Unlock your creativity

TORQUAY locals and visitors can unleash their creative sides with the addition of paint and sip studio Canvas and Cork.

Owner Kayla Houlihan opened the doors to her business earlier this month, after noticing a gap in the local market.

“There is a lot to do in Torquay. We’ve got lots of wonderful restaurants that we can go to, but in terms of activities, there was not many things to do at nighttime in Torquay,” she said.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity for people to be able to get out and about and also offer an alternative to just eating out.”

Guests are able to bring their own food and drink to the space with glasses and cheese knives provided.

Separating Canvas and Cork from other paint and sip studios is its focus on the finished product, wanting people to create something they’re proud to hang in their houses.

“Being unique in the paint and sip industry is the fact we’re doing modern, trendy artworks,” Ms Houlihan said.

“We’re very focused on you going home with a piece of artwork you want to hang rather than something you’re just going to put in the cupboard and never look at again.”

Ms Houlihan said attendees did not have to be into art to do a paint and sip.

“It’s a casual night out. There’s an instructor in every session that’s a qualified art teacher that helps you create the artwork, but it’s really just about the fun of the creative process.

Canvas and Cork offers a range of different painting options, with paint your pet and paint your mate among the most popular.

Open for less than a month, the studio has already found success with fully booked weekends and upcoming Christmas parties.

“It’s been an amazing response from the community. I think it’s really proof we needed something like this in the area.”

Ms Houlihan loves anything to do with art and was previously a secondary school teacher.

“The thing I enjoy most about it is the people and just seeing people have a really good time for three hours and chatting to other people and socialising.”

Canvas and Cork encourage people to be social when at a paint and sip session, getting them out of the house and having face to face contact.

For more information, head to canvasandcork.com.au

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