Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Pruitt.
Hi Teresa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I truly believe I have always had a passion for art and sharing it with the world. When I was 15 I ended up with a job at this art studio in Greenville and I was just so excited because I got to paint and it felt like I had landed my dream job at 15! Suanne Hall was the owner of the studio at the time, and little did I know that she would become a close friend and mentor of mine, and eventually pass along that same studio to me.
I taught nights and weekends and summers and eventually I attended the University of Georgia in Athens to earn a Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting after high school. I had big plans to move to New York and get my masters in drawing and painting. During my last year of college, I ended up with an art teaching position at a local elementary school where majority of the kids were on scholarship with little to no home support. The teachers there were actual angels walking the halls. The more I created with those kids and teachers, the more I was able to experience the healing powers of creating, even for first graders.
The more I thought about my life post-graduation, the more I realized that going to graduate school for art was firstly, unnecessary, because why do I need someone to give me a permission slip to create “professionally?” and Secondly, it was a little bit selfish. It is completely okay to be selfish sometimes, but when it comes to my art, I knew that God wanted me to do something with my degree that would share my creativity with the world. When Suanne told me that she was willing to trust me with the next chapter of Vino and Van Gogh, I was ecstatic, and knew it was the right next step for me. So, I graduated from UGA, moved back to Greenville, married the love of my life, and bought a business all in the span of a few months. It was wild and so busy and I could not be more thankful for all of the growth that has transpired since then. Being trusted with V&VG has been an immense blessing in my life and I am so thankful for the opportunity to share art and the gift creativity with Greenville.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it is unfortunate that everyone always wants their path to be a “smooth road.” If you’re coasting, you’re not making progress. It is the bumps that we have to be thankful for because they help us pivot, adjust, and be better.
Just a few days after I bought the studio, our entire website crashed and I had to rebuild the whole thing! (Let’s remember, I have an art degree). Of course it hasn’t been smooth, but I am thankful for that because i have grown more than I ever though possible along the past few years. I have grown in my leadership, communication, and confidence as a business leader, and for that I am so thankful. My family is a great help to me at the studio, and both my father and Suanne (Hall) have been invaluable mentors to me throughout this season.
As you know, we’re big fans of Vino & Van Gogh. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our studio in Greenville, South Carolina is focused on making art accessible and approachable to everyone who may want or need it. Art provides healing, confidence, community, meditation, and so much more. I strive to make Vino and Van Gogh a place where anyone can discover the benefits of art. In addition to offering art to the public, we do a lot of work with nonprofits in the area in an effort to bring art to everyone. People with different abilities, those in recovery centers, and members of nonprofit communities often need art the most but don’t have access to it. I want to provide them with the tools, teaching, and encouragement they need to create!
We offer fine arts workshops, sip and paint classes, craft events, private events for birthdays, bachelorettes, and team building, amazing children’s summer camps, and so much more. The inside of our studio is a gallery filled with art from over a dozen talented local female artists—it is beautiful! All of the artists at our studio are incredibly kind, hard-working, and talented, and I am so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful team. Owning Vino and Van Gogh has given me such an incredible opportunity to uplift and encourage all kinds of people in the art world, and to make connections and new friends along the way.
In the last year or so, we have worked to grow our Fine Arts Workshops at the studio — four-week sessions designed to teach skill and technique and help students grow in their artistic journey. I have made some absolutely incredible friends through these classes — students come back month after month for new subjects, or just to paint, and I have loved getting to know all of them better. I am so thankful for the connections I get to make at our studio — whether it’s a family that comes back each year for their little girl’s birthday celebration, or a corporate team that paints with us each time they get a new member, I love that I get to build these relationships with so many different people along the way, it is one of the best parts of my job!
What makes you happy?
Well, in the biggest sense, true happiness comes from the Lord and having the eyes to see the immense blessings in our lives every day. It is all a gift from him.
In work, happiness is sharing art with the world. Seeing people’s eyes light up when they create something they didn’t think they could, The smile on someone’s face when they tell me they are “actually going to display” the painting they just made. The laughs in the studio when friends celebrate with us. The kids excited to come back and begging to stay after a day of summer camp. The joy that art brings people will never get old.
When I’m not at work, happiness is going on little adventures to new coffee shops with my husband, walking with my friends on a sunny day, and painting when I have the time. It is all of the little things that add up!
Pricing:
- Kids Birthday Party ($280 for ten painters)
- Adult Private Party ($320 for 8 painters)
- Kids Summer Camps: Half Day ($215), Full Day ($475)
- Fine Arts Workshops ($170 for four weeks)
- Adult Paint & Sip Night ($35-55)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vinoandvangogh.net/?srsltid=AfmBOopy0SO_bHNSyOFbWPYhI-uCtT0EixAZ0cYZ0qYBVYepCS09Q7K9
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinoandvangogh/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vinoandvangogh/
