What is a paint party?

“So what is all the hype about?” “What is this new recreation called paint parties and do I really want to try this?” “I've seen lots of my friends on Facebook posting pictures and they seem to be having lots of fun...but I don't have a creative bone in my body and can't draw a stick figure!” “You're going to teach me how to do that?” Absolutely!!! As an artist at ArtsyU, I have heard every one of these statements and more and can't explain how awesome it is to see people awaken that right side of their brain and create something themselves that they didn't think they could do.

When we first started our studio in Chattanooga, an average 7/10 people we spoke with didn't even know what a painting party was or it's concept as a social recreation. Through word of mouth and the use of Facebook to share pictures, that ratio has gotten a lot better. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters on Facebook and those who have helped get the word out there about this fun alterative to the movies. We wouldn't be here without you! There are still some misconceptions that we hear from time to time among curious individuals who have never tried a paint party before and the goal of this post will be to help clear some of those up.

I'll start with the biggest misconception, the one that keeps most people from actually trying something like this out and it is the idea that you must already be artistic, crafty, or have natural talent for painting and art. That is absolutely not true and not necessary!!! I call this the stick figure syndrome! People who believe, because they can't draw a stick figure, they are naturally untalented. Throw that idea out of your brain right now! Grab a piece of paper and draw these basic shapes: a circle, square, rectangle, and a triangle. Now identify something in your surroundings that's red, blue, and yellow, the basic colors! By participating in this mini exercise you have demonstrate that you know your basic shapes, colors, and can follow directions. You have all the essential skills to create a masterpiece in one of our classes! At ArtsyU, the teachers simplify everything and teach using a step by step process similar to the style Bob Ross used in his “Joy of Painting” programing! When paintings are complex, we usually provide a stencil. So don't sweat it and fall victim to Stick Figuritis.


Basic shapes and colors!

Moving onto our next misconception! This is social recreation, not your high school fine arts class! So relax, you're not getting a grade at the end of class! At ArtsyU, we pride ourselves on making fine art, fun art! This means, no stuffy classroom setting, no boring notes or dates, no long winded lectures of impressionism or realism and no overly critical teacher if you go off on an artistic whim and want your sky to be pink. It's just you and some friends out having a good time! So feel free to relax, enjoy the tunes on Pandora, the jokes from your teacher, and the exploration of your own unique artistic license.

This is a good place to talk about the cookie cutter misconception. You know the one I'm talking about, the one formulated in the left brain, saying that everything must be organized, uniform, and orderly. The one making you feel like your painting must look like the teachers and everyone else's in class. But... Does your painting have to look like the teachers? Not at all! No two paintings at ArtsyU are ever alike, even when you've painted it as a teacher numerous times. That's what makes it fun, because you know that it is 100% your own creation and interpretation. Some of the most interesting paintings are the ones that take the artist down a rabbit hole, leading them to a wonderland of vibrant colored flowers, purple rivers, and blue birds unlike anything in nature! Seriously, it's your painting and you can do anything you want to it!

Perhaps, this is a good place to mention that everyone is their worst critic and sometimes we are too critical of ourselves and our mistakes. When things don't turn out the way we envision them in our minds we think they are awful. Relax, this isn't art class! You are not being graded on performance! Or your level of cleanliness! At ArtsyU, you are free to doodle and paint on the tables to practice techniques and best of all, leave the mess and clean up to us! So “Just Keep calm” and take a sip of wine! Repeat after me, "Who cares! This is art; it's about exploring, and having fun!" So bring your favorite beverage and relax. Can it be alcoholic? Absolutely! Does it have to be? Not at all!

So I hope I have dispelled some of the misconceptions about paint parties and I have encouraged you as a new painter to pick up a paint brush and join us in the studio to experience for yourself what all the hype is about. If you have done a paint party before we would love to hear your testimony and about your creative journey! What do you love about paint parties? What would you tell someone who’s trying it out for the first time? What were some of your misconceptions?

Welcome to our new blog!

What better way to herald in the New Year than to unveil our new blog site! Actually, I've been wanting to work on a blog for ArtsyU for a while now and just never seem to find the time to fully develop my thoughts regarding what I should write about....but since I have been sick with the flu this holiday season I seem to have had oodles of time... In between the conscious moments between Nyquil doses and after exhausting everything of worth on Netflix worth watching, I found myself thinking quite a bit about this blog and why I haven’t just started writing it. Perhaps, that’s why I decided to make it one of my New Year’s resolutions, or New Year’s goals as my husband, Johnny, the infamous owner of ArtsyU, likes to refer to them as. I am, if you have not yet deduced, his other, more attractive half, Rachel... Not to be confused with the other Rachel, our Communications and Operational Manager at ArtsyU...yes company meetings can get confusing sometimes... but there will be plenty of time to explore that in a later post...



Johnny and Rachel Brown
Owners of ArtsyU

...So a blog specifically focused on Art and the events going on at ArtsyU has been a desire of mine for a while and since today is when most people make outrageous resolutions that they have every intention to keep through the end of the first week, it seems like a good time to bring this blog to fruition. For my readers, my goals will be to introduce you to our art studio here in Chattanooga and the amazing and eccentric people that work there to make it a truly unique place. The phenomenon of wine painting parties has become one of the newest and most revolutionary ways to approach art and make it socially fun! Since it is a fairly new enterprise and industry, getting the word out to the public about what an actual paint party or wine painting party consist of can be difficult. So I'm hoping this blog will help paint a picture in your mind if you are one of those curious folks wondering what all the hype is about and have that burning desire to get a little artsy!

In the upcoming posts, should busy schedules allow, I hope to keep readers apprised of events we have going on at ArtsyU with a weekly post that may spotlight a future class or activity, an outreach project, fundraisers in our community at large, promotional stuff, and let's not forget that broad subject called art itself!