Today I’m interviewing Cheri Kulhawick from a church in Granite Quarry, NC, over 2000 miles away from me!
The Family Art Studio
Paint ‘n Party is a family art studio that has a large selection of ready to paint bisque. We are open for in-studio painting or Take and Paint kits. Book a reservation, schedule a private event, or walk-in today!
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A Paint Party For Women’s Ministry
Connect Group – Paint! is a monthly event Cheri started this year. Last week, 15 women (all non-artists except one!) had a blast creating their own painting.
This is her 3rd painting event so far, and the surveys indicate that this group is meeting needs.
The top reasons women are loving it include:
- Doing something for themselves: Finding much needed “me” time.
- Getting a break from busy lives, demands of jobs, families, and kids.
- Getting to hang with other women: fellowship, conversation, and making new friends.
- They say, “It’s really great therapy!”
A Conversation With Cheri Kulhawick
First off, Cheri, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today. I’m excited to hear about your Connect Group – Paint! I’m visualizing the painting parties I see pictures of on Facebook. Is that what your group does?
Cheri: Pretty much. It’s so fun to paint with a group of people!
I can’t imagine pulling that off in a small church. Are you an art teacher?
Cheri: (she laughs) No. None of us are artists, but we have a great time together. We use The Art Sherpa videos found online. They are fabulous!
How was this Paint Party idea born?
Cheri: Well I went to my first painting class with my daughter a few years ago. Our local library hosted them, and we had such a great time.
When we moved to North Carolina, I couldn’t find anything like it and really missed it.
I shared my frustration with a girlfriend who did a little research for me and found The Art Sherpa on YouTube. We got together and had our own little painting session with the video, and it was great.
The video was easy to follow and entertaining.
After painting a few times together, we were having so much fun, so we decided to share it with people in the church.
You mentioned this paint class falls under something in your church called connect groups. What are connect groups?
Cheri: In 2018, our church did some re-visioning and started connect groups. The idea is to simply connect people. To build deeper community.
Some connect groups are weekly on Sunday morning – like a Sunday school class. Some are weekdays or weeknights like our women’s Bible study.
Our group is called Creative Connect – Paint! It meets once a month on Saturday morning.
And people have been responsive?
Cheri: Oh yes. Everyone loves it. We had six people at our first group, twelve at the next, and fifteen just last week. Because Saturdays are busy, everyone can’t come each time. Last month, ten women were first-timers!
How do you promote the meetings?
Cheri: Well, I learned after the first meeting that I need solid RSVPs, because I have to buy canvases ahead of time.
People have to RSVP to me two weeks ahead of time with the $10 supply fee.
So I make a postcard with a small print of the painting we will be doing. The picture gets people excited because they see what they will be creating.
So you charge a fee?
Cheri: Yes, we need to. I think one of the challenges in small churches is a small budget!
We charge a minimal fee ($10) just to cover supplies.
But since most of the painting classes out there cost $40 per class, everyone has been really happy to have a great experience for a fraction of the cost.
Tell us about The Art Sherpa and why you use her videos.
Cheri: They are amazing! The Art Sherpa makes it so easy. Her name is Cinnamon Cooney, and she actually leads our classes by video.
We applied for a Gratis License , which you can learn about on her website. This allows us to legally use her lesson videos for free in our non-profit group.
She has over 600 painting lessons to choose from. And I love that they are organized by difficulty level. But even the easiest level paintings look so great. Everyone is always happy with their creations.
We put her lesson up on a screen, and step-by-step she teaches us to paint. We pause the video anytime to allow people to catch up and not feel rushed.
The Art Sherpa is friendly, low-key, and entertaining. She gives great helpful hints throughout the lesson.
It’s really a great experience. And we don’t need our own expert!
Give us an idea of what your Saturday event looks like.
Cheri: Sure! We meet once a month on a Saturday morning from 10 am – 1 pm.
A few of us go early to set up – we have to move tables and get supplies ready. I have name tags out for everyone. People bring snacks to share.
At 10:00 we get started with a welcome, an overview of the painting for the day, and a few instructions. Then we get started with the video.
As I said, she walks us through step-by-step. We use a laptop and project it on a larger screen. We pause the video lots, whenever we need to catch up a little.
Sometimes drying time is needed between steps. We have hairdryers and fans to help things dry faster, but sometimes that is a great time to share snacks!
At the end of the painting time, everyone helps clean up. We take individual photos with our creations, and usually, a group shot too. Very fun!
Since Small Church Ministry is all about small churches, what makes this is a doable idea for a small church?
Cheri:
- It’s perfect for a small church because you don’t need big numbers to make it amazing. I started doing these videos with a girlfriend at my dining room table. And we had a great time just the two of us.
- It’s also so easy with The Art Sherpa . You can do these great paintings without hiring an art teacher. No expert needed because she’s on the screen!
- It’s affordable with a minimal supply charge.
- Other than the paint supplies, all you need is a computer and internet access.
- And women love it! Great therapy. Time away from the hustle of daily life. We get to hang together with great conversation and have fun together.
What do you think is the best thing about this program you started?
Cheri: People connecting with each other.
Today, with so much social media and online interaction, we often lack real presence in each other’s lives.
Our society is filled with women looking for real connection, real friendship, and real face-to-face presence. And we need it.
