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When I was a wee lass I loved to paint and as far as I was concerned being an artist was quite possibly the best job ever. Which is why pre-school was by far my most favourite year of school. In pre-school we got the chance to paint every single day and I loved the ritual of gathering all my paints together, putting on my special clown apron which my mom had lovingly purchased for me and getting to work. I would paint colourful pictures of my family, my dogs, and my dream home complete with a swimming pool and giant trampoline in the garden (for some reason my father never really caught on to that super obvious hint). There was nothing I was afraid to paint and it was glorious. But then I got to big girl school and suddenly some people were better at painting than others – I was the latter. And so sadly, I put down my paint brushes, packed away my apron and left the art to the artistic types. Until, that is, I found the most amazing way to uncover the artist within me and it includes the joy of alcohol! Here’s why you should unlock your creative spirit and book a spot at Cocktails and Canvas!
Cocktails and Canvas is quite possibly one of the coolest things I have done in a while. The upbeat art classes for adults combine the amazing world of art with the even more amazing world of alcohol and I for one am a HUGE fan. The classes are suited towards the artistic and the enthusiastic (which is code for non-artistic people who enjoy painting anyway) and are the perfect way to spend a morning, afternoon or evening with friends or your special someone. And, of course, because these are classes for adults you are encouraged to loosen up a little and enjoy a yummy cocktail and a glass of wine while you unleash your artistic side.
I got the chance to attend the Starry Starry Night class with a friend and we both loved it to bits! We arrived at the class on a Saturday evening and were greeted with a yummy pink cocktail. From there we chose a spot to sit and marvelled at the art works on display all around the studio. A few minutes later we were introduced to our art teacher – a lovely woman with the most patient nature (I’m sure patience is key when you’re teaching a bunch of adults to paint) who instructed us to gather our paints, don our aprons and get stuck in. If you hadn’t guessed yet we were tasked with recreating the masterpiece that is Starry Starry Night (one of my most favourite artworks). Our teacher showed us how to create the masterpiece stroke by stroke, and also encouraged us to include our own personal touches and interpretations to the piece to make it so much more than just a copy. While we painted my friend and I chatted away with each other and the rest of the class – the classes are definitely a great way to meet new people!
Once we were done we were told to sign our masterpieces and pose for a group photo and that was it. I was so incredibly sad that it was over and I couldn’t stop thinking about that little girl in the clown apron who loved to paint and why I let the haters get to me. The class made me realise that painting is not just for the supposedly artistic, it’s for everyone and anyone who wants a creative outlet. I mean, I can’t sing like Adele but I do it anyway because I love it, and from now on I am going to take that very same attitude to art! I’m already making plans to attend another class and rope in a few friends so hopefully we will see each other there soon!
Cocktails and Canvas offers a range of 2 hour classes including the Funk Tree, Starry Starry Night, Spring Trees and Red Poppies. Classes are R500 per person and include all your paints, canvas and more as well as a welcome cocktail. Once your welcome drink is done you can then sip on your own stash of drinks. If you forget your own stash then wine, beers and ciders are also on sale at the classes. Tip: Don’t forget to take some snacks along as well – being artistic makes for hungry work!
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By Crystal Espin
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