Everyone knows that I don't give out five starts very often. A business must go way over and beyond…read moremy expectations to get all five! I have been to several paint nights and have even left in tears from one of those... that was not the case with Creative Mankind. This company travels around to different venues and offers a variety of painting options. I met up with a group of friends and we painted a Mardi Gras themed picture. Right off the bat I knew it was going to be an awesome experience. We were greeted with upbeat music and beads to celebrate the occasion. Our instructor really put a lot of thought and passion into the class ahead of time. Laying on the canvas was a template of the mask we needed to transfer to our painting. She let us know that we could "go rogue" and change up the colors and skip the sketching parts but I am way not that talented! She had one completed painting on an easel and another blank canvas for demonstration up on an elevated easel. It was visible to everyone in the room without having to stand up. She was extremely accommodating as far as time given for each step, which I really appreciated! It was fun how she would tell us how many songs she would play for us to finish each step... "okay you have two songs to do this step!" There was an assistant who walked around and offered advice and guidance which was helpful. Creative Mankind had partnered with a restaurant that offered drink specials and happy hour pricing for apps! The restaurant provided a dedicated server to us which was a nice touch. And huzzah... my painting actually looked a lot like the sample! Which for me is a huge deal because I am really not artistic or creative with paint. We were all encouraged along the way and our confidence was bolstered by telling us that everyone is an artist but we express our artistry in different ways. I was with a party of six and all of our paintings turned out different and reflected our personalities. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Creative Mankind for any event they host. They also do private parties!

I'm a remote employee in CA and work with a virtual team. We meet up on a quarterly basis in…read moreArlington, VA, (DMV area) so when we do come together, we try to make the most of our time and make it a point to sneak in some fun! For our last trip in July, I was tasked with coordinating the fun team activity and stumbled upon Creative Mankind. I was considering a couple other options, but when I started communicating with Staci (the owner and host), there was really no question that this was the activity (painting class) I wanted to plan for my team. She was so nice, so patient, and super accommodating in every way possible. She even found the most perfect venue to hold our team event (Lyon Hall). She provided all supplies, ensured the ambiance was great and lively, and her instruction was so thorough! She guided us -ever so patiently- every step of the way. We had so much fun! I would, 100% recommend Creative Mankind for your next work team event!!

I scheduled & took my kids ages: 10-19 to a paining class at Cloud 9 Studios (Paint & Float) we had…read morean amazing time!!! From the youngest to the oldest!! The atmosphere was perfect & the owner Amy was very kind & patient. Her instructions were perfect, never thought I'd be able to draw & paint anything, but with her assistant my painting was good enough to hang for the holidays!! We were also served food, which was an additional added PLUS! I will definitely be going back, next time for a ladies night event!! Thank you Cloud 9 for the amazing experience.

From the owner: “For the artist in you.”read more

I love Paint Nite. I have done several of these types of activities over the years and prefer Paint…read moreNite to their competition. Their instructors are usually awesome, have great senses of humor and really engage their classes. You repeat an oath at the beginning of each class and I feel like this really sets the tone of how the class is going to go. They show you what to do, all you have to do at that point is relax and have fun. My favorite instructors so far have been: Jason Good (seriously take a class with him-you will love it-and he will probably sing to you) and Cricket Manjarrez (our class had the giggles most of the night). Some venues they use are better than others; in my experience, I have found the service in bars to be far superior to that in restaurants, but that's kind of out of their control. They have paintings for all levels of detail desired and the schedule changes enough that you can attend a class every several months and not have to paint the same thing. They offer discounts via email for repeat customers and after each class the artist will give you a code to come back at a discounted rate. They are also often on Groupon- so you can watch for that too. I also have to applaud their customer service. A few months ago, I had an issue with my pre-purchased voucher and was able to submit a help ticket quickly and had an answer within 30 minutes. A+ all around.

I Purchased 2 Yaymaker Groupon tickets in May of this year. It has been a disaster since. Here's…read morethe list of no shows, cancellations and appointments kept thus far for me: 1. 5/22 at Paradiso. NO SHOW (never cancelled. Full class and instructor never showed. We had to reschedule on OUR OWN for 6/19  - Yaymaker did not reach out to us until we complained (was finally given 2 extra coupon codes, but read on as they've done me no good!) 2. 6/19 at Paradiso. KEPT but it was advertised as glass hanging planters and there were no glass hanging planters to do. Just regular ones. Not what was advertised. 3. 7/30 at Pallette 22. CANXD 4. 8/27 at Pallette 22. CANXD 5. 9/11 at Hula Girl. CANXD 6. 10/6 at Whole Foods Fair Lakes. CANXD 7. 10/29 at Palette 22. KEPT and was a great class! 8. 11/11 at Board Room CANXD 9. 12/13 at Detour Coffee. CANXD Every reuse of my codes gets cancelled. I want something done. I cannot be the only one who is experiencing this from the Arlington Yaymaker?!?! I currently have a few codes that I still need to use because every time I reschedule something it gets canceled and they send me a code. But at this point I'm wondering if it's even worth it * UPDATE: Yaymaker refunded my lab fees and Groupon refunded my original purchase. Thank you.

Best professional Paint Artist and Sip & Paint host in the DMV area. Josephine Hosted a girls night…read moreout paint party for me and my girls. What a great way to relax and spend time away from computer screens. The last bit of her event was the highlight, you need to book her for this exclusive reveal. Not your ordinary sip and paint. Her work is on my walls too. Good job.

From the owner: Joséphine Ching’s Artistry appeals to different generations on several levels: bringing forth moods…read moreand sentiments of the present day, among other themes. Her portraits are a means to relive an era, experience or memory. She creates and provides over the top fine art for luxury hospitality establishments, residences and individuals, catering to discriminating clientele who demand a certain level of attention and adds exponentially to their fine art and luxury quotient. From kiddy parties, adult get togethers, girls night hangout, guys get-together, and corporate events, Xing Studios has everything you need for a day of relaxation with a fun fine art project. Paint Parties, Paint Night, Painting Classes, Paint Bar, Paint & Sip, Girls Night out, Guys Hangout, and any fun gatherings! Upon your invitation, Josephine Ching will bring her expertise, good cheer, and all the art supplies to you. Get ready to have fun, reconnect with your inner child and artist, and go home with a master piece signed with your name. This is not your ordinary sip and paint. As the high point of your event, there will be an unveiling of one of the Artist's high end pieces, along with its back story and creation process, an informal art and life conversation, where all banter and questions are welcomed.