Meet high school sweethearts Kimberley and Anthony Clark, who have been together for 37 years and turned a lifetime of love and shared dreams into a thriving business in Sandy Springs, GA.
Kimberley and Anthony’s bond began in high school as self-proclaimed “band geeks,” and their partnership grew beyond music into marriage, raising three sons, and a mutual dream of business ownership. For years, they kept a notebook by their bed filled with ideas—but between corporate careers and family life, those dreams remained on hold.
Seizing the Perfect Moment
Kimberley firmly believes that Painting with a Twist found her. Her journey began when she was searching for a fun, quick activity to host a birthday event at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unbeknownst to her, the painting experience she created at home mirrored the exact atmosphere of a Painting with a Twist event, despite having no prior connection with the brand. Captivated by the experience she and her friends enjoyed, Kimberley couldn’t shake the feeling that this was something special, leading her to inquire about the franchise opportunity.
So, Kimberley reached out, and the rest as they say, is history. To the Clark’s, all the stars were aligning —finding their dream home and business in such close succession. They took the leap to become owners of the studio in 2023. And today, they have acquired a second studio and are building a third brand new studio in the area.
Leveraging Corporate Skills for Creative Ownership
Before taking the plunge into business ownership, both Kimberley and Anthony had successful corporate careers that helped shape their approach to their new venture. Anthony spent decades in finance with Fortune 500 companies, which has given him the skills to manage the financial side of their business. Kimberley, with over 25 years of experience in HR within the healthcare and tech industries, knew that after the challenges of COVID, it was time for a change. With their children starting to leave the nest, she was ready to step away from corporate life and pursue a new path with Anthony.
Now, Kimberley works in the studio full-time while Anthony continues his corporate career. They’ve strategically balanced their roles, with Kimberley handling front-of-house operations and Anthony overseeing finances and logistics. Their corporate experience has proven invaluable—helping them navigate the world of business ownership with confidence and authenticity.
One of the most rewarding parts of their journey has been realizing just how much their corporate skills have translated into running a business. They didn’t realize how much they knew until they had to apply it outside the corporate world. Kimberley, who once thrived in the stiff, buttoned-up world of corporate life, has totally shaken off the formalities and is now the studio’s resident fun-loving spirit, showing the world that you can be successful being yourself and have a blast doing it!
Making Business and Marriage Work
Working together as business owners has been an exciting challenge for Kimberley and Anthony, but their decades-long partnership has prepared them well. They’ve learned that strong communication is essential—especially since Kimberley runs the studio full-time while Anthony balances his corporate career. His fresh perspective helps them problem-solve when needed, while Kimberley keeps things running day-to-day. While juggling business and personal life can be challenging—often blending into one—they embrace it, believing that when you love what you do, the lines don’t always need to be rigid.
Still, over the past four to five years, they’ve made a point to carve out time for fun outside the business, attending plays, musicals, and jazz performances together. Having raised three boys, they’ve learned to laugh often, not sweat the small stuff, and tackle challenges with a sense of humor—lessons that serve them just as well in business as they have in life.
Building Their Dream, One Brushstroke at a Time
For Kimberley and Anthony, owning a Painting with a Twist franchise has been the culmination of years of hard work, careful planning, and following their passion. What began as a fun and unexpected opportunity has now become a fulfilling chapter in their lives, where they can finally apply everything they’ve learned in their corporate careers to a business they truly love. Their journey demonstrates that stepping away from corporate America doesn’t mean starting from scratch—sometimes, it means finally putting years of experience to use in a way that brings joy, fulfillment, and lasting success. It’s a testament to the fact that when the timing is right, the leap to entrepreneurship can lead to both personal and professional fulfillment.