An Artist...I Am Not

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Last month we had a fun little fundraiser for work. It was hosted by an art gallery in conjunction with a company called Bottle & Bottega, where they bring canvases, paint and teach you how to put it all together for a pretty little picture.

The picture that was chosen for us was a good "starter" painting of a branch with cherry blossoms and a swirly, dark sky. It was a simple, pretty picture that - if it turned out well - I would easily hang in my house.

The instructors went through everything step-by-step, but I soon received an "intervention" by one of the instructors, who actually took my brush and started helping me paint my background. I knew I was in trouble. However, I soon appreciated her help...who knew painting a small canvas was so tiring?

Anyway, I pushed forward and did actually finish my canvas. Behold:

Notice how the cherry blossoms are actually falling onto the branches, rather than falling off of them? Classic. Distracted by the dark and gloomy background? Me too.

Needless to say, I was drinking a lot of wine to help me get to this finished product. I'm pretty sure it shows.

Oh, and I'm not sure if this is worse than the art intervention, but at one point during painting, one of the three 7-year-olds who was there painting (the girls were attending the event) said:

Nice Little Girl: Excuse me.
Me: Umm, yes?
N.L.G.: My friends and I think your painting is really great!
Me: Oh, umm, thanks.
N.L.G.: We really like how you blended the background.

Even young children sensed my frustration and lack of artistic ability and tried to build up my self esteem. Thanks, girls!

I guess it's always important in life to learn something new, and while I learned that painting might not be for me, Bottle & Bottega is such a fun idea for a party with a group of friends - even if you're as hopeless of an artist as me. And especially if there's wine.

Oh, and the painting? I'd like to say it's hanging up, but it's, erm, filed away for waiting for a special occasion.

4 comments:

BigAppleNosh said...

So...I'm not an artist either - but for what it's worth, I really like it :)

Katie said...

LOL - I suck at painting. I have many crafty skills, but painting/drawing is NOT one of them. I feel your pain.

Geek in Heels said...

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh when I read your conversation with the girl. It reminded me so much of the last time I went ice-skating, when a little girl skated up to me (after about the tenth time I wiped out) and asked, "Do you want me to teach you how to skate?"

For what it's worth, I can't do craft projects. I can draw and paint, but I can't craft.

Terese said...

i've always wanted to try bottle & bottega. it's more about the wine and friends than the painting anyway, right? :)

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