For Your Entertainment: Paint Nite takes Brandon by storm
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/08/2016 (3421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The worldwide paint-as-you-drink sensation known as Paint Nite has recently taken the Wheat City by storm.
The group painting events are less of a formal art class and more of a chance to get creative with friends at a local watering hole.
Paint Nite was started by two American artists in 2012, and has since become an international company with franchises in North and South America, Africa and the United Kingdom.
In July, Winnipeg’s franchisee decided to expand into Brandon and recruited local artist Shane Robins to establish the event.
“I personally had never been to (a Paint Nite),” Robins said. “I’ve always kind of painted and done drawings, so art’s always been a part of me. I just couldn’t resist learning more about it.”
The self-taught artist says creativity has been a constant in her life — whether she was sketching people or experimenting with different clothes and hairstyles.
While she’s quite comfortable creating things, Robins says teaching others has been a bit of a learning curve.
“It’s fine to do it and break it down in your head for yourself, but when you’re assuming 90 per cent of the people in front of you have never picked up a paint brush, you have to be humbled by that and to know that this could be very frustrating for that person,” she said.
Booze notwithstanding, Paint Nite events are designed to be as fun and relaxed as possible thanks to easy-to-replicate subjects and step-by-step instruction.
At the beginning of each two-hour event, the painters are reminded to enjoy the process and not compare their work to those around them.
“You walk around that room and it blows my mind … every single painting looks very similar, but very different,” Robins said.
Each event has a previously decided-upon painting that the group will tackle under the direction of Robins. All the art supplies are provided and attendees take their artwork home with them at the end of the night.
In Brandon, Paint Nite happens every Monday at the Prairie Firehouse and every second Sunday at the Victoria Inn.
In just two months, Paint Nite has garnered quite the following.
“It’s crazy how many are sold out in advance … there’s big interest,” Robins said.
Each event seats roughly 40 people and tickets are $45 — Westman painters can get 30 per cent off if they enter the coupon code “shane30” when purchasing their tickets online.
Visit paintnite.com and search “Brandon” to find out more about upcoming local events. Robins is also available to co-ordinate Paint Nite events in nearby communities and to host private functions.
“Lucky me, getting paid to paint and have a glass of wine,” she said.
Eva Wasney is a Brandon Sun reporter with a not-so-secret love of arts, culture and music. Get in touch if you know of an event or artist deserving of a spot in the Sun.
» ewasney@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @evawasney