How Do You Prepare For A Paint Night?
What is a paint night?
A paint night is a social painting event that takes place at bars, restaurants, or art studios where participants are guided in creating a painting by a professional artist or instructor (source). Attendees follow along as the instructor leads the group step-by-step through recreating a specific painting. Paint nights provide a relaxed, no-pressure environment for people to express their creativity and produce artwork, even if they have no prior painting experience.
The main appeal of a paint night is the social atmosphere and enjoyment of painting a picture while chatting with friends, family, coworkers, and other attendees. It’s designed to be a unique group activity that differs from simply taking a private painting lesson. The emphasis is on having fun, not producing gallery-quality artwork. At the end of the night, participants get to take home their own painting to display and keep as a memento.
Pick a theme or subject matter
When choosing a theme or subject matter for a paint night, some popular options include:
Landscapes – Painting serene landscapes with mountains, trees, lakes, beaches, sunsets, or night skies is a common theme. Landscapes allow you to be creative with colors and scenery. Popular landscape themes include beach scenes, mountain vistas, or urban cityscapes. 1
Animals – Painting animals like pets, wildlife, or farm animals is fun. You can paint one feature animal like a horse portrait or have multiple animals in a scene. Baby animals like puppies and kittens are cute themes. 2
Abstract – If you want more creative freedom, abstract themes involve painting shapes, colors, textures, and designs rather than a concrete subject. These can result in modern art paintings.
Pop culture – For fans of movies, TV shows, music, or celebrities, pop culture themes can include painting portraits, logos, or iconic scenes. Superheroes, musicians, Star Wars, and more have all been popular paint night themes.
Find and register for a paint night event
There are several popular sites that host paint night events all over the country including PaintNite, Pinot’s Palette, Wine & Design, Yaymaker, and more. Do a web search for “paint night [your city]” to find events in your area.
Browse the results and read reviews to choose a highly rated event that sounds fun. Make sure to pick a painting you like since you’ll be taking it home at the end! Consider the date, time, location, cost, and minimum/maximum group size as well.
Once you’ve selected an event, register and pay for your spot online through the site. Spots often fill up fast so don’t wait too long. You’ll likely need to create an account. Make sure to note any supplies you need to bring, if food/drinks are included, and other event details.
Here are some popular paint night sites to search:
Prepare supplies if needed
One of the first things to check is if the paint night provides all the art supplies or if you need to bring your own. Many paint night events will supply canvas panels or boards, acrylic paints, brushes, palettes, aprons, and easels so you don’t have to purchase anything (https://stepbysteppainting.net/2017/09/07/diy-paint-night-supplies/). However, some may be BYOS (bring your own supplies) and require you to bring certain items like canvas, paints, or brushes. Make sure to check the event listing or contact the organizer to see if any supplies are needed.
In addition to art supplies, many paint nights are BYOB – bring your own beer or wine. You’re often allowed to bring your own alcoholic beverages to sip while you paint. This can enhance the fun, social atmosphere. Just be sure to check if the venue allows outside alcohol and drink responsibly.
Review the example painting
An essential part of preparing for a paint night is to carefully study the example art piece you will be recreating. Most paint night classes provide photos or videos of the artwork so attendees know what to expect. Review the example painting and take note of the following:
- Colors – What colors are used in the artwork? Often paint nights will provide a suggested color palette to match the example.
- Techniques – Look for any special techniques used like blending, textures, or brush strokes. Understanding the methods will help you recreate them.
- Composition – Analyze the arrangement and layout of shapes and figures. This will help you plan out your own painting.
Thoroughly examining the example piece allows you to identify potential challenging areas and to plan how you will approach painting certain elements. Having a solid mental image of the artwork you will recreate ensures you start off on the right foot when the class begins painting. If available, you can also look up the artist or style online for inspiration.
Read Class Details in Advance
Be sure to read through all the event details before arriving for your paint night. This will help ensure you are prepared and make the most of the class.
Pay attention to the arrival time and plan to get there 10-15 minutes early to get checked in, settled, and ready to start painting when the instructor begins. Paint night events typically last 2-3 hours from start to finish.
