The Corky Canvas is Nebraska’s first paint and wine studio. Their Omaha location is in Midtown Crossing at 3157 Farnam Street. Erin Schager is the manager of The Corky Canvas in Omaha.
Tell me a little about your business. – We are a paint and wine studio that hosts team building sessions, private parties and regular painting sessions on weeknights and weekends which all can be viewed on our website, www.corkycanvas.com. This makes it easy for anyone to find a painting they love and get registered for a class! As you are painting, we offer a variety of wine, beer and other fun drinks that really gets the creativity flowing! You may not believe me unless you’ve tried it, but you don’t need any artistic abilities to enjoy a night at The Corky Canvas! We provide the perfect place to bring your girlfriends or a date and Uncork Your Creativity—and parking is free!
How did you get started in the business? – I have always been a lover of art, and also an aspiring creator of all things crafty. The Corky Canvas provides a fun environment and attracts all sorts of interesting people. We encourage artistic expression and connecting with new people! It’s a wonderful venue to watch people discover talents they never had, and also step out of their normal daily routine to try something new!
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – The Corky Canvas is a locally owned business, originating from Lincoln, NE. To open a second studio in Omaha is a big jump, but this community has welcomed us and supported our venture! The studio is always packed full of eager painters, and we are so pleased with our loyal customers who continue to come back again and again to take classes with us. We feel successful to have so many happy painters, and hope to meet new ones every day!
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Graduating from college and converting my degree into a career was an abrupt turning point for me. The five years I spent in college taught me so much book knowledge, but stepping into the “Working World” takes a lot of hands-on experience that can’t always be taught through books or lectures. Now that I have bridged the gap between the two, I feel prepared to tackle almost anything and I am thankful to have both a college degree and job experience.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – My favorite thing to do, which doesn’t always happen, is to travel. Not always to somewhere far away; it could be a small town nearby that I have always heard of but never visited.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I have lived in many different parts of the United States including Boston, MA; Beverly Hills, CA; Chicago, IL; Portland, OR; Sioux City, IA; and Rome, Italy. I am going on my second year living here in Omaha and absolutely love being in the Midwest. Once again traveling can be the spice of life, but there is a quality of life in the Midwest that gives me a peaceful state of mind.
What is your favorite restaurant? – El Sole Mio. Authentic Italian cuisine is difficult to replicate, but this restaurant reminds me of the food that I enjoyed while living in Rome.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Feel free to contact me through e-mail at omaha@corkycanvas.com and make sure to visit our website at www.corkycanvas.com.