How do you get in touch with the artist inside you? I personally can’t draw a line straight, so the starting point to find my inner Van Gogh is between zero and nil. Imagine my surprise when I walked away from a recent “paint nite” with a real work of art, that I had painted from scratch (not scratches).
For this reason, YayMaker gets 10/10 for extracting something from me I never thought I had.
What is Yaymaker?
They are the original creators of paint nite and offer locally-crafted events where you’ll laugh, drink, connect, and try your hand at something new. It doesn’t matter if you have never lifted a paintbrush in your life. Whether it is a new restaurant to visit or a new group of people to hang out with, you will always get a chance to make a new creation. The one-of-a-kind experiences includes the Original Paint Nite, Plant Nite, Design a Sign, Flower Workshop, Candle Maker, and Innovation Lab.
There are always new locations and seasonal events, so keep an eye on their calendar.
The paint nite I attended was held at the Cape Milner Hotel in Tamboeskloof, which is an excellent and central location. Armed with a pink gin in one hand and an awkward paintbrush in the other, we began the class.
Our bubbly host, Linda Strydom, kicks things off by throwing all negativity out the classroom. “There is no place for negativity here, everyone has their very own interpretation and no one is allowed to say anything critical about themselves,” is her introduction.
Strydom then playfully makes you raise your hand and take an oath to have the most fun possible and not be harsh on yourself. Her encouraging words really will have you believing you are a master at this craft. The prerequisite is a good sense of humour and the ability to listen Strydom’s easy step-by-step instructions.
As we giggled, sipped our drinks and gagged a little at each other’s paintings, our work of art, called Red Tree, came together effortlessly. Who knew that exercising your creative impulses works surprisingly well as a stress-reliever too? Brushstroke by brushstroke, your confidence builds up and what you’re left with at the end is truly an excellent extension of your night on a canvas.
It is a welcome change of scenery. Instead of hitting the usual bars or chill-out joints, sign up for a paint nite and enjoy a creative night out instead.
I left with a new confidence in my ability to actually create something beautiful and a painting that now hangs proudly in my lounge where it will stay forever.
What you need to know
The usual price for Paint Nite is R610, but there is a 45% discount for The Cape Milner events, which brings the price down to around R340 per person. The venues change weekly, so keep an eye on their locations. They supply everything you need, so just pitch up.
For more information, click here.
Images: Nidha Narrandes
