Artistic expression can take the form of a vibrant painting, a stunning sculpture, or front-yard hedges trimmed into the shape of longing. Let creativity blossom with today's Groupon: for $17, you get to take a two-hour BYOB painting class (a $35 value) at The Wine Palette.
Founded by sisters and Charlotte natives Neha Negandhi and Monika Shah, The Wine Palette enlists the help of local artists to impart hard-won painting wisdom to brush-wielding pupils in relaxed, social sessions. Drawing from the timeless strategy of learning by plagiarism, prospective Picassos follow along stroke by stroke as instructors recreate model paintings, ranging from bubbly contemporary pieces to familiar classics such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night. To loosen up hue-slinging wrists and ease conversation with other people's chatty muses, those 21 or older can interject canvas-tickling with sips of home-brought ales or Dionysian delights.
The Wine Palette furnishes all painting supplies and adds to the lively ambiance with apropos tunes and colorful décor. Check the calendar to scope out upcoming class sessions, and plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to uncork, set up, and place your beret at the proper painting angle.
The Wine Palette
Sisters and native Charlotteans Neha Negandhi and Monika Shah didn’t let respective stints in Seattle and Alaska keep them away from their hometown arts scene. Inspired by similar BYOB painting sessions seen during their travels, they harnessed their diverse experiences with event management and Alaskan train tours to open their own studio, where they encourage students of all artistic levels to tap into their inimitable creativity just as they did. Joined by an impressive cast of local artists, the sisters unfurl a calendar stocked with a barrage of painting options, allowing students to portray a sailboat with an impressionistic mast or a seahorse wearing a gilded saddle.