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NY Daily News
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Make like an artist - or at least drink like one - at the Painting
Lounge in Williamsburg
BYOB classes taught by artist Kevin Tarasuk encourage
students to use alcoholic beverages to fuel their artistic
creativity
Alina Guzman, of Bay Ridge, takes a sip of wine before continuing to
paint her version of Vincent Van Gogh’s iconic "Starry Night" during a
BYOB session at the Painting Lounge in Williamsburg. The sessions let
art students "unwind with your favorite beverage while we guide you
to complete your next masterpiece," the Painting Lounge website
says.
If you drink enough, you can paint like Van Gogh — or at least you
won’t feel bad if your work falls short of genius.
That’s the premise behind BYOB classes at the Painting Lounge in
Williamsburg, where artist Kevin Tarasuk is giving Brooklyn its first
taste of a nationwide phenomenon: Booze-fueled painting lessons.
“Having the alcohol sets the tone for the class,” said the Miami-born
artist, 32, whose BYOB workshops at his Union Ave. storefront studio
have a waiting list at least once a week.
In each session, he shows customers how to paint their own version of
one masterpiece from a big-name artist.
“It’s free and easy and fun. It’s more of a party,” he said as he set
out 16-by-20-inch canvases and acrylic paints for a recent class where
students tried their hand at Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”
Those who arrived with performance anxiety needn’t have worried.
Tarasuk provided stencils for everyone to trace the outlines of the
painting onto their canvases.
The Rhode Island School of Design-educated artist’s own paintings are
laced with dark imagery and surrealism, but he was upbeat and
engaging while sharing tips on how to handle paintbrushes like a pro.
Still, it took some students time to loosen up.
“I think I need more beer,” said David Iga, 38, who came from
Danbury, Conn., with fiancée Carol Felix, 33. “I think it gets easier
the more you drink.”
Irene Georgedakis, 31, of Bay Ridge, brought zip-up insulators to
cover the bottles of Magic Hat #9 beer she and boyfriend Man-e
Zoumboulis, 31, of Sunset Park downed during the $65, three-hour
lesson.
By the middle of the class, students were singing along to Bob Dylan
and David Byrne songs on the stereo. The energy level in the room
rose as bottles began to empty.
“I’m starting to feel the Pinot Grigio — it makes me trust in my
painting,” said Jennifer Paulino, 25, of Long Island City.
“It lowers your inhibitions a little bit,” said her friend Dianne Ramos,
27, a Financial District resident.
The BYOB sessions, launched last summer, have been such a hit that
Tarasuk tore down walls in the former gallery space last fall and
expanded to 19 seats from 12.
By the end of the class, everyone produced recognizable versions of
“Starry Night,” with their own personal touches.
“The wine made it easier,” said Alina Guzman, 21, of Bay Ridge, who
polished off a bottle of white zinfandel with friend Hikalu Takahashi,
26, of Bushwick. “You’re more free with the brush; you’re not thinking
about it.”
Drink-and-paint lessons were offered at Flatiron District studio Paint
Along before Tarasuk brought them to Williamsburg. And they’re
taught at a franchise, Painting With a Twist, which has 64 locations
nationwide.
Williamsburg art education center 3rd Ward has a variation on alcohol-
fueled creativity — Drink N’ Draw nights with beer and live models for
participants to sketch.
“Art is something people always think they’re terrible at,” Tarasuk
said.
“They are much better than they think. They just need some guidance
on how an art project goes — and a little bit of wine helps.”
lcroghan@nydailynews.com
Gothamist
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New Williamsburg Lounge Pairs Painting With Your Pinot
What Would Henry Chinaski Paint? Experience has taught us that
everything, except the morning after, is better with a little liquid
courage, so it's only natural that someone profit off this cold hard
fact, before the buzz wears off. With that, the Painting Lounge in
Williamsburg is now offering BYOB painting workshops, allowing
everyone to know what it feels like to paint like a Master!
Classes are instructed by 32-year-old artist Kevin Tarasuk and are
priced at $50 per person for 2 hours or $65 dollars per person for 3
hours. The site says, "Unwind with your favorite beverage while we
guide you step-by-step to complete your next masterpiece. No
previous drawing or painting experience required. Everyone is
guaranteed to leave with a painting they can be proud of." Because
pride is often the product of a night of heavy drinking.
As Jennifer Paulino, 25, tells the Daily News, “I’m starting to feel the
Pinot Grigio—it makes me trust in my painting." That's probably what
De Kooning said.
Nylon Japan
Painting Lounge was featured in the June 2012 issue of Nylon in
Japan. The piece covered the "BEST5 in NY," and Painting Lounge
was listed under "ART SPACE."
We asked a Japanese friend to translate
and this is basically what it says:
A rare spot where you can bring your own choice of alcohol and learn
to paint. perhaps being slightly drunk and learning to paint the
masters will teach you a new sensibility for your artistic skill.
Catherine Parry, Intern says: This type of thing can only be found in
Williamsburg. I don't think they have this in any other neighborhoods.
Click here to see the clipping from the magazine.
CBS New York
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The 5 Best Casual Art Classes In New York City
If you have ever wanted to nurture your creative abilities through an
art class but did not know where to begin, you are in the right place.
New York City is a haven for all types of artists, filled with places
where people of all learning levels and artistic abilities can explore
their own hidden talents. Here are five reasonably priced classes in
which to find and explore your creative side.
...If it’s a more social experience you’re after, The Painting Lounge
offers BYOB classes (21 and over to drink alcohol), in which you can
relax and learn how to recreate famous masterpieces. Designed for
beginners but appropriate for all skill levels, all supplies are included
and you can even have your masterpiece framed before you go.
