Jordi Kate Millard opens new ‘Paint and Sip’ business in Gympie
A Gympie graphic designer is following her dream of opening her own business where women can express themselves in a safe environment and forget their worries for a few hours.
Gympie
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Gympie region women are brushing up on their painting skills while sipping on a cold beverage at new ‘Paint and Sip’ sessions run by a Gympie graphic designer.
Growing up in the Gympie region, Jordi Millard said there wasn’t much opportunity to express herself creatively and the only “fun” thing to do was party.
“I wanted to provide a safer environment where friends can connect or mums can meet up for a few drinks and forget their worries for a few hours,” Miss Millard said.
Now, she runs ‘Paint and Sip’ sessions at different venues in the Gympie region, through her business Jordi Kate Design.
Miss Millard took advantage of the fact painting was becoming trendy and said the new phenomenon of ‘Paint and Sip’ classes allowed people to occupy themselves in a creative way.
“Since Covid-19, people are wanting to live larger and fuller lives while they can,” she said.
“They are painting at home in lockdown to suppress boredom and relieve stress or they are going out and finding a variety of new hobbies or ways to spend their time being creative and free.”
“We can’t travel yet so we are finding fun in new ways.”
The first four classes were each a huge success, with sessions being held predominantly at Tozer Street, Kandanga Farm Store, Alchemy Southside and at private functions.
“People are loving it, it’s very affordable and therapeutic,” she said.
Miss Millard uses several repeat painting instructors to lead the classes and said the alcohol licensing rules depended on the venue, but Tozer St is BYO.
“The whole night I watch people get more and more into it and after I notice they’re very proud of what they have achieved and share with their friends,” she said.
“People who never thought they could complete a painting are becoming determined to get better with practice.”
During her working day, Miss Millard spends most of her time on her laptop as a graphic designer and enjoys the point of difference her art classes bring to her business.
“It’s good to just create something random for a change that doesn’t have any guidelines and is just fun and time out from screens,” she said.
Miss Millard is running upcoming sessions on October 1, at Kandanga Farm Store and a tropical themed class at Alchemy Southside on October 9.
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