ECONOMY

HERE AND NOW

Pop Art Party Time

New local boutiques, businesses and brands you may
not know — but should.

By Lynne Konstantin

alling all wannabe-artists: Bonnie
Swope can bring your dream to life.
A 20-year graphic-design
veteran, Swope developed an idea to
create Pop Art-style paintings — with a
little help from her daughter, Layla.
In 2006, Swope opened Pop Art Ink,
a canvas printing company that cre-
ated family portraits and other custom
pieces in the Pop Art style: Starting
with a photo provided by the client,
Swope would transform the canvas
into a work of art.
Seeing how her mom created the
canvases, Layla, then 6, asked her mom
to create a Pop Art that she could paint
herself. Genius.
In 2013, Swope opened Paint Your
Pop Art in Keego Harbor, where guests
could paint their own masterpieces.
Again beginning with a photo chosen
by the client, Swope uses a process
that combines computer-aided design
and hand illustration to create a picture
guide. Then, using either a provided
color guide or their own choices,

C

clients fill in the blanks, each painting
their own picture at their own pace,
even at group gatherings.
Similar to paint-by-numbers, only
with a picture and palette chosen by
the client, canvases are transformed
from simple line sketches into shock-
ingly photorealistic masterpieces —
practically every time.
With her business growing in popu-
larity, and to serve customers from all
over the state at a more central loca-
tion, Swope soon closed shop in Keego
Harbor —just last April, she opened
a larger space in Clawson, leaving her
day job to focus on its growing suc-
cess. Painters can drop in on a Studio
Paint Party, schedule a private party
with friends or co-workers or create
a birthday party — for kids or adults,
with plenty of space for snacks and
decorations.
Want to bring the party to another
location? Swope also creates Paint
Party in a Box kits, providing canvases,
paint, easels, guides, aprons and brush-

es for 24 hours — she has provided
kits for everything from bridal showers
to beach parties to Camp Michigania
activities.
The best part? You are practically
guaranteed to leave with something
that you love, of something that you
love, from kids and canines to favorite
actors and more.
"People love creating the paintings,"
Swope says. "I love the sense of pride
and appreciation they have at the end
of a party. It's the best feeling ever,
knowing that I was a part of that!'
Even better, she adds, is how her
daughter has remained an integral
part of the business."She truly is my
partner''Swope says."It was her idea,
and she painted the very first one.
But she is still involved in the business
every day, from choosing new paints
and easels to designing the art. She

or

has learned a lot about business and
money, and she takes a lot of pride in
the business.
"Plus; Swope adds,"she's really popu-
lar at our kids' birthday parties!"

For more information about Paint Your Pop Art,
including canvas sizes, pricing and parties, call (855)
324-8434 or visit paintyourpopart.com.

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June 2015 33