Today we’d like to introduce you to Chen Haena Biton.
Chen Haena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started painting Picnik as my passion for art surfaced and courage to face years of baseless fear and discouraging thoughts that I could never afford to pursue an education in art as a single mom. My corporate cubicle sales telemarketing desk job and teenage son was a recipe for an outlet to seek some sort of tranquility. I delved into art as an expression of therapy to face both my life struggles and my baseless fears of exploring the act of painting. I quickly discovered art is where I always belonged and this started a major life shift type notion of “look in the mirror” type of assessment that seek and longed for the right path which I needed to be on.
As I explored painting on my own terms I utilized my revived fearless new self to express and release emotions. I realized that disappearing and connecting all at the same time through the act of painting was my haven. I felt like a genie being released from a bottle, my creativity could finally find a channel of expression which was kept in secret, tucked away and buried was now alive and blooming.
I quickly realized it’s not something I could deny or hide that I was beginning a new journey a new chapter of sorts. I hoped I could make a living doing art as a wishful thought and little did I know that this would come sooner than later as hurricane Irma struck and I was left jobless due to a combination of slow sales and nepotism at work. I figured it was time to do me and start my own little thing that I could manage and operate. I started my company as an air B and B experience of meditation into art and called it painting Picnik! I found healing powers in nature as I lead painting event groups in local parks. Utilizing meditation into mindful expressions through art to connect people to each other and their internal self to heal and re-charge. As my participant’s joy, positive response and encouragement ensued it gave me wings to fly. I started curating all of my imaginative, fun art activities that I thought would make great unique experiences. I termed these experiences “acts” and curated them for all age groups genders and personal preferences. That’s exactly how painting Picnik began!
There was one other factor I later came to realize and which continues to encourage me to keep going until today. As I face the task of pursuing my dreams I know that even when the going gets tough I am living a life worth living. I was extremely driven by the mere thought that I could actually provide jobs to others just like me, seeking their artistic passions. I find artistic beings cleaning apartments, managing stores and waitressing when in reality they have the power to provide to society by sharing their artistic gifts with the world.
We live in a fast paced world, where there is little room for self-reflection and understanding. I choose to create “Acts of art” which will open the channel towards outcomes of building true friendships, being better co-workers, parents, and partners and to the betterment of self! Art is enriching and inspiring when re-ignited and explored in safe, fun and inspiring environments.
Painting Picnik knows that everyone is an artist and expression is unique to each one of us which is why you will never see two paintings alike. Art is not robotic it is not a “do as I say process” it’s about exploration experimentation and excavation of oneself! We bring the act of painting and crafting experience to pretty much any location and are excited to continuously train and provide jobs to local artists in the community as we grow our vendor base and outreach within South Florida. We always add art activities of many sorts as operations expand our offerings grow to fit the demands.
Painting Picnik is also in the process of aligning with a few non-profit organizations to give back to the community by volunteering our time to work with underprivileged children and children with special needs and severe health conditions.
I am thankful to the magic each and every participant brings with him or she at any event and to each painting experience shared even if it means that another Sunday’s best outfit was soiled by acrylic paint!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The struggles are that we are doing something very different and out of the box so it’s taking time for people to understand and see what it is exactly that we do and how we do it! The public is certainly ready and eager for this change and is tired of the same old paint as I say studio approach. People are seeking meaningful painting experiences not just a dinner in a local restaurant. They want to do memorable things together that are fun and engaging! We are seeing how amazing the results are as we were recently featured online on the Forbes travel edition as one of the top five reasons to visit the Five star award winning Aqualina Resort and Spa in Sunny Isles Beach Florida!
Please tell us about Painting Picnik.
What sets us apart from others is the fact that we include the elements of nature in painting and teach in an approach that allows the artist to explore its own artistic self by painting in a “paint what you feel assisted approach”! We build confidence in our participants and re-ignite artistic passions. You don’t have to worry and compare your artwork to your neighbor you can be proud of your own unique creation and art style. We are most proud of having the best creative acts that were curated to heal, interact discover and bring out the inner artist that is in all of us. Painting Picnik “acts” are setting the trends in what the art world has to offer today within the sip and paint arenas of today. We are known for making art more than just art!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have done nothing differently!
Contact Info:
- Address: 19355 Turnberry Way
- Website: www.PaintingPicnik.com
- Phone: 7865056044
- Email: Info@paintingpicnik.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintingpicnik
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paintingpicnik
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/haenachen
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/painting-picnik-hollywood
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/paintingpicnikceo
Image Credit:
Eva Simon
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