Thursday, August 5, 2021

#tbt Paint Nights

As you all know, I love making and creating things.  One of my favorite things to do is go out for a paint night class.  I've only been able to do it four times so far, but I have really enjoyed myself at all of them.  I love painting and it's good to learn techniques from different teachers.  It's been a little bit since I posted a Throwback Thursday so I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane to share our painting adventures so far! 

If you're unfamiliar with a paint bar and the classes, here's a little backstory...

There are a bunch of different paint bar chains all over the country and it's become a popular night out activity to do with your friends or your partner.  It's also a popular place to host birthday parties, bachelorette parties or bridal showers.  Some places of work even do it as an outside of work bonding activity or for their holiday parties.

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Basically, you go to the paint bar for your specific class where your instructor will teach you all how to paint the same painting.  You put on an apron, find your spot (with your canvas, easel, paint and brushes already set up) and order your beverages.  Then, you dive in (to the painting and the wine)!  The instructor takes you through the process: mixing paints, layering, blending, and so forth until you have a completed painting!

We used to have a Painting with a Twist near us in Saco.  (Unfortunately, they closed shortly after Eliot and I started going.)  They're the paint company that's partnered with Disney to create paintings of Disney characters.  A lot of the other paint studios have made their own "Disney inspired" paintings, but these designs were the official ones.

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When I discovered that Painting with a Twist was doing a paint class to celebrate the DVD release of the live action Beauty and the Beast, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to go.  I signed us up for class and then I impatiently waited for it to arrive.

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The day of our class, I was so excited.  I wore my Beauty and the Beast tank top and I went all out.  Doing the painting was more difficult than I was expecting, but I loved the class.  Eliot was a little intimidated by painting a picture, but he did well considering that he's never done it before.  I think both of our paintings turned out well.  The other members of our class were really into it and having fun too.  During our breaks, they had trivia and prizes.  While we were painting they even played some music from the movie and other Disney music in the background!  (And you know I had to sing!)

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Naturally, a few months later when I saw that Painting with a Twist was doing another Disney class for The Lion King, I signed us up again.  Eliot was, shall we say, less than thrilled... but he agreed to go with me.  Like the other class, I learned a lot and it was harder than it looked.  I was really happy with how my painting turned out though.  Eliot still wasn't thrilled with his, but every time he says something about it I remind him that I think his mane on Mufasa looks way better than mine!  (And it really does!)

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When we went on our New Years trip to Colorado in 2018, Eliot's sister Sara actually signed us all up to do a paint night class at her local Painting with a Twist.  This time, we were doing a couple's painting where you each paint half of the canvas to create one larger image.  We paired off with Eliot's parents, his sisters and Eliot and I working together.  Despite Eliot's hesitation that he would "ruin" our painting, we had so much fun working together on it.  He had me blend the moon and I think his trees came out much better than mine.  (Until I over-blended all of them and ruined their definition... We are always our own worst critics!)  It was a great activity to do and we all had fun!

In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I suggested we do another paint night when we went with Eliot's family on our New Years trip to Reno, Nevada the following year.  I found a Pinot's Palette not far from our hotel and picked out a painting that I'd been wanting to paint.  This time, it was only Eliot, me and his parents.  (Elissa had already left to go on a school trip with her college and Sara had to study for veterinary school.)  We all had a great time and I really loved learning how to paint the Northern Lights!

I enjoy these painting classes so much.  They are a great way to take a few hours to kick back and have some creative fun.  I really wish that our local Painting with a Twist studio was still open.  I've wanted to sign up for a few virtual classes, but I have to get our business stuff off of the dining room table first!  Hopefully I'll be able to do some more at some point soon!  Let the creative juices and adult beverages flow!!!  °o°

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