If you have a love for painting and visual arts you probably have noticed that a quiet revolution is taking place in the visual art world.
Painting, once the preserve of talented artists and serious art fanatics, is now becoming a cherished activity for families, friends, couples and social groups.
Visual artists have started to embrace and promote the idea of social painting sessions, like sip and paint events where people of all ages and skill levels come together to paint in a relaxed, social setting.
As the name suggests, sip and paint involves sipping on wine or one’s preferred beverage while letting your creative juices flow as you socialise with your peers.
These new social trends are popping up at birthday parties, corporate team-building events, and even casual get-togethers transforming how most people engage with art while providing others with a therapeutic escape from the stresses of life.
So this means that with a glass of wine in one hand and paint brush in the other, surrounded by friends and family, anyone can reap the many benefits that this artistic expression offers.
Most of these sessions have a visual artist who is qualified to guide, instruct and allow people to just express themselves.
According to Kaliso Art Gallery founder Everlyn Chisambiro, who hosts her own sip and paint sessions, the focus is not on the artwork itself or the pressure to produce a masterpiece, but it’s about enjoying the experience in the moment.
“Most of the people who attend these sessions have never painted before and will often doubt their painting abilities, but as they follow the process you realise that some are natural painters and end up liking what they have created,” she said.
Chisambiro added that the new approach to painting is helping enhance a deep appreciation for visual art.
“People go back home appreciating the work and effort put in an art piece that was done by a visual artist once they get to experience the creativity that goes into creating the paintings,” she added.
She further underscored the possibility of these sessions emerging as an activity that makes the public to be art aware, saying that painting has traditionally been viewed as an elite hobby or a solitary pursuit.
Others who have partaken in these sessions say they have been given an opportunity to explore their creative sides without the pressure of producing perfect art.
Chikwa Mwenifumbo, who enjoys sip and paint sessions, said the sessions have allowed her to explore the visual art form.
“It is an art I don’t do frequently, but I find it therapeutic offering a break from the normal day to day work, I find it relaxing while it allows me to use my imagination,” she said.
The sessions are as much about socialising as they are about art. A sip and paint event is organised in a relaxed and inviting venue, such as a café, art studio or an open space, indoors or outdoors.
The set up includes several easels arranged in a semi-circle or around large tables making it easy for participants to see the instructor and interact with each other as they stroke the paint brush.
“All the sessions that I attended I went with friends or some grouping and I have found out it is a good activity for social bonding, especially with friends and family or loved ones and you get to connect with other people too,” she added.
Mwenefumbo, added that she does not feel the pressure of painting a great art piece but strives to create something that she first imagines and tries to bring it to life whether perfect or not.
Media personality Priscilla Kayira, who also enjoys these sessions, described them as a refreshing extracurricular activity.
She also mentioned the therapeutic nature of being in a quiet place to paint while highlighting how it serves both as a calming and social bonding activity.
“Painting is not a loud activity and doing it in a peaceful setting helps me unwind however doing it with friends makes it even more special helping me enhance my friendships,”said Kayira.
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