Help Theo Keep PNW Paint Night Rolling

Hello, everyone! I go by many names, but my community knows me as Theo! I am the Owner, Lead Operator, Graphic Designer, Content Creator and Lead Artist for "PNW Paint Night"! I bring beautiful and vibrant art instruction to communities as far north as Vancouver, WA and as far south as Molalla, OR-- private parties, team building events, birthdays, baby showers and community venues are my specialty!

I am a part-time Personal Trainer/Coach/Martial Arts Instructor. Fitness was always my first love; as a sickly child, growing into a body that gained massive strength changed my life. I took to Combat Sports like a duck to water, and my mother and big brother wished for me to learn to defend myself. I quickly became a Champion; State and Jr. Olympic Champion at age 17, and after years of competition I am now a retired Kickboxing and Muay Thai Champion. I took these talents and skills to my community-- teaching fitness, discipline and the importance of an indomitable spirit.

I discovered I had a talent for artwork merely 5yrs ago; I experienced a personal tragedy, and I lost my brother-- the first person to introduce me to Kickboxing-- and was very quickly disillusioned with fitness. I was taken to a "Paint and Sip" class to help me while mourning, and we very quickly discovered that I had an aptitude for artwork. During the rise of COVID-19 I made the bold decision to switch career paths... I had gained so much through "destruction"; I gave up an entire community that I had worked with for decades to embrace "creation" through my artwork. Having something of my very own to grow and serve as an example of self preservation and hard work for my son was especially important to me.

This led to a new series of tests; while navigating being a single Dad of a young Autistic boy, being a small business owner, a part-time Coach, a full-time worker and an Art Instructor one finds that they can be stretched very thin. The most current and difficult of these is maintaining a decent and working vehicle. As you may have guessed, classes take me all throughout the Pacific Northwest-- hence the name of my company-- but my personal vehicle is also used as a work vehicle. Miles and wear develop fast, and it puts my personal vehicle-- my LIVELIHOOD-- at great risk.

I wish to serve as a strong example to my son, and not have to depend on my job-- just to get down the street. I want PNW Paint Night to be an engine to do just that; when we are blessed with skill, we use them to teach and uplift our community.

To that end it is imperative that PNW Paint Night has a fully functioning vehicle. My most recent vehicle has been a source of continued financial burden and emotional distress; after purchasing it in late November it has had two major repairs already, including a complete engine replacement. Most recently, the transmission went out on myself and the boy two weeks ago-- that's three major repairs in seven months.

The diagnostic shows that the parts and repairs cover an array of details; the transmission, the brakes, the rotors and calipers-- parts and labor bring it to a grand total of just over $5K. Between running a small business, needing a vehicle for my primary work and being a single father the costs are just too exuberant...

And myself personally??

I want to be able to get down the road with my son, without worrying about my employment being at risk.

COMMUNITY!!! I would feel most blessed if we could come together and help me get dependable wheels underneath me!