Meet Kayla Ellis | Owner of Kay Ellistrations – Home of Paint & Praise

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Ellis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art has been a part of my life since I was a small child. I was always drawing or doodling. When I was about 8, I would watch YouTube tutorials on how to draw dinosaurs and cartoon characters. In middle school, I started taking advanced art classes and continued taking multiple art classes each school year until I graduated high school. It just made sense for me to pursue my art more seriously as an adult since art has always been such a big part of my life. I have prayed for years for God to show me my purpose and in 2020, I felt Him pushing me to host art classes, but doing a regular Paint & Sip didn’t feel right. In 2022, I was on my patio drawing and the phrase “Paint & Praise” popped in my head. In that moment, I knew Paint & Praise was what I needed to create, so I launched Kay Ellistrations to sell my artwork and host Paint & Praise sessions. I have struggled all my life to believe in myself and my abilities without worrying about the opinions of others– especially with my art. Starting this business is a testament to my growth and my newfound confidence in myself and my capabilities. My faith in God has been my strength and my biggest motivator. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This verse has been the foundation of my relationship with Christ. It shows me that if I keep myself rooted and focused on Christ, He will take care of the rest. It makes me so grateful to have a God who cares so deeply about me and my life. I think this verse also shows me that in anything I do including Kay Ellistrations, God will continue to lead and guide me in the right direction as long as I keep him first. That gives me great relief to know that I don’t have to worry about what the road ahead looks like because God is by my side.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I knew I wanted to sell my art and host painting classes, but I wanted both to be representative of me. I’m not big on intricate paintings, but I love calligraphy and textured art, so I knew more simplistic art pieces would work best for me. As for the painting classes, I wanted something unique that other painting classes were not offering. As I mentioned earlier, I prayed about it, and the term “Paint & Praise” came to mind, so I began visualizing what I wanted this Paint and Praise class to look like and working on calligraphy home decor. Currently, I am still thinking through my competitive advantage as a calligraphy and textured artist, but for now I am exploring different mediums and selling art at a reasonable price as I learn. As for Paint & Praise, I put a lot of thought into this aspect of the business so I knew I wanted my Paint & Praise sessions to be:

1) more affordable than other painting classes offered in Dallas – tickets are only $30
2) an event that was not BYOB so a complimentary drink is included with every ticket
3) an experience that is not easy to find – the idea of bridging painting and worship is rare
4) a painting session with helpful, detailed, guided instructions that make each painter feel confident about their painting, no matter how skilled they are.
All in all, I want Kay Ellistrations to be a business hyper-focused on providing the best experience possible for the customer.

I have never been much of a risk taker and that has hindered my growth for years, but starting Kay Ellistrations is the biggest risk I have taken. I planned and started the business in about a month, invested more money in myself than I ever have, and I’m leaning into a confidence in myself that I’ve never leaned into. So, all of this is new, exciting, and a little bit nerve-racking. However, even in the three months that I have been in business, I think it has been the most rewarding feeling. I feel like I’m in my element when I am hosting a Paint & Praise. Planning the event, setting up, creating the atmosphere, seeing the smiles on people’s faces, and knowing that my work is what created that is a feeling I cannot describe. I am proud of where I am, and hope that more risks present themselves for me to grab ahold of them too.

The most important decision contributing to my success was believing in myself the way others have believed in me all along. All my life people have told me I would be great in areas such as this (art, public speaking, event planning, and running a business), and I never understood what they saw in me or why they thought such grand things about my capabilities. But once I truly saw myself and saw that I can do whatever I put my mind to, I began to exercise the exact capabilities that were spoken into my life years ago. That along with my faith in God has been the most important attribute to me being here today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a simple girl, but I love being out and having a good time with my friends. I usually gravitate to places with music, good food and chill vibes. If you have a friend in town, the first thing I recommend would be brunch. There are few spots that I love! You should try:

– Stirr Addison – good food, mimosa carafes and music

– Black Walnut – love the mimosa, bloody mary, and margarita flights

– Winewood – great priced brunch food and drinks

– The Henry – great food and service

After a nice brunch vibe (and a nap), you should head to someplace where you can be outside and enjoy nature. Prayer Mountain in Duncanville is a wonder spot to recenter and enjoy the views. There are various trails you can walk on and at the center of it all is a park, a fountain, and a bridge overlooking all the trees in the city. If being adventurous isn’t in the plans, then you could go to a restaurant that has a nice patio so we could still be outside without being active. Some places I like that have nice patios and great drinks are Mexican Sugar – Irving, Mi Dia – Grapevine, Paradiso, or Tommy Bahama. Maybe then, head to a candle making class because those look really cute and fun.

After that, it’s time for some nightlife. Head to dinner at one of my favorite spots:

– Streets Fine Chicken – best soul food in Dallas

– Sky Blossom – great rooftop view of Dallas

– Trulocks – awesome ambience and the best seafood

– Daiquiri Shoppe – amazing food and great daiquiris

Once you’re finally done eating for the day, it’s time to have some fun! Some great spots are Casanova Karaoke to sing in a private room, bowling at Bowl & Barrel, bar hopping in lower Greenville or listening to music at The Sound in Coppell.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my family & friends. I am so thankful to them for giving their time, donating money, buying my artwork, sharing posts about the business, coming to Paint & Praise events, and so much more. I know I have probably been driving them crazy with talk about the business, but despite it all, everyone has been so supportive. I have had people put my name in rooms that I never thought I would be in which has given me new connections and opportunities. It’s so important to have people behind you, pushing you into your purpose, because you can’t possibly be everywhere at one. My support system is so strong and their support does not go unnoticed.

Website: kayellistrations.com

Instagram: @kay.ellistrations

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kayellistrations

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kay-ellistrations-dallas-2