Our Longview, TX Painting with a Twist Artists

Micah Ruland

Micah (My-kah) was born when she was very young and has not aged a day since. When lucid, her creative mind spills its contents for all to enjoy and ponder. She began her artistic career at the tender age of 5 in ‘94, when she was coerced into silence during church and given a pen with instructions to draw on a bulletin. She of course agreed to those terms with the allowance of a piece of gum. With her current status of art instructor at Painting with a Twist, she is now able to fulfill her lifelong hobby of preforming mind-boggling whispered karaoke songs at the PWAT hootenannies. They have become the stuff of legend. She also paints there! Everything she paints becomes the stuff of legend. She was also featured as Time’s 2006 person of the year. Go ahead. Look it up. Micah enjoys singing “Que Sera, Sera” underwater, a good pun, or even better a bad pun, and adding to her enormous silly-putty collection. Should you be looking for an artist who is selcouth with a hint of wifty, to provide a bonafide erlebnisse that will make you balter to no end, then look no further. Well, maybe grab a dictionary…Micah also has a slight case of logolepsy. Sadly, Micah has lost her favorite glass eye somewhere in the studio. It answers to “Fred”. If anyone should find it, please notify animal control immediately. She hopes to see it and you in the near future!

Leti Beau

Leti Beau (NB, Queer, she/her) is an East Texas artist based in Longview! She is a proud part of the LGBTQ+ community and local Artist community. Leti runs a local artist support group called Aggregated Artist of Longview, TX in coordination with Micah Ruland for freelance artists needing advice on how to run a successful art business. Recently, she has begun modeling and advocating for mental health and positive body image using her body as an example of a nonconforming plus size body type. When she isn’t working, she spends time with friends, playing weird video games, caring for her potted plants, drawing existential but cute comics, and catching up with what the kids are doing on social media. One of her favorite parts of working at Painting with a Twist is meeting new people and introducing them to the positive aspects that creativity can do for you! Her other favorite thing watching her captive audience faces when she tells a bad joke during class. In order to commission Leti Beau for any sort of work or for a chat, please email letibeau.art@gmail.com or visit her website.

Olivia Hill

Tina Smith

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. Wait!!! That’s another story. Here’s mine. I was born in Texas way back during the summer of Woodstock and the first moon landing. This explains much about me and my life. I do love great music and great sci-fi (Yes! The cheesy ones too!). I also love animals. I am owned by two cats, three dogs (all rescues) and am delighted to feed the neighborhood birds, squirrels, raccoons, strays and hummingbirds. All are welcome at my picnic table! I originally went to college in pursuit of a degree in interdisciplinary studies to become a teacher. I adore kids! But after I had my very own beautiful baby daughter, I decided to be a stay at home mom. I did, however, obtain an associate degree in applied art at KJC. Now that the beautiful baby daughter is in college and has flown the nest, my greatest aspiration in life is to become a beach bum and live in a grass hut in Fiji. BUT ‘tis only a dream… For now anyway! I cannot say exactly when I became an “artist”. It’s not what I am – it’s who I am. I think that it is just something you are – that everyone is and can be. As a kid, I remember how excited I would feel to get a brand new box of crayons. Not the cheap ones, but the “good” ones. I remember I couldn’t wait to open them up and smell that waxy, new smell: The way they were all in perfect little rows, with perfect little points: Like a rainbow in a box just waiting for me to pick which one got to go first. My biggest fan and cheerleader was always my mom. It is for her, in her memory, I decided to teach and paint publicly. To dare. To risk. To create. To share. I believe this makes her smile! My favorite part of teaching is seeing people come together, laugh, smile and just have a little fun; A break from “life”. I also hope to be a guide that may lead others toward their own inner artist where they can create something that is uniquely theirs. Hope to see you soon! Live long and prosper.

Alex Lichty

Alex Lichty has just recently been proven to exist, blowing the minds of cryptozoologists worldwide. People who have observed him closely report a thick sarcasm and dry wit. He's fostered a strong relationship with his muse, having an obvious love for absurd and abstract ideas as well as the intricate beauty of the natural world. Aside from that, he is a fan of all things spooky and weird. As he states directly, "I just like freaky things and cute animals." Along with that, he has a love for teaching children's classes, hoping to help foster the same love of art and independence that was given to him as a child.

Tara Brinkley

Painting has always been my go to for stress relief and to take a step back from the crazy of the world. I truly believe God has blessed me with the art talent to help others learn how to take a step back and appreciate the beauty they can create with their own hands :) I also love my 4 pets 2 cats and 2 dogs. I WILL pet any dog! I can also beat anyone at Disney sing alongs!

Kimberly Wells

Kimberly is the owner and occasional artist at PWAT-Longview, and a mom to two little boys! A native East Texan by birth, a natural artist she is not! Kimberly graduated from Arp high school, has a Financial Planning degree from Baylor University, and always knew she wanted to open and manage her own business one day. After attending her sister’s bachelorette party at Painting with a Twist in Dallas, Kimberly decided to pursue her dream and open a Painting with a Twist studio with her husband Casey, in East Texas. With a love of crafting projects and a passion for business and management, the Painting with a Twist franchise has been a perfect match. Kimberly loves her job, and hey, it's not really work if you love what you're doing!