It began as a hobby. It turned into a side business. And it’s grown. Happy Painters Studio has celebrated a relocation and ribbon cutting Friday at the historic Arcade building, 203 East Cherry. Owner Brad Mullins said it’s been a wild ride getting to this point.
I used to be a coal miner…got laid off…just kind of found Bob [Ross] on YouTube and fell in love with it. I started taking the classes over in Muncie, Indiana and they kept inviting me back so I got my certification a little over 2 years ago. We started a small studio in home and it’s been an amazing ride since. This community has really been amazing to me.
Mullins says within about 8 months of opening, it started to grow enough in popularity that he was running out of space. He was only able to host about 7 at a time in the original studio. With his new location, he can more than double the number of students for an experience. He’s also been able to travel.
I just come back from out west in Colorado and Wyoming. It’s like man, what a life…crazy to be able to do something that you truly love and that get to be your job. I guess that is the joy of painting.
The growth in room has also provided a new opportunity in a golf simulator that can be booked. Mullins says his daughter being on the Jr. High golf team he utilized as leverage to talk his wife into getting the simulator. And if she’s using it, others also could take advantage of having it at their disposal.
It was just for practice but then I got to thinking, folks are having to drive to Evansville or Marion. So I thought, let’s offer it here. It’s nothing crazy, but it could save some folks a little travel.
Mullins recommends finding Happy Painter Studios on facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564583913139 to learn more and book. You can also call or text 606-369-4406. That works for painting or using the golf simulator.