Our Des Moines, IA - Urbandale Painting with a Twist Artists

Andrea

Andrea is the owner of the Urbandale studio. Most of Andrea's professional career has involved editing for various magazines and marketing agencies ... and she dabbled in painting instruction as a fun side gig. Now she's happily replaced her red pen with a paintbrush, and leads the Painting with a Twist charge in the Des Moines Metro. She has degrees in journalism and art, and has traveled extensively to immerse herself in the art and cultures of many destinations. She loves travel so much, she recently became a travel agent (site linked below)!

Carisa

Hi, I'm Carisa! Art has always been a part of my life. My passion is inspiring and encouraging others to be creative, so I am excited to do that at Painting with a Twist! I grew up in Swea City, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Art Education. I was a middle school art teacher for 24 years. I love to paint with watercolor and acrylics, and enjoy creating illustrations. When I'm not teaching, I love to go on long walks while listening to podcasts, reading, and watching Star Wars and Marvel movies. I also enjoy spending time with my husband, two sons, and cat named Sheldon Cooper.

Emma

I am Emma. I live in Waukee with my husband and dog, Apollo. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English but art (and anything creative) has been in my heart and soul all my life. I’ve dabbled in numerous mediums, but my favorites have been drawing, painting, pyrography/wood-burning, and calligraphy. I also enjoy sculpting, jewelry creations, candle-making, some crochet, yarn work, and photography. In general, I enjoy teaching others to grow and develop — with art, everyone can learn. When I’m not stimulating my mind with art, I can be found reading and/or creative writing while rocking out to music. Let’s have a class together. Come join the fun at Painting with a Twist with me!

Grace

Hi there, I’m Grace! I’m a freelance artist based in West Des Moines, and I absolutely love diving into painting and drawing—though I’m always switching it up by working in multiple different mediums! My artist brand, Gracalart, is all about creating characters and stories that reflect my deepest thoughts and feelings. Fantasy themes are my favorite playground for letting my imagination run wild. Through Painting with a Twist, I get to continue exploring my creativity while helping others discover and unleash their artistic side! When I’m not teaching, you can find me gaming, learning piano, gardening, or diving into one of my many art projects waiting for some attention!

Grace

Leah

Hi, I'm Leah! I'm a local artist from Norwalk, and I love painting people, animals, and nature! What I love about teaching others how to paint is that 'aha' moment when someone discovers that they actually CAN paint! That's what makes teaching at Painting with a Twist so fun! My other hobbies (no surprise here) include art: I paint commercial and residential murals, window paintings, and canvas commissions! I also have a very supportive husband and two loving cats. I can't wait to see you in class!

Nick

Hi, I’m Nick! I’m a Des Moines native who loves to paint and teach. I’ve been working in education since 2017; as a middle school English teacher, a Blank Park Zoo educational ambassador, a high school career-readiness coach, and now an art instructor! I began painting in 2022 in my apartment in downtown Des Moines. I started from scratch, experimented, and learned along the way, until I slowly began to discover my own style and technique. In 2023, a year after I began painting, I was contacted online by a curator and signed with the Van Gogh Art Gallery in Madrid, Spain. With their help, I exhibited works at the PARSIFAL Contemporary Digital Art Exhibition in Madrid, and the 2024 International Contemporary Art Fair in Paris, France. If you’d like to check out more of my art, click the link below! I can’t wait to have you in for a class at Painting with a Twist! Nothing makes me happier than helping people discover their own creativity. Whether you’re coming in for a kids' class, a date night, or even a weekend pop-in, I’m here to help you create something special!

Rachel

Hi, I'm Rachel. I enjoy art in many forms and grew up in Newton, Iowa, playing in band and orchestra. I have always enjoyed drawing and painting. I am an oil painter who mostly paints flowers and bouquets, and I go to craft shows to sell my art. I believe everyone has an artistic style, whether it is musically, with paint, crafts, games, or writing. In my free time, I like to hang out with my husband and our beautiful dog. I am excited to share in the art community through Painting with a Twist!

Rebecca

Hello! I’m Rebecca. I graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a BSED in K-12 Art Education and have been teaching junior high and high school art for the last 20 years. I love creating art, exploring a range of materials, and working with all kinds of people. Some of my favorite media include ceramics, pyrography, jewelry, and watercolor. When I am not teaching art, I also like to spend time with my husband and kids. Other things I enjoy are gardening, swimming, taking road trips with the family, and riding motorcycles with my husband. I believe art is great therapy and everyone has the ability to develop their skills. Let’s have fun and create together!