Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Fort Worth Date Night: Don't Brush off Date Night

by Michael Bloomberg
August 19, 2010

When you were a young child, did you ever get to take a Crayola to a coloring book? Were you a "stay-in-the-lines" kind of a person? Or, did your parents know you were going to be a rebel when you drew outside the lines?

Jules Feiffer once wrote, "Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we're stupid." This week's Date Night will put you in with a group of "want-to-be" artists (read "ar-teests") and, under the instruction of your fearless leader, stupid will be the last thing you feel. You will leave feeling inspired, artistic and, since adult beverages are allowed, perhaps, carefree.

Have you heard of a Brush and a Beverage? This is the brainchild of Stacey L. King, photographer/artist who owns Shutter Muse Studio in Burleson. Almost every Friday evening, Stacey opens up her studio for a weekly series she has dubbed, "A Brush and a Beverage." It's actually quite brilliant.

So, what is this Date Night all about? Starting about 7pm, you will show with only one important element. Wait. If it's a date night, you will show up with two important elements. The first being your date. The second is what Stacey refers to as "your creative juice." On the streets, this would be referred to as wine, beer or whatever libation might inspire you.

When you register, you will already know what you will be painting that evening. And, based on the pics on the website from previous participants, people might not believe it when you tell them you created this masterpiece hanging on your wall. The real beauty of the evening is that you just have to show up.

King has covered all of the bases. She says, "we'll supply brushes, paint, canvas, AND step-by-step instruction, so that at the end of the evening, you'll take home an original piece of art, a tremendous sense of accomplishment, and a huge smile. We'll do a different painting in each class, and NO ARTISTIC TALENT IS REQUIRED."

I used to subscribe to the theory that famed author, Fran Lebowitz, often proclaimed. "Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass." Very soon, I am going to trade my Tiramisu in for a bottle of Pinot Noir and head to Shutter Muse Studio in Burleson for a night of sipping, painting and laughing. And, don't fret, I will continue to canvas the Fort Worth area for more perfect Date Nights. Pun intended.

For complete info on A Brush and a Beverage, please visit:

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