Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Levani and Cassondra Boggs.
Hi Michele Levani and Cassondra Boggs, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From the age of 5, I had a love for drawing. My parents saw my natural ability to draw and entered me into an art class before I had even begun public school. I remember being the youngest student and hanging on to every word the art instructor said as I was learning composition and the elements of perspective, depth, and value. That was my foundation for a lifelong art career, including fine art, portraits, and murals. I am not shy, and I love the energy I feel from being with people. People inspire much of my art, and I like to return the favor by helping others explore their creative sides. Since I’ve often taught classes and been invited to speak and demonstrate my techniques to large audiences, it seemed very natural also to teach paint parties. So just before Covid, I arranged with a local bar owned by Charleston’s most famous resident, Bill Murray, to host a Paint Bill Murray party during Charleston Beer Week. It was a blast! Everyone came dressed as their favorite Bill character, and we painted, made new friends, and enjoyed the evening. Then Covid, once Covid began, many people contacted me to ask if I could teach virtual art classes using Zoom. Live virtual classes and paint parties were now possible. That was the humble beginning of Mona Lisa’s Remorse Paint Parties.
In the fall of 2021, I met a woman from New Mexico who was a Wine Tasting consultant for a national company that offers in-home wine-tasting events, both in person and virtually. We began discussing the possibilities of offering a wine-tasting option with my paint parties. It seemed like the ideal combination, creating an all-inclusive, upscale event for all my paint party clients, both in person and virtually. I will now introduce to this story my amazing friend, Cassondra, who has enthusiastically attended and supported many of my art shows and exhibitions. Cassondra also decided to become a Wine Tasting consultant so that she could join me in my Mona Lisa’s Remorse Paint And Sip Parties adventure! She will tell her story below.
-Artist, Michele Levani
Even as a little girl, I adored all things home & hospitality’ related- I became a total Downton Abbey gal living my ‘gilded reality’! My huge childhood Victorian Dollhouse was my favorite source of inspiration and imagination as I pretended to be an interior designer, realtor, architect, Bed & Breakfast owner, and Tea Room owner; you get the idea! So, a few of my dreams have come true now that I am ‘grown up.’ As a realtor with Coldwell Banker, staging/interior design comes into play, and giving gifts to my clients that happen to usually include tea and wine! When Michele invited me to the initial 2021 Wine Tasting (Wine Shop At Home, Napa Valley), I had such a fantastic time! The consultant (and now our friend) Moriah encouraged me to become an ‘independent wine consultant’ as well. When Michele decided to start the paint parties and discussed with me the possibility of us doing the Paint and Sip together, it was a no-brainer! I was totally on board and thrilled to have this amazing adventure with one of my besties!! So, I took the plunge and joined Moriah’s team with Wine Shop. The parties Michele & I have already held have proven to be lively, entertaining, and so much fun for our guests and ourselves! After all, they get to paint their ‘original’ while being instructed by an amazing, patient, professional artist. Then, they keep that ‘masterpiece’ for their own ‘art studio’ while sampling 5 different artisan wines that help their creativity flow! ‘Wine-ing’ wins! What’s not to love?? Tea move over!
– Independent Wine Consultant & Realtor, Cassondra Boggs
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life happened; early in 2022, my husband became deathly ill, and all of our plans were put on hold. After 45 days in a cardiac critical care unit at Duke hospital, he finally received a complete heart transplant. In August, we returned to our home in Summerville. I began immediately working on my art, as it would become, for a time, our principal income until he was fully recuperated and could return to his career as a custom home builder once again. During that time, I needed to gain more focus on coaching and hosting Paint Parties. Still, I was blessed to have my calendar fully booked with many pet portrait commissions, including a live pet portrait painting demonstration at the annual Charleston Animal Society’s Gala at the Galliard Auditorium. My days were spent painting, and my nights were spent working on my new business plan to relaunch my paint parties, but now with Cassondra by my side pouring the wine. Mona Lisa’s Remorse Paint and Sip Parties were once again in business!
