An Inspired Chat with Stormy Tripp

Stormy Tripp shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Stormy, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
When I first started The Painting Joint, I was scared to expand. I limited myself to just one or two venues/events a month because growth felt overwhelming. This year, however, something shifted in me. I began saying yes to more opportunities and trusting myself and the vision I had created. As a result, we’ve grown from hosting 1–2 events a month to 9–12, which still feels mind-blowing.

Now, I feel called to continue expanding and growing my team, with the goal of making The Painting Joint a well-known name throughout Southern California.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Stormy Tripp, and I’m the founder and owner of The Painting Joint, a mobile painting event company I built from the ground up. I started The Painting Joint with the idea that art experiences should be flexible, welcoming, and able to meet people where they already are—literally. Instead of asking guests to come to a studio, I bring the entire painting experience to homes, workplaces, and event spaces.

When I first launched the business, I was working with just one to two partner venues a month. Over the past two years, through a lot of hands-on work, relationship-building, and word-of-mouth growth, The Painting Joint has expanded dramatically. We now host nine to twelve events each month, including both public paint nights and private events, and travel throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.

What makes The Painting Joint special to me is how personal each event feels. Because we’re fully mobile, no two experiences are the same—each one is tailored to the people, the space, and the reason they’re gathering. I’m deeply involved in every aspect of the business, from planning and partnerships to the creative direction of each event, and I’m constantly working on new ways to grow the brand while keeping that personal, community-driven feel at its core.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My parents have taught me the most about work. Both are entrepreneurs who built their businesses from the ground up and have remained successful in their industries for over 35 years. Growing up, I was able to see firsthand what it takes to run a business long-term—discipline, adaptability, and the willingness to show up even when things are challenging.

They didn’t just teach me how to work hard; they taught me how to work intentionally. I learned early on that being an entrepreneur means wearing many hats, taking ownership of your decisions, and continuously investing in yourself as a leader. At the same time, they modeled the importance of balance—building a business that supports your life, not one that consumes it. That foundation has strongly influenced how I run my own company today and how I define success as an entrepreneur.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
To be honest, the fear that held me back the most was success itself. It’s easy to dream about what your business could become, but actually starting means committing the time, energy, and responsibility it takes to get there. For a long time, I was hesitant to take that first step because of the “what ifs”—what if it didn’t work, what if there was no traction, what if I had to cancel events because of low sign-ups?

Those fears were real and valid, but I eventually realized that the “what ifs” never fully go away. There will always be uncertainty, especially in entrepreneurship. What changed for me was learning to accept that some things are out of my control—and that’s okay. Once I stopped letting fear dictate my decisions and focused on showing up consistently, I was able to move forward, grow, and trust the process instead of the outcome.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—absolutely! The public version of me is the real me. Everything I do, especially through The Painting Joint, is rooted in who I genuinely am. I don’t struggle with imposter syndrome because I built this brand myself—from the ground up—and the community we’ve grown is based on my values, energy, and personality.

It takes a certain kind of person to do what we do. You have to truly love it. Our events are never cut-and-dry or cookie-cutter; they’re meant to be fun, memorable, and creatively freeing. That philosophy comes from my own experience growing up, where art was often graded and judged—something I strongly disagree with. Art is subjective, and I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a “bad” painting.

That belief is at the core of every class we host. We intentionally create high-energy, good-vibe environments where people of all skill levels feel comfortable and encouraged. I’ve never strayed from that mindset, and I don’t plan to. What people see at a Painting Joint event is exactly who I am—authentic, passionate, and fully invested in making creativity accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m 100% doing what I was born to do. I’ve been fortunate to have a family that supported me in whatever path I chose—they always trusted that my life and my decisions were mine to make. That freedom allowed me to really listen to what I was passionate about instead of following a predetermined route.

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and when I went to college, I discovered how much I loved teaching. I realized I had both a passion and a natural ability for breaking art down and making it feel approachable instead of intimidating. Choosing a non-traditional teaching path through The Painting Joint was the best decision I’ve ever made. It allowed me to combine creativity, education, and entrepreneurship in a way that feels authentic to who I am—and it’s where I feel most fulfilled.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepaintingjoint.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepaintingjoint/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Painting-Joint-61554618055174/