Spirited Art

I was excited to try this with my girlfriends. We were there as a group to celebrate a birthday, and quite a few of us are moms that don’t get a lot of time out. We arrived at 6:45 just like the instructions advised. The woman who «welcomed» us was short mannered and told us we couldn’t sit together because we were starting shortly. There were plenty of seats in the room, but she directed us to split up our group. A few minutes later, another couple walked in and were allowed to sit where they wanted. It made zero sense, and I didn’t appreciate her attitude, when we were there with plenty of time before class began.
The instructor went very quickly through steps, and at one point looked directly at me while I was studying his picture to see what he did and said «were you paying attention?» It was rude and made me uncomfortable. Then, he came to my painting and I guess tried to «correct» it (without my asking). I had to fix it on my own.
The experience is supposed to be fun, but I felt rushed and like a scolded child. It’s not cheap, either, and I did pay for a glass of wine ($ 7) on top of the $ 35 class fee. You are also charged an automatic 20% gratuity.
For me, it wasn’t a great experience. Perhaps with more patient and friendly people, it would be different.

I had a wonderful time at Spirited Art. Our instructor was warm and friendly, and she did a great job of keeping us all on task when we got silly and distracted. Everyone’s paintings turned out beautifully. They foster a really fun and social environment, and being served food and drinks from The Wine Loft next door is a brilliant business synergy. I will definitely do thus again.

WINE AND PAINTING; GENIUS! Went here last week with a large group, and had the best time. I was nervous going in because I didn’t know what to expect, but they really break it down for you step by step. Its quick drying paint so you are constantly moving on to the next step, but its also easy to correct if needed. We did a sunset scene, and our group had a blast cursing our clouds (all in good fun, of course). They provide you with everything you need (canvas, smock, paint, etc), and are always willing to help if you have questions. They do the paining along with you too.
You can get wine and food service from the Wine Loft next door, or you also have the option to bring in your own wine and pay a corking fee. We went this route. The cooking fee is $ 10 a bottle, but if you get $ 5 – 6 bottles of wine from Trader Joe’s, you are still spending less than you would getting bottles from the Wine Loft. We got several flatbreads which were amazing too.
Try it out! You can do a date night, or a big group. If you have a big enough group, you can pick the picture out. I hope to do this again soon!

Really fun location! Great talent that works with un– talented. Bring your friends or family. So much fun!

I have been to Spirited Art 5 times. Each time has been a great experience. The first time we went my friend called and was told our group could pick the painting for the night which was awesome!
I’ve been here twice for work team builders and their space works great for groups. They have the whole process down to a science Your canvas, apron, paint and paint brushes are all set up for you when you walk in so you just pick a spot and wait for the skilled instructors directions.
I’ve also been here for a birthday party for one of my daughters friends which was the cutest thing! I love that this concept can work for everyone from little kids to adults.
My favorite part of Spirited Art is that The Wine Loft sends a waitress over to bring you drinks. I’m not a painter but give me a glass of wine and I’m in!

I had a wonderful evening at Spirited Art with some friends enjoying wine and trying my hand at painting. I think the wine gave my inner artist a false sense of confidence but I definitely had a lot of fun. The instructors will take you step by step to create your own unique version of the chosen picture for that day. They have templates you can trace to get started if you are not comfortable free-​handing the design.
Our instructor Kerri made sure to tell us that these paintings are ours and so you are free to make your art as personal as you want. We were painting a funky peacock and if you wanted a pink peacock instead of a blue one go for it! I appreciate this free flowing format to the class, it allows you to truly love your work. Everyone gets together for a group picture at the end of the class in front of their Color Wheel.
Spirited Art in right next to Wine Loft so they had a waitress available to us for drinks and food. You can also BYOB for a $ 10 per bottle cork fee.
I saw tons of other neat pictures on the walls so there may be more painting classes in my future. I also got a rewards card which will earn you points towards a free class. If you are looking for a fun activity with friends or just want to tap your inner artist check out Spirited Art in Short Pump.

I have been to Spirited Art twice now and both times I have thoroughly enjoyed myself.
When you walk in you are surrounded by paintings hanging on the wall. Some are examples of current classes that are offered and others are past, so take a look while you wait for the class to start.
Both times I have been greeted by someone up front who either checks you in (if you registered ahead of time or online) or registers you on the spot. Small easels are set up on tables with the colors of paint you will be using already put out on a paper plate. If it’s not already done, you are usually able to trace the outline of the painting you’ll be doing from a stencil. The paint, brushes, apron, and class are included in your fee. The only extra (s) would be if you decide to order some wine or a flat bread from The Wine Loft next door.
Even though everyone in your class will be painting the same thing, everyone’s painting turns out to be unique and different. Despite varying levels of skill, the instructors take time and care to demonstrate the technique, color mixing, and answer any questions you may have during the lesson.
Their website and online registration are extremely easy to use. You can view the calendar with pictures of the paintings for each lesson. Anything from animals to landscapes to scenes with inspiration from well known paintings. They even have some classes that feature local scenes: the Richmond skyline, the Fan, etc.
The experience is a lot of fun, especially if you go with a friend. I know they offer a reduced price for special date nights (see calendar) and they also offer family classes or kid lessons. Conversation is encouraged, so feel free to come, have a glass of wine, paint, and chat.

I used to live in Atlanta and did these types of classes all the time. The idea is fun and it is a great activity to with moms and girlfriends. However, other places similar to Spirited Art are much less expensive ($ 20 v $ 35) AND you’re able to bring your own food and wine. I had assumed the higher price was because Spirited Art would provide you with complimentary wine (knowing full well that VA’s alcohol laws are not friendly to anyone)…but no. They charge you a much higher price to paint AND THEN you have to pay extra to have food or wine. If you’ve never been to one of the other studios, then you don’t realize what you’re missing out on. A note to Spirited Art: if you’re going to charge as much as you are, definitely consider providing food or wine complimentary (even just one glass). It’ll keep you more competitive.

Spirited Art is SUCH a great idea! No artistic skill necessary and you still end up with a (semi) professional looking painting!
I took my mom here as a Christmas present and we both had a blast! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. We had about 12 other people in our class, and although we each painted the same picture and followed the same instructions from the teacher, all of our paintings looked slightly different but equally as impressive!
The calendar on their website displays photos of the different paintings that correspond with the dates they are being offered. Just choose one you like, make sure the date works with your schedule, and purchase it directly online. There are a variety of options to choose from; everything from cartoonish images to Monet-​inspired paintings. If you’re a diehard fan of certain Virginia colleges, they also offer University of Richmond, VCU, and JMU themes.
When you arrive, everything is already set up for the painting (colors of paints needed, brushes, and a blank canvas). There are aprons at each seat as well. The studio itself is a large open space with long tables towards the back where the painting actually occurs. The teacher we had was super friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxed– everyone was chatting the whole time.
Painting AND wine?! Spirited Art has partnered with the Wine Loft, which is directly next-​door, so there is at least one designated server per class. Not only is there a list of wines available (many at $ 5/​glass), but there is also a painting-​friendly menu of snacks that are easily eaten during the class. I think you are free to order anything from the Wine Loft’s menu if you’d like, but they’ve created a more streamlined menu of suggestions conducive to the painting class. To help the servers keep track of orders, they use a cool system of numbered poker chips that attach to your easel with Velcro.
I will definitely be back to test my skill on a different painting (and enjoy some more wine, of course)!