EP# 62: Painting Positivity: Denise Morgan's Artistic Haven at Brush-It-Off

What makes  Denise Morgan with Brush-It-Off a good neighbor?

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt like you've found your oasis? That's the experience Denise Morgan of Brush-It-Off strives to create for every visitor stepping into her art studio. On our latest episode, we have the delight of venturing into Denise's world, where a former graphic design entrepreneur turned her passion for art into a thriving community hub. From painting to pottery, Brush it Off is a testament to the belief that everyone can be an artist, and Denise is the guiding force proving that creativity isn't just for the 'talented'—it's for anyone seeking joy and a break from the everyday grind.

Denise's journey is a colorful narrative that paints a picture of transformation, not just for her business, but for every individual who discovers their hidden potential through art. The studio, buzzing with the energy of people finding their "happy place," offers a sanctuary where the fear of judgment is checked at the door. We delve into how Denise's love for gardening and inventing new art projects informs her work, providing an ever-evolving space that invites the community to unwind and explore. It's not just an art studio; it's a space where challenges are embraced, and resilience is formed—one brushstroke at a time. Join us as we explore the canvas of Denise's inspiring story and how it might just be the nudge you need to pick up a paintbrush yourself.
Brush-It-Off

To learn more about Brush-It-Off go to:
https://brush-it-off.com/

Brush-It-Off
(774) 241-3444

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Liz Lemon.

Speaker 2: 0:11

Welcome to Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of some fun, cool art projects? Surprisingly, it might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your neighbor, denise Morgan, with Brush it Off and Fistail Mask. How are you today, denise?

Speaker 3: 0:26

I'm good, Liz. It's nice to meet you today.

Speaker 2: 0:29

Nice to meet you. We're excited to learn all about you and your business. So tell us about Brush it Off.

Speaker 3: 0:35

Brush it Off is a small local business that has grown tremendously over the past 12 years. It's five rooms of fun. It's the people come in. My regulars will walk through the door and go. I'm in my happy place and they get to sit back and relax and do some painting. There's so many different things here that they can choose from to do for painting and, from now, pottery.

Speaker 3: 1:08

A year ago I brought on pottery as one of our five rooms and we have our main room, which is our open studio where people can come in and do anything. So you could have a group of four of yous. One could paint a lighted wine bottle, one could paint a canvas, the others could do ceramics. I've got thousands of ceramic pieces to choose from, of which the fun thing about the ceramics now is because we have the pottery studio. We have the option to do either glazing, so you can make it food safe, or you can paint with acrylics, which a lot of little kids like to do that because they get the satisfaction of taking it home with them the same day, other than us having to fire the glazed items and we call you when it's ready.

Speaker 2: 1:53

That sounds extraordinary so many different options. How did you get into the business?

Speaker 3: 1:58

My daughter. She surprised me. I had a graphic design company for over gosh, over 25 years and I was just getting tired and she took me for a surprise to a paint and sip out in Newton Mass and I just had a great time. It was a place I could go. I wasn't being judged for my artwork, I could do whatever I want, or follow along with the instructor step by step, which I did, because then I didn't have to think as much about it and I could just relax and get off the grid and enjoy. And I certainly enjoyed it, especially being with my daughter at the time. And about a year and a half later, my husband, out of the blue, goes. Do you ever think about make doing one of those paint places that you went to with my daughter? And I thought I could use that as my green light and, um, I guess I'm going into my journey here, so, um, actually?

Speaker 2: 3:01

what are the myths and misconceptions within your industry?

Speaker 3: 3:06

I think the myths and misconceptions where people come in and go oh, I can't do that and it is so rewarding on my end. I have seen so many people walk out of a paint class that we've taught or ceramics that they've done there and they go. I can't believe I did this and they did do it. So people can do a lot more than they think that they can do. It's just doing it. Get yourself in here and doing it Right.

Speaker 2: 3:37

Try something new. Try something new, something creative too as well. Outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3: 3:47

Garden. I love gardening. That is my downtime Between creating more fun things to do in the studio besides just the ceremony. We have the the slatter paint room as well, where you can get dressed up in goggles and rain gear and go into the black lights and throw neon paint at your canvas and come away with another masterpiece. Creating new paintings is another fun thing I like to do Hand-building pottery ideas that people can. We can show them how to hand-build something that they make, and it's just a way to get off the norm of life, get yourself thinking in a different direction, and it's a freshening thing to do.

Speaker 2: 4:40

Right, a break for your brain, and you know a joy to do it as well. For sure, let's change gears just for one moment. Can you describe one hardship or life challenges that you rose above and can now say because of it, you're better and stronger?

Speaker 3: 4:54

Welcome to the mind I and I hate going back to this, but COVID COVID was devastating for so many but it was really a blessing for me where I was upstairs in this old mill, this fun old mill, and I had one big room and I couldn't conduct business because I couldn't get enough tables but people didn't want to come in and paint. But people didn't want to come in and paint. So we did the painting kits for people to do, to take out and do, and gave away a ton of little paint kits for every kid whose birthday fell in the time zone of the shutdown of COVID, which brought even more business because I would sell cheaply other paint kits for siblings and stuff too, other paint kits for siblings and stuff too. But I had a lot of moms picking up their paint kits at the door that were in tears just being at home.

Speaker 3: 5:52

It was a tough time for so many people but I really lucked out. I was fortunate with regular customers helping me and a space below me on the first floor became available and I was able to get a grant from the government and build out the space that I'm in now. So I went from one room to five rooms and I have a beautiful outdoor, very zen like patio. I'm actually planting flowers on now um to just relax, and if you want to go paint out there, you can. We have the beer and wine license here so you can have that, or or soda water, coffee, we've got it here and and just come out and enjoy. We're lucky to be down here. That was my hardship, was the whole transition, but here I am.

Speaker 2: 6:50

That's good. Here you are and we thank you for sure, because keeping creative arts alive during the pandemic and finding new ways to reach people definitely a hardship and definitely everyone's overcome it for sure. What is the one thing that you wish our listeners knew about? Brush it Off. I know we touched base on a couple.

Speaker 3: 7:14

So during the winter we have a lot of birthday parties going on because we've got oh my gosh, I think five or six different kind of parties that you can have. So the misconception is you can still have a birthday party in the summertime indoors. It's a great alternative, you know, if it's raining or something, it's a great, a fun place to come. You know the kids are bored or something. Come on down. It's a great date night place. And the misconception too is the splatter paint room is not just for kids, it is for all ages, trust me, all ages. But come on down.

Speaker 2: 7:56

That's fantastic. I personally will have to check out the splatter and the glow. The glow how can our listeners learn more about brush it off?

Speaker 3: 8:03

I'm going to write down the number as well okay, uh, so you could call us at, uh, the 774-241-3444, or best, I would recommend go to our website or our facebook page, which will give you more direction where to go. Um, I always post fun new things that we're doing on Facebook, so, and we're going to start doing a newsletter. That'll be coming out too, so be sure to let us know if you want to get put on the newsletter. But we're this summer we're planning on again. You'll see it on Facebook we're going to do we're hoping for poetry nights and paint and poetry or swap canvas a new trend that's going on coming up with a lot of fun alternatives to just painting, because you can brush it off with or without paint, that's correct.

Speaker 2: 9:02

We brush it off with or without paint. Always new, fun, inventive ways. For sure. So many different rooms. Dinesh, I appreciate you joining me on the show today and we wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 3: 9:16

Thank you so much, liz, nice meeting you.

Speaker 1: 9:20

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnppalmercom. That's gnppalmercom, or call 413-414-5940.