Saratoga Paint and Sip Studio Gets New Owner and Name

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With a love for art of all kinds, the new Saratoga Paint and Sip owner Ryan Smithson is bringing his vision and passion to the Spa City with the rebranded Saratoga Paint & Drip Studio.

Smithson says that he sees how helpful art can be when going through the hardest times in life, and he wants to share the escape that can be found in painting and music.

“When you talk about what happiness is and the right way to live your life, there’s a lot of different beliefs around that, but one of those through lines I think is always being present. Not stuck in the past, not worrying about the future, just being there where you are, and art has a certain way of doing that,” says Smithson. “It’s just this escape, like you’re just in the moment. You’re not thinking about your day job. You’re not thinking about your problems. You’re just doing the thing, and you’re creating. You’re making something either audibly or you’re making a visual piece of art that wasn’t there before. It’s such a beautiful part of the human experience.”

Alongside the chance of this escape, Smithson says he also wants a place where people, experienced with art or not, can walk out feeling proud of what they created. 

“Whether you’ve painted a hundred times or whether you haven’t painted since you finger painted in kindergarten, there’s something fun to be had. And even if you don’t make some beautiful masterpiece, you’ll have a good time. When you come in, even if you have no experience, you’ll walk out with something really cool that you’ll be proud of,” Smithson said.

The Saratoga Paint & Drip Studio will hold events centered around bringing anyone and everyone in, from families to friends or any artist that wants to learn something new. This includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, which has been dubbed Sober Saint Patty’s Day at the studio, where there will be plenty of live music for participants to enjoy.

Artists can expect to enjoy all kinds of live music at the Paint & Drip, as local performers are welcomed in to provide atmosphere for special events and everyday classes alike. The Paint & Drip has already seen several musicians and groups from the area come in, from jazz, to blues and acoustic. Smithson says he wants a place where up-and-coming musicians can perform, grow, and share their own art with the community.

The Paint & Drip is also a completely sober atmosphere, with participants having the option to enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic wines, beers, and Hawaiian-inspired mocktails from the studio’s new Ohana A.F. Tiki Bar and Lounge. With alcohol being a prominent feature across so many forms of entertainment, Smithson looks to create an atmosphere away from that where everyone can feel comfortable while still enjoying great drinks. 

With years of volunteer work under his belt – working with nonprofits such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Best Buddies, Double H Ranch, and numerous veterans’ groups – Smithson plans to continue helping in any way he can. Through auctions, discount nights, and other events, he hopes to raise proceeds that can be sent back to groups in the area like the ones he has been a part of for so long. He says that the possibilities are endless, and that he hopes to include these groups wherever he can.

The Saratoga Paint & Drip is located at 80 Henry Street. To learn more, visit www.paintandsipstudios.com.