Taylor made for creativity Swifties and pet lovers get colourful at themed painting parties By: AV Kitching Posted: 2:00 AM CST Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

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This article was published 08/11/2023 (1006 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It might look like any other night out in a bar, but every song playing is a Taylor Swift one and alongside the drinkers, dancers and observers are a group of art enthusiasts, paintbrushes poised against pristine canvases as they get ready to unleash their creativity.

Winnipeg Art Factory’s themed painting parties are the brainchild of founder Carolina Vella, who started the events in November 2020 when the world was still in lockdown.

The artist and teacher, originally from Argentina, was looking for a way to keep hold of both her passions during the pandemic.

“I get to teach people who are really happy to be here and really want to listen to me,” she explains. “I used to be a high school teacher and when I came to Canada I wasn’t able to teach at first, so hosting the painting parties, it was perfect.”

Vella’s first event was a virtual party with 10 attendees, themed around Van Gogh. Participants were encouraged to paint in the style of the Dutch post-impressionist.

Recently Vella has been holding paint nights with musician themes: her Taylor Swift parties started after a repeat client requested an event centred on the pop megastar.

“I didn’t think it would work, honestly, but I said ‘OK, let’s give it a try’ and it’s been selling out ever since. I have had many of those events and they always sell out, it’s amazing,” she says, noting she has since held Beyoncé-themed paint parties and is currently planning a Harry Styles party for January.

Paint Nights are held in different venues throughout the city; Vella has a roster of 11 locations, which she rotates.

“Sometimes the venue gets in touch to book me and sometimes I approach venues I am interested in. Not all venues are a good match; we are looking for a certain kind of vibe. We want to make our events more like a party,” she says.

“I am trying to switch things up from the regular paint nights everyone knows.”

Lasting about two hours, most of the events include drinks in the cover price. Usually the paint parties attract between 20 to 30 guests. Ticket prices vary, and some events are priced based on the size of the canvas; a large canvas (16 x 20 inches) costs $35 and a small canvas (14 x 11 inches) is $30.

The price includes supplies such as paint, paintbrushes and an apron to protect your clothes.

“You can just turn up as you are, you don’t have to bring anything to the party. When guests arrive there will be a sample painting I already painted that they can copy from if they want,” Vella says.

“I do step-by-step instructions slowly so everyone can follow along, but also we encourage people to be free and change things as much as they want. Most people stick to the original painting and they try to imitate everything, but there are other people who are very creative, and they change the colours.”

Rose Pagtakhan, 56, started attending Winnipeg Art Factory’s paint nights two years ago. She can’t remember how many nights she’s been to since.

“I first went with one of my friends; Carolina was so lovely and the night was so fun, so I was hooked,” she says. “It is a really unique and enjoyable evening — a nice shared experience with friends and family where you can still visit with another during the painting.

“And it’s always at different sites, so you get to visit establishments you wouldn’t normally go to.”

Pagtakhan recently celebrated her birthday with a paint party.

“I invited 30 friends to Kilter Brewing and asked Carolina to do paint night with us there. Everyone had a blast. We had a semi-private space at Kilter and now Kilter is having Paint Nights with Winnipeg Art Factory,” she says.

Winnipeg Art Factory also runs private events at homes, offices and restaurants, as well as virtual events for companies with employees who live in various parts of the country.

For virtual events, Vella prepares a paint kit that includes brushes, paint and a canvas, which the client then distributes to staff who have booked a spot.

Vella’s latest event saw participants painting pictures of their pets. Vella’s husband, Silvio Butti, also an artist, lends a hand and their daughter Paula, 5, often attends, painting on her own canvas.

“I would say we are a family of artists,” Vella says. “My husband is an expert at drawing animals, so he usually teaches the pet-painting party. People send us the picture of their pet, he sketches it out on the canvas and then on the day he brings the canvases with the sketch already there and he teaches them how to paint it.”

Vella’s upcoming event on Nov. 18 is at Fionn MacCool’s on Regent.

“It will be a holiday painting inspired by Taylor Swift. There will be Taylor’s music, a drink is included, and we’ll make friendship bracelets that we’ll be exchanging with each other,” she says.

“The sense of community and friendship in those events is outstanding and there are always new friendships created.”

av.kitching@winnipegfreepress.com