Born to Break the Rules of Art
Painting Junkie isn’t your average art class experience. We don’t do beige walls, polite brushstrokes, or step-by-step tutorials that kill your creative soul. We’re a full-color, full-volume creative movement founded on one idea: art should be wild, messy, personal, and unapologetic.
This is where you ditch perfection, pick up a brush (or a torch), and let your inner artist run completely free.
Founded by lifelong creative and chaos-lover Debbie Hightower, Painting Junkie is rooted in Springfield, Missouri — but built for rebels everywhere. From backyard parties to immersive art classes and experiences, we’ve spent years creating unforgettable moments through paint, pyrography, and pure self-expression.
Meet Debbie Hightower
With over 29 years of experience teaching and creating, Debbie isn’t just the founder — she’s the engine, the energy, and the fearless leader behind every event.
Her approach?
No fear. No pressure. All in.
Debbie believes everyone is creative. Not in a fluffy, feel-good kind of way — in a real, “you just haven’t had the right space to unleash it yet” kind of way. She builds that space through hands-on, no-rules events that invite people to get loud, get messy, and walk away with something meaningful — even if it’s just the memory of laughing with paint on your face.
What We Stand For
At Painting Junkie, art isn’t about being good — it’s about being real.
We believe in:
Creative freedom over perfection
Connection over competition
Chaos over control
Expression over expectation
This isn’t about creating pretty pictures. It’s about creating experiences that light people up and remind them they’re allowed to color outside the lines — in art, and in life.
Our Signature Experiences
We specialize in creative chaos that leaves a mark — literally and figuratively. Here’s what we’re known for:
Mobile Paint Parties
We roll up with all the gear and good energy, and you host the party. From bachelorette nights to girls’ weekends, birthdays, and reunions — we make art happen anywhere.
Burning Experiences
Pyrography meets personal style. Our burning sessions let you custom-burn designs into wide-brim hats, ball caps, and purses — perfect for artists, makers, and the fashionably fierce.
Sizzle Sisters
A monthly hat-burning membership that goes beyond the flame. Members get exclusive content, discounts, downloadable designs, and a creative community of women who know how to bring the heat.
Kids’ Art Parties
We bring the fun, the paint, and the supplies. You bring the kids. Together, we throw birthday parties that are full of color, creativity, and confidence-building.
Team Building & Family Events
Whether you’re bonding your office team or gathering your extended family, we create experiences that go beyond the awkward icebreakers — and into unforgettable collaboration.
Why People Choose Painting Junkie
From the first brushstroke to the final burn mark, everything we do is infused with bold energy and raw passion. If you’re tired of quiet studios, Pinterest-perfect art, and overly polished events — you’ve found your people.
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Because this isn’t a franchise.
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Because this isn’t a formula.
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Because you’re not just another reservation on a calendar.
You’re part of a tribe that values:
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Creative freedom
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Hands-on learning
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Authentic expression
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Unfiltered fun
Let’s Make Something Unforgettable
Whether you’re looking to book a paint party, try your hand at pyrography, or join a tribe of women who light up every room (and hat) they touch — we’re ready.
We don’t just create art. We create moments. And you don’t have to be an artist to join in — just someone willing to try.