Colors & Cocktails was established in February of 2014 in Virginia Beach, Virginia out of Lauren's desire of wanting a consistent career as a military spouse! In Virginia, Lauren grew Colors & Cocktails to 1,200 clients.
In 2016, Lauren and her husband received orders to Battle Creek, Michigan but moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan as Kalamazoo is a very art-focused city!
So, just like that, she moved her company to Kalamazoo, Michigan! Colors & Cocktails open its first studio in 2018 at the Park Trades Center in Downtown Kalamazoo.
Several months later, the studio found a new home on the Kalamazoo Mall, expanding into art classes, boutique shopping, and displaying a gallery of work from local artists and Colors & Cocktails team members!
Owner, Founder, Art Teacher
I'm Lauren Lasater the founder, owner, artist, and art teacher at Colors & Cocktails: The Mobile Art Party! I launched Colors & Cocktails in February of 2014 in Virginia Beach, Virginia out of the desire of wanting a consistent career as a military spouse! I created a company that I could take my art teaching abilities with me no matter where we get stationed! In Virginia, I grew Colors & Cocktails to 1,200 clients.
In 2016, we received orders to Battle Creek, Michigan but moved to Kalamazoo, MI; a very art-focused city! So, just like that, I transferred my company from Virginia Beach to Kalamazoo. A few wonderful years have passed, and we have fallen in love with Michigan and all it has to offer! Josh is now out of the military, we have decided where in the world we want to live—and we chose Kalamazoo!
Josh, my loving husband, is now a Veteran of the US Navy and has an amazing job working at Stryker. Our family has grown! We have 2 adorable toy poodles - Rosie and Minne. We also now have our sweet and amazing son, Gabriel!
I'm having so much fun teaching a wide variety of art classes both in-person and online! Grab a drink and come join the fun! Cheers! 🥂
Art Instructor, Retail Associate, and Local Artist
My name is Lizbeth Lopez (she/her) and I’m a recent Kalamazoo College graduate who loves all kinds of visual and performing arts. I’m always looking for creativity in the world and believe that the arts should be accessible to all regardless of gender and sexual identity, race, socioeconomic status, or cognitive and physical ability. I find joy in guiding others in their creative journey through the arts and am always happy to help where I can! Art is what you make of it, I learned by adapting what was taught to me so I’m hoping to do the same to others! I have always wanted to teach art outside an academic setting - I'm excited to see what the future holds for me in the shop.
Art Instructor & Retail Associate
Hello! My name is Alexa and I am a multimedia artist who loves specializing in landscapes and all things nature. I love doing commissions and making peoples’ ideas come to life. I also love being outside, staying active, reading, spending time with my family and socializing. I’m a recent graduate from Central Michigan University who’s excited to be apart of the Colors & Cocktails team. I have a passion for both teaching and art that can be pursued here! I’m excited to work with other artists and teach people the peace and joy that being creative can bring.
Art Instructor, Retail Associate, and Local Artist
I am Kaitlyn, I am a mother of two beautiful children. I also am animal lover, but what brought me to Colors and Cocktails is my passion for art. While I love to create art, I also want to be able to share this passion with people in the community. Being able to share art and make connections has brought joy to my life, and I hope to share that joy with many others.
Art Teacher & Retail Associate
My name is Sophie and I just graduated from the University of Rochester where I majored in Studio Arts and minored in History and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. My primary mediums are ceramics and printmaking, although I love painting and drawing as well. I’m going to be part of the C&C team for the summer, before I start a ceramics residency in Brockway, PA. I’m most excited about getting to meet people through C&C and spread my love of art to others!
Art Teacher & Retail Associate
Hi! I'm Hannah, I'm so thrilled to join the team at colors and cocktails! I'm is currently studying musical theater at Western, and I hope to be a professional actress one day! I love creating, and often paint in my free time. I couldn't be happier to be working in such a lovely environment where I get to share my passion for art with the community.
Art Teacher & Retail Associate
Hi, my name is Daphne! I love all things art. I am pursuing my dream of being an art teacher by going to WMU for art education. You can find me in one of three places outside, enjoying nature with a good book, with my family, especially my three adorable nephews, and doing art, painting, drawing, sewing, etc. I am excited to be part of an amazing team at Colors and Cocktails!
Art Teacher
I am a single Mom, with 2 adult children and an amazing 5year old grandson. They are my world! I’ve had a love for many art forms most of my life, but my true passion is working with Watercolors. Having recently joined the club of empty-nesters, and finding more time to be creative, I’m excited to bring this art form back into my life. I’m so thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to join colors and cocktails, and to be able to share my passion with others, in hopes that they too can find the artist within.
Retail Associate
My name is Kris Kubicek. I have lived in the Kalamazoo area since 1996 and I absolutely love West Michigan! I have always been a crafter, woodworker and supporter of the arts. My Mum used to call me her “little thing maker”. My passions are embroidery and supporting The Barn Theatre School.
Working at Colors and Cocktails feeds my need to support small businesses, work with amazing artists, meet new people and be creative.
Retail Associate
My name is Debbie Haycook. I have lived in the Kalamazoo area all my life and raised three children! I have always been a bit of a crafter and supportive of the arts. Working with Colors and Cocktails let's me support local business and work with wonderful and inspiring artists and meet new people. In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family! I'm also a volunteer at the Barn Theater School for the BSX program.
Bookkeeper
Brigitte Vegter is the owner of Vegter Bookkeeping and Financial Solutions, the standout bookkeeping and financial consulting service for small business clients nationwide. As a self-proclaimed numbers nerd, Brigitte found her love for finance and helping others early in life. Combining those passions, Vegter Financial was born to deliver high value bookkeeping with care and expertise all while maintaining a family first culture.Brigitte is inspired daily by her husband and three amazing kiddos. Brigitte and her family spend a lot of time traveling and going on many adventures. You can also find her with a great book in hand during her free time.
HR Specialist
By nature, I am a social person and have always been interested in human behavior. I realized early on that if people need to work then we should enjoy it and decided that my mission was to change the way we think about employees in the workplace. This is all about creating a people-centered, high performing, innovative culture and shifting our initiatives from the traditional practices we have always implemented in the workplace. My work is my passion, but my "why" is my favorite people of all; my husband, two young children, and our sweet dog, Rylie.
