PUI (Painting Under the Influence) : Wine & Design, Richmond, VA

Two things I don't do - drink or paint.

I don't have anything against either one.

When it comes to alcohol, I gave that up when I was 5-years-old. LET ME EXPLAIN. My dad had popped open a can of Coors beer one afternoon during lunch. (Now, my dad is not a drinker. However, one of his friends had an extra can in the refrigerator, and gave it to him. My dad decided to give it a try.) I had seen a few beer commercials on TV and it looked like all of the cool grown-ups liked to drink it, so when I saw my dad leave the table to get something out of the kitchen, one thing led to another in his absence, and I went over to his side of the table, picked up the can, and took a small sip.

YUCK!

I grasped my throat and tried to scrape the taste off of my tongue with the back of my hand. It was that horrific. To my developing taste buds, it tasted like a can of Listerine topped off with a double dose of gross.

I never picked up a can, cup, or glass of beer again, and even though it's not fair, I associated every alcoholic drink with that unforgettable taste.

As for painting- fortunately, there's no elaborate story from my youth. I've just never really had time to do it. At least, not beyond 2nd grade. I thoroughly enjoyed painting and anything else "artistic", but let's face it -after 2nd grade, life gets real.

But hey, I'm in my thirties now. Why not live a little? Why not find a place where I can paint like a kid again while "throwing back a few" like any other stressed out adult?

Both ideas become one in a place called "Wine & Design," so that's where I ended up.

Welcome to Wine & Design!

It's located in downtown Richmond on Broad Street, across from a McDonald's restaurant and the Children's Museum of Richmond - two places where you can find some of the most amazing creations ever invented!

The motto? Get your art buzz on! Here, you can paint until your little artistic heart is content, while taking sips of your favorite concoction. Speaking of concoctions, you're allowed to bring your own, or take a pick of what's sold inside the establishment.

I opted for the latter as I prepared to turn into a little Picasso in my Sunday afternoon class. I bought a 10-ounce plastic cup of Pinot Grigio, a fine white wine made in Northern Virginia. I took a sip before donning an apron and sitting down in front of my canvas and paint brushes, which are provided by Wine & Design. Thankfully, it tasted better than Coors.



My brushes, my cup of wine, and my cup of water (for the brushes). Let the masterpiece begin!

Six other women sat alongside me, drinking wine they had brought from home. Five of them were teachers, and one worked in the hotel industry.

We were all in a large room, surrounded by other works of art which included a purple elephant, a blue pig, and a Maltese wearing a tuxedo jacket. Our goal was to paint starfish, and we were allowed to use our imaginations on how those starfish looked. Our instructor, Dina, said our pieces didn't have to be perfect. They were supposed to look "messy and whimsical." Since all seven of us were armed with cups of "spirits", I knew we wouldn't disappoint her.

Studio artist Dina taught us everything we needed to know.

For two hours, Dina taught us color schemes, outlining, shading, and design. In the beginning, we "students" made a little small talk, but overall, we were quiet and focused on what Dina was telling us- things like staying in the lines, mixing the right colors, and keeping our brushes wet to create the perfect tropical look. All you could hear was the hum of the refrigerator in the background which kept the wine cool.



Fellow artist focused on making her work "pop."

 However, the setting changed in about 40 minutes. As the afternoon progressed and the wine flowed, our conversation became a bit livelier- and louder. Our laughter began to grow as we went beyond polite introductions and delved into topics ranging from fun art projects for kids to making sure no one neglected a starfish "crotch."

The finished products!

We had a blast allowing our inner artists to come out.

Once Dina called "time", we each stood back in our messy yet colorful aprons and really looked at what we had created. Some of us took a few seconds and added a few finishing touches to our starfish; others decided to leave a few starfish "naked" for an added effect.

If I do say so myself, all of our masterpieces turned out to be...well, masterpieces.

When I looked at my yellow, pink, and purple artwork, I realized that I still "got it" when it comes to creativity. I was happy to discover it did indeed stay intact beyond 2nd grade. I just have to find the time use and enjoy it.

As for using and enjoying Pinot Grigio? I don't plan to take it that far. Coors has scarred me for life on all alcoholic drinks. I only took about 6 or 7 sips of the "PG" and determined that it was OK, certainly better than the canned poison I sipped when I was a child. However, the "Wine & Design" experience taught me that while my inner artist is free and happy to emerge like a butterfly from its cocoon, my taste buds will not allow my inner boozer to ever do the same.