Painting with a Twist moves in

Painting with a Twist has moved to Farragut.

Patty Walden, franchise owner, moved her business from its former location at 10932 Murdock Drive, off Lovell Road, to 11000 Kingston Pike in the same building as PPG, formerly Pittsburgh Paints, in Concord Square Shopping Center. She started art classes at the new site April 4.

Walden said the business has been in operation for five and a half years. She had a large and small studio at the Lovell Road site but she now has two large studios at her new location.

“Our lease [at the former site] would have been up in August, and we have been having big classes,” Walden said. “I hated to turn anyone away.”

Another main reason she chose to move into Concord Square was because The Voice Tank had located there.

“It’s a perfect marriage of these two businesses,” she said.

Painting with a Twist offers regular art classes and art sessions as entertainment for a private party, fundraiser or corporate team-building events. While she supplies the art materials and class, she said attendees would bring their own food and beverages for the gatherings.

“We do a lot of parties for kids, going away, baccalaureate,” Walden said. “Anything anyone wants to have a party about, we do. [Attendees] pick a picture they want to paint and they paint. Then, when they are through, they eat and socialize.”

Another part of the experience is having their photo taken and placed on Facebook, she said.

“It’s so much fun showing people who never painted before that they can do this,” she said.

Walden recently held a fundraiser for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“One time a month, I have a party with a purpose, a fundraiser for a charitable organization,” she said.

The “twist” in the business’ name relates to a corkscrew, signifying the parties. The franchise originated in Mandeville, La., with Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney.

“They started it in 2007, right after Hurricane Katrina, to lift people’s spirits,” Walden said. “It’s been a good experience to be part of the franchise. Our founders have given us lots of support.”

Walden learned about Painting with a Twist after a friend invited her to paint at a similar studio in Nashville.

“I wanted to do that [business],” she said. Afterward, she met the two founders of Painting with a Twist in August 2010 and decided to go into business for herself.

The business is open 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; noon, 3 and 6 p.m., Saturdays, and 2 and 5 p.m., Sundays.

For more information about Painting With a Twist, contact Walden, 865-675-2500 or paintingwithatwist.com.