Painting with a Twist art studio to open in Village at Lee Branch

A new art studio is holding a grand opening Thursday in The Village at Lee Branch shopping center along U.S. 280 in Hoover.

Businessman Hemen Patel is opening a franchise of Painting with a Twist, a Louisiana-based company that offers people a chance to attend a group class to paint and drink a beverage of their choice as they “discover their inner artist.”

The art studio is at 701 Doug Baker Boulevard, Suite 106, next to the Carmike Lee Branch 15 theater.

Customers gather together to paint on bare 16-by-20-inch canvases using paint and brushes provided by the studio and being led by an instructor. The artwork ranges from landscapes abstracts and cityscapes to creative renderings of animals, iconic buildings and florals.

Customers are encouraged to bring friends with them or make new friends when they come alone, and they can bring their own beverages, including wine and beer. The studio can accommodate up to 36 people in one room and also offers private parties for corporate outings, bachelorette parties, sorority functions, date nights and special events.

The owner and operator, Patel, attended Homewood High School and earned a finance degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2004.

For more information, call the studio at 637-7777, or to view the class calendar, go to www.paintingwithatwist.com/birmingham-hoover.