Today we’d like to introduce you to Oana B. Miller.
Oana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved to Los Angeles right after the ’92 riots, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a dream of creativity in the city of angels. I have designed and contributed to many feature films and television series, and wanted to inspire others to express their creativity. This is how PAINT: LAB was conceived. I wanted to provide a space for artists and non-artists alike to dabble in painting and drawing. In 2009, PAINT: LAB opened its doors on Main Street in Santa Monica. In 2013, we found our current home at the corner of 14th & Broadway, Santa Monica CA.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a tremendous learning experience, owning this studio! It’s just so rewarding to see our customers and students painting and expressing their creative side through the medium of paint. When we first opened our doors, there was nothing like PAINT: LAB in Los Angeles, so we struggled with the task of bringing awareness of who we are and what we do to the public and gathering our first customers.
Please tell us about PAINT: LAB.
PAINT: LAB is one of a few brick-and-mortar art studios in southern California that’s open seven days a week for customers and students to drop in and create fine art paintings.
We provide the paints, brushes, easels, studio space and clean up. We offer uninstructed painting sessions as well as instructed classes in your choice of medium (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache) taught by our expert painters. We are known for our kid’s art camps and our instructed Brushes N Bites, an adult workshop that includes all art materials, instruction, painting surface, and refreshments.
Kid’s camps are held on weekends and during school breaks. The Brushes N Bites workshops are taught every weekend in the evening and make for a great date night too! Our bright and spacious studio space is also available for private bookings such as team building events, birthday parties for kids or adults, bridal showers, baby showers, you name it!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Funny thing, one of my favorite memories from childhood was spending afternoons with my grandpa and my sister Julia, we had large sheets of paper, watercolor paints, and markers and spent so many days being creative and painting together!
Pricing:
- Instructed Brushes N Bites $67 per person
- Instructed Kid’s Camp Session $55 per child
- Uninstructed painting session $23 per day
Contact Info:
- Address: 1453 14th Street Santa Monica CA 90404
- Website: www.paintlab.net
- Phone: 3104509200
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @paint_lab
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintlab.net/
- Twitter: @paintlab
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/paint-lab-santa-monica-2
- Other: https://www.santamonica.com/shop/paintlab/
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
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