By now, you've probably seen countless pictures on Facebook or Instagram that look something like this:
These painting and wine parties are all the rage. But they can be a bit intimidating for people who've never been (which is probably what the wine's for). Here's what I learned from my first one:
1. People of all ages attend these events, though usually they're old enough to down a couple glasses of wine.
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Honestly, you could bring family, friends, or a date to a painting party and they'd have fun.
2. Everything is provided for you — except the wine.
It depends on where the party is, but most places are BYOB. Other times you may be able to buy it there. The party I went to was at a restaurant, so you purchased your drinks from the bar.
3. It's not a paint-by-number situation.
I falsely assumed this would be the case, and maybe at some places it is. But I was handed a blank canvas, a pencil, and a small printout of what the final painting should look like.
4. The grid method is your best friend.
If you're using a reference photo, the easiest thing you can do is draw a grid over it and then do the same on your canvas. It makes it easy to see what goes where.
5. The image you'll be painting is usually preselected, and it's most likely a landscape or still life.
6. At some parties, you choose your image and it doesn't have to be the same as the teacher's.
This was definitely a surprise to me and my mom. While you could opt to paint the same thing as the teacher, you could also choose a different image entirely. Out of 26, only four people (my mom and I included) went along with the teacher.
7. Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you won't make a mess.
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Wine and painting could potentially be a disastrous combo, so a lot of places provide smocks. Don't forget to wear a pair of shoes you wouldn't mind splattering some paint on.
8. You don't need to be an artist or creative genius to have fun at a painting party.
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Most people there aren't!
9. That being said, there's always a few artists in the group.
10. And "regulars" who will probably make it known that it isn't their first rodeo.
11. Random people will come up to you and your painting and say things like, "Very nice!" and you know they're full of shit.
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REALLY YOU DON'T NEED TO LIE TO ME.
12. Even when a group does the same painting, it's always clear whose is best.
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They're all beautiful in their own way.
13. Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up. Everyone's there to have fun and relax, regardless of whatever painting skills they may have.
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My mom was very stressed during the party, probably because she hadn't picked up a paintbrush in like, 35 years. I'm hoping now that she knows what to expect, she'll enjoy herself more at the next one.
14. And lastly, pics or it didn't happen.
