Women’s History Month Instructor Spotlight: Candace Dove, Paint Party

The first Paint & Pinot event at the iconic Fox Theatre in The District Detroit on March 11 was a huge success! Participants sipped on wine while creating their own masterpieces in the lobby of the Fox. As part of our Women’s History Month celebration, we sat down with Candace Dove, our talented instructor for the Paint & Pinot series. Enjoy reading more about her story and her business, Paint Party!

Dove was born and raised on the west side of Detroit by a single mother and moved at the age of six to the Dexter and Davison area. With her mom working full time for the United States Postal Service, Dove’s neighbors quickly became family.

“Our neighbors were the perfect example of ‘it takes a village.’ Being raised by a single mother was not easy but our neighbors helped take some of the load off.”

It was that neighborhood camaraderie that spurred Dove’s love for community.

After winning an art competition hosted by the City of Detroit at Winterhalter Elementary, Dove fell in love with art and drawing. She carried that passion with her to college at Michigan State, where she began taking art classes her sophomore year. While in East Lansing, Dove began working at a paint and sip studio. After graduating from MSU, she continued that work in studio in Detroit.

“During my time at the paint and sip studio, many people who attended classes expressed interest in having painting parties right at home,” Dove said. “Paint and sip classes were becoming super popular, but no one offered mobile classes. In 2016 I decided to fill that void by creating my mobile paint and sip company Paint Party.”

By 2017 Paint Party had taken off. It is a completely mobile operation, and has the ability to come your home or venue of choice. This flexibility accommodates individuals who may not feel comfortable painting in a studio, bringing the joy of painting to them.

Currently, the largest class to date is 140 painters. Throughout the pandemic, Dove has offered virtual classes, providing take-home kits that come with everything needed. The virtual class component has allowed Paint Party to expand globally. Recently, Dove even taught a virtual class for painters in Madrid.

Paint Party was born out of a love for community and Dove’s desire to lend a helping hand to those around her. Dove has big aspirations for where Paint Party can go.

“In five years, I would like to see Paint Party in a brick-and-mortar,” Dove said. “I want Paint Party to be in a community that it can assist. I want to offer a safe space for a children’s art camp, a place for community events and so much more. I want Paint Party to serve whatever community it is in.”

Dove said creating Paint Party was the best decision she has made. Of course, it came with its challenges. Dove says that the biggest thing she’s had to do is ask for help when she needed it.

“If I could give another female small business owner some advice, it would be don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t be too strong to lean on someone else,” Dove said. “Having support and having a team will allow you to be the best business owner you can be. I think back to my childhood and how my neighborhood was my mom’s village. She would not have been the mom that she was without them. Get yourself a village.”

Dove has accomplished great things through Paint Party and is just getting started.

“No matter how much we grow and how far we go, I will always be a black female entrepreneur from Detroit, Michigan bringing light and love to my community through Paint Party,” Dove said.

To learn more about Paint Party and to book your own event with Dove, visit www.paintpartydet.com.