HI! THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME SOPH!
artist / wife / mama / stationery designer /
side-hustler / calligrapher / small business owner /
paint boss / perfectionist / dog mom / crime junkie /
schitt's creek fanatic
Art has always been a big part of my life, I started taking private lessons when I was seven, and went on to study various mediums throughout high school and college, later finding my niche with watercolor and calligraphy.
I reserve at least one full day a week to painting in natural light! My favorite subjects to paint are pets, houses and wedding venues. I love being able to digitize my artwork to create personalized gifts and custom stationery.
Lover of dogs, especially my two!
Chip Pickles - our cuddly American Cocker Spaniel. Ruler of the roost and my right hand (paw?) in the studio!
Chase - our timid and loving black lab mix rescue. Now four years old!
fun fact: they both love pickles like their dad!!
Ben and I got married at Summerfield Farms in 2017. He is the unsung hero of this small biz and keeps everything (and me) together.
He cuts all of our acrylic signage in house,
crafts each wooden stand, and is quite the handyman. He's also my gut check for tough design decisions!
... and yes I made our wedding invitations!
In October 2020, Ben built me my dream studio and oasis in our home. Filled with natural light and tons of storage - it makes going to work every day such a treat!
client testimonials
Originally from New England, Sophia now resides in the suburbs of Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Ben, daughter Naomi and their two dogs Chip and Chase. When not listening to true crime podcasts and painting in her newly renovated babe cave, she enjoys volunteering with the Junior League of Greensboro, wandering thrift stores, and re-watching Schitt's Creek.
Sophia graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York (Magna Cum Laude) where she studied Visual Arts and History. Sophia has since pursued a career in Strategic Design by day and The Paint Grind by night.
publications
Heart of NC Weddings Magazine, Spring 2022
Southern Bride Magazine, Winter/Spring 2021
The Carolina's Magazine, Winter/Spring 2020
Out of Our League Cookbook, 2020 cover artist
awards & recognition:
Arnold I. Bittleman Memorial Prize
Awarded to one student each year who has studied drawing in the Union College Visual Arts Department and whose work is outstanding, winner 2012.
WOW! Sophia is absolutely AMAZING. I began to follow thepaintgrind on social media this summer and was impressed by her work, attention to detail, and creativity. I am getting married in January and knew that I wanted her to be part of my special day! As a wedding professional, I have very high standards for vendors. Sophia has continued to exceed my expectations with her thoughtfulness and professionalism. She is personable, quick to respond, helpful, and kind. She makes brides feel at ease and her thorough process allows her to bring your ideas to life. All of my guests were blown away by our invitation suite and raved about the amazing watercolor painting of our venue. Sophia at thepaintgrind is absolutely the best and I will be recommending her to all of my future clients.
ALLY + DUSTIN
Sophia was flexible, open-minded, helpful and supportive every step of the way. She went above and beyond to create a theme that reflected us as a couple, was responsive to feedback and incredibly organized. Sophia was sure to keep us on track, and swooped in to help when 2020 changed our original wedding plans. Sophia is professional, personable, and so talented. Every last detail was beautiful and meaningful. What's more is she's a true pleasure to work with.
ANNA + MICHAEL | custom wedding invitations
This painting is absolutely beautiful!!! My parents LOVE it. This was the perfect gift to thank them and commemorate a beautiful weekend.
JORDAN | custom venue painting
Sophia is amazing! She painted a darling watercolor of our wedding venue that we’re planning on matting and having our guests sign around as an alternative guest book. Sophia was a dream to work with and I’m so excited to display her painting in our home!
STEPHANIE | custom venue painting
We used Sophia for our wedding invites, escort cards, cocktail napkins, signage and favors (koozies) and everything came out AMAZING! Everything she created was so well thought out and personalized to our style, and special since they were all designed specifically for us. She tied everything together so nicely and worked with us every step of the way to ensure the final products were absolutely what we were looking for. I am not the most creative person, so I gave Sophia a few of my abstract ideas and she came back to us with her buttoned-up ideas and mock-ups that brought my ideas to life. Thank you for making our wedding so special!
CHRISTINA + WARREN | custom wedding invitations + day of items
I worked with Sophia to create signage, table numbers, koozies, welcome bags, and water bottles for my wedding this past September. They all turned out even better than I could have imagined. Working with Sophia to design our logo was one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process. She was super responsive and truly a pleasure to work with. She really took our vision and brought it to life. Thank you, Sophia (and Ben!), for all your hard work!
JENNA + MIKE | custom day of items
Sophia is truly a gem! Not only is her work incredible and done with such thoughtful attention to detail but she is the utmost professional. I've had the pleasure of working with Sophia on a few different projects and she continues to impress always providing creative unique designs that are so special.
ZEMIRA | custom projects
I have made multiple orders and each have come out exactly as discussed. Sophia is patient and ensures that you are satisfied with your purchase. Highly recommend!
MAGGIE | custom projects
Sophia (thepaintgrind) is a total professional. The work has an incredible creative feel and is truly custom to meet your request. ThePaintGrind work is prompt, affordable and is a wonderful gift for friends and loved ones!
SAM | custom projects