Never Drink and Draw?

...so goes the saying. Under the influence of alcohol, everything an artist does looks to them like an award-winning showpiece. Until the next morning. Not unlike certain - um - bar experiences, they wake up, glance at what they did the night before and think What. On. Earth. Of course, it could be worse. An artist can always paint over disasters, unlike more...permanent artwork which sometimes happens after imbibing.

So, too many cocktails + artwork usually does not result in the desired effect for the experienced professional artist.

However, for those who have never painted before and are looking to give it a whirl in a relaxed setting, sometimes a little "Dutch courage" can be helpful.  It can sweep away those "there's no way I can make art. Not possible. I have two left hands!" thoughts.  For this reason, "sip and paint" events are all the rage; you can find them in every city.

Gallery Underground offers its own version, called "Painting Uncorked."  Budding artists show up to the gallery at 6:30 on Thursday nights ready to relax and create a painting in 2 hours that they will be able to take home, while sipping a glass or two of wine. The class is capped at 15 students, and every student paints the same image, under the step-by step direction of Justyne Fischer, a Fairfax County High School AP art teacher for 16 years.

"I find that many students have had either a bad experience, or no experience at all with art. This is a way to simplify the process while making it fun, in a social setting," Fischer says. She says that one problem some people have had with art is that they don't know where to start: "You need to be taught the foundation and principals. Once you have that, it's a lot less frightening."

Most people are surprised at how well their finished paintings turn out. Fischer says that though many students are a bit self-conscious about what they've made, they nevertheless are very pleased with what they created, and excited to take it home to hang in their homes.

So there are times when you really can drink and draw (or paint)! To register for an upcoming Painting Uncorked class, visit our website: http://www.galleryunderground.org/painting-uncorked/

A recent Painting Uncorked class shows off their finished work
  Teacher Justyne Fischer is far left, back row

--Sandi Parker, Gallery Underground Co-Director