Confirm the exact location and room for the event. Many paint nights take place at restaurants, bars, private event spaces, or art studios. Check for parking availability at or near the venue.
The class description should list any supplies you need to bring. Usually this is minimal since paint, brushes, canvases etc. are provided. You may just need to bring any food or drinks you want. An apron is also recommended to protect your clothing.
Reviewing the example painting image ahead of time can give you an idea of the final product you’ll be working towards. It’s helpful to have this in mind as the instructor walks through each step.
If you have any other questions or need to confirm details, don’t hesitate to contact the instructor or organizer before arriving. Being prepared for what to expect will allow you to relax, have fun, and create a painting you’ll be proud to bring home!
Decide if you want snacks
Finger foods that are easy to eat with one hand work well for painting nights so you don’t get messy. Classic options include crackers, cheese, veggie trays, fruit, and bite-sized sandwiches (source). Salty snacks like pretzels or chips paired with dip can also be ideal.
Many paint night studios and venues offer snacks or appetizers available for purchase on-site, including charcuterie boards, flatbreads, and desserts like mini cupcakes. You can also bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, or BYOB if it’s allowed. Having some sustenance can provide energy and prevent you from getting hungry during the event (source).
Wear appropriate clothing
When getting ready for a paint night, it’s important to wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting messy. Paint can splatter or spill, so make sure to avoid wearing anything expensive or delicate. Some good options are:
- Old t-shirts or button-downs
- Yoga pants, leggings, shorts, or sweatpants
- Closed-toe shoes like tennis shoes or boots
You’ll be sitting for at least a couple hours, so dress comfortably. Loose, breathable fabrics work well. Bring layers in case the room is chilly. Avoid clothes that are restrictive or could get paint on them easily, like long flowing sleeves or scarves. The focus should be on the painting, not keeping your outfit paint-free! But a paint-stained shirt makes for a great souvenir.
According to this article, some good paint night outfit ideas are t-shirts, striped skirts, sandals, and converses.
Invite friends or go solo
Paint nights are great for group outings or some relaxing me-time. You can invite couples, friends, family members, colleagues, or anyone else you’d like to share the experience with. According to one Reddit user, going to a paint night alone can be perfectly fine: “Nice conversation, and I made a couple friends. I suppose it helped that I’m a halfway decent painter — nothing to brag about. Just relaxed and went with the flow.”
That being said, these events are very social, so if you’d prefer not to go alone, grab a group together for a unique date night or friend outing. Splitting the cost of supplies and snacks makes it even more budget-friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, so don’t stress about painting skills – just have fun expressing creativity together.
Some key tips if attending with others (source: https://uncorkedinspiration.com/blog/basic-paint-and-sip-etiquette/):
- Arrive together and sit near each other if possible.
- Avoid having private conversations during the instructor’s demonstration.
- Feel free to help each other, but don’t stress about making identical paintings.
- Most importantly, encourage each other and keep the mood lighthearted.
The social environment is part of the fun, whether you opt for some alone time or make it a group activity.
Have an open mind and relax
The key to enjoying a paint night is to have an open mind and relax. For many beginners, the biggest mistake is worrying about your artistic skills and whether you’ll be able to actually make a decent painting. The truth is that unless you’re naturally skilled, your first few paint nights are more about learning the process and having fun than producing a gallery-worthy work of art.
Most paint night classes are designed so that anyone can follow along step-by-step and end up with a finished painting by the end of the night. As long as you listen carefully, watch the instructor demonstrations, and follow each step, you’ll be amazed at what you can create even with zero painting experience. Don’t get frustrated if your version doesn’t look exactly like the instructor’s – that’s normal for a beginner. Stay relaxed and remember that this is about enjoying yourself and tapping into your creativity in a no-pressure environment.
The key is to have a lighthearted, playful approach. Make mistakes, laugh them off, and keep going. Changing or fixing things is part of the process. Don’t aim for perfection. The fun is in the process, not the end result. With an open mindset and no worries about the final painting, you’re sure to find paint night an engaging creative adventure.
