We strongly caution others before booking Create With Art and Soul for an event.
Our nonprofit animal rescue booked a Paint & Sip fundraiser scheduled for March 2026 and paid a $100 deposit in November to secure the date. We were told that work on the painting design would begin right away. Because this was a rescue fundraiser, we clearly requested dog-themed artwork so we could promote the event and sell tickets.
After paying the deposit, communication became extremely inconsistent. Nearly two months passed before we received any design examples, and the images provided were mostly unrelated to our request. We repeatedly clarified that we needed dog-themed artwork and even sent examples, but despite multiple emails and messages throughout January, we never received an appropriate design.
By the end of January -- almost three months after paying the deposit -- we still had no usable artwork. Without a painting design, we could not market the event or sell tickets, leaving us no choice but to cancel with about six weeks' notice.
When we requested a refund due to the lack of progress and communication, we were told the deposit was non-refundable. This policy was never disclosed on the website, social media pages, emails, or at the time payment was requested. We were later told a refund check would be sent, but after requesting the refund be returned via PayPal for accounting purposes, communication stopped and no refund was issued.
As a nonprofit rescue organization, every dollar goes directly toward veterinary care and saving dogs' lives, so losing these funds was especially disappointing.
Fortunately, we quickly found another Paint & Sip artist who provided appropriate artwork within one day -- something we had been trying to obtain for months.
This experience involved poor communication, unmet expectations, and a lack of transparency regarding deposit policies. Organizations planning events should be aware that timely communication and clear agreements are essential, and unfortunately that was not our experience here.
Based on our experience, we cannot recommend this business. read more