The name Whimsy suits the place, and the concept, from front door to back.
While the storefront on 10th Street East is brand new, the "pop up" social painting experience it houses has been around a few years.

Nikki Burgess has lived in Wiarton for 16 years, and was grateful to raise her children in a small town. After indulging her "teacher dreams" by helping out in classrooms, and using her design skills in friend's businesses and weddings, she decided to put it all together in Whimsy by Nikki - a social art business of her own.
She began with pop-up events in local restaurants, and continues to work "on location" with community partners like Boston Pizza, East Side Mario's and Stonetree – social art events that provide all the materials and encouragement in a licensed space with food and drink available.

These are not art classes, Nikki emphasizes, they are judgement-free social events with an opportunity to express creative abilities everyone already has. "A chance for those 'I can't even draw a stick figure' or 'I haven't painted since I was little' folks to surprise themselves and win bragging rights for their creations." The atmosphere is social, relaxed and supportive, and the reward at the end is a painting you created yourself.

"One spouse came across his partner's painting in the kitchen one morning and asked, "Were they selling art at that thing you were at last night?" She just grinned – neither of them knew she had it in her!"

Whimsy evenings at the 10th Street space start at 6:30 or 7:00 with participants making their choice of brushes. Everything is provided – apron, canvas, brushes and paint – all included in the fee. And Nikki. "Personal attention – access to me- is really important. The artists' comfort is my top priority."

Participants begin by writing themselves a positive message in chalk on their canvas. It will be painted over, but the artist knows it is at the heart of the work. It's a comfortable social event, with some step-by-step instruction so that participants know the elements of the painting, and the way the acrylic paints work on the canvas. While there is a featured painting for the evening which Nikki has created, every guest chooses their own elements and colours, and no two paintings from the session are the same - "they are as different as the artists who create them."
Lots of people come solo, or with a sibling or parent or friend. Nikki has regulars, some of whom take advantage of the time and materials to do work of their own design. On date nights, couples create two paintings that become one.
Private bookings, at her space or yours, can be from 10 to a maximum of 30 people for team building, bachelorettes, seniors or teens, or just for fun.
This summer Nikki will run some daytime sessions and she's still developing events for kids in particular.

All the paintings are on the website – just choose your session, book your canvas and leave the rest to Nikki.