Beth Smith moved an entire studio’s worth of supplies to a storage unit in 2020 after COVID-19 shut down her business, Ready, Paint, Fire!. This was not just a devastating hit for Smith, but for the community, too.

Originally created in 1998 and acquired by Smith in 2010, this establishment had long served as a creative hub for Breckenridge. Everyone from beginners to seasoned artists came to create at the studio. 

When Smith shut the studio’s doors, she kept those supplies locked up, untouched, for years because she knew she would need it again one day. While memories of Ready, Paint, Fire lived in a storage unit in Silverthorne, Smith sent her son Ash off to preschool and resumed life without her beloved studio.

The pandemic passed and finally “one day” came. 

Three years later, Smith is reopening the doors to Ready, Paint, Fire!. Come this November, the studio will be found on South Ridge Street. Its new home is a building that has housed some of Breckenridge’s most loved spots such as Amazing Graze, Mountain Outfitters and Heads Up. 

Smith is coming back swinging, utilizing every space of the historic building to bring back old favorites alongside some new concepts. 

“This is creative entertainment for families and friends. We do paint-your-own pottery, canvas painting, sip-and-paint parties, mosaics, fuse glass — all that sort of stuff,” Smith said. “It’s all about sitting around that table together for a few hours having a laugh and creating art.”

With such a spacious spot, Smith has a lot of room to fill it with as much as she can.

Upon walking through the front doors, guests will be met with Ready Made, one of the newer additions to Ready, Paint, Fire!. Through Ready Made, Smith looks to support local artists by providing them a place to sell their work. 

Alongside the wall of the front room, Smith turned an old furnace area into a candle bar. There, patrons can pour their own wax candle creations. 

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There is also a rentable space for parties on the first floor. This space will have a paint bar and will also host events such as wine glass painting workshops and metal-stamp jewelry making. 

The second floor has an additional space that will be rentable for events. Smith is putting three kilns and a glazing station on this floor for pottery as well. 

Smith was able to bring back members of her old staff for the revamp, in addition to hiring new employees. Now that her son Ash is 6, he said he is ready to work. Ash is stoked to assume his role handing out lollipops to other kids when the spot’s doors open in November. 

“He was essentially born in the shop. He’s really looking forward to it. We all are. It’s been too long,” Smith said.

Smith relied on the help of family and friends, throwing paint parties to get the place ready to go for November. She noted her son and friends got to play Bob Ross and help paint the walls. She plans to paint a starry sky mural on the ceiling of the second floor in the rentable space to make the place feel more “magical.” 

Smith said Ready, Paint, Fire! will officially reopen its doors Nov. 18.  Patrons will have an opportunity to make their own pottery, with most projects costing $15 to $30. Take-home, same-day canvases can be painted for $25. Additionally, people can create their own mosaics, starting at $25. 

Smith is also looking for more employees in a variety of positions. Those interested can contact her through the website. 

Hours for Ready, Paint, Fire! will be everyday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hours for evening workshops and sip-and-paint events have yet to be determined. The shop will be hosting a locals appreciation week Nov. 11-16 leading up to the grand opening Nov. 18.