Nobody at a Paint and Sip Party needs to be an artist. That is the whole point. You get a blank canvas, a glass of something nice, and a guided step-by-step, and two hours later you have a painting you are oddly proud of and a story about how your sunset turned out purple. This invitation is a canvas waiting for colour.
A Canvas Standing on an Easel
The 5 x 7 inch card has a deep teal-blue background, like the wall of an art studio. A large white canvas stands on a wooden easel, with its legs splayed beneath it and a wooden tray across the bottom of the canvas. At the top of the canvas, the word PAINT is written in white Permanent Marker on a ragged coral-pink brushstroke, tilted slightly. A small purple ampersand sits between, and SIP is written on a turquoise brushstroke tilted the other way. It looks as if someone painted the title with a wide brush in one go.
Below the title on the canvas, A night of canvases, colour and wine is set in Caveat handwriting with a short yellow underline. The details follow: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 7 PM in strong capitals, the studio name and address, a two-line note that brushes, canvases and aprons are provided and guests bring a bottle, and a coral RSVP line. On the floor below the easel, a cream palette dotted with pink, yellow, turquoise, purple and white paint sits on the left, and a glass of red wine stands on the right. The OTO logo is in white at the bottom.
Supplies Per Guest
If you are hosting at home rather than at a studio, this list covers what each painter needs. Art supply shops and online stores sell paint-party kits that bundle most of it.
| Item | Per guest | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas | One 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in) | Pre-stretched canvases need no frame |
| Table easel | One | Or prop canvases against a stack of books |
| Acrylic paints | Five to six colours on a plate | Always include plenty of white |
| Brushes | One large flat, one medium, one small round | Cheap synthetic brushes are fine |
| Water cup | One | A jam jar or plastic cup |
| Paper towels | A few sheets | For wiping brushes between colours |
| Apron or old shirt | One | Acrylic does not wash out once dry |
Cover tables with plastic tablecloths or kraft paper, and keep wine glasses on a separate side table so nobody dips a brush in their drink. It happens more than you would think.
Picking a Painting Everyone Can Finish
The host or instructor chooses one simple image that everyone paints together, step by step. Good choices have a bold background, a clear silhouette, and a few details: a sunset over the sea, a tree against a starry sky, a field of sunflowers, a city skyline at night, or a single big flower. Avoid faces and detailed animals for beginners. Break the painting into five or six stages, such as background, horizon, main shape, shadows, highlights, and details, and let everyone finish each stage before moving on. Expect the whole painting to take about two hours with breaks.
Customising the Canvas
All of the text is editable. Double-click to change the date, studio, and address, and update the note about what is provided. For a birthday, add a line such as Celebrating Tessa’s 35th! under the handwritten tagline. The brush strokes behind PAINT and SIP are polygon shapes; select one to recolour it, and the title on top stays white. Try green and yellow for a spring theme, or black and gold for a glamorous evening.
The easel legs are one grouped object, and the palette and the wine glass are separate groups, so you can recolour the paint dabs to match your painting of the night, or turn the red wine into a pale white wine or rosé. Fonts are Permanent Marker for the title, Caveat for the handwriting, and Montserrat for the details, all in the editor’s font list.
Variations: Paint and Sip for Every Crowd
- Kids’ paint party: swap Sip for Snack and the wine glass for a juice box.
- Bachelorette or hen night: paint matching canvases that form one big picture when hung together.
- Couples’ night: each partner paints half of a single image.
- Team building: host at the office after work with a professional instructor.
- Fundraiser: sell tickets and auction the best painting at the end.
- Pottery or watercolour night: the same card works by changing the tagline.
Hosting Without an Instructor
Many hosts lead the class themselves by following an online step-by-step painting video. Play it on a TV, pause it after each stage, and walk around to help. Paint your own version the night before, so you know where people will struggle. Put a finished example on a spare easel at the front for reference. Above all, keep the mood light: laugh at mistakes, celebrate every painting, and take a group photo at the end with everyone holding their canvas.
Printing the Easel Card
Download the PDF and print on a matte card stock; the white canvas looks crisp on bright white paper and the teal background prints smoothly. A 5 x 7 inch card fits in an A7 envelope. For digital invitations, download a PNG or JPG and share it by message or social media. A printed copy also makes a sweet sign at the studio door on the night.
Paint and Sip FAQs
Do guests need any experience?
None at all. Paint and sip classes are designed for complete beginners.
How long does the paint take to dry?
Acrylic is touch-dry in about thirty minutes, but thick areas can take longer. Send canvases home flat, or provide paper bags.
Should I provide the wine?
At a studio, guests usually bring their own. At home, you might provide a signature drink, and guests bring anything extra.
How many guests can I host at home?
As many as you have table space for. Each painter needs about 60 cm of table width.
Choose your painting, add your date and studio, and send the canvas out. By the end of the night, everyone will have something new to hang on the wall.
