Notes from Chris

Episode 510

What do you do when you’re in Orange County, California and you want to paint while getting high? It’s always been a huge problem—there are places you can paint, and there are places where you can consume recreational marijuana … but until Kelly Pyszkiewicz and Tasha Rindt came along, there was nowhere you could do both.

That’s right, this side hustle story is all about combining two passions that both Kelly and Tasha had: painting and pot.

As local artists, they were inspired by one another’s endeavors and realized along the way that the cultural topic of cannabis was also a connection. At the time, California was buzzing with the possibility that it might follow suit with the rest of the west coast and make recreational marijuana legal. For Kelly and Tasha, that signaled an idea.

In 2017, they decided to commit to creating Brush Tokes, Orange County’s premier 420-friendly art studio. It’s a place that welcomes artists who also enjoy hanging with friends while casually having a glass of wine and a joint. Kelly and Tasha wanted to create a place for folks to get inspired, relax and meet like-minded people.

The biggest hurdle for many pot-specific businesses is finding a space that will allow smoking. Luckily, Kelly’s gracious boyfriend offered up a space where he usually works on custom cars, to be used for Brush Tokes classes. Once they landed the space, gathering the tables and chairs to host was the next step. Kelly and Tasha found gently-used options on Craigslist. This approach kept their start-up costs way down to only around $1,000.

The first few Brush Tokes classes were filled with their friends, all hanging out and learning to paint. One friend led to another friend...and another. To this day, Kelly and Tasha haven’t spent a dime on advertising. One way they did spread the word was by going to pot dispensaries and introducing themselves, leaving flyers and branded stickers to promote.

Classes range in subject matter from Bob Ross landscapes (happy little trees and cannabis plants) to a class coming up around Glass Vase painting. Kelly and Tasha teach the classes themselves and encourage their fellow artists to explore and experiment. And of course, have fun. Classes range from $30 to $40 and they fill up fast. Each ticket includes an 11" x 14" canvas, supplies, step-by-step instruction, and a goodie bag! The goodie bags are filled with fun pot-related freebies like rolling papers, a hemp wick, a branded lighter and stickers.

The classes are so fun that people stay sometimes until 10pm or later. The addition of pot can influence people's paintings in some funny and creative ways. Of course, it helps the painters come up with unique ideas. Even the instructors get inspired by the weed, like when Kelly added a ferris wheel at the end of a painting of Newport Pier, and when Tasha added a joint in the Lovely Lion’s mouth.

Kelly and Tasha are able to cover expenses and make a profit from each class. Usually, two, two-hour classes a month brings in a profit of $2,400! Proving Brush Tokes is paving the way for art and pot-enthusiasts alike to make and mingle. This is certainly proving to be no one-hit wonder!

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Brush Tokes OC: If spending your time getting high and painting happy little trees with others sounds like your idea of a good time (I mean, how could you not?), learn more about what Tasha and Kelly are doing over on their website

SEE ALSO:

• Bartender Writes Statewide Marijuana Guide: Colorado bartender sells 2,000 copies of a statewide marijuana guide in the boom of the budding cannabis economy
• Fulbright Scholar Earns $2k/Month Selling CBD Oil: A lifelong interest in hemp leads a Kentucky woman to start an online marketplace for CBD oil
• Cannabis Cookies Make a Sweet, Soothing Side Hustle: In a growing industry, this Oregon mom achieves high returns from licensed marijuana edibles
• California Moms Get High and Get Well: Two enterprising parents see the legalization of marijuana as an opportunity to help people while also helping themselves

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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