Happy Everything from Colors & Cocktails! Book your Art Class with Us Today!

269.443.7005

240 S Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

Our Story

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!






Meet the Team

Lauren Parker Lasater

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! 🥂

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Zena Blake

Art Instructor & Retail Associate

Hello! I’m Zena, a proud mother to my brilliant daughter and two adorable cats. Originally from Ann Arbor, I graduated from Kalamazoo College and have spent nearly 15 years teaching high school math in Chicago and Kalamazoo. While numbers have always been my thing, I find great joy in expressing myself through art, especially digital art and adult coloring books.

I thrive on organizing memorable parties and sharing my love of art with others. There’s nothing quite like witnessing someone discover their creative abilities and achieve things they never thought possible.

Josi Strerenberg

Art Instructor & Retail Associate

Hi! I’m Josi! I am currently still in high school and am planning to attend LSSU to study conservation biology. I spend a lot of time both outdoors and being creative, whether that means sewing or sculpting, I love it all! people! Teaching others and spreading the joy of art is something I am very passionate about. I am so excited to join the Colors & Cocktails team so that I can spend more time being creative and being with creative people!

Eunsung Bae

Art Instructor & Retail Associate

Hi, everyone! I’m Eunsung Bae from South Korea, I am studying Aviation Management and Art at Western Michigan University! I’m excited to learn and teach art at Colors & Cocktails. I would be glad and thankful working with you guys at the shop. Thank you so much!

Melody Lebert

Hello! I’m Melody, a music performance student at WMU specializing in double bass, with a minor in art. In my free time, I love painting murals and creating art on recycled materials. I also perform with various orchestras and bands. I’m thrilled to join Colors & Cocktails to share my passion for art by teaching classes and engaging with a vibrant community of creative individuals!

Kris Kubicek

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. 

Sherry Eierman

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.

Brigitte Vegter

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. 

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Chelsie Fall, SHRM-CP

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. 

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