The Art Of Letting Go
Posted by terrepruitt on October 4, 2014
Paint Nite. Have you heard of it? I have wanted to do it for a long time. But it was not in my budget. It is about $50 for two hours of painting. But the idea is to have a glass of wine or something and a little snack while painting so it would be . . . . like I said . . . not in my budget. I kept seeing friends post pictures of their paintings and I kept wanting to go. I have a friend or two who have done it multiple times. Then I received an e-mail from Groupon. The Groupon deal is for $25.00. Much more affordable . . . but I still hadn’t done it. Then along comes my birthday. I have a group of friends who always get together for each other’s birthdays. We have been doing it since we were eighteen years old. Well, one of the group moved too far away so not all four of us always make it, but sometimes we do if she is in town. But anyway . . . . the remaining three of us are always trying to find stuff to do and I thought a Paint Nite would be fun. But one problem is, it is Paint NITE as in NIGHT. And one of us three, lives too far to be out that late on a school night. But one of my friends still decided to give me a Groupon for Paint Nite for my birthday. I was so excited. I finally got to go to a Paint Nite.
Upon first hearing about Paint Nite I didn’t realize you can pick the night you go based on the painting that is going to be done that night. I don’t know if it was different when it first started, but I know when I first heard about it, I was told that you just paint whatever . . . could be there was some miscommunication. So when I actually looked into it and saw you could pick via painting I was excited. You can also pick based on artist, date, or location. So it is really nice.
I, of course, picked a blue painting. It had pink it in, but I would suffer the pink . . . because it was blue with FLOWERS. Now one reason I wanted to do it is because I wanted to paint. But another reason I wanted to do it is because there are things that I won’t do unless I can do them a certain way. But sometimes I do things that I consider practice at letting go and just embracing whatever it is I am doing. This was my plan for painting. I had faith in the process, but I didn’t think I would paint all that good. And I didn’t. My painting is not one that they would put on the website or even their Facebook page to advertise Paint Nite. But it is partially on purpose and partially not.
The painting is done in steps so at one point it was close to what the final project is supposed to look like. But I decided that I didn’t care for the pink and I wanted more blue so I covered most of the pink. So THAT is one aspect of it that was purposeful. The fact that my flowers are not white was semi-purposeful . . . but not really. I purposefully painted my bottom layers thick because I like the texture of thick paint in paintings. But with only two hours to paint you have to paint thin so the paint can dry and you can paint the other layers. So — ding, ding, ding! I learned something. So, in order to try to cover the bottom layer I used a lot of white . . . .which also translated to thick lines (petals) and so my flowers are more like star fish. But I learned. And my painting is blue and that is pretty much all I wanted. I let go any idea that it was going to be perfect or even good.
I had a great time. It was not so much about the painting as it was about the company and doing something together. Now I am on the lookout for another “blue painting”. The thing is, is they have to be on a night I am available and in my area. So . . . I am still looking.
I am booked to do a painting with a friend in the future, but the painting was her pick and is not blue. And with that one . . . I really have to let go of the idea of my painting looking anything like that painting. Ha! I am going for the company. It is going to be super fun!
Have you heard of Paint Nite? Have you done a Paint Nite? Will you share a photo of you painting with us?
Terre Pruitt's Blog 
Michele said
I have not done a paint nite, but I have heard of them. I’ll have to check my area. I love the letting go part (that is so hard!!!), and express yourself while having fun with a friend! Great job!!
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terrepruitt said
I have to let go . . . . did you see my painting? Ha, ha, ha, ha.
XO
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jjbegonia said
I love these kinds of painting classes! I am a terrible painter (!), but it is always a good exercise for me in patience as well, because even though I am apt to rush through or scrap the whole thing entirely when it’s not “perfect”, the nature of the classes makes me persevere, and I always feel so accomplished when I finish. I love that you made the painting your own too : )
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terrepruitt said
I have been wanting to do this for so long. I was so excited my friend took me for my birthday. I think this types of classes are BRILLIANT! Really just BRILLIANT! The way the artist conducted the class, the way he “sold” everything his did but did it in such a way people might not even notice everything he said was a sales-pitch. The way people get to gather and visit while doing something fun! As you mentioned . . . an exercise for you in patience. There are so many “exercises” in that class . . . JUST BRILLIANT! I am in awe of the creators!
Thanks for commenting. I have been thinking about you a lot as it is pumpkin season and I can’t wait to buy one (I’ve been to the store twice this month and have forgotten to look for a pumpkin!) and make stuffed pumpkin. I received an acorn squash in my produce box. I am going to “stuff” it!
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