STUDIO TOOK ON A NOVICE FATHER-DAUGHTER PAIR.
SO WE ALL HAVE A LOT MORE TIME ON OUR HANDS, GOOD CHANCE TO MAYBE FIND OUT IF WE HAVE ANY ARTISTIC ABILITY.
MY DAUGHTER CLAIRE AND I ARE SITTING DOWN FOR A VIRTUAL ART CLASS WITH THE PAINT BAR IN NEWTON.
EVERYTHING COMES SELF-CONTAINED FROM THE PAINT BAR INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SET UP, WE HAVE EASELS, WE HAVE CANVASSES, WE HAVE PAINTS, WE ARE USING DIFFERENT PLATES AS
OUR PALETTES, ALL OF THIS FROM THE PAINT BAR.
>> WELCOME TO THE PAINT BAR VIRTUAL.
MY NAME IS JACKIE AND I ONE OF AM THE FOUNDERS OF THE PAINT BAR.
THE WAY THIS WORKS I WILL BE , GUIDING YOU THROUGH THIS PAINTING STEP-BY-STEP, TELLING YOU WHICH BRUSHES TO USE AND HOW TO USE THEM HOW TO MIX YOUR , PAINT AND I WILL GUIDE YOU
THROUGH EVERYTHING SO YOU CAN STAY AT YOUR HOUSE WITH A BEAUTIFUL EVENING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE A LOT WITH PAINTING AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THEIR OWN SUPPLIES AND WANT GUIDANCE.
AND WE HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE COME HUNDREDS OF TIMES.
WE HAVE A NO NEGATIVITY POLICY.
HAVE FUN AND THAT IS ABOUT IT.
A VIRTUAL CHEERS.
I WILL HOLD UP MY SOLO CUP.
DON’T SPILL ON YOUR COMPUTER AND CHEERS.
THE FIRST BRUSH WE ARE GOING TO USE IS THE BIG BRUSH, THE BIGGEST BRUSH OF ALL, FLAT ON THE SIDES AND IT IS FLAT ON TOP.
COME ONE THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN, MAKE A LITTLE MARK LIKE THAT.
♪ ANTHONY: IS THERE SOMETHING DO YOU THINK IN THIS TIME THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR ANY OF US IN OUR EXPERIENCES TO DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE?
>> PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL FULFILLED AND LIKE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING.
PEOPLE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS AS A NEW SKILL AND GIVES THEM A FEELING THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING.
♪ >> NOW WE WILL DIP THE BRUSH INTO BLACK.
START FROM THE LEFT ABOUT THREE INCHES OR SO, FLICK MY WRIST UP WORDS LIKE THIS.
ANTHONY: I LIKE IT.
>> MY JOB IS TO TELL PEOPLE WHEN TO STOP.
IT IS EASIER WHEN I CAN SEE PEOPLE’S PAINTINGS.
ANTHONY: DO YOU THINK YOU WILL KEEP THE VIRTUAL BUSINESS?
>> WE WILL.
>> WE ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THE STUDIO.
THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MANY MORE PEOPLE.
IN THE STUDIO THERE IS SOMETHING GREAT ABOUT BEING TOGETHER, BUT THIS IS ALLOWING A NEW OPPORTUNITY WHERE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS CAN GET TOGETHER WITHOUT THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC, THEY WOULD
NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
ANTHONY: SO THESE ARE OUR FINISHED PRODUCTS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> TURNED OUT WELL.
ANTHONY: GOING IN THE DORM ROOMANTHONY:?
>> MAYBE.
ANTHONY: WE BOTH HAD FUN, AND SOMETHING WE GET TO KEEP.
♪ IF YOU WOULD RATHER WEAR YOUR HANDIWORK THAN HANG IT, YOU CAN BE KNITTING IN NO TIME.
>> WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WAS SWEEPING THE NATION AND AFFECTING OUR HOMETOWN OF BOSTON, WE PIVOTED OUR BUSINESSES QUICKLY.
ANTHONY: MEGAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AT -- THAT I KNIT.
LET’S JUST USE ITS ACRONYM, STIK . >> SHE TURNED TO KNITTING AS A WAY TO REDUCE STRESS AND RELIEVE ANXIETY.
ANTHONY: CHRISTINA REALIZED OTHERS MIGHT REAP THE SAME BENEFITS IF SHE COULD TEACH THEM HOW.
STIK STARTED SELLING QUARANTINE KITS.
>> IF YOU WANT TO GET STARTED AND YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, I WILL MAKE IT INTO A BALL SO IT DOES NOT BECOME A HUGE, TANGLED MESS.
ANTHONY: THE KITS WERE A HIT.
THE FIRST 50 SOLD OUT IN 15 MINUTES.
KNITTING NEEDLES, YARN, INSTRUCTIONS AND A PATTERN AND ACCESS TO GLASSES AND A PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP.
>> -- CLASSES AND A PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP.
>> IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO AT NIGHT WHEN YOU TURN OFF YOUR LAPTOP.
ANTHONY: THE NUMBER IS NOW IN THOUSANDS AND CUSTOMER STARTED GETTING SO GOOD, STIK ADDED LEVELS TWO AND THREE.
>> THE GROWTH OF STARTING FROM BEGINNERS AND WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SLIPPERS, WHICH I AM NOT THERE YET.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, WHICH IS INSPIRING.
ANTHONY: IT INSPIRED THE NON-KNITTERS ON THE BUSINESS TEAM TO CAST ON.
>> IT WAS LIKE AN AHA MOMENT FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM.
WE REALIZED HOW INDEXING -- RELAXING AND PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE IT A LIFELONG HOBBY.
ANTHONY: WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE OWNER OF STIK, CHRISTINA PARDY.
SHE WELCOMED A NEW BABY GIRL AT THE END OF APRIL.
THE BABY CAME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL IN, WHAT ELSE, KNITTED SHIRT, PANTS, AND HAT, MADE BY HER MOTHER.
BACK TO THE PAINT BAR IN NEWTON ONLINE CLASSES ARE HELD ON FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, AND SUNDAYS.
BUT THEY’RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT SCHEDULE AND ADD MORE CLASSES SO