You know the best way to get me interested in something?
Point out there will be drinks.
That’s a bit of information you don’t want to withhold, because - let’s be honest - everything gets more fun when you’re sipping on a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a cold beer. I mean, even brunch, which is a pretty spectacular concept on its own, is vastly improved if you add a glass of bubbles into the mix!
So when I got an invitation to an event called “Art ‘n’ Sips” - color me intrigued (art-related pun definitely intended)! It was described as a “social painting experience” - I do like art, and I like being creative, and of course there was the prospect of drinks involved, so it really didn’t take long for me to accept the invitation to the first ever event in Copenhagen, held at Restaurant Sult.
One of my very good friends is a talented artist, and since I was allowed a guest, I hauled her along - I’m kidding, she came more than willingly! We were greeted with a glass of Crémant and took our seats at the long tables, where canvases, sponges, brushes, and other art supplies had already been laid out for us.
The concept of the event is relatively simple, but genius: over the course of two hours, you paint a picture, following step-by-step instructions by an artist, while sipping drinks. Sounds good? I think so!
Instructing us was Danish artist Eva Stengade, who has painted the ceilings at Royal Copenhagen as well as the Royal Smushi Café. But our mission that day was a bit simpler: a fun little painting of three red cherries on a pink and green background - definitely more manageable than the intricate blue floral patterns that Royal Copenhagen is so famous for.
We got to work, starting to coat the canvas, first in white paint, then blending red, yellow, and blue together to create the background. Highest levels of concentration were required - and don’t ask me how I managed to get yellow paint on my shirt and neck already this early on!
My friend is a much better painter than I am, and sure enough, she was quickly engaged in lively discussions with the artist.
I made sure we stayed hydrated (sort of), as we now got to the trickier parts: drawing the outlines of the cherries. You’d think it’s easy, since it’s just three circles, but trust me when I tell you that it’s not! But we managed anyway, and I even got the circles roughly in the same places as they were in the original painting. Success!
My friend and I had both decided to copy the original painting, but we were told in the beginning that it was totally fine to go full-on creative - and a few people at our table ended up sort of doing their own thing. Some of the paintings were really, really good, too, like this fiery red and orange jellyfish, or a colorful, abstract geometrical piece that I didn’t manage to snap a picture of.
We got to the finishing stages, blending colors to fill in our cherries with a deep red. Fueled by a sudden surge of creativity (which may or may not have had something to do with the drinks), I went totally crazy and added some white highlights, too! I know, I’m basically Frida Kahlo at this stage (sans signature unibrow).
In the end, I’m actually quite happy with my painting, and a little bit proud. And if you think this event sounds fun, but you don’t have any artistic talent whatsoever - trust me: if I can do it, so can you! I’m serious.
The event was really fun, and the team already have a couple more lined up. They are scheduled for two hours, and a ticket costs DKK 355, which includes the first drink as well as all the materials needed for painting. You can then buy more drinks, of course - there are short breaks during painting, for example when the background has to dry. There will be different events featuring different artists, which you can see listed on the Art’n’Sips website.
Disclaimer: I was invited to participate in the event free of charge. All opinions are my own.
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