Vino & Van Gogh, Greenville

When she moved to Greenville, Marquin Campbell noted that, short of dragging your easel to the pub, there was no outlet for people to practice painting while indulging in their favorite beverage. She began Vino & Van Gogh as a laid-back art lesson for the benefit of a few friends—as they chatted and drank wine, she led them through brushstroke after brushstroke. The spirit of those first sessions exists today, and her business hosts BYOB classes for up to 30 aspiring artists at a time. Though Campbell has added several professional instructors to her staff, she preserves the low-key, social ambiance of her first session, helping students to showcase their creativity with intuitive teaching methods.

At each painting class, attendees focus on reproducing the same picture, which changes from session to session. Subjects in the past have ranged from colorful trees and blooming flowers to oyster shells holding a pearl. Each budding artist infuses it with their own personal style as they follow along with their instructor. The studio also offers classes on different art disciplines, including collage and pottery. The instructors' step-by-step process accommodates all skill levels—most pupils are first-time painters—and camps for kids encourage youngsters to construct crafts based on a certain theme, such as sea creatures or bracelets that aren't just dad's neckties rolled into a loop.