Getting creative, enjoying a little bit of relaxed me-time or spending time with a loved one make the perfect getaway during an evening at Essex paint parties.
Painting and drawing have always been something I liked to do, but I was never really good at it, I have to admit.
As with every skill, it needs time, dedication and practice to master it, but I might have found a fun way around it.
I visited one of the Express Yourself Paint Parties at the Albert Beefeater, in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, a regular spot for the event here in the city.
The paint parties were born after Richard Simmons, decided to become self-employed and create a place to combine his love of painting with bringing people together.
Starting at 7pm, we were awaited by a long table filled with a number of canvas stands, canvasses, paint and brushes, just waiting to be used.
Our session started with a brief introduction by Richard after which instructor Sarah took over, heading right into it.
Our theme was the moonlight fox, surrounded by silver birch trees, which looked ambitious to us at first, as we had not had a brush in our hands since our school days.
But the process turned out to be easier than expected, as Sarah guided us step by step through the layers of paint and methods to use.
After a first sketch, the sky was done, leading to the hill and trees, finishing off with the moon and the little fox.
Luckily, here we were able to cheat a little by using a stencil, making it far easier to draw the actual fox and not having a breakdown if it did not look like one.
Despite being the new ones in a group of regular painters, the atmosphere was great, as everyone was able to let go for three hours and just focus on the canvas in front of them.
It felt great to be able to give your piece an original touch, whether it was through a different choice of colour, how objects were arranged or what animal was chosen.
For everyone who is looking for a time-out to get your creative juices flowing, or for a lovely gift to spend time with a dear friend or relative, the paint parties are a great way to try something new without needing experience or skill.
Tickets for the paint parties across Essex with changing themes can be booked online and regular visitors can profit from getting their seventh event for free.
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