Former teacher shares pour painting passion at local paint night at Boston Pizza

(From Left to right) Sandy Thomas, founder of Colours in Motion and Swet Gandhi, general manager at Boston Pizza Goderich on 490 Huron Road.

Goderich residents can trade their forks for paintbrushes when Boston Pizza hosts a pour painting night led by local artist and retired teacher Sandy Thomas.

Slated for Oct. 1, local Goderich artist Sandy Thomas will be teaching the unique concept of pour painting hosted by Boston Pizza on 490 Huron Road.

Participants will have the opportunity to pour paint an option between a wave or a beach on the Boston Pizza’s signature fishbowl and a clean canvas, they will be able to take home both items. 

Tickets are $40 a person and the event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Due to limited capacity RSVP is required. Those interested can register at coloursinmotion.ca. 

Sandy Thomas moved to Goderich from Elora just over a year ago bringing her pour painting business called Colours in Motion along with her. Fascinated by water, Thomas was drawn by the beaches of Goderich which helped inspire some of her latest art. 

“I do acrylic pour painting, it’s unique because you never get the same outcome, there’s about 150 ways to pour paint and get different variations,” said Thomas.

“I pour the paint on a blank canvas but if you want to use a glass, pour paint on a clean cookie sheet and you take the class and you roll it through the paint, and the suction pulls up the paint in the middle.”

Thomas taught kindergarten to grade two for 31 years and found her hobby now turned business after retiring.

She drew inspiration from various YouTube videos and started painting herself which she admitted was challenging at first but soon became accustomed to the process now teaching and selling her work at farmers markets in the area. 

“What I love about pour painting, you are quite in control of it so you must learn to let it go and let the paint flow and be happy with what you get. You can't completely control where your colors are going to land,” said Thomas.

“There are tips and tricks to get closer to what I want but it’s about letting the process happen, it’s very relaxing and addictive. You get so into it you forget all your troubles and worries, it’s like art therapy and this is a good way to relieve some of that stress.” 

Thomas taught painting classes in Fergus before moving to Goderich, her first classes are set to take place at the legion and Boston Pizza.

Thomas said that the Wine and Paint night is meant for people to have a good time with friends and family or on their own, centering on the theme that you don't have to be an artist to create something beautiful, you just must try it.

“Everyone will walk away with something they are happy with; I will coach them through to fix parts they don’t like until they are satisfied with it,” said Thomas.

"People are so proud they could do something where before they didn’t think they were capable of doing it.” 

The idea originated at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, where Boston Pizza general manager Swet Gandhi connected with Sandy Thomas to bring the event to Goderich.

Gandhi is excited for guests to come and enjoy themselves, where they will be able to order from the regular menu, with wine and liquor available but not required, and the event is open to children as well.