The Ground Floor: Corridor business is more than paint-by-numbers

Sheila Mooney first experienced the concept of art as entertainment a couple years ago when a friend took her to a painting studio in Chicago.

Mooney became captivated by the idea of painting a pre-sketched canvas during a relaxing evening out with friends.

After taking a second painting class in North Carolina, Mooney opened an Uncorked Paint Wine Design franchise with locations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Coralville. She said her new business is the first of its kind in the area.

Her business partners with several restaurants in the Corridor, including Biaggi's in Cedar Rapids, the Brown Bottle in Iowa City, Mondo's Draft House in Coralville and the Fieldhouse in North Liberty. Each location will host two-and-a-half-hour painting classes led by a local artist, who will take students through the process of creating an acrylic painting on a 16-by-20-inch pre-sketched canvas.

At the end of the evening, each student will have a completed painting to take home.

The cost of each class is $30 per person, which includes the canvas, paint, art supplies and instruction. Participants may purchase food and wine or other beverages from the restaurants.

Moody said the simple instructional format makes the classes perfect for beginners.

“If you've never painted before, you have the artist painting right along with you ... ,” Moody said.

“It's a unique, fun experience. It gives people a creative outlet.”

Uncorked Paint Wine Design also offers private parties, corporate events and children's classes. Mooney plans to expand to Muscatine and the Quad Cities in the fall and to open a painting studio on the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City in October.

Mooney, who has a background in not-for-profit fundraising, also has started “Paint it Forward.” Each month paintings created by its art instructors will be donated to local not-for-profit organizations to use for fundraising efforts.

• Owner: Sheila Mooney

• Company: Uncorked Paint Wine Design
• Email: info@uncorkedpaintwinedesign.com
• Phone: (563) 484-9492
• Website: uncorkedpaintwinedesign.com

Know a company in business for less than a year that should be considered for “The Ground Floor”? Contact business editor Michael Chevy Castranova, michael.castranova@sourcemedia.net.