Colors and Bottles 2

A few months ago, several friends joined me for a Colors and Bottles event at Camelot Cellars because it was a great deal and a cool painting.  Shortly before that 2 other friends and I made plans to go to a class in March using Eversave vouchers that we'd bought. 

We picked the class based on our availability and which painting we liked on the website - and this one was even better because it was BYOWine.  It was held at 83 Gallery, which is a neat art gallery in the Short North near Bodega.  There were so many cool paintings on the walls that were really inspiring.  Kelley and Ashlee brought some wine and I put together some snacks (cheese, gf pretzels, and blackberries). 

My painting, minus the shadow on the bottom right

I knew ahead of time that I wasn't going to want to use the colors in the "model" paintings - purple and white.  I wanted to go with blue/green tones to match an original painting from a talented client that I used to work with - and also my first Colors and Bottles painting.  Unfortunately, the green was too "hunter" and I couldn't get the color mixed that I wanted consistently.  I tried mixing a bunch at a time, but I kept running out anyway.  So I'm not thrilled with this painting, but it's okay.  I'm also annoyed that it's so similar to my first painting - completely my fault, as I didn't follow along with the instructor in either case.  I guess the swirly waves are my "style".  I really liked Kelley's striped paiting - she actually used one of the painting hanging on the wall as inspiration, instead of the "model" painting for the class.   

My client's painting



My First C&B painting

Regardless - it was an awesome event with awesome friends (and a super-nice woman who joined our table).  I highly recommend these classes for just something different to do.  It's a great ladies-night event or date night idea.  Our husbands (fiance in Ash's case) met us at Marcella's for dinner - their gluten-free menu is REALLY good.  I had the chicken piccata and it was delicious! 

Colors and Bottles Painting Event

from the Colors and Bottles FB page

Last week, Colors and Bottles tweeted about a special price for this Tuesday's painting class at Camelot Cellars. Colors and Bottles is company that holds painting parties - with wine! The have an artist lead each event and the attendees can either choose to follow along with the painting, or do their own thing. Classes are normally $35 (all supplies included), but this class was only $17.50 - and I liked the painting a lot - so I bought tickets for Kelley and I in case they sold out quickly. Luckily they didn't because 5 of our friends decided to join us!

She's that good!

I hadn't been to Camelot Cellars before, which is ridiculous because it's 3 miles away, but was looking forward to it because I've heard so many good things about it over the last year since the new owner took over. It was bigger inside than I expected and was really nice. There was a side room towards the back that they had set up for the class. We bought bottles of wine when we got there and claimed our tables. I think we all started off pretty hesitantly, but we had a ton of fun. Six of us used the artist's painting as "inspiration", and one (who is an art teacher) painted a sunset-inspired picture instead.

I'm am fairly horrible with art. I can draw about as good as a third-grader. But I really enjoy this and ended up really liking my painting. I initially tried to imitate the featured art, but realized pretty quickly that I had veered pretty far from the design. I started to like the shape that mine was taking, so I stuck with it. It was really cool how unique all of the paintings were in the end!

The artist's original

My painting

Afterwards, we went to Sushi Rock for dinner and more wine. I had a Groupon to use, so my bill ended up being less than $2! We had so much fun that we discussed trying to do a regular ladies' night every month - as well as a private Colors and Bottles party this summer so we can paint outside.

I'm looking forward to the other Colors and Bottles event that I booked with two friends for March, from when they offered an Eversave! That event will be BYOB, which is pretty awesome!