Cary mom's business lets everybody be an artist

Sociable Art offers easy art classes for adults at coffee shops, restaurants and clubs, including locations in Cary, Apex and Sanford. Sister business Sociable Art Kids has classes and parties for youngsters.

Posted 12:33 a.m. Jun 13, 2011 — Updated 12:33 a.m. Jun 13, 2011

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

When Arianne Hemlein became a single mom nine years ago, she knew she would need a flexible job to help support and take care of her two children.

She'd always dabbled in art. So she made the leap and began her own successful mural business, Designs by Arianne. She's completed murals for homes and businesses across the region. A few years ago, she began selling custom art paintings and portraits.

Hemlein began teaching art classes about a year ago, something she found she really enjoyed.

"I found I really appreciated being able to share my artistic skills and get people to explore their own creativity," she tells me. "It was very rewarding to teach classes. I decided I wanted to pursue that."

So Sociable Art was born. Hemlein brings her classes to coffee shops, restaurants and clubs across North Carolina - including Apex, Cary, Charlotte, Sanford and Southern Pines. Her students paint while they sip a coffee or try out an appetizer. During the two hour classes, she shows students how to paint a painting stroke by stroke. At the end, they come out with a finished product they often end up hanging on their walls.

She has regular events at the Chef's Palette and Ruckus Pizza in Cary and The Wake Zone Espresso in Apex. And in Sanford, she meets once a month at the Steele Street Cafe. She also books private parties and team building events.

Her goal is to reach people who don't think they are artistic.

"At some point, people decide they are an artist or they aren't an artist. I don't buy into that," she tells me. "They are all artists."

Hemlein also has teamed up with Karen Campbell, the Apex mom and artist who I featured last year, to offer Sociable Art Kids. Campbell offers art classes that are just under two hours for kids ages 5 to 11. Classes are offered on Saturdays and throughout the summer. Sociable Art Kids also offers birthday parties.

Click here for more on Sociable Art. Click here for more on Sociable Art Kids. Watch my interview with Hemlein for more on what she offers.

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