retirement party.
The fun dynamic of the business leaves her feeling happy, Violet said, and she enjoys being a part of people’s special moments.
Her lack of formal art training helps her relate to those who are struggling with their art. Seeing people look surprised with what they’ve accomplished is one of the most rewarding parts of the job,” Violet said.
Mass communication junior Leigh Anne Nugent said drinking while painting is something she does frequently and feels it helps her creative flow.
“Usually every time that I paint I have a glass of wine or a beer or something because it helps me loosen up,” Nugent said.
Violet said the thought of starting your own company can be daunting, but the best thing to do is relax and not stress.
“Just jump and know it’s going to be okay.”

Gallery • 5 Photos

Ari Ross

Raw materials are ready to be made into works of art at Painting and Pinot on Perkins Road.