Today we’d like to introduce you to Eriel Dunnam.
Hi Eriel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I never got the chance to meet my great-grandfather, but I’ve heard he was quite the jack-of-all-trades, using his many talents to take care of his family. A plumber, a boarding house manager, and involved in various other ventures. My Poppi, my grandfather, also believed in having multiple streams of income to support his family. Then there’s my mom, who, alongside her full-time job and raising us, always had her side businesses going.
It’s like entrepreneurship is just a part of who we are. Back in middle school, I fell in love with photography, and by high school, I had turned that passion into Dreamer’s Photography. I’ve captured moments at weddings, social events, family gatherings, senior portraits, school events—you name it. My love for design and event planning led me to create Events by Leire, where I’ve had a blast planning and coordinating different events. They’ve always been side gigs, but they’ve also been my creative outlets.
Then came 2020, the year my mom and I decided to bring Painting with a Twist to Douglasville. Picture this: nursing a newborn, global pandemic chaos, and still managing to pull off a studio buildout, hiring and training artists, and a small grand opening in May 2020. My mom and I worked hand in hand for a few months, but come August 2020, she ventured off to launch our Amazon Delivery Service Partnership, leaving me to handle the business solo.
Fast forward to 2022, and we’ve expanded to another location in Hoover, Alabama. Our Douglasville studio alone has seen over 790 public events and more than 240 private events. Selling over 10,000 seats for our various painting events since 2020 has been a true blessing. Imagine me, a brand-new mom with no college degree and not much business know-how, somehow making it work.
Painting with a Twist marked the beginning of what we now call the Brookman Group. I not only helped lay the foundation for it but also managed to keep it going through global crises, labor shortages, and economic downturns. I truly believe I embody the entrepreneurial spirit—it’s not just something I do, it’s who I am. There have been times when I have doubted my ability to do many of the things I’ve done. I didn’t graduate high school and go to college, I went to work, so I can’t possibly know what it takes to run a business successfully.
In 2020, that voice was screaming in my ear. As the years have passed it becomes more of a whisper. I realize that God has innately blessed me with the ability to lead business in the way that I do. In the words of Soulja Boy I make it a point to hop up out of the bed, turn my swag on, take a long look in the mirror, and say, “What’s up?” What’s up to the blessings? What’s up to all the challenges? What’s up to those supporting me? What’s up to all my naysayers? I want to meet all the good and bad head-on and persevere through because I know that’s what God has equipped me to do.
Alright, 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 hasn’t always been a smooth road at all. Trying to get this business up and running during the pandemic was difficult. Trying to navigate CDC regulations and customer preferences to bring in profit was certainly a struggle. Being pushed out of the nest to do this on my own after my mom moved on to another business venture after a few months was extremely scary.
I didn’t want the business to fail, and I didn’t want to fail my mom. I’ve had to deal with difficult customers and the ups and downs of managing people. It has not been the smoothest of roads, but each pothole has taught me something and I’ve tried my hardest to never revisit the same challenge twice.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Painting with a Twist and The Brookman Group?
The Brookman Group was a dream of my mother’s. She wanted to leave a legacy for her children and grandchildren. The Brookman Group owns and operates two paintings with a Twist, one in Douglasville, GA, and the other in Hoover, AL. We’re Amazon Delivery Service Partners, and we’re in the process of opening up a coffee shop in Douglasville.
I was both nervous and honored when my mother left the complete operations of Painting with a Twist – Douglasville to me while she went and sought other opportunities for our company. She entrusted me to make the Hoover, AL location making us a multi-state operation. Since opening up our Douglasville location in 2020 we’ve hosted over 1000 painting events bringing enjoyment to over 10,000 guests. I enjoy helping individuals plan their private events and then getting to pop in and experience the fun and excitement that come with their celebrations. I love our Painting with a Purpose program that’s set up to help local nonprofits in our community.
Kids Camp is hectic but extremely rewarding when you see kids leave our studio at the end of the week with new friends and several different pieces of art to take home and showcase. When people call, my goal is to be able to say yes to their requests and try to meet their needs. We’ve hosted baby showers, a wedding, and even had a film show at our studio. We offer everything from candle making to private parties for kids and adults, off-site events, and team building. Our gallery of paintings is extensive. We’ve incorporated BINGO and themed Karaoke nights into our events as well. We’re always looking for new ways to make our events exciting in the hopes that people will come back and bring a friend.
From the beginning, we’ve asked ourselves what we can be doing to better our community. At the root of what we do, we’ve wanted it to be of benefit to the Douglasville community. It’s been our mission “to positively impact our community by providing stable employment that encourages personal and professional growth while creating safe and relaxing places for our community to gather and create lasting memories.” I’m not sure if it sets us apart, but we spend a lot of time sitting back and thinking about what could potentially enhance our community. The first topic is never how much money this can make us.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am creative so I like to visualize things. I use social media such as Instagram and TikTok more for inspiration than I do for social interactions.
I also love mindlessly scrolling on Pinterest and studying new skills through YouTube University. When it comes to books, self-help books are my go-to, anything to adapt my mindset or maybe just confirm what I’ve been thinking or feeling all along.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/douglasville/calendar/
- Instagram: @twistdouglasville
- Facebook: @twistdoulgasville
