I never thought I would attend a wine and paint event. I mean I was pretty adamant about not going since I always saw the activity as generic and like the paint by numbers sets you can buy from Michaels.
Alas I had the brilliant idea to go to one such event as something interesting to write for a blog post. The plan was that I would not mention that I was a painter and I would just follow to the tee whatever the instructor was showing us. I couldn’t help but be a little judgmental at first. We were going to paint a cliché sunset over water using acrylics. If you guys don’t remember from a previous post, I hate acrylics. The room had rows of long tables with individual stations with their respective table easel, canvas, brushes with water and of course the paint. I took a seat close to the platform where the instructor would guide us.
The instructor went through each type of brush giving it a nickname like “Daddy Brush” and “Baby Brush” which makes sense for those unfamiliar with brush types. Each step was clearly walked through and assistance was provided if needed. We first proceeded to paint a straight line for the horizon and then different levels of color to replicate a sunset. Some catchy pop music played in the background while we worked away. My husband and our two friends, Wendy and Nick, seemed to be enjoying themselves and I was too.
In typical anal painter fashion, I tried to hoard paper towels to dry off my wet brushes. It would be a travesty if the colors blend into each other right? Ok I guess that’s only me. Well each station only had one paper towel! An embarrassing moment came when I grabbed a paper towel from the empty station next to me and I ended up flipping over the water cup that was sitting on top of it. I think I may have upset the woman across from there, oops.
What is interesting is that although we were being walked through a template of a painting, each person added their own personality and twist. We started painting clouds. I added some wisps mixing some green in with the blues and whites. Nick drew in the style of cartoon clouds while my husband painted something that looked like the rolling mist we see in the Bay Area.
At one point, the instructor asked to show my painting to the rest of the class of I guess a good example of how to make the waves/reflections of the clouds on the water. I wonder if he realized that I can actually paint… probably.
There was something that Wendy said at the end of the night. She found the whole event very therapeutic. Now that’s what I love about art. There is no pressure if you just let go and have fun. I put so much pressure on myself to produce quality paintings and to promote myself as an artist and I sometimes forget why I do it. I paint and do art because I love it and it makes me feel good.
Overall, I really enjoyed taking the class. I followed the instructions and also added my own custom flair to the painting. It was refreshing to have guidance and different insight on techniques that I may have not thought of. I definitely think it is worth going to a wine and paint night even though you are an artist. It’s an excuse to have fun with your friends, drink some adult beverages and admire the variety of results at the end of the night.