God designed us for community. That’s the best thing about this group. The fun with art is an added bonus!
What advice can you give to someone starting a group like this in their own church?
Cheri:
- Be really organized with your supplies. I have bins and bags. Everything is labeled.
- You don’t need expensive supplies! (I can’t stress this enough. Craft paint from Walmart. Cheap easels on sale at Hobby Lobby. Disposable end-of-season holiday tablecloths at 10 cents each!)
- Do every painting ahead of time before you do it with a group of people. It is so helpful! (I would never do one without testing it at home first.)
So, down to the details … What supplies do you need, and how do you organize them?
Cheri: Well, our storage space is currently 4 bins in my living room! Plus a few rolling carts that I transport back and forth to church.
I have 4 bins. One for paper products for the snack table, one for easels (we have 20, just in case), and two others for the painting supplies: paint, brushes, canning jars for brush rinsing, disposable table cloths, and hairdryers and towels for the drying station.
The rolling carts hold colored pencils, pens, name tags, white classroom chalk, rulers, q-tips, rubber bands … We used sponges for one painting and washi tape for another.
We also use pitchers and pails at tables for dumping dirty paint water and replacing it with clear water, so we don’t have to go back and forth to the kitchen sink. That’s been a big time saver.
And we have a few box fans at church to help at the drying station.
You mentioned The Art Sherpa has over 600 lessons online! That’s a crazy number! Can you give us a few recommendations to get started?
Cheri: Yes, I’ve done 8 different painting lessons at home, only 3 with the group. But here are a few of my favorites!
- Baby’s Breath And Mason Jar
- Easy Peasy Fireworks Over Water
- Sunrise Lighthouse
- Wisteria Willow Tree Q-Tip Painting
You show the lesson videos from a website. What would you say to someone who wants to try this but isn’t technologically inclined?
Cheri: Oh, you can totally do this.
I am a non-computer, non-techy person. I have called The Art Sherpa number several times.
They are always really friendly. They even happily walked me through the registration when I couldn’t figure it out.
I imagine some people feel intimidated by a painting class saying, “I can’t draw” or “I could never do that.” How would you respond?
Cheri: Oh they do say that!
But I tell them, yes you can! Anyone can do this.
None of us are artists. None of us can draw! The video takes you step-by-step. We do it together.
All the paintings look so different from the others, but they all end up good. And we have so much fun together. Everyone always ends up with a painting they like!
Any parting words?
Cheri: Yes. Try it! If you are in a small church and you’ve been looking for an event idea, you can totally do this.
For me personally, it’s been a great way to find people who have a similar interest in painting, to share my love for art, and to provide an opportunity for other people to do what they enjoy too!
In the future, I really hope our Creative Connect – Paint! group becomes “our” group, not just Cheri’s class. My goal is to keep looping people in for more ownership. Keep inviting people to come early to set up. To be in charge of different aspects – like the snack table.
I want everyone to feel more ownership and more connection as we continue with our monthly painting. Sharing the joy!
Thank you for taking time with us, Cheri. I’m excited to see where your encouragement leads the women in your church as well as the people reading here on Small Church Ministry!
If you have questions or comments for Cheri, feel free to post them in the comments below. She’s promised to answer and will stay in touch!
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?
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About The Author
Laurie Acker
Founder Laurie Acker is best known for taking a personal blog and growing it into the World’s #1 Resource For Small Churches in the span of 24 months. After starting a career as a youth director and vowing to never marry a pastor, Laurie now spends her time helping people in small churches identify where God is already at work and step into their influence to join Him there. She speaks boldly against the lie that “if you do it right, your church will grow” and instead models doing ministry like Jesus. Enjoy her teaching on The Small Church Ministry Podcast and connect with her on Facebook or Instagram. If you’re ever in Tucson, AZ, stop in for a visit to meet Laurie and her family, including her pastor-husband, 3 grown kiddos, a son-in-law, & a very busy puppy named Pesto.
5 Comments
kathy levi on December 4, 2020 at 8:17 am
I am an artist who has been praying about a ministry using my painting and creativity for women and young women and this is great food for thought! I hope to start something like this in my area (Johnson City TN) I pray your ministry thrives and the lives you touch thru this are many. I also love the Art Sherpa she is such a sweet giving artist and so knowledgeable about painting and makes it so easy to learn from her as well. Reply
Laurie Acker on December 16, 2020 at 9:10 am
That is so beautiful! We have several artists in our free facebook community who have a dream of doing similar things! Come find us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreativeLittleChurch/ Reply
Cheri on July 6, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Kathy, I’m so sorry that somehow I missed your comment. Thank you for you kind words. I’m praying for your and clear direction! Have you started a ministry for painting yet? I’d love to know where you are at with it and how things are gong!! Reply
DEBBIE HARSHNER on July 14, 2021 at 6:51 pm
How would you incorporate a Devotional or make this more of a Ladies Ministry Reply
Laurie Acker on July 15, 2021 at 6:55 am
Hi Debbie! We always suggest you look at the needs of your audience. So if the group is more community outreach, I would suggest a simple prayer and maybe a take home bookmark with a scripture saying – and use the time to build relationships. If your group is filled with seekers or life-long disciples you could go in so many directions – themed around the project or any number of God’s principles. I highly encourage you to check out this article as you plan The Ministry Funnel Reply
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