Well, I was invited and attended my first paint and sip class the other evening with my new friend Sara (whose birthday is today, Happy Birthday!) at Spirited Art in Little Rock. In our case, we did bring some wine and a snack, both of which were very enjoyable.
[As a quick aside, the vast majority of friends I have made in Little Rock thus far are named Sarah/Sara. Literally 4 or 5 new Sarah friends. I already have several Sarah friends making it by far the most common friends name for me. Now the trouble is making sure I text or call the write one!]
Truthfully, ever since I heard of the concept of these paint and sip venues, I have had mixed emotions, some passing questions, but mostly I have been pretty intrigued. I wondered if I would enjoy going to one of the classes. I wondered about teaching a class like that and what it would be like. Do they teach first and then set you free to try it? Do they give you individual photos to go off of? Does the teacher paint and everyone follows along? And do you get to pick what you paint? What about mixing colors?
Maybe you've wondered similar things. Maybe you've had other questions like, "Do I have to already know how to paint or draw before I go?" Maybe you have already gone to a class or two, or twelve. Any which way, I wanted to share my experience with you.
I have to say, I had a much better time than I expected to! I was genuinely surprised at how simple and manageable they made the whole process. I truly believe you need no previous experience to enjoy yourself and come out with a fun painting. To sign up, I went online, registered and paid to save my place in the class. While online, you can check their calendar to know which painting will be taught on which particular evening, so you can make plans according to which painting you like. I was very glad to find out that I actually liked the painting to be taught the evening we already had planned.
When we arrived, the instructor gave us each a canvas, a pencil, a piece of tracing paper, and a piece of carbon paper so that we could trace the basic outline onto our canvas. Aha! Question answered–they have you trace, no drawing lessons needed! (At least this place did.) I may have mixed feelings about the tracing business, but I know I am biased–I would hope everyone would be interested in learning how to draw.
We found a seat and were given two plates each, one for the paint and the other for mixing. The instructor squeezed out 4 generous globs of the only colors we would be using for the evening–white, blue, a yellow ochre, and a burnt umber or brown. She did mention that if we wanted a purple or red boat instead, she'd be happy to give us other colors as well. She was VERY adamant about us leaving with paintings we liked and confessed that she wasn't beneath doing it for us. (Which made me smile to myself, remembering some art classes as a kid where my instructor sat down and began painting on my piece and I was stunned and slightly hurt.) She told us the rules: don't drink your paint water, don't stick your brushes in your wine, keep your brushes from drying with paint in them, etc. Then we began.
She taught step by step, and in layers, which I liked. At first, I was eager to stay with her instruction because I was genuinely interested to hear how she stepped through the process. Eventually I did do my own thing, because after all, I paid for this class and wanted to enjoy it as well as learn from it.
The only negative part was that I felt relatively self-conscious, like a cheater and a show-off. At one point the women near us complimented my painting and I felt strangely caught between wanting to make excuses for myself and thanking her. All I really wanted was to enjoy my time doing something I love while hanging out with a sweet new friend. Hopefully I didn't come across some other way.
In the above picture you can see our instructor with her painting hanging on the wall beside the finished painting, the one we were all striving for. On the wall you can also see several of the other pieces produced on other evenings.
We both deviated a bit from the instruction. I added some reflections of the water onto my boats, because it just made sense to me. I also added much more depth in the foreground. I liked the fog look that the inspiration painting had going, but I just felt like my boats were adrift under a cloudy sky, so I added some clouds. Sara decided that she wanted it to be sunny, so she added the sun in the top left corner. Very cleverly she realized that her shadows would need to be on the opposite side (I was impressed).
Here we all are after the class. Sara and I are in the front row in the middle.
Sara and I are also in a LifeGroup together at church along with our husbands. All of our LifeGroup ladies are going to go back this week to paint the Little Rock skyline that will benefit the Dorcas House–a local shelter and rehabilitation center through Union Rescue Mission that has programs for women dealing with domestic abuse or drug and alcohol abuse. A few weeks back, I was fortunate enough to visit the Dorcas House with several ladies from our church to do a craft luncheon, and had a wonderful time. I was so encouraged by the women I met there. Great things are happening through this ministry, and I will continue to support them in the future.
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