What It's About
These pop-up painting classes are a howling success.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
One of the best ways to find a side hustle is to observe businesses around you. If you know you could provide a better service or product, you might be onto something. Chelsey took the time to research and figure out how to differentiate herself from similar businesses.
Fun Fact
Chelsey’s favorite artists are Van Gogh, Andy Warhol and Wayne Thiebaud. She loves Thiebaud because he loves to paint cakes and all things food, which is what Chelsey paints when she paints for herself. As she says, “It’s weird but oddly satisfying.”
Notes from Chris
Episode 1054
In 2012, Chelsey Roberts was working as a banker while going to school to get her MBA. One night, she felt inspired to create a piece of art to represent a vivid dream she had. Chelsea wasn’t an artist—she’d never even taken a single class in art, but she happened to have some random house paint lying around. Feeling motivated, she sat down and created her very first painting. It turned out she loved the process. She soon began learning the fundamentals of shading, lighting, and realism, and occasionally sharing her work with friends. One of those friends asked if Chelsey could show her and a group at her church how to paint like her. This first-class was small, just 10 or 15 people, but it was a good experience. In fact, she found that she enjoyed teaching so much that she decided to leave banking and become a sixth-grade teacher. But a few years and a couple of moves later, Chelsey found herself in a town about 30 minutes outside Dallas. Her experience helped her land a job in one of the best school districts in town. She loved that job, but she wanted to create something that she could have full control over and really make her own. She looked at what other painting class companies were offering, and decided she could do better. She wanted to focus on mediums that were stress-free, easy to learn, and easy to transport. She also knew she might have more success with classes now that she was much closer to a large city. That’s how her business, ColorHype, came to be. She puts a lot of emphasis on hands-on learning … which both kids and adults love. Among others, she has an acrylic pouring class, which can get colorful and messy, and another class that uses different media, like boards, potted succulents, stickers and honeycomb tiles. She even hosts a popular Paint Your Pet class. Even with ColorHype’s rapid growth, Chelsey hadn’t planned to quit her full-time teaching job. But besides touching all the primary colors, her work was bringing in some serious green. In May 2019, she realized that she was making enough money to focus on ColorHype full time. So, she left her high school teaching job at the end of the school year, and since then has seen her sales jump to over $10,000/month. These experiences are now expanding. She recently licensed her ColorHype brand to a friend back in Texarkana who now uses her methods to teach classes there. Chelsey makes a percentage of the profits from every class, and is looking to license others in cities around the country. Next, she’s working on creating her first art tour in Italy, and hiring some additional help. This passion project has become a true masterpiece.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- ColorHype: Learn more about Chelsey's classes at her website.
- Cat Lover Creates Cat-tivating Portrait Series: A 21-year-old college student combines her obsession with pets and love for painting to pay her way through school with customized animal portraits.
- Graphic Designer Paints a Picture Worth $8,000/Month: This designer is the picture of success with a side hustle that draws in a full-time income.
- Turkish Student Turns Teacher, Starts $14,000 Tutoring Gig: A student with a flair for teaching gives extra classes to fellow students, optimizing the process along the way and working fewer hours each time.
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Resources
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Quote of the Day
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