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PrintWhat are the rules about drinking while painting?
Painters at work during a Wine and Canvas event at Black Olive in early November.
Dan Trittschuh
Palates and palettes
Looking to channel your inner Bob Ross? How about painting on a night out?
In April 2010, Tamra Scott, along with her husband, Tony, started Wine and Canvas in Indianapolis. Since then, the concept has expanded to Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Columbus as of October. “It’s gotten a really good response,” Tamra says.
She’s partnered with several restaurants, including Sushi Rock and Black Olive in the Short North, as well as On the Border at Easton and Senor Tequilas near Polaris, to host these painting classes with a twist.
Here’s how it works: You show up, receive brushes, paints and an easel, and then spend the next few hours re-creating a famous work of art while being guided by an artist. At the end of the night, painters can take their work.
Food and drinks are extra, although Scott says the events have their perks. “Every location that we’re in has something special,” she says. For example, Black Olive offers half off food prices to participants.
Even though everyone is painting the same picture, no two works are the same, Scott says. “The way you interpret it is different. It’s the way life is. I love the fact that everyone’s painting something unique. It’s a little signature.”
Artistic proficiency is not required, only interest. No matter your ability, Scott says, you might be surprised what you’re capable of.
So far, three artists have partnered with the group: Brittany York, Courtney Foster and Kristen Baird. “I love the fact that we’re hiring local artists,” Scott says. “They call them starving artists for a reason.”
Wine and Canvas also is available for private events, including corporate team-building workshops, and it even can host the classes in the comfort of your living room. Additionally, Scott says she is in the market for a studio in which to hold them as well. “We’re not a bar; we’re not a restaurant,” she says. “We’re a painting class with cocktails. We’re something new.”
Scott encourages those interested to register for classes—generally, $35 each—ahead of time, as many sell out. Click on the events calendar at wineandcanvas.com.
Signatures
Bartender Erin Notturniano is well known at the Thirsty Scholar, 2201 Neil Ave., for a particular shot she invented. Its name, however, isn’t exactly fit to print—“It’s a college bar,” she says—so for the purpose of this article, it’s been changed to Typhoon. Notturniano, who in October celebrated 10 years working the bar of the north campus pub, says she had the help of a few regulars in creating the drink, made with Three Olives Mango vodka, peach schnapps, Bacardi 151 and pineapple and orange juices. “It’s one of my popular shots,” Notturniano says, adding it can be made as a cocktail as well. The Typhoon sells for $4.
News
King Avenue Five Restaurant and Sports Lounge, 945 King Ave. in the Grandview area, has taken over the small warehouse alongside it after its previous tenants moved on, says owner Nick Pavich. The result is King Avenue Live, which he hopes will become a hot spot for live music, banquets, private events and football-watching parties. The more than 2,200-square-foot space hosts Steelers fans each Sunday, with the hope that bands will start to fill up the nightly schedule. “We’re trying to do [live music] a couple nights a week,” Pavich says, adding he plans to have a New Year’s Eve blowout.
