When I saw a post on Facebook by a local cafe (Cafe Latte Cino) about an upcoming Paint Nite event, I was intrigued. The event was designed as a workshop and promoted as a way for friends to get together, have a drink or a bite, and paint. Participants would follow step by step instructions, but free hand on a canvas a pre-determined picture.
It’s been ages since I’ve stretched my creativity skills. Sure, I write, and this can be quite creative and relaxing, but there was something attractive about painting.
After sending a message to friends asking for someone to come with me, two others signed up. The trio of us weren’t sure what to expect, but we knew it would be a nice opportunity to spend time together.
My grandmother painted. She used oil paints on canvas to create some really fantastic pieces of art that almost everyone in the family proudly displays. She attended classes and workshops to learn later in life and seemed to find joy in doing so. I can remember going to her house and always wanting to get into the paints. She would sometimes have canvases for us to use, other times, the back of a paper plate.
My talents may not be as natural as hers were (or existent at all I suppose) but when we went this past Sunday to the event I loved making every brush stroke. As a perfectionist, it was hard to see the flaws and let go of some areas to move on but that’s a lesson that can be transferred to many areas of my life – sometimes I just have to stop, and let go. In those moments, as I moved the paint brush across the canvas, I felt at peace. My mind wasn’t focused on school, or housework or deadlines. It was focused on that object at that moment, and I really liked being in my own head.
The events take place across the city and Cafe Latte Cino is hosting two more this year and there are other events across the city. My friends and I are already talking about which one to sign up for next.
Sometimes, we just need to create for fun. You would think I would have learned this from my children already.
Have you found a creative outlet?
I would love to do something like this. My mom was an artist and very creative. She could sew, paper tole, cook and bake basically anything, crochet, paint, etc. My brother got a lot of traits from her (and is an awesome artist). Me, I was the researcher and reader. I like to think that writing is my creative outlet (but my inspiration is lacking lately). I have two canvases downstairs and some paints I bought from when the kids and I did a father’s day project a few years ago. I dream of pulling them out and painting something. But the perfectionist in me is scared to do so.
I realized quickly that any sense of my usual perfectionist tendencies needed to be checked at the door. And that with each stroke, I was getting a better handle on things – so practice would make it even better! You should do it! Pull out the paints and a canvas and just see what you can do!