Has anyone been to a painting party? Not like painting someone’s house, although that could be something someone might organize. I mean a party where a group of friends gather at a storefront downtown, have a glass of wine, and attempt to replicate a painting while an energetic artist provides instructions in such a way you can follow them. A place with a name like Palette and Pinot, Canvas and Cabernet, or Brushes and Bubbles.
How did this enterprise come to pass; a space where where you and your guests have a little something to drink and paint pictures? My guess is that one evening a creative person had friends over, they uncorked a bottle of wine, and needed some activity to pass the time so they decided to paint. During the evening, one of the entrepreneurial guests formed the idea that starting a business coordinating parties for women like this was a money-maker. The concept caught on and these venues have popped up in towns all around. Looking for something new to do with your friends on Friday night? Try this.
An artist opens a studio space for events. You and 6-8 of your friends arrive for a gathering of some sort: bridal shower, graduation party, or ladies’ night out. The host selects a painting from the artist’s arsenal, and everyone gets a canvas, easel, and art supplies. From here, the artist walks the group through creating identical paintings (in theory) while you all enjoy wine or cocktails, visit with one another, and have a good time.
When the artist completes her lesson, everyone turns their artwork around to show the group how close their masterpiece is to the original and how artfully they’ve followed instructions. It’s amazing to see the variations in the outcomes. Everyone heard the same instructions. Everyone saw the sample painting, yet there are as many differences as there are guests at your event. The rest of the evening is spent merry-making and munching while the paintings dry enough for guests to take them home.
An event of this nature is not that off the rails as it seems at first glance. We all used to paint and enjoyed it very much. In preschool and elementary school, we painted all the time. Anyone with young children can attest to that. Our little darlings bring home painting after painting; some with glitter, some recognizable, and some even make the refrigerator door. We were all taught to use our creativity and our colors, yet sadly, unless you pursued art as a career path, most kids stopped painting in middle or high school. Perhaps that’s why painting in a group setting as an adult feels out of the norm but holds a charm just the same.
You know what else most adults don’t do anymore? Dance. Turn on some music and watch what happens to a toddler’s body. They can’t help but wiggle it. Nobody (or rarely anybody) takes dance lessons these days. Grown-ups don’t attend homecoming, prom, or a neighborhood ball. I occasionally dance in the privacy of my own home office or living room, but I wouldn’t be caught dead doing it in front of another human being. However, I can plan a dance with the best of them.
And, unless you’re part of an orchestra, band, or ensemble somewhere, the majority of adults no longer (if they ever did) play an instrument anymore. Why is that? We plan and sit through the harshest of elementary band concerts for our kids. We argue with Johnny to turn off his video games and practice his trombone. However, we are ok when Sally wants to trade her flute for soccer cleats. If you’ve read any of my previous blogs you know that I play the oboe with a local civic orchestra and have played my oboe for over 40 years. If you want to attend the symphony with your date, someone’s got to be on the stage to provide the music.
It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby. Dust off the flute in the closet. There are plenty of people who will help you with whatever you choose. Embrace the creative within, throw caution to the wind, and have some fun. Paint, dance, and be merry!
Do you have a creative hobby or have you been to one of the painting events? Share one thing that you enjoyed with us here or send me an email!
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