Time Out NY
(Click here for the original post)
What to do on Saturday in New York City: 50 great ideas
Explore outdoor markets, see Broadway shows on the cheap, and
discover other ideas for what to do on Saturday.
Paint, booze, repeat
Find out whether alcohol is a creative boon or bomb for you at the
Painting Lounge’s regular BYOB workshops. Inspired by the masters,
these no-pressure classes invite attendees to re-create some of art
history’s greatest hits. Past facsimiles have included Monet’s The Cliff,
Etretat, Sunset; Van Gogh’s The Starry Night; and Lichtenstein’s
Drowning Girl. 212-518-1803, paintinglounge.com $50–$65, includes
painting materials.
Time Out NY
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Ways to make friends: Classes
Everyone loves having smart, talented pals. Learn a new skill—or
hone an old one—while you make friends at these workshops and
seminars.
Cultivate an interest and make friends in one fell swoop by enrolling
in one of these classes or seminars. You can experiment with soap
making, or craft your own beer while chatting up curious souls with
shared interests.
BYOB Painting Workshop at the Painting Lounge:
Rub elbows with other budding Picassos at this booze-fueled art
lesson, where you’ll re-create a masterpiece. Each session focuses on
a famous work by Van Gogh, Monet or another legend. Teachers go
through the brushwork step-by-step, so no need to stress if you’re not
Da Vinci. Participants are encouraged to bring their own beverage to
get creative juices—and conversation—flowing. • paintinglounge.com.
Schedule varies; $50–$65.
Time Out NY
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Unconventional art classes in bars, parks and classrooms
Whether you find inspiration at the top of a bridge or the bottom of a
bottle, get creative at these unconventional art classes.
These unconventional art classes will have you reaching for your
sketch pad in no time, especially if you like to drink, see bands, take
walks or read comics. You don't need to be a Picasso to partake; all
classes are non-competitive and open to all levels, so get ready to
doodle...
For Boozehounds:
Find out whether alcohol is a creative boon or bomb for you at the
Painting Lounge’s regular BYOB workshops. Inspired by the masters,
these no-pressure classes invite attendees to re-create some of art
history’s greatest hits. Upcoming facsimiles include Monet’s The Cliff,
Etretat, Sunset (Fri 26 at 7pm; $50); Van Gogh’s The Starry Night
(Sat 27 at 1pm; $65) and A Pair of Shoes (Mon 29 at 7pm; $50); and
Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl (Tue 30 at 7pm; $50). • (212-518-1803,
paintinglounge.com
Jezebel
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Boozy Painting Class Promises to Make You Think You’re
Talented
If you're self-conscious about your lack of artistic talent or manual
dexterity with a paintbrush, take heart — a few glasses of Pinot Grigio
might be all that's standing in your way on the path to artistic
greatness.
The Painting Lounge, located in none other than Brooklyn's hipster
fortress, Castle Williamsburg, is one of many places around the
country offering BYOB painting lessons, which are taught in a boozy
reverie by 32-year-old RISD graduate Kevin Tarasuk. Tarasuk told the
Daily News that a little booze goes a long way to unlocking an
amateur painter's hidden trove of talents. Said the Miami-born
painter,
Art is something people always think they're terrible at. They are
much better than they think. They just need some guidance on how an
art project goes - and a little bit of wine helps.
The phrase "a little bit of wine helps" would be a great slogan not just
for the Painting Lounge's new $65, three-hour long painting
bacchanals, but for pretty much anything...except, like, driving or
pregnancy. Tarasuk's students agree, at least, that the alcohol helps
them ignore the high probability that they're spending three hours
smearing their canvases with acrylic at an level of competence that's
only slightly higher than that of a finger-painting toddler. Said 38-
year-old David Iga, who attends the classes with his fiancee and a 30-
rack of beer, "I think [painting] gets easier the more you drink."
Others such as 26-year-old Hikalu Takahashi, echoed Iga's
sentiments, rhapsodizing, "You're more free with the brush; you're not
thinking about it," while 25-year-old Jennifer Paulino explained that,
once she's had enough of the Pinot Grigio she brings to the painting
party, she starts to "trust" her painting more.
Though the Painting Lounge's Drink N' Draw nights weren't the first
booze-painting gatherings in town, — drink-and-paint sloppily lessons
were offered at the Flatiron Studio Paint Along way before Tarasuk
brought his moonshine to town — Tarasuk's lessons feature two
innovations: beer and live models. The result is a fun night of canvas-
splattering. If only poor Philip Carey knew about this secret to artistic
success, Of Human Bondage would have been a way shorter and more
optimistic novel about a young man with a clubfoot who has a drunken
romp through Paris, rather than a completely sober account of
frustrated creative ambition. And if booze can make that book happy,
just imagine how much fun it would be to sidle up to a canvas,
paintbrush in one hand, booze in another, pallet somewhere far away
from the booze so as not to confuse the two, and spend the night
being drunkenly semi-productive.
Greenpoint Gazette
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BYOB Art: Paintbrush and Bottle Opener Not Required
Oct 04, 2012 - by Megan Soyars
At a laid-back art studio in Williamsburg, participants need not bring a
paintbrush, easel or even a bottle opener. They only need to bring
their imaginations…and of course, their beverage of choice.
“We have the alcohol to help set the tone,” said Kevin Tarasuk, owner
and creator of the Painting Lounge, which provides beginner-
intermediate art sessions. “It makes things less serious. We’ve got a
social, casual atmosphere.”
The classes, located in a cozy, brightly-lit studio, are designed to be
straightforward, fun, and “accessible to the average person,” Tarasuk
explained. You don’t have to be a Van Gogh to attend the Painting
Lounge, only possess a desire to emulate him.
During each session, a famous painting or image is replicated. Genres
are varied so anyone can find an inspiring painting, whether it to be of
Van Gogh, Picasso or Warhol. “It doesn’t even have to be a painting,
sometimes we choose images that are famous culturally,” said
Tarasuk. “For example, we’ve painted copies from a Wizard of Oz
poster.”
Sessions at the Painting Lounge are designed so that aspiring artists
can complete their work within 2-3 hours. “We usually draw the image
before class, then people trace over it. That gets the drawing out of
the way quickly, so we can get to the fun part, the painting!” Tarasuk
laughed.
During a session Friday, September 28th, several students bearing
wine and high spirits came in, donned paint-splattered smocks, and
set to work copying Warhol’s Flowers.
Some started off with self-deprecating jokes: “Good thing this was
drawn for us beforehand ”and“ This flower looks like meat blob!”
However, the students’ tones were good-natured. After the class, they
were quite proud to pose with their paintings and take them home.
“People get leave the class with a finished work, which is very
gratifying,” Tarasuk said. “I’ve lead art classes before which were
much more intensive, 5-6 sessions long. We learned a lot, but it was
time-consuming. Then I started these [shorter] group painting
sessions and realized how rewarding they are.”
The BYOB element is an added bonus; it loosens the mood and “frees”
up students’ paintbrushes, a dose of “liquid courage” adding to their
artistic courage. Painting workshops that incorporate the social
lubricant have become recently popular; there are several in
Manhattan, but the Painting Lounge is the only one of its kind in
Brooklyn.
In addition to their Williamsburg studio, The Painting Lounge also
offers mobile classes throughout the city. “We’ve done corporate
events for 40+ people, and are thinking of visiting schools, too,” said
Tarasuk. They also host birthday parties and team-building workshops,
as a good way to bond with a friend, family member, or co-worker…or
to meet someone new.
“The classes are perfect for a first-date night,” Tarasuk explained.
“We’ve even paired with [dating site] OkCupid to host events here.”
Tarasuk is also thinking of bringing kids to the Painting Lounge, since
the session’s short length and accessibility is perfect for children.
Indeed, many adults at the Painting Lounge feel the years drop away
at the Painting Lounge. During one session, many could be heard
exclaiming, “I feel like I’m a kid again!” and “I haven’t worn a smock
since elementary.”
“We’ve been taught as adults that it’s ‘not good’ to be not good at
something, so we don’t bother trying,” said Tarasuk. “Kids don’t feel
that way, they just want to have fun.”
Tarasuk added that he loves hearing his students say they feel like
they’re in fifth grade again. “That’s what we want!” he exclaimed.
“We want to get people back to that type of enthusiasm.”
DNA info
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BYOB Painting Lounge Hosts Singles Night
with OKCupid Dating Site
WILLIAMSBURG — Get ready for a singles' night infused with paint,
alcohol and online dating ingredients — or, as Kevin Tarasuk called it,
"speed dating" meets "speed painting."
The major dating site OKCupid has launched events for its users —
and the drink-and-paint Painting Lounge on Union Avenue is one of
the first to offer a mixer this week.
"You go through a whole spectrum of emotions while painting," said
Tarasuk, who opened the BYOB venue last April and said he's already
witnessed people meet in his regular classes. "And I think that
spectrum, of walking in a little bit shy and walking out proud is a good
recipe" for bonding with a potential match.
OKCupid — which has thousands of visitors signed on at any given
time and has recently been acquired by the even bigger dating giant
Match.com — has already scheduled four events at Tarasuk's studio
that are "members only," he said. In the first one Wednesday
students will learn to paint Van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night" while
sipping on (or chugging) spirits.
"For these OKCupid classes we’re going to stop the class more often
so there's time for meet and greet, and we'll do musical chairs," he
said of ways to facilitate the flirtation process.
Other events OKCupid is hosting include a beach yoga in New Jersey,
bowling, and improv classes, according to the site. A spokesperson for
the site did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
"I think for them it’s a way of creating an even more casual way of
meeting each other without having to take the step to contact a
person and then spend a certain amount of time with that person,"
Tarasuk said of OKCupid's strategy with the new feature.
And for the Painting Lounge, where he said 80 to 90 percent of his
students are women in their 20's and 30's (though for the OK Cupid
events the site tries to create an even mix), Tarasuk said he hoped
the events would help draw more men in the future to pick up women.
"As soon as the straight male contingency realizes this they’ll be a
little more into the acitivity," he said of his classes, which typically
cost $50 for two hours and include supplies and a 16-by-20-inch
canvas. The OKCupid sessions come at a discounted price, he noted.
And even if they leave alone, they'll walk home with a 16-by-20
canvas that has become transformed to mimic a master, whether that
of Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, or Edward Munch.
"I often hear the line 'I haven't painted since kindergarten,'" said
Tarasuk. "And that's perfect — that's exactly what we're looking for."
Brooklyn Based
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Art Therapy for the Overworked and Under Appreciated
Every so often we’re going to give you hard-working parents some
suggestions to shake up your routine and take care of yourself for a
change. So call up the sitter or let your family fend for themselves–
you need a break!
...If you’re looking for a more light-hearted variety of art class try
The Painting Lounge in Williamsburg just off the Lorimer stop on the
L. The Painting Lounge makes for a fine solo experience or a lovely
date night destination where you can bring a bottle of wine and create
a masterpiece in two hours no matter what your skill set.
2DM/ The Blogazine
(Click here for the original post)
Let’s face it: being an artist can be a bitch, especially if you have to
spend 40 hours a week stuck behind a desk or, even worse, flipping
burgers just to make ends meet. Materials get expensive, inspiration
runs dry and some of us just don’t have the time ―much less the
chops― to make a real go at becoming the next Monet. Especially
when we’d rather spend our free time at the bar, right? Thank god,
then, for the Painting Lounge, a near-nightly paint and drink class that
allows people like me and you the opportunity to play dress-up artist
while milking a bottle of cheap red wine.
The Painting Lounge is not geared towards serious artists, but the stuff
you paint is usually based on works done by artists were very serious.
Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Bob Ross, and Salvador Dali are just a few
subjects on the bucket list. It’s paint-by-numbers, only the numbers
are a real instructor who encourages you to draw outside the lines.
Meanwhile, the alcohol provides the courage necessary to push
forward. This is particularly helpful when you realize you’ve somehow
managed to turn a Van Gogh into a Pollack with one swoop of the
brush.
The instructor, artist Kevin Tarasuk, reduces some of the world’s most
popular paintings down to a basic science that even a blind baby could
comprehend. Upon arrival you are seated in front of a blank canvas
with tracing paper and a simple outline clipped over the top. You trace
the outline, remove the paper and spend the next two hours painting
whatever happens to be on the calendar that day. (Fun fact: “Starry
Night” seems to be the most popular painting, which is somewhat
surprising.) When I was there the painting was “Boone vs Bear,” an
obscure folk-art scene that depicts a hunter about to grapple with a
very angry grizzly bear. The bear has been shot, but the hunter is out
of bullets and stands ready to strike, his gun hauled over his shoulders
like a baseball bat. What happens next is open to artistic
interpretation.
Thankfully, the Painting Lounge eschews pretentiousness and skill-
level for a hands-on approach that allows everyone in the room to
make something worth hanging on their wall. Interested? Here’s how
it works: look at their calendar, pick a painting you want to replicate,
and reserve your spot ($50 for two hour sessions, $65 for three). They
provide the necessities: canvas, brush, easel, paint, apron, cups and
instruction. All you need is the booze and a friend or two and you’re
good to go. And hey, it’s the most practical way to get a Van Gogh
into your living room.
Off Metro
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DATING ADVENTURES: FUN CLASSES TO TAKE IN NYC
Inspired by a member of our oM team who recently
joined howaboutwe.com, we decided to explore date ideas around the
city and share our best tips in a comprehensive guide to “Dating
Adventures” in NYC. This is the first in a series of nine guides.
Want to snag a sweet date this weekend? How about you skip the
High Line-biergarden route in favor of something a little less…
standard. Whatever makes your heart beat faster–be it biking,
barbecue or burlesque –oM’s got some titillating tips for how to make
magic happen offline and off the main island.
...Pick your painter and your poison. At each of Painting
Lounge’s BYOB classes, students learn how to create a different
design and leave with their 16×20” masterpiece in hand (or their
date’s). They’ve got the art supplies, corkscrews and cups covered; all
you have to bring is some liquid courage to get those creative juices
flowing.
Off Metro
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THE FIVE BEST BYOB IN NYC ACTIVITIES
Drinking at a bar is out. Drinking while painting a Picasso or jiving at
a swing dance party is in. When it’s five o’clock somewhere, check out
these five best BYOB NYC activities, ranging from $10 to $50.
The Painting Lounge in Brooklyn is a BYOB art studio where supplies
and good cheer are provided for all levels of artists, and “liquid
courage” is recommended. Classes teach step-by-step replication of
classic works like “Starry Night” and “The Persistence of Memory.”
More Adventure Less Fear
A collection of a young woman's adventures
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New Year, New Adventure: A Trip To The Painting Lounge
New year, new post! Granted, it’s taken me almost a year to write a
new post, but we shan’t dwell on that.
I’ve been on a few adventures since my last post. Going to the New
York City Ballet, seeing Sleep No More (serious tangent, this show,
Holy Cannoli. Whether you like it or not, it’s worth seeing because
there’s no way you can leave that show without an opinion), becoming
a redhead for a hot second and a handful of other things went down
last year.
This year’s inaugural adventure took me to the Painting Lounge in
Williamsburg (thanks to Time Out New York’s “Self-improvement
guide 2013: Ten Classes to Try”.) Being an artist, I love being able to
use other mediums and I’ve always wanted to paint. But painting and
drawing are not my calling.
But the Painting Lounge, like some insanely awesome beacon in the
night, understands that there are people like me out there who are
dying to paint, but have no desire to look like an idiot while doing so.
Hence their BYOB painting classes where they teach you how to paint
masterpieces by Monet, Warhol, Picasso, etc. Can I get a hellz yeah?
I signed up for the Claude Monet’s “The Cliff, Etretat, Sunset” class
and went armed with a six-pack of Woodchuck’s hard cider
First off, the space is awesome. It’s intimate enough so that
everyone gets attention, but there’s enough space so that you can
avoid the girl that might be giving you some side eye (which didn’t
happen, but I like to know I’m covered just in case). They have an
amazing playlist going to get you in the artistic mood for the piece.
Plus, the staff (big up to Liz and Kevin!) are kick ass artists who help
you unleash your inner Van Gogh while guiding your unsure hand
without patronizing you. And without encouraging you to cut off your
ear.
Essentially, the staff take you step by step through creating the
painting. You start off with super basic stuff, so basic that you start
to question whether it really is that simple or if they’re pulling your
leg and are secretly laughing at your gullibility. But it really is that
simple. As with anything, you have to start with building blocks. The
tricky thing is keeping all the blocks straight so that they actually
come together to create the initial vision, or, since I’m feeling
particularly pun-y today, the bigger picture.
The hardest part for me was letting go of perfectionism and trusting
that I was doing great and that my work didn’t resemble, as one of
my fellow painters put it, the smoke monster from Lost. Having the
staff on hand to give pointers and feedback was particularly fantastic
because I found I wasn’t as free-spirited with my painting as I had
thought. I was far too controlled and needed to be a little “wild” in
order to make it work. In the end, every mistake was fixable and
didn’t take away from the painting, but instead added to its character.
Because I’m fond of trying to find ways to improve myself (I know,
you’d have never guessed that from reading this blog), I found that a
lot of that applied in my own life. There are times you just need to
“breath, stretch, shake, let it go” and not stress out about getting
everything exactly right and perfect because that’s not the point.
Sometimes the point is to just go with the flow and follow through as
best as you can. I went to the Painting Lounge with a mission to get
boozed up while painting a Monet and ended up with a life lesson. Go
figure.
Once I relaxed and let go, everything went pretty fantastic (and that’s
without the influence of hard cider). I followed my instincts as best
as I could and when in doubt, I asked Liz and Kevin for pointers.
However, 95% of the way through, I still thought my painting made
no sense and would in no way resemble Monet’s original. Thankfully, I
wasn’t alone because pretty much everyone in the class felt the same
way about theirs.
Then, like the friggin Delphic Sibyl, Liz tells us that it all comes
together when you pull it away from yourself (another life lesson).
Sure enough, once we looked at our paintings from afar, we found we
were a bunch of Monet infused BOSSES. No one was hesitant about
signing their names on their paintings any more and I wasn’t worried
about where I’d get a garbage bag to cover up mine while I was on
the subway. I would be able to hold up my painting on the L train
and tell everyone: “See this??? This is mine!! I did this, homies!!
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!” (Not that I would do that, but I like knowing I
have that option).
I’ll absolutely and most definitely be re-visiting the Painting Lounge.
It’s a great adventure if you want to learn how to let go of
perfectionism and have fun. The best part is, you really don’t need
the booze.
** Be sure to check out the Painting Lounge’s website and a big
thank you to Liz and Kevin for the photos. **
Favorable Mention
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Happy Friday + Painting Lounge
Happy Friday! This went by fast but I’m ready for the weekend.
Tomorrow I’ll be attending Etsy’s first wedding event, To Have & To
Hold. I’m excited to learn about new vendors & support the
independent ones.
I just found out about this place, the Painting Lounge, in Williamsburg
(Brooklyn) and I am trying to decide which night to go. For around
$60 you can spend a few hours painting your favorite artists’
masterpiece. The Painting Lounge provides all the art supplies, all
you have to do is show up and it’s BYOB A few years ago I went to
Color Me Mine in Tribeca and it was one of the most relaxing nights
ever. It would be fun to go with a group of friends or solo to meet
some new ones.
Alina Guzman Blog
(Click here for the original post)
Williamsburg Art Scene: BYOB Painting Class
Lately I’ve been on such an art kick; letting it take me to places I
never thought I’d go. Namely, Williamsburg. I have just about every
“daily deal” account under the moon that offers NYC deals. Months
ago I stumbled upon a Groupon deal for a Bring Your Own Booze
Painting Class that really intrigued me. Booze and painting? Sounds
like fun.
The Painting Lounge, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, offers super fun and
unique BYOB classes where you recreate a work of art. I was dying to
paint Van Gogh’s Starry Night so I waited a few months and finally
got into a class for it! You can read the rest of my detailed review on
yelp but here is the main gist. The owner Kevin, who has incredible
taste in music, provides all materials necessary for the class. Paints,
brushes, canvas, apron, bottle opener, cups for your booze, you need
it? he’s got it. The best part is you get to keep your canvas at the
end! Choose to have it framed (for about $30) or just staple a string
onto it and hang it up (finally managed to hang mine up, evidence
right here). I put it smack under the poster of the original Starry
Night, just to keep things interesting.
Hikalu (check out the visual blog she curates, its amazing) agreed to
come with and we had a blast. To our surprise, our class session was
being covered by the press! Lore Croghan from the Daily News was
there with a photographer interviewing each student and snapping
away pictures. You can read the article here. (Yes, that is me in the
photo. To my dismay, I somehow managed to sit right in the hot seat
for the photographer.)
Kevin has also expanded the collection of art available to be painted
so there will surely be something that interests you!
THERE GOES KATIE
(Click here for the original post)
The Painting Lounge - by Katie Blaine
I haven’t written a post in a while (sorry, life’s been busy!), but I
found one of my new favorite places this weekend and I have to
share. The Painting Lounge is a BYOB painting class located in
Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Right off the Lorimer stop on the L, the
Painting Lounge is really easy to get to from Manhattan.
They provide the paint, other art supplies, bottle openers, and cups.
You sign up for the painting you want to paint and bring your choice of
vino– it’s a win win! If you visit their website, they have a calendar of
paintings you can choose from,
there are lots of styles to fit your artistic taste and your apartment’s
decor: Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Picasso, Monet, and more.
We chose Georgia O’Keeffe’s Brooklyn Bridge painting. I have zero
painting experience whatsoever, but our instructors did a great job
teaching us tips and encouraging us along the way. Thanks Kevin and
Katie!
My friends and I signed up for a Google Offer, so we got a really good
discount. You might want to keep an eye out for coupons, otherwise
classes range from $50 for two hour classes and up to $65 for three
hour classes. If you join their newsletter, they sometimes send out
emails for discounts on the days they still have spots open.
It was a lot of fun, something new and different to do on a Friday
night. They have classes every day of the week, most of them begin
at 7pm.
On the weekends, Friday night classes begin at 7pm or 7:30pm,
Saturdays and Sundays there are two sessions, the first beginning at
1pm and the second beginning at 5pm or 6pm. Get your creative
juices and wine flowing all week long!
I really hope to visit the Painting Lounge again soon. I just took their
survey for what paintings they will choose to feature in the upcoming
months–there are some lovely choices. I need to hone my skills! You
can see that everyone has a good time from all of the pictures they
post on their Facebook page.
The Working Wardrobe
(Click here for the original post)
Monday Start-Up: Work Lessons Brought From a BYOB Painting
Class
Last Friday a group of friends and I ventured to Williamsburg in
Brooklyn to the Painting Lounge. We made reservations a few months
ago based on a Groupon deal. Dear readers, I was walking into a
BYOB painting class. The Painting Lounge is set up for the artistic
wannabe. For me, that was very comforting as my equivalent of
drawing is the stick figure. You walk in and the easels are set up on
two long tables. You reserve your time based on the painting you wish
to replicate (including “Starry Night”, “The Kiss”, and others). Each
canvas has a piece of carbon paper over it. The first step is to trace
the outline of the painting so it shows on the canvas. My first thought
was, “Fantastic, it’s like a paint by numbers!”
Well, it was a tich more complicated than that. Our class painted Andy
Warhol’s “Flowers”. Pretty simple, right? Well yes, but that was before
the art of mixing paint came into play.
I spent almost the entire class on the bottom right flower. I wanted a
deep purple, but the purple paint was too transparent. So I tried
mixing it with black. Didn’t work. The instructor suggested mixing it
with white because it was the most opaque. I didn’t really want to do
that though because I wanted a deep purple. I eventually gave in and
started on the next flower. The deep green I wanted to portray gave
me the same problem! I sighed and started to feel that acrylic paint is
not meant to be deep.
The first hour of the class I experienced a great deal of frustration.
Then after getting a new paint pallet and walking back to my canvas,
I realized that it didn’t look all that bad. In fact, my biggest mistakes
now looked really good! All of us were in the class for about 2-and-a-
half hours, and we each came to realize that what we thought would
be a silly way to pass time actually became one of the most fulfilling
and meditative events we experienced in quite some time.
The last time I painted was in junior high art class. I never once
thought that picking up a brush could lead to some of the same results
as after a walk outside or a yoga class: That feeling of peace and
calm. With our crazy schedules, sometimes even fitting in a workout
can be stressful. And the workout is usually meant to relieve stress!
We strive to find different ways to just breathe and let go for even
just 15 to 20 minutes. Well, I think I found an option, take a painting
class!
The classes at Painting Lounge cost around $50. You bring your own
beverages (and yes, we did have a few glasses of wine while debating
on what paint color combinations worked best with our “concepts”),
and you get to keep the painting when you’re done! Our coupon got us
in for $25, which I think was an incredible deal for the experience. My
version of “Flowers” is now hanging on my kitchen wall. I’m incredibly
proud of it – not because it’s a great work of art (it isn’t), but because
after battling with what I thought I wanted, I realized that I got what I
wanted by simply accepting what was handed to me and appreciating
it for what it was.
Good lessons for our everyday work life, yes?
Everything Pretty
(Click here for the original post)
Posted: Thurs, Feb. 2, 2012
The Painting Lounge - BYOB Painting Class
This week, my friend Julia and I (yes, we're name twins!) went to a
BYOB painting class. We had purchased a groupon last Fall, and it was
time to cash it in for a night of Van Gogh and a giant bottle of pinot
grigio. I love painting and I love wine (especially BYOB!), so this night
sounded glorious. And, I thought it would be pretty funny to see the
post drinking paintings. Don't you think after a few drinks you'd think
your picture was an uncanny version of the real Van Gogh? I was so
interested to see other's and what mine would look like after hour 3.
The instructor did share fun stories of people passing out and unusual
paintings after a byob sesh...
If you're in New York and want to go, take a look at The Painting
Lounge website. They have so many classes to choose from, and it is
serious fun!
Lipstick Sandwich
(Click here for the original post)
To Do: BYOB Painting Lessons… by Gloria
It’s been a rough week for New Yorkers in general. By the weekend,
we were definitely in need of a little pick-me-up. We headed over to
Painting Lounge in Williamsburg and this little gem offered us a
relaxing escape from the sadness of this past week. Painting Lounge is
a BYOB spot that gives painting lessons while you sip on the beverage
of your choice. In our case, that was a couple bottles of wine. We
headed over on Saturday evening for a 2-1/2 hour lesson and by the
end, we had our very own paint-covered masterpieces (and a little
buzz, to boot!). Check out our pics.
Outside The Practice Room
The Unofficial MSM Student Blog
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Destination Brooklyn: The Painting Lounge
November 28, 2012
By Melanie Dorsey
I am always in search of new and interesting activities to check out
around the city, but especially in Brooklyn as it happens to be where I
live. About a year ago a group of my friends decided to buy a
Groupon on a whim – it was for an evening of BYOB painting at The
Painting Lounge. It turned out to be a super fun way to spend an
evening out having drinks with friends, with the added bonus of ending
up with our very own art replications!
As described on their website, The Painting Lounge was started in the
spring of 2011 as an option for a fun night out with friends. The
classes offered are for built for beginners, but people with varying
skills will still enjoy themselves. Here’s the basic premise: for each
class a well known painting is selected, the canvases are usually
prepared for the students in advance with basic sketches, outlines or
guidelines for the structure of the image and the class time is spent
filling in the canvas with paint. It is a little reminiscent of paint-by-
number, but not quite so defined. The instructor guides the students,
step by step, but also leaves room for individual interpretation in
terms of color or, for more advanced painters, even changing the
layout or adding to image. It’s all really up to you, the student, how
closely you’d like to follow the instructor’s direction. I am not a
skilled painter by any stretch of the imagination, so I followed the
instructor step by step.
Here is a link to the original work of art: http://www.paul-
cezanne.org/Still-Life-With-Skull.html As you can see, my version is
not quite as good as the original! HaHa!
Classes run from $50 – $65 and include all necessary supplies. The
prices correspond with the length of class, which can range from 2-3
hours. They even provide cups for your beverage of choice and will
have bottle openers and cork screws on hand. All you have to bring is
your drink of choice (21+ if you bring alcohol) and your creativity!
You can view the monthly calendar and sign up for classes online.
The Painting Lounge is located in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Their address
is 432 Union Ave. To get there from MSM follow these directions:
Take the downtown 1 train to 14th st.
Transfer to the L train – you’ll walk through a long tunnel that
connects the two trains
Take the L train headed to Brooklyn/Rockaway Park
Get off at the Lorimer St. stop
Exit near intersection of Keap St. and Union Ave.
Walk south on Union Ave. until you reach building number 432 – you
can’t miss it, there is a large window looking right into the painting
space
Societe Perrier
(Click here for the original post)
If sobriety is keeping you from reaching your full creative potential,
than we suggest you head to Williamsburg's Painting Lounge, stat.
There, in a commendable effort to help channel the fine artist in us
all, the studio is offering BYOB painting classes
Here's how to capitalize on this great opportunity: Take a look at the
lounge's online calendar and find the famous painting that speaks to
you. (You'll probably vaguely remember some of them from your
middle school art class). Clear your schedule for the night the
masterpiece will be taught and invite all the lushes you know to join
you. Arrive promptly and start proving to yourself that even in his
prime, Salvador Dali had nothing on you.
All materials are provided on-site, including canvases, paint, brushes
and of course, corkscrews and bottle openers. In many cases, the
image will be pre-drawn for you, making the night's most difficult feat
staying inside the lines with one hand while chugging a pale ale with
the other. And even if you don't believe in your abilities, the Painting
Lounge will. According to the class description, "everyone is
guaranteed to leave with a painting they can be proud of!"
This appears to be completely legit, but of course, there is one small
catch: The studio asks that "out of respect to the other students
taking the class," all participants "maintain appropriate behavior."
Bummer.
Living In 40
(Click here for the original post)
Painting Lounge
Last month a friend of mine asked me to go to Painting Lounge with
her. They offer different paintings each night and you basically you do
a paint by numbers, without the numbers ;), for grown ups. To make
it more fun you can bring your own beer or wine, liquid
encouragement if you will. We thought we would be chatting
throughout the class but ended up working in quiet concentration on
our paintings. It was so much fun and I can't believe I was able to pull
off a van Gogh in two and a half hours.
Kajgana & Taratur
(Click here for the original post at Kajgana.com)
(Click here for the original post at Taratur.com)
(Translated from Macedonian)
Drunk Art: The wine's artistic talent
If we often say that you are talented in painting as talented piano
playing Bear Ballet, a few nice glasses of wine can be everything you
need to discover the artistic genius within you.
One salon painting in Brooklyn, New York, offering exactly this service
- piano painting. 32-year-old Kevin Tarasuk considered that small
amounts of alcohol can a person to help him discover the artist within,
transmitted jezebel.com.
The rules of play are these: you pay 65 dollars for three hours
painting, and the only conditions are potential "pikasovci" not
pregnant and to promise that after am painting will sit behind the
steering wheel. What we get for that price is brush painting in one and
wine in the other. Tarasuk said that he had custom novice to joke that
wine, if nothing else, will help to forget the cost of the service. But
the course is full shot, witness the participants.
"After a few cups, most participants began to believe more in their
work. There are some who are quite talented, but I felt it coming up
to me, because usually not prone to drinking alcohol. At least not until
the paint, "Tarasuk said.
This "drunken productivity" has any scientific backing, but most
scientists agree that a glass of wine a day contributes to a longer and
healthier lives, regardless of whether the other hand holding the brush
or not.
Why participants in these courses would have to go exactly with Mr.
Tarasuk and he can pay 65 dollars for something you can do at home,
do not know ... Ama We invite all, before you decide to look for
talent inside the bottom of a glass of wine, watch some of the works
of the creator of ovj course - here :)
Becoming Brooklyn
(Click here for the original post)
Paint Party: BYOB Painting Classes
Whether you’re an artist, want to learn, or just like any excuse to
BYOB, nycartlessons.com (soon to be Painting Lounge) has the art
session for you. Located at 438 Union Avenue in Williamsburg, the
Painting Lounge is creating a stress-free, relaxed environment to learn
a new skill, with a teacher who provides step-by-step instruction along
the way. Classes are $50 for two hours, $65 for three, which includes
the price of all the supplies that you’ll need for the class.
Ready to sign up? You can visit the calendar to see which class
interests you most, then just register right online. BYOB painting is a
unique gift idea, date, or night out with friends or co-workers.
BONUS: Dumont Restaurant is on the same block for a delicious after-
class dinner.
Twin Cocktails
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Get the Creative Juices Flowing: BYOB Painting Classes
(By Anita)
Excluding driving and tightrope walking, everything is better with
alcohol.
The folks at The Painting Lounge must agree, because they offer
BYOB painting classes with instructor Kevin Tarasuk. All you need to
bring is a bottle of your favorite libation, the studio provides
everything else (canvases, paint, bottle openers). For true novices,
pre-drawn images can be provided. This means all you have to do is
channel your inner Kindergartener and paint inside the lines—probably
a feat that’s easier said than done after your 3rd glass of vino.
The Straphanger's Guide to the Galaxy
The good stuff in New York City
(Click here for the original post)
BYOB Painting Lounge - Wednesday, April 3, 2013
If you're looking for something fun to do in New York City, I suggest
checking out the Painting Lounge.
From their FAQ:
Painting Lounge is a teaching art studio featuring daily group BYOB
painting classes in a relaxed, social setting. Our experienced
instructors make painting a masterpiece easy, fun and totally stress
free. All supplies are included, and don't forget we are BYOB (bring
your own beverage), so bring a little liquid courage to help get those
creative juices flowing!
This was a wonderful birthday present I got this year. You can see the
two pieces we did in the photo. I have never painted in my life and I
must say it was a lot of fun. I was sure my painting would turn out
terrible, so I was really surprised by how much I actually liked it!
This was probably one of the easiest classes they have but all of the
classes are designed for beginners. All the materials are provided, and
the instruction made it all really easy to pursue your artistic vision.
Whether you're visiting or live here, the Painting Lounge makes for a
great evening of fun. Plus you get to go home with your very own
masterpiece! I imagine someone visiting the City starting out at
MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and actually seeing some of Andy
Warhol's famous paintings and then heading over to the Painting
Lounge to actually create one! (Other artists are also possible, of
course).
The Rheel Daze
Chasing the dream...at a comfortable pace.
(Click here for the original post)
Sunday Funday! - OCTOBER 15, 2013
Sundays are totally in right now. Everywhere you go on the first day
of the week, you can see people out and about, galavanting around,
just enjoying the shit out of them. The saying “Sunday Funday” has
even officially become a thing. It’s used as a cheers at brunch, it’s got
its own hashtag and men who are otherwise heterosexual six days a
week, now find themselves so caught up in the spirit of it all that they
are sporting t-shirts with the phrase stamped across their chests.
I’m not immune. I’ve long been a proponent of Sundays. For starters,
I can eat. I have a really healthy relationship with food. Typically, I’ll
starve myself Monday through Saturday and then on Sunday, I’ll binge
like a person who has just starved themselves for a week. I get so
excited about the prospect of food that I have trouble sleeping the
night before. Then I wake up around 6:30 a.m. and run for the
refrigerator much like a child does to the tree on Christmas morning.
I’m not particularly spontaneous though. A good Sunday for me
requires a fair amount of planning and recently I’ve committed to
having a life, so I’ve made a calendar full of restaurant reservations,
concert dates and meet-ups straight through till December. Imagine
how much fun it is to be my friend! My brother gets non-stop text
messages about Sundays three weeks away with invites to
Oktoberfests followed by over priced haunted houses. It never ends!
This past Sunday was particularly fun. A year and a half ago my
mother bought classes for us at the Painting Lounge in Williamsburg
and this past weekend, we finally made use of them. But first we
went to the Rabbit Hole for some pre-painting brunch.
eggs
I love the menu and the atmosphere here. Still, I did not take this
picture. I observe a strict “no photos of food” policy, which is
somewhat hypocritical since I’ll just pull your photos of an Eggs
Benedict off of Yelp. This leaves me colorful images to add to my blog
without the embarrassment of being that girl in the restaurant. Win/
win!
Then we were off to get our impressionism on. The Painting
Lounge takes famous paintings and breaks them down into
simple steps so anyone can be an artist. First you trace the
basic elements of the painting from carbon paper onto the
canvas.Then the instructor guides you on how to fill in the
different colors and even tells you what brush strokes to use to
make your painting pop. They usually allow you to BYOB but
the state liquor authority is being a jerk and getting all up on
their case about it so until they get that squared away, you’ll
just have to paint sober. Or have an extra bellini at brunch
beforehand. In about three hours you’ll have you’re very own
masterpiece!
Thanks again mom!
But a Sunday wouldn’t be complete without fancy drinks that have a
lot of calories in them. In this case I went to the rooftop garden at
230 5th to help Jeff celebrate his 41st birthday! I don’t have any
photos though because I decided to make it a no Instagram jam.
Sundays are especially fun for me now that I no longer work Mondays.
I get to stay up late, watch awesome TV, eat all I want and sip way
too many obnoxious drinks. They do come with a price sometimes
though. I’m so hungover I just cried at the end of Higher Learning
where Tyra Banks gets shot.
And I hate Tyra Banks.
How do you spend your Sundays?
MARIA GRAZIA FACCIOLA'
USABLE ART INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL PASTEL SERIES : A
COLORFUL SLAP IN THE FACE.
(Click here for the original post)
May 13, 2013
Spent a lovely afternoon at the Painting Lounge in Brooklyn while
sipping white wine. Fun activity to do with a friend, in a group or
alone. This picture was snapped while the painting was still a work in
progress, but it doesn't matter, the experience was more beautiful
than the final result. Exploring is the key! I highly encourage it.
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