-Artist, Michele Levani
2022 – Proved to be quite a year! Many of our friends were having life-threatening situations to deal with, so I certainly wanted to help where I could; I had family move in and move out, and my amazing daughter was married in April, so we had a destination wedding to plan and attend, and of course, real estate was still quite steady. Therefore, I didn’t have time to add the wine business to my ‘plate.’ As autumn rolled around, things were a bit ‘calmer,’ so Michele geared up and organized her paint parties to launch. I joined the Wine Shop At Home team and began learning more about wine than I ever imagined! Great way to wrap up the year, and excited to see what Mona Lisa’s Remorse will do in 2023!
– Independent Wine Consultant & Realtor, Cassondra Boggs
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Art has never been just a hobby for me. It’s how I survive and who I am. I’ve explored various creative avenues and many artistic opportunities during my extensive art career. I am a contracted pet portrait artist for two national companies that have allowed me to paint thousands of pet portraits from all over the country. I’ve also been an exhibiting member of the Charleston Artist Guild for many years and have been represented by two art galleries. I have been honored to paint various murals around the Lowcountry. Still, I believe my most memorable is in the SC Aeronautical Training Center at Trident Technical College, where Boeing, Volvo, and Bosch train their employees and future employees. After I took many pictures inside the college, I submitted a design and landed the commission. I was inspired by the reoccurring patterns and shapes in the architecture of the building, as well as the flight equipment, engines, and planes in the aircraft hangar. I had a healthy respect for the scaffolding I needed to complete this 15 x 19-foot project. I painted, by freehand, the entire mural without using a grid, projector, or transfer paper. It was indeed a milestone in my art career.
-Artist, Michele Levani
Carving out special moments with my friends/family and for them has always been a priority to me. Whether through volunteer work, sharing music (I play piano, violin, cello, and sing), or inviting friends for a good ole fashioned Charleston Brunch or barbecue at my home, hospitality is the norm. Also, helping my friends/family/clients turn the ‘page to the next chapter of their story’ as they sell or buy their family homes – I strive to be a positive, encouraging, and knowledgeable part of their journey! And now, through the introduction of wine tasting – it’s an opportunity for people to relax and relish that moment where they can pause long enough to enjoy good food, excellent drinks, and refreshing conversation! I’m most proud when I know someone I care about has benefitted from my sincere efforts, suggestions, and hard work.
– Independent Wine Consultant & Realtor, Cassondra Boggs
What do you think about happiness?
As a portrait artist, I have seen the emotional impact that my art has on people. When I paint a “memorial” portrait of someone or someone’s pet, and they cry healing tears, I’m overwhelmed with happiness that I can do that for them. There’s nothing else like that feeling. I also know the joy of expressing my own emotion through art. It’s very therapeutic, and if I can help others feel that by inspiring them to dig deep into their ability to create, it’s all worth it!
-Artist, Michele Levani
Happiness for me is my beautiful new friends, longtime friends, dear family, and the amazing creation that surrounds us! Little birds that nest in my veranda lanterns; spring flowers; laughter that surrounds me at an enormous dining table where loved ones cheerfully recant stories of past adventures while they eat and drink contentedly. Happiness is helping people find their special home to have these life moments in, where they can make joyful, poignant memories that will sustain them through the harsh ‘winters’ of life! Happiness is even helping them find the wine they savor as they contemplate how their day went, how their future looks, and pairing them with the wines they will share with their closest family & friends. I feel that all of these little things lead back to precious moments of ‘chill’ & positivity in this crazy world we’re all trying to navigate…and that makes me happy!
– Independent Wine Consultant & Realtor, Cassondra Boggs
Pricing:
- In Person Paint & Sip Parties $40 per person
- Virtual Paint & Sip Parties $35 per person plus Wine Samplers
- Complete Art Kits $35 plus shipping
- Pet Portraits starting at $120
- Contact Michele Levani for custom art and mural quotes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelelevaniart.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/monalisasremorse_paintandsip
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/monalisasremorse_paintandsip
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/MicheleLevani
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/michelelevani
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/swQo35EMbwb
- Other: https://www.wineshopathome.com/?rep=CassondraBoggs
