Page 32 - April 2016 Life In Naples Magazine

LEARN FROM THE BEST

by Laurel Meny

P ainting parties have become one of the most
popular – and enjoyable – ways to spend an
evening with friends while tapping into your
creative side. There are several businesses that
offer this service right here in Naples. Some allow you
to paint a holiday-inspired canvas or door hanging, and
some even include wine.

According to the Huffington Post, “The experience
known as social painting is seeing explosive growth in
cities across the country as people seek to imbibe and
relax while rediscovering their creative side.”

As the area’s oldest and most respected nonprofit
organization dedicated to advancing arts education,
the Naples Art Association (NAA) has been offering a
huge selection of classes of this type and more for years.
The Naples Art Association is the foremost expert in
arts education and offers courses for all levels taught by
local artists who demonstrate how to explore your own
imaginative influences in creating art, rather than the
paint-by-number approach.

There truly is something for every level of artist at
the Naples Art Association!

If you are new to the arts, we suggest Kim
Vanlandingham’s Joy of Painting Workshop. One of the
NAA’s most requested classes,Vanlandingham designed
it for beginners who may never have touched a brush
before and also for those who want to get back into
painting. All of your supplies will be provided and you
will leave with an original oil painting of a landscape,
floral, or seascape.

If you have a bit of painting experience, try Mary
Winn’s A Painting a Day workshop. In this class, you
will create a small painting each day which will increase
your skills and speed progress. You will improve your
color mixing and observational skills by learning to
paint one-session oil paintings using the still life
format. The importance of value, color harmony, and
drawing will be emphasized in a supportive and relaxed
environment with plenty of individual encouragement.
Winn will also demonstrate and answer questions
during the session.

32 Life in Naples | April 2016