James

After more than 25 years as a technology professional in corporate America, an opportunity presented itself that allowed me to pursue my dream of entrepreneurship. This was a dream my wife (Bridget) and I shared (as well as our sons). We decided to walk by faith and pursue business ownership while setting examples for our sons to do the same someday. Our goal was to engage in a business that aligned with our passions. After researching and evaluating original and franchise business opportunities, the “paint & sip” industry resonated with us. Bottle & Bottega was an instant connection. We both love to entertain friends, have a deep appreciation for the arts, and enjoy good wine. After attending a fun-filled event at a Chicago area studio, we fell in love with the experience and became excited with the possibilities of having our very own studio. We knew this studio would be great for us and the Des Moines metro area.

Elise

Hello, I’m Elise! I’m a soon-to-be graduate of Iowa State with a major in Women & Gender Studies along with minors in Human Development and Biology. I was initially studying Art Administration at my first college and still have a huge passion for the arts and creating. Whether it's crafts or fine arts, I love hands-on projects. In my free time, I like to write music and you can find me at open mic nights or going to concerts!

Madison

Hi, my name is Madison! I am originally from the Western Chicago suburbs and came to Des Moines in 2017 to attend Drake University. I recently graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design. While I mainly chose to pursue design, I have a love of and experience in just about every type of fine and studio art from printmaking, ceramics, illustration, mixed media, and of course, painting. A big goal of mine for 2022 is to design and launch a brand to begin sharing and selling my personal work, but when I'm not working on an art or design project, I enjoy thrifting and antiquing for vintage clothing and decor pieces as well as adding to my vinyl collection. I look forward to painting with you soon!

Nibras

Hello everyone! My name is Nibras Abdalla. I was born in Sudan, my family fled the country's harsh economic situation when I was two years old. I spent eleven years in Damascus, Syria, before arriving in the United States in 2007. I have been interested in art my entire life. I began painting as a very young girl, my first painting experience was at our backyard in Damascus. I was fascinated by nature and capturing colors in flowers and birds. I obtained a bachelor in Biological Premedical Illustration from Iowa State University. My degree has equipped me with artistic techniques and a broad range of design skills, while focusing on natural science. Painting has been therapeutic and a source of joy for me, and I am very excited to share that passion with you at Bottle & Bottega Des Moines!

Artist Website

Shayla

Hello, I am Shayla Williams. I am a Des Moines based artist and illustrator. I fell in love with the arts at a young age and has been passionate about creating beautiful pieces ever since. My artwork is inspired by my life experiences, and desire to share my skills with others. I have a passion in teaching others how to unleash their creative sides to create their own masterpieces.

Artist Website

Gina

Hello, I’m Gina. I am an artist and teacher born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. I have a variety of artistic interests and my passions include painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, and one of my favorite art-making experiences has been converting a cargo van into a campervan. I have 9+ years of experience teaching art and I also ran an advanced youth artist guild group.

KC

Hello! My name is K.C. McLaughlin! I am a UNI graduate with a degree in Art Studio with an Emphasis in Drawing! I enjoy all things art related but have fallen in love with painting and color theory. I am happy to be part of the Bottle & Bottega team to be able to teach others how to paint!

Tyanna

Hello! My name is Tyanna Whitaker. I am a Des Moines native and self-taught artist. I am passionate about all art forms and enjoy any reason to be creative. I have an eclectic art style and am inspired by life. I have a bachelor's degree in Apparel, Merchandising, & Design with an emphasis in Product Development and a Minor in General Business from Iowa State University. In my free time, I enjoy independent design and learning new languages. I am looking forward to learning and growing as an artist during my time at Bottle & Bottega.

Cloey

Hallo! My name is Cloey- I was born in Florida but I've lived all over the US before I was adopted by a family in the Netherlands as a child. I moved back to America in 2014 from the city of Kerkdriel, Holland. I've adored art from a young age, and, not to sound cliche, have always been inspired by Van Gogh, and Hieronymus Bosch for their use of texture, color, and most of all for finding beauty in the strange or unexpected. I adored going to the cathedrals in Holland and being inspired by the art around me. Now, I specialize in digital art and acrylic painting. I'm no stranger to painting in groups and enjoy painting with and teaching friends about my passion. I also have experience doing art for conventions, such as Abunai! con NL, and collaborated with comic book artists in Phoenix, AZ. I'm always looking for new mediums to express my love for art in, weather that be sewing, painting, digital art, sculpture, or decorating cakes! I'm so excited to share the joy of creating with everyone!

Kayana

Born in the South Suburbs of Chicago, 21-year-old Kayana Thomas has always had a love for art. Growing up in a Christian home filled with beautiful African art she developed her faith and her passion for art. Proud of her African-American heritage she loves illustration, animation and portraits, particularly depicting African Americans. Formally trained in still life and figure drawing she is currently working towards earning a bachelor's degree in studio arts at Grandview University. She plans on using her degree to fulfil one of life-long dreams, creating and directing animated films. Along with a separate part-time job she works weekends at Bottle & Bottega of Des Moines where she teaches and hosts painting parties. Kayana also volunteers for a new faith-based non-profit known as the Des Moines Dream Center, where she directs and teaches free art classes for impoverished children of Des Moines. Kayana's faith in God has opened so many opportunities to use her art to better herself and impact her community in positive ways.

Artist Website