Painting with a Twist, a Louisiana company that bills itself as “the largest franchisor in the paint-and-sip category,” opened on Oak Valley Dr. in April. Owner Letitia Tenner considers the two independent social painting businesses that opened in Ann Arbor last year (Paint and Pour on Main and Paint Station on Washtenaw) to be “imitators” of PWT’s business model, which offers group art classes in a BYO party atmosphere. “Our activity and volume speaks for itself,” she says.

Tenner, who worked for two decades as a project manager in the IT industry, says she got hooked after a girlfriend invited her to a PWT in Farmington. Two-hour classes run $35 per person; while corporate offers thousands of art choices, assistant manager Kaylie Powell says she’s noticed Ann Arborites tend toward trees and nature landscapes. Because “some people need a little relaxant,” Powell says, there are no rules about when customers can start sipping their wine or beer–but she admits being “surprised to see people bringing it in even at a noon class.”

Painting with a Twist, 3143 Oak Valley Drive (Village Centre Plaza), 662-7928. Call or check website for class schedule or to book a private party. paintingwithatwist.com/ann-arbor