Meet Misti Hughes | Artist, Art Teacher, Painting Party Entrepreneur

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

Hi Misti, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I am a warm, and easy going. I am a high energy person with a fun personality. People feel comfortable, encouraged, lifted, and inspired by me in my art parties and events. I focus on the creative process, and the zen time spent creating rather than the outcome, and that is where the true peace of mind magic of art can be found.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have studied art for many years. I have degrees in Graphic design, marketing, and fine art with concentrations in painting, drawing, sculpture, and print making, I also dabbled in education. After completing college I stopped creating art for many years to focus on my family, and raising my babies. I finally picked it back up roughly 10 years later, still then it was more of a now and then hobby. I was a stay at home mom and found it very hard to find work around my small kids schedules, and with not very much outside of the home work experience I was often looked over for positions. Painting party places were starting to pop up around this time, and I thought to myself…I think I could do that. So I started watching youtube videos of step by step paintings and researching the painting party places in bigger cities. Pueblo did not have any painting party locations at that time so I decided that I could do it mobile and bring the painting parties to the people, and that’s what I did. I used $200 of income tax money and bought a few essentials and started practicing with my friends and family, then I moved to small gatherings, book clubs and eventually have grown to events with 50+ painters. My style of art is non representational abstract energy art and Picasso like figure paintings. I also do representational pet portraits and portraits.
I do community collaboration paintings at large events where everyone in attendance is encouraged to leave their mark on the piece. One painting is hanging outside of the youth courtroom in the judicial building.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Sloppers!! I am a foodie and I love the story behind the slopper and the local competition of the slopper and how it was featured on food network(Coors Tavern vs Sunset). I would take them all along the riverwalk to the different shops and eat oysters at the 4 of Harts, and have a lemon drop martini, I would go to yoga at Ren yoga studio for some mindful movement and the kayak park or reservoir for some water action. On a first friday evening I would hop around to all of the new art show openings at the Heritage Museum, BloBack gallery, Art Alliance and any other places that might be having art or live music or open mic night like the Analogue or El Pueblo History museum and end the night with some Irish nachos and a chocolate ale at the Shamrock. I would take them to the drum circle at the city park that is held on summer Sunday’s. I would also visit the local museums to give them some history of our location, and do a walk around downtown to see our murals so they can get a good understanding of our creative love felt community. Coffee art at the Sacred Bean and antique shopping downtown. Let’s goooo!)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents always encouraged my creativity from a very young age. I have had many art teachers starting in middle school that have encouraged my exploration of my talents. There are many talented business owners and other creatives in Pueblo that I have learned from and do business with. They have worked with me to do events, parties and art shows at their establishments allowing me to expand my social circles and marketing. I am also involved with many local community organizations that have allowed me to bring the community together for art such as the El Pueblo History Museum, Boys & Girls Clubs, Project Inspire Coop, Fraternal Order of Eagles, United Way.

Instagram: Misti Hughes Art @inyoureyedesign

Facebook: In Your Eye Design Mobile Painting Parties and Nuridzine-Misti Hughes