March 20, 2017

Meet Christine Zollinger of Cork and Canvas in Historic Roswell

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Zollinger.

Christine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was a customer of the business before I became the owner. When the previous owner decided to sell, we got together over coffee. As a self-taught artist, she thought I would be a good fit for her business. From there, it was just getting the paperwork done. I love to paint and now I get to teach people (most that have never painted before) to paint and create their own masterpiece.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at first. In the beginning, I had a hard time building my self-confidence and coming up with paintings that I could teach in the appropriate time frame and paintings that people would like. I am a very small studio (compared to my competitors) so learning how to spend my marketing money in the most appropriate and productive ways was difficult.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cork and Canvas story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a BYOB painting studio. We walk people through the painting of the night step by step in an intimate atmosphere. It doesn’t matter if you have never picked up a paint brush or if you have experience, we will bring out your creative side. Each person gets to pick their own paint colors and can add their own creativity (if they want too). The night begins in our social rooms where everyone gets to socialize and relax before we start painting as a group. Everyone brings in what they want to drink and eat. Most places do not have social rooms as we do. We are a small studio so we get to touch base with each painter and help them one on one if they desire. I love that we can talk to each individual person that walks through the door. I am so lucky that we have loyal customers that come back to us because they like the “personalized touch.”

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wanted to go to college for art but I had to work while going to college. It just wasn’t feasible. But I kept painting and drawing. As luck would have it, after I got married and had kids I got the opportunity to buy this business. You just never know!

Pricing: