Emilie Lapointe, Centretown News
Royal Oak stages Paint Nite for patrons to socialize during a guided painting session.Ottawa residents and aspiring artists have contributed to a growing trend in the city: painting at a bar.
Paint Nite is a social event that brings together friends and family as they enjoy a guided painting session in a local bar or restaurant while sipping their favourite beverages. As participants mingle, a professional artist provides step-by-step instructions on turning their blank canvas into a personal masterpiece in just a few short hours.
Participants create their own rendition of a painting chosen by the host artist, adding their own personal style and flair to make it unique.
Since Paint Nite first came to Ottawa in June 2013 the event has gained significant popularity. Participant numbers have skyrocketed, with many events selling out weeks ahead of time.
Originating in Boston in 2012, Paint Nite has since expanded to 1,440 cities in five countries, including the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Argentina and the U.K. According to Courtney Osgood, Paint Nite’s communications representative, there are over 4,500 of these art events each month, entertaining more than 162,000 people.
Paint Nite caters to artists of all levels and from all backgrounds. When purchasing tickets online, the attendee can choose the difficulty level they would like to paint at.
“Not everyone is going to be the Picasso of our century,” says Candace Turcotte, manager of Paint Nite Ottawa. “I feel like that plays into the nature of our business and makes it more fun.”
“Usually our most experienced are the ones that are the most outspoken. They’ll let you know that they want the lighting shading to be correct, whereas beginners won’t know to ask about things like that,” says Turcotte.
Ainslee Kent, a 22-year-old master’s student in Ottawa, recently attended Paint Nite for a girls’ night out.
“I liked the idea because it’s something different and very interactive,” says Kent. “We were still able to talk the whole time and drink wine, but while painting a picture that we could take home after. It was a really fun environment where everyone seemed to feel comfortable no matter their skill level.”
The event has proven to be most popular with women, typically ages 21 to 34, for an alternative to the usual night of drinking and dancing.
“It’s just the fun of going out, doing something new and having a piece of it to go home with,” says Turcotte. “Usually the only thing you get from going to a bar and drinking with your friends is a hangover the next morning.”
Matthew Schram, a recent university graduate, attended Paint Nite in March with his girlfriend. Schram says he was the only male at the event, however, it didn’t affect his experience.
“It didn’t feel overwhelming at all,” says Schram. “I really enjoyed it but it’s definitely a girls’ night type of event.”
Paint Nite takes place nearly every day in Ottawa, however weekend tickets often need to be purchased weeks in advance due to high interest.
Attending the event costs $45 and includes all required painting supplies. Participants often purchase food and drinks from the host restaurant, making Paint Nite attractive to local businesses.
“Busy nights for a bar nowadays are possibly Thursdays, but mostly a Friday and Saturday night,” says Turcotte. “The other times during the week, the bar is vacant and the space is available. We’re guaranteeing that we’ll bring in at least 30 and sometimes up to 100 people each night.”
Kevin Reteff, manager of the Royal Oak restaurant on Kent Street, says the event is a great advertising tool for restaurants.
“To bring in 25 or 35 people four nights a week is great,” says Reteff. “It’s bringing in a ton of people who have never been here before.”
Reteff hopes that Paint Nite will be a lasting trend in Ottawa.
“Right now they’re really hot and they’re going on all over the city,” says Reteff. “Hopefully they’ll stay relevant and the traction will stay and we can keep this relationship going.”