“Creativity takes courage.”

The words hang up on the wall behind the bar, carefully crafted in bright colors painted across canvases, a reminder of what it takes to make art, and what it took for Jenny Noble to open her business.

Noble officially opens the Paint Bar Friday evening. People can visit and start signing up for classes.

The venture was both a passion project and a way to supplement her income from her full-time job as Hallmark manager at The Craft Nook.

“I’ve been thinking about it for years,” she said.

The Paint Bar sits on the corner of Cleveland Avenue and South Main Street, adjacent to the courthouse.

Inside, artwork and crafts scatter the tables, a massive wood sign in the shape of Kentucky sits on the floor and a chalkboard hangs on the wall waiting for the class schedules to be written.

People can paint while overlooking downtown.

“I have the most beautiful spot,” Noble said.

At Christmastime, Noble was making crafts and posting her creations on Facebook. Shortly after, people flooded her comment section interested in buying a craft or learning how to make it, which helped Noble realize the potential of her business.

With social media, Noble could reach more people, and the response to her posts were overwhelming.

“It was humbling,” she said.  “It made me realize I’m missing my calling. That’s what I need to be doing. I need to be making things and then thinking about sharing it with others and teaching others that they can do it too — that they can make things.”

It was a leap of faith, something Noble felt she needed to do.

“Let’s pray it works,” she said.

Noble was born and raised in Winchester and has seen downtown at its highs and lows. She’s excited to be a part of its continuous growth.

The Paint Bar will offer classes in the evening, with hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday for open classes and will also be available to schedule private parties at other times. Noble said she plans to offer classes on painting door hangers, canvases, barrel heads and more.

Customers can also request designs for private parties.

Noble plans to offer classes for adults, children and “just everyone.” Costs will vary, she said.

Noble said she has done a few test classes that have been successful.

“I have seen their faces when they were done after I tell them to do those last little touches and they sit back and that’s kind of exciting to see how they react,” she said.

People are usually surprised at what they can create, she said.

Noble has always loved art. She’s been creating art since elementary school, has made crafts for festivals and loves to paint canvases and wood for fun.

“It’s just my therapy,” she said. “It’s what I love to do, and I’m so excited to be able to share it with other people.”

Her dad, though, is what fueled her passion and taught her everything she knows. Noble grew up watching him paint beautiful landscapes and sceneries in their basement.

“My dad was one of my biggest inspirations,” she said. “He was an amazing artist. There’s no words to describe how good he was.”

Everyone is capable of creating art, she said. Noble’s classes will help guide people through a craft or painting from start to finish. People can book classes through her Facebook page.

“Everyone can do it if they just give it a try,” she said.

Noble said the downtown community has already been welcoming and supportive.

She hopes The Paint Bar will help people form new friendships as well as bring people closer during her classes. Painting and crafting together is a great bonding experience, she said.

“It’s just a kind of a get away from your everyday hectic busy life,” Noble said.

Noble’s daughters will also be helping at the business and may even teach classes in the future. They both have a knack for art like their mom, she said.

In the future, Noble said she hopes the Paint Bar can grow. She said she is especially excited about the holidays and having specialized classes during those weeks.

Ultimately, she wants to give her family a better life. And for now, she’s soaking up the initial excitement of starting something new.

“At this moment in time it feels good,” she said. ”It feels right.”