Sometimes all it takes to spark up a business plan is a vision. After moving to Toronto from New York City to be closer to her family, Ehi Obinyan, with the help of a friend who works as illustrator, began drawing out a vision board for her paint business. “I was just talking to her about what I wanted to do and she perfectly illustrated everything that I envisioned,” Ehi recalls.
She started in 2015 as a mobile paint service, where she’d drive to people’s homes and throw paint parties for kids and adults. People would book online for her to come in for kids’ birthdays, bridal showers, corporate events and all sorts of occasions. But, her ultimate plan was to have a space of her own. “My original vision was to create a space where people can come in and just express themselves safely, really just be comfortable and have fun.”
After testing the waters on the road and discovering that people had a real appetite for what she was doing, she found the perfect space in The Beaches and in May 2016, PaintSpace Art Lounge opened its doors. Being able to paint outdoors has always been part of her vision, so the studio’s Queen Street East location – being close to the beach, the garden and park – was a no-brainer.
