Meet Emily Ramsey | Art Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Ramsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to open up my own “Paint & Sip” business because I truly believe everyone is an artist. Most people that join my classes have never picked up a paint brush in their life and they’re usually very critical of their ability to do the class before it even starts. I absolutely love seeing their face when they start getting into their painting and saying things like “wow! I can’t believe how great this looks!” Those are the moments that keep me teaching classes. I decided that I wanted to involve my community into my classes so after a lot of brainstorming I decided to put a spotlight on local non-profit organizations at every class. I would pick a different non-profit to come to the class and during our dry break, they would speak about their organization and how the class can get involved or donate if they’re interested in doing so. This is why I have “Create Your Community” in my Evolve logo (which is my business’s name). I chose the name Evolve because in art, we are constantly growing and learning. By including the local non-profits, my goal is to Evolve my Community as well. I opened my own restaurant in May of 2021 and am looking forward to introducing Paint & Sip classes to the residents of Westcliffe Colorado. I recently did a survey on social media and learned that so many locals here are interested in art classes so I believe Evolve will be a hit in my community!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I opened ‘Evolve’ in August of 2019 and let me just say – it’s been quite the adventure! I started out doing about 2 classes per month since I worked a full time job. About 6 months after opening, COVID-19 hit. I decided to go virtual and offer online classes and even sold paint kits (which included everything they needed to paint at home). Then I was approached to teach painting classes for Pueblo Community College for their Summer program. I also started teaching at Fremont Center for the Arts which really broadened my customer base. What sets my Paint & Sip business apart from others is the Non-Profit spotlight. I coordinate with local non-profits about attending my class to speak about their organization or if they were unable to make it, I would make the announcement for them. Most students were really engaged with the Non-Profits and overall it gave local residents at least the knowledge of what local non-profits are doing for their community. I’ve always had a passion for non-profits and feel like they’re the true backbone of all communities. Being able to shed a little bit of a spot light on their mission is the easiest thing I could do. In the past year I have cut back classes since I opened a restaurant in Westcliffe Colorado called “Silver West Feedstore.” I eventually plan to offer paint & sip classes here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My fiancé and I have a business in Florence and in Westcliffe. In Florence, we have the Florence Brewing Company which in my humble opinion is one of the best breweries in Colorado. So if anyone is visiting Florence, I highly recommend checking that out. For food, there’s all kinds of great restaurants such as Ito’s Sushi, Quincy Steakhouse and soon there will be an amazing burger joint called Huskey Burgers. If my best friend was visiting Westcliffe, I would highly suggest they check out our restaurant the Silver West Feedstore! It’s a beautiful building that was built in the late 1800s and sits on a gorgeous 2 acre park which also holds a one of a kind rock amphitheater. Most people come to Westcliffe to see the stunning Sangre De Cristo mountain range or to check out the stars. Westcliffe is a “dark sky community” meaning we have some of the best star viewing in the country. Also in Westcliffe are several wonderful restaurants, art galleries and locally owned souvenir shops. The best part is Florence and Westcliffe are only 45 minutes apart so seeing both areas on a weekend getaway is very doable! In between Florence and Westcliffe is Bishops’ Castle which is a sight to be seen for yourself to understand it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest cheerleader for my business is my best friend Jessica Unruh. She encouraged me to do this for years before I finally committed to my dream of doing this. She is also the person who came up with the business name “Evolve” and helped my financially get started with purchasing all the necessary materials. There’s no way this would have happened without the love and support from her.

Instagram: @evolvepaintcolorado @silverwestfeedstore

Facebook: @evolvepaintcolorado @silverwestfeedstore