Meet Kerry Barnes: Paint & Sip Owner and Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kerry Barnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kerry, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was working a 9-5 job and knowing I could do more on my own. I owned a Bar in NH and we used to have a Paint and Sip person come in monthly to do Paint night and I loved every second of it. So when I moved back to Florida I decided to check into doing this in my area. At the time no-one else had started it within a 30 mile radius of me. So I went for it! I started out doing home parties, restaurant’s, and other locations. Fundraising was a big thing for me. I also used this for raising funds for local pet rescues, horse rescue, sports teams and other local people in need. I felt not only could I give back to the community I could add a little art into everyone’s life. This is how I started to use the tag line “Art for Everyone”   

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The concept of the KB Social Artworking® program is that an individual or group will take a design and complete their chosen project within two to three hours, including drying time! Whether at one of the scheduled classes, or a party hosted in your home, there’s an experience that’s right for you! The KB Social Artworking® program contains many designs ranging from Canvas Painting, Wood Signs, Glassware, Ceramics and other crafty ideas! Getting to where I am today took lots of hard work, sweat, back breaking work. I have done classes for pretty much nothing, I have given back over half of my earnings to local charities, and fundraising events, and I have worked through all of the challenges of business to be a t the point I am today. I am still learning each and every day to adjust, change and grow. Now with Covid I have changed my classes to online, selling At-Home Kits, and delivering items within a 10 mile radius for free.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Palm Beach County so folks to Vacation in my hometown.   Of course the Beach would be on the Agenda along with a tour of the June Turtle Rescue.  Some of my favorite places to dine are Oak Bistro Wine Bar, Bimini Twist, and a fun night of Trivia at The Royal Palm Beach Brewery.  If Relaxing was on the agenda we would have to incorporate an Spa Day or the Salt Suites.  Depending on the weather a fun day at kayaking or a nature walk in Grassy Waters.  To finish it all off, a night on the water at U Tiki or Guanabanas in Jupiter watching the boats roll in while seeing the LightHouse at night.  

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person who supported me and inspired me to become an Art Instructor is Debbie Callahan Ellis at the time she owned a Paint & Sip Company in Bedford, NH. We met at a networking meeting in NH and we became fast friends. We then set up a paint & sip night in my Bar in NH and grew our friendship and network even more. When she was on a trip to Florida with other paint & sip owners we met up in Delray for dinner out and a meeting. She convinced me at that time to start my own business and do it part-time and grow from there. From this point I joined up with Deco Art and started my own Social Artworking business with Canvas Paintings and then grew into Wood Sign, Glassware and much more. Now my business is full-time and I love it.

Website: https://kbsocialartworking.com/
Instagram: Kerry2Barnes
Twitter: @kerrybarnes28
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbsocialartworking
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdis8aLxL3fDQENDIFgGzyw

Image Credits
All images taken with my phone.