Painting parties: Bloom Studio and Gifts, Cateye Glasses Studio give women a place to have fun, express creativity

Swirly. Curly cue. Whimsical sketch. These are not terms used on a regular basis -- they are used while wielding a paint brush.

Bloom Studio and Gifts, 2121 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, and its new neighbor, Cateye Glasses Studio, 2117 B Broadway, offer classes for women to explore their creative side.

Michaelyn Ross, owner of Bloom, began hosting "paint parties" with local paint party instructor Brandi Ritter during the summer of 2011.

The stress relief and social aspect of between eight and 12 women painting together on Tuesday and Thursday nights is what Ross believes keeps them coming back.

Most women come to the classes with at least one friend, she said, and some sign up without seeing the next painting.

"It kind of goes to show, it's not always about what we're painting or the subject manner or anything," Ross said. "I think it's the process and just the social aspect that they find so inviting. They just like coming."

Marsha Elfrink applies a coat of paint to her floorcloth April 11 at Cateye Glasses Studio in Cape Girardeau. (Photo by Laura Simon)

Jennifer Steelman of Sikeston, Mo., has attended three Bloom paint parties. She has twin boys who also participate in Bloom's occasional children's paint parties.

She said painting with the group of women is therapeutic and stress-relieving.

"My grandmother was a professional artist," Steelman said. "And I always wished that I had some of her talent, but never really developed it. So when I saw the opportunity to do this, I thought, well maybe I do have something."

Paint party instructor Ritter's advice to women wishing to create was to not underestimate yourself. You can always create and be surprised with your work. As adults, she said, we sometimes lose the inhibition that came easily as a child.

"Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, you come in here and you are for a few hours," Ritter said. "I think people are always pleasantly surprised with what they can create."

Rosetta Whitten, owner and instructor of Cateye Glasses, offers children and adult classes through Southeast Missouri State University's Extended and Continuing Education program and on her own.

Whitten has taught embellished furniture techniques, a class where participants brought a piece of furniture to be embellished and repurposed, and a floorcloth class, where she taught students how to make painted canvas rugs.

Women have always been creative one way or another, she said, whether it be gardening, cooking or nurturing children.

"I think that if women can find a way to feed that creativity and do those right-brain activities, I think that they will find a lot of fulfillment from that and, frankly I think they'll find stress relief from it," Whitten said.

Amy Oliver of Cape Girardeau has a set of twins who attend Whitten's children's classes, and she attended the embellished furniture techniques class through Southeast's Extended and Continuing Education program.

Oliver said she's always tried her hand at crafts, from painting her new house and pieces of furniture, to trying do-it-yourself projects found online. She saw Whitten's class and thought she could use some formal instruction.

"I had wanted to learn some different techniques," Oliver said. "I had tried decoupage on my own and wasn't very successful."

The trendy thing to do is DIY furniture and decor projects found on Pinterest and in magazines, and it's important to take time for yourself and tackle a fun project, she said.

In Whitten's move to a new location behind Bloom, she gained more room. Aside from selling her and local artists' work, she has other plans for the newfound space.

Whitten developed a fourth Friday event, where guest artists and herself will demonstrate a variety of art. She will tie the event in with "I Saw It on Pinterest," an informal class where individuals wishing to try a Pinterest project in a group setting can contact Whitten, and have the studio space to try their hand at the project.

"I'm going to have a great space, so I would love for people to use it in any kind of a creative way that they would like to do," she said.

Whether it is painting, embellishing, refurbishing or collaging, Bloom and Cateye Glasses are available for local women's creative ideas and growth.

For more information on Bloom or its paint parties, call 573-332-0723 or visit its Facebook page, "Bloom Studio & Gifts."

For more information on Cateye Glasses Studio or its children or adult classes, call 573- 380-8460 or visit its Facebook page, "Cateye Glasses Studio."