Paint Along

Do want to expand your creative horizons? Want to paint but not sure where to start?  A Paint Along class is a great way to break away from the daily grind and let your creativity flow for an evening.  I had a class with  Paint Along last night and couldn’t wait to write about it!

Paint Along‘s calendar shows all the different images currently on the schedule, so when you go into the class you know what you will be painting.  In the picture above, you can see some other examples of class painting selections as many were hanging around the studio.  Everyone is provided with a blank canvas and their own set of paints and brushes to use.   You are also welcome to bring your own wine to sip while you paint which was a nice touch.  The class started at 6:30pm and it usually goes for 2 hours, although ours went a little over. 

For the class I selected, our goal was to paint a version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.    I was not sure how it would go since this is a very complex painting.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the instructor was able to guide us through creating our own versions of this classic image (you do not need to be a professional to get a beautiful painting completed during this class).  You are lead through the painting in simple steps that build before your eyes into the image you are trying to create.  There is no judgment and our instructor was happy to help if anyone felt stuck or was concerned about how they were doing.  You are also free to paint as you would like to and can either follow the instructor directly or go on a different path if your creativity leads you elsewhere.  While we were all painting the same image of Starry Night, each painting definitely had its own unique artistry.  At the end of the class, it was really fascinating to see all of the different finished creations.  There was a blow dryer available to help dry the paintings before placing each in a bag to carry our new masterpieces home in. 

I really loved my first visit to Paint Along.  It was wonderful to relax and create something for an evening.  Don’t be intimidated by skill level and just go to enjoy yourself.  Many of the attendees were repeat painters at Paint Along and I will probably be joining them as a return artist.  Paint Along‘s studio is located at 928 Broadway near the intersection with 21st Street.

And just to share, at the end of the class, this is what my painting looked like (although some of the colors didn’t all come through so well in the picture):

The Tim Burton Exhibit at the MOMA

For any Tim Burton fan, the current special exhibition on display at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC is a MUST see.

Once you step through the entrance you are immersed into Tim Burton’s world.  Inside you will see actual models of his creations, sketches of the characters and stories as they were visualized before they made it to the big screen, hand written poetry and notes, and even some actual props and costumes from his movies.

As a huge fan, I was in awe to be surrounded by so many amazing pieces.  While the exhibit was crowded, I was still able to see everything thoroughly.  It was a thrill to see everything in such detail, for example, there is a handwritten note to Johhny Depp about a line Tim thought would work in Willy Wonka (this line did end up being in the film).  I loved it so much I just might return for another look before this exhibition ends on April 26, 2010.

MoMA is recommending that you order a ticket for a specific time of admission for this exhibit on their website when you purchase your museum admission.  This can all be done online before you go and the entrance to the Tim Burton exhibit is included in your museum admission cost.   It is worth every penny!

Indulge Your Artistic Side

If you are in the mood for an enjoyable day in Central Park with other people who love to sketch/draw/paint or whatever, then the Central Park Sketching and Art Meetup group is perfect for you. I went this Saturday and had such a great time. It doesn’t matter what your talent level is. Everyone is open and friendly and you will be inspired by all the talented people around you. It has been a while since I did any sketching, so this was an encouraging first start. I will definitely plan to attend the next meetup date I can make it to.

To join this or any other meetups go to http://www.meetup.com/