We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Quanda King a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Quanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I started working in 1985. By 2016, I experienced so much trauma from toxic workplace cultures that I developed and suffered from PTSD. Living with chronic stress damaged my mental and physical health. When you’re in a state of constant stress, your mind reacts by flooding your body with cortisol, the stress hormone and this constant stress causes chronic illness. In my darkest moment, as I was thinking about ending my life, I heard a voice, “Who were you before the world told you who to be? My answer was an artist. So, I revived my childhood hobby of painting and I recovered. I realized that other women could benefit from group arting because very few workplaces are using their wellness reimbursements or tax breaks to pour into their workers mental health. So, with $500 I started PaintNoir in 2017.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Quanda King. I am the owner and founder of PaintNoir. We are a traveling art therapy business on a mission to improve the quality of life, emotional wellbeing and mental health of BIPOC women. We strive to fulfill our mission by delivering art therapy to underserved communities under the guise of a high-energy Paint & Sip pARTy.

The Great Resignation has taught us that workers value their mental health more than a salary or status. Forbes reports that 77% of respondents consider a company’s culture before applying for a job. “We spend roughly a third of our adult lives at work, which means that finding a mentally healthy workplace is critical. Stress from work often carries over to our personal lives and is compounded by sociopolitical trauma.”
PaintNoir uses arting to transform toxic corporate cultures, reduces stress and ensure compliance with the Surgeon General Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing framework and OSHA . We’re making arting a habit for better mental health.

We have provided arting for wellness services to thousands across Southern CA. I am most proud of our expansion plans that have enabled us to win grant money to purchase and renovate our pARTy Hauler – the 1st of its kind, mobile event space/art studio. I’m also proud that my $500 initial investment has reaped a 7,900% return in 5 years.

PaintNoir is the only Art Wellness provider that has an App, a pARTy Hauler, offers community wellness events, is driving policy change and offers business opportunities to support community wealth building. PaintNoir is the creative solution to employee burnout, stress and exclusion.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The ever-changing economy requires pivots to stay in business. In 2022, formal and informal survey data revealed an opportunity to pivot the target to service industry employers across the U.S. that employ BIPOC women. I used this information to pivot my offerings to include art therapy in workplaces for stress relief, inclusion and workplace culture transformation.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2022, I had a few setbacks which impacted my business. One was the theft of my 1st pARTy Hauler. I was devasted when I discovered that someone stole my entire RV from my land! This along with attempted adverse possession of my other land parcel (neighbor put up a spiked fence to keep me out), triggered my PTSD. I was forced to take time to recover (yet again!) and my expansion plans were halted. I questioned why are bad things always happening to me. My son replied, “Because you’re God’s strongest warrior.” I received and accepted that. I felt renewed and looked to the positives of the situation to move my business forward. I applied for business grants.
In 2023, I purchased a better RV using insurance and grant money. I have a very strong case against the person that put up the fence to recover damages. With positive self talk, I know that these setbacks were a set-up for a stronger comeback. I am resilient.

Contact Info:

• Website: PaintNoir.com
• Instagram: PaintNoirLLC
• Facebook: PaintNoirLLC
• Linkedin: PaintNoir LLC