Spend an evening with the muses, enjoying watercolor painting at a Santa Barbara winery — Photo courtesy of Cernaovec
It's a fact: Thursday night in Santa Barbara is college night. That means dance clubs, cover charges and shots with appealing names. But it's not everyone's cup of tea.
So what kind of fun, grown-up trouble should you be getting into instead? You should go paint watercolors at a winery. Yes, you heard us right; head down to Municipal Winemakers for a bi-weekly watercolor club that's as fun as it is unusual.
Q: Who paints animals and flowers while drinking wine and listening to awesome music?
A: You do!
Initially introduced as a winter series, Municipal Watercolor Club proved so popular that it's back for a spring fling.
When you arrive at Municipal Winemakers, step inside to find several long wooden tables with paint, paper and brushes that club leader Rebekah Miles has placed at each seat. Inspirational objects (there is a theme each week) will also be placed among the settings, encouraging participants to draw from life.
Before class begins, head over to the bar if you're so inclined. Here, you can purchase wine made from local grapes by the glass or bottle to enjoy while you paint. Wasn't it Robert Louis Stevenson who said, "Wine is bottled poetry"? We're fairly certain that quote applies to all artistic endeavors.
Oh, you're a teetotaler? Well, that's okay, too. You'll feel absolutely no pressure to indulge in anything more than a healthy dose of creativity during watercolor club.
The artist (and a meerkat) during a winter watercolor club session — Photo courtesy of Rebekah Miles
Miles is a great instructor. An accomplished artist herself, she knows when to offer guidance and when to let you just do your own thing. Whether you've never picked up a brush or you graduated with an art degree, you will feel comfortable at watercolor club.
Although watercolor club officially ends at 9 p.m., the winery doesn't close until 11 p.m. on Thursdays. You're welcome to stay and indulge after class. It's a great time to learn a little more about your classmates and mingle with the other patrons who are just there to taste, not to paint. It can get pretty busy, in fact.
In addition to a fun indoor space, Municipal also has a wonderful front patio with a view of the ocean. And there are plenty of small trinkets inside that will make for memorable souvenirs. If your painting isn't enough to take with you, that is.
Municipal Winemakers is located in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone, an area that is chock-full of wineries, restaurants and galleries.
Watercolor club is just $15 for two hours of instruction and supplies. Reservations are strongly recommended. To RSVP, email Miles.Rebekah@gmail.com. Check out the schedule below for the Municipal Watercolor Club spring series led by Rebekah Miles:
The schedule for the spring Municipal Watercolor Club series — Photo courtesy of Rebekah Miles
