We recently connected with Juleah Everglade and have shared our conversation below.

Juleah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I’ve had the unique experience of teaching Paint and Sip classes for nearly a decade—seven years with a franchise and nearly three with my own mobile business, Southern Misfit Studios. This dual perspective has given me a deep understanding of industry standards and how to break away from them in meaningful, impactful ways.

What truly sets Southern Misfit Studios apart is our commitment to blending pop culture and relatable influences with expert instruction. Our themes and designs are carefully curated to resonate with people’s everyday lives and interests, resulting in artwork that feels fresh, modern, and personal—not generic or outdated.

This approach ensures participants leave with more than just a painting; they take home a piece of art or craft they’re proud to display in their home, along with a newfound confidence in their creative abilities. Watching guests discover their artistic potential and leave with smiles and stories to share is what makes this work so rewarding.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Art Marketing in December 2021—a unique degree that blends art and business. However, my journey with art started long before graduation, though. I began teaching art at 17 to save for my first car and quickly realized how much I had a natural passion and skill for it.

For years, I taught at local paint studios, but many of them shut down during my final year of college. By the time I graduated, I was relying entirely on my own art and private paint classes to make ends meet. It was a tough time to start a business—post-COVID, jobs were scarce, and many industries were still recovering.

During this period of uncertainty, I revisited a college photography project I had named “Southern Misfits” and found inspiration for my business name and mission. The term “Southern Misfits” challenges the traditional image of a Southerner and celebrates those who embrace creativity, individuality, and diversity. It felt like the perfect foundation for a business rooted in art and community.

Southern Misfit Studios is a mobile art studio based near Atlanta, but we’ll go wherever creativity calls—we’ve even traveled out of state for events (and would love to do that more)! We bring art-making to people by hosting classes and events at their chosen locations, providing all the supplies and instruction to make the process of creating easy, fun, and accessible!

Our classes focus on community-building, self-expression, and skill-building. Whether it’s a Paint Your Pet event or a Craft-ernoon or even a traditional Paint and Sip, we aim to help people leave with art they’re proud to display and a sense of accomplishment.

Many people feel intimidated by art or think they’re “not creative.” Southern Misfit Studios breaks down those barriers by providing guidance, encouragement, and a welcoming environment. At a recent event, someone told me, “What you’re doing feels like spiritual healing.” That moment reminded me how powerful art can be—not just as a creative outlet but as a way to connect with others and yourself.

With nearly a decade of teaching experience, I blend my art expertise with a passion for hospitality, community, and travel. Unlike traditional studios, we bring the experience to you, whether it’s a private party, corporate event, or pop-up workshop.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One book that profoundly shaped my entrepreneurial journey is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s more than just a book—it’s a transformative 12-week course, and I fully committed to it. I approached each prompt thoughtfully, stayed diligent with my Morning Pages (I still do them now), and embraced every exercise the course required.

Through this process, I confronted significant ego blocks that had been holding me back. One of the most limiting beliefs I held was, “I’m a painter, and I want to be known as that—not just a paint-and-sip instructor.” This mindset narrowed my perspective and prevented me from realizing the full potential of my business idea paired with my skills and experience. I could really make something special!

By working through the exercises, I found a way forward: separating my business from my personal art practice as two distinct entities. That mental (and social media) shift was freeing. It allowed me to dream bigger, and I started wondering, What if both my business and my personal art practice could grow at the same time, like two branches from the same tree?

The journey since has been incredibly rewarding. I love the balance of being well-rounded—creating my own art, closing business deals, building websites, communicating with clients, cold calling, and, of course, teaching events, which remains my favorite part.

The Artist’s Way helped me unlock a new level of confidence in my ideas. I also realized that I’m more than just what I do for work. I’m not only a paint-and-sip instructor—I’m an artist, a creator, a business owner, and so much more. These identities don’t compete; they complement each other, with each aspect informing and enriching the rest.

This book is something I highly recommend to anyone seeking to break free of limiting beliefs and explore their full creative potential. Even if your ego says “I’m already creative, I don’t need that.” I think you would be surprised, and maybe you even need it more if that was your first thought. ;)

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has been hosting public events at local breweries and small businesses. These events are a fantastic way to introduce people to Southern Misfit Studios in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Even those who aren’t participating get to witness the energy and creativity in action, which often sparks their interest. Watching others create art and have such a great time gives people passing by a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out), and they’re quick to ask about joining the next class!

Public events often lead to word-of-mouth referrals and repeat participants who book private events. The more public events I host, the more people discover us organically—whether they’re booking their own private event or signing up for the next public class. It’s a beautiful cycle that allows me to grow the community while sharing the joy of art-making with even more people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://southernmisfitstudios.com/
• Instagram: @southernmisfitstudios
• Other: Google Reviews: https://g.co/kgs/GQMoTfM

Image Credits

One image is from Diva at Chil.co, all the rest are mine.