Over the last year people and businesses have had to come up with new ways to entertain and take part in social activities. Sometimes this means getting into something entirely new, or in many other cases, putting a little twist on an already common affair. One of the major successes in this has been the boom in online paint and sip classes where recreational artists pop open a bottle of wine and throw some paint on a canvas in a fun environment.
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Traditional classes revolved around people meeting in a physical studio, where an instructor would lead them through their work and give tips to the amateurs. Because these are generally for beginners, the emphasis was on enjoying the experience, not trying to become the next Bansky.
The online version of these are basically the same, minus the in person attendance. Instead, people uncork in the comfort of their own home, and hop on a zoom where the instructor leads virtually.
This can be a nice change for some who may be intimated by the in-person events. Although it’s made clear that these aren’t supposed to be masterpieces, people can still be very insecure about creating something for others to see over their shoulder. Being online and in a relaxing part of their house, it frees up the attendees to loosen up and enjoy their painting even more.
It’s not just for fun either, there is evidence out there that it’s also a healthy venture too.
Good For The Mind
What cognitive benefits of painting are there while sipping wine? There are plenty that you might not be aware of.
If much of your time is spend combing through spreadsheets on a digital screen, it’s great for your brain to take a break from that and focus on something like painting which flexes your creative muscles and forces you to look at things visually rather than analytically.
Also, in the modern age of social media, our attention spans have corroded terribly. It’s disturbing how hard it can be to focus on something for a long period of time when your phone is within arms reach. Making art is an excellent way to get your brain to focus and pay attention to something for long stretches. It’s a great training exercise, and actually becomes a very nice break from checking your email compulsively in the evening.
There are also studies out there that show creative outlets like painting help curb cognitive decline. A 2017 Mayo Clinic study showed that individuals over the age of 70 showed less decline when they were active in creative endeavors like painting, writing, or playing games.
On top of all this, there is also evidence that low levels of alcohol intake, like a couple glasses of wine, are also good for the brain. Studies have shown that a chemical in wine called
Of course, all of this is under the assumption the drinkers aren’t overconsuming, so try and limit yourself to one or two glasses.
Art and Hip-Hop Collide
In-person classes often have music playing to lighten the mood. However, the problem with this is not everybody has the same taste. While Beethoven might be perfect for some, for others hearing “Flight of the Bumblebee” might not be what you would be hoping for.
Online paint and sip classes offer the great benefit of choosing your own music to get your environment perfect for yourself without having to worry about anybody else’s preference.
When people think of highfalutin art shows, they probably don’t picture hip-hop playing in the background. But there is a growing popularity in combining the two.
With rappers gaining more notoriety and wealth, they are expanding into the art scene. Jay-Z is a huge fan of art and holds an extremely valuable collection. How great would it be to be painting and listening to The Blueprint knowing how much he would appreciate that combination.
Hip-hop has such a wide variety of styles that any fan should be able to find the perfect song to create an atmosphere to put brush to canvas. Try and listen to 2pac and think like Picasso, 2Picasso some might call you. Put on “Picture Me Rollin’” and literally paint a picture of 2pac rolling! Call it “Paint and Sip-Hop.” Ok, that’s enough – I will stop there, my apologies.
It is actually an excellent collision of unexpected partners. Hip-hop is so creative in so many ways it pairs perfectly with painting to get your mind thinking in alternative ways than you might normally. Art is all about exploring, so why not match up the music with the mindset?
If you’re interested in finding more people who vibe to the same music as you do in this environment there are options. One course on the web that has a Hip-Hop themed night is Paint and Sip Live, based from Denver-Colorado.
All of this shows that this activity has so much to offer. From having fun jamming out to your favorite rap songs to getting the cognitive benefits of painting, enjoying an online paint and sip classe is an excellent way to take part in a social activity from the comfort of your own home.