FEBRUARY 2, 2017 // 9
Continued from Pg. 8
night (and occasionally Sunday after-
noons) in the winters. Owner Rebecca
Kraft plans to add the event as a cruise
ship excursion this May and has consid-
ered adding more Tipsy Painting nights
this summer as well.
“Our Tipsy Painting events expose
new people to my business, and the pop-
ularity has grown quickly,” Kraft said.
“We’re often sold out, and sometimes
they’re practically painting outside the
door!”
WineKraft is situated on Pier 11 at
the edge of the Columbia River. Along
with a glass of wine or beverage of their
choice, participants enjoy the exper-
tise of experienced local artists like Jo
Pomeroy-Crockett and Ronni Harris.
Tipsy Painting teacher Harris has been
an artist for over 40 years and lends her
vast experience and techniques during
each event. “At the very end, they can’t
believe what they’ve created,” Harris
said. “I’ve had people dragged into the
event by a friend who talked them into
coming. Before they leave at the end of
the night they’re signing up for the next
three events.”
Sheridan has also seen her share of
repeat customers. After attending her
first Paint with a Pint night, local Laurel
Sullivan quickly signed up for three
more events. “I feel you get a lot of bang
for your buck with a two-hour session,
drinks, plenty of time to paint and great
side, the new event will be an ongoing
conversations. I would not call myself
paint night every first Thursday of the
creative, but you would never know by
month from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include
looking at the paintings I bring home at
all art supplies and light appetizers.
the end of the night,” she said.
Ashore Hotel Operations Director
Harris spoke further on the attrac-
Linh DePledge said,“We want both
tion of tipsy painting. “Everyone gets
our hotel guests and our locals to take
their paint groove on and
advantage of this little
finds their personal style.
— our great wine
‘WE TEND TO gem
The paintings all come
and espresso bar here at
LOSE TOUCH Ashore. We have local
out different but wonder-
WITH OUR
ful,” she said. “Anyone
craft brews and organic/
can come out and enjoy
CREATIVITY biodynamic wines from
without having to invest
AS WE GROW around the world with
in art supplies. It can be a
great music and delicious
OLDER. I
safe, comfortable place for
ENCOURAGE provisions.”
a single woman to enjoy a
The concept of let-
EVERYONE ting go and having fun,
night out, perfect for date
TO FORGET along with a previously
night, mom’s night out,
co-workers’ night out and
THAT INNER undiscovered creativity,
girls’ night out.”
another frequent reason
CRITIC AND is given
by teachers and par-
In Seaside, the Ashore
GIVE IT A
ticipants for the popularity
Hotel is hoping to encour-
TRY.’
of paint and sip events.
age camaraderie in the
“A comment I frequent-
community between hotel
ly hear from adults is, ‘We had so much
guests and locals with plans to host its
fun,’” Sheridan said. “I’ve observed this
own inaugural Paint Night at Ashore
across the board as an art teacher: As we
Bar on Thursday, Feb. 2. Hosted by
grow older, we become self-conscious,
experienced art teacher Ben Schlattman
and it suddenly becomes easy to say we
from Buddha Kat Winery, also in Sea-
TAKE A CLASS YOURSELF
Paint Night at Ashore Bar
Ashore Hotel
125 Oceanway, Seaside
Next class: 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 2
ashorehotel.com
503-568-7506
$40
PHOTOS BY DAMIAN MULINIX
Above: Local artist Jan-
et Sheridan applies brush
strokes to a recent painting.
At paint and sip events, stu-
dents start with a blank can-
vas and create a painting,
following along with a teach-
er who gives step-by-step in-
structions.
Left: Knappa High School
art teacher Janet Sheridan
in her home studio in Sven-
son. Sheridan teaches a class
called Paint with a Pint at Fort
George Brewery.
are not creative. Because of this, I start
the beginning of every Paint with a Pint
class by addressing that we tend to lose
touch with our creativity as we grow
older. I encourage everyone to forget
that inner critic and give it a try.”
At the end of any given two-hour
Paint with a Pint night (which doesn’t
include hours of prep and clean up that
go into each event), Sheridan typically
walks over with her husband, Lenny, to
the Fort George Brewery to wind down
before heading home. She spoke of
seeing her students also doing the same
thing at the Fort with their paintings
in hand. “One night, I saw one of my
students come down the stairs with her
painting, and she just seemed so proud.
I have people who are blown away with
what they are able to paint — it’s super
rewarding to witness.”
Sheridan added, “In reality, we all
have an inner artist no matter what our
experience. It’s one of the reasons why
I love these events so much — I’m
always surprised to see 35 people get
ready for class, watch it unfold from
start to finish and see them proudly walk
out with a finished painting. Their faces
light up, and that never gets old.”
PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX
The Ashore Hotel in Seaside, owned by Brady and Tiffany
Turner, will hold its first paint and sip night Feb. 2. The paint
nights are scheduled for the first Thursday of each month.
Tipsy Painting
WineKraft Wine Bar
80 10th St., Astoria
Next class: 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 8
winekraftpnw.com
503-468-0206
$35
Paint with a Pint
Fort George Lovell
Showroom
426 14th St., Astoria
Next class: 6 p.m.
March 10
paintwithapint.com
$40
PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX
April Thorgramson, left, and her mother Rebecca Kraft,
right, are co-owners of WineKraft, a wine bar on the
west end of the Pier 11 building. WineKraft holds Tipsy
Painting nights several times a month.