The Sipping N' Painting Blog

Territorial Paint and Sip Studios

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:19:12 +0000

Lots of independent painting and drinking studios are opening up all across the country. With a lot of sweat and money and time. Each and every single one of them takes a lot of work. And if they are in direct competition with one you have already set up, “What to do?”. My thought – if they are locally owned – more art is better and local is beneficial.

Why wouldn’t we want to support someone that is trying to do what we have done? Because we think we “own” that area, because we “own” the idea. Maybe because we have put in all that sweat, time and money. Because we are afraid we will lose. Lose that time, lose that sweat, and lose our money. Should you stop and bow out. Should you dig your heels in, should you be a gracious owner that understands the risk they are taking. Doesn’t mean you hand them your customers on a plate but typically we in America feel that choice is a good thing – unless it happens to our business. Wouldn’t we want a customer to choose us willingly as opposed to choosing us because we are the only place in town.

Tennis is more interesting when you have someone to play with. Sometimes in life it is like the super bowl – but most of the time – it really isn’t. You just want to go and play a friendly game but you still might work hard at it.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

www.sippingnpainting.com

co-owner

Filed under: Art Thoughts, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine, Art and Wine Denver, art workshops denver, drink and paint denver, Paint and Wine Denver, Paint by Wine, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building, Territory

Collision

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:36:48 +0000

Today, Feb 2nd, 2012. Our website host is jacked up – but you can still register here :

Woke to a broken kitchen faucet – just needs some adjusting.

And Denver is expecting a big snow storm – which makes a lot of people really nervous.

Sometimes it feels like everything is in a collision course.

I love how the snow smells and makes everything “sound”. And I love making a fire in my fireplace – though I secretly long for a gas fireplace. Sometimes I don’t love figuring out the website – but fortunately me and my business partner (Susie Grade) tackle this together. I make sure I’m not alone because I believe that groups survive better and have more fun than individuals.

Doesn’t mean that I won’t take advantage of the snow storm and enter a very meditative painting state – alone. Anticipating painting, watching the Two Towers with my children (we are on a Lord of the Rings binge), and hoping for a full blown snow day tomorrow.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, Art Therapy, Denver Happy Hour, Denver snow storm Feb 2, drink and paint denver, Paint and Wine Denver, Paint by Wine, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building

Give and Take

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:19:20 +0000

Seems like all of us are in the process of doing one or the other – either giving or taking. Sometimes we are in a situation where we really need to take – and we should be gracious but most of the time – I think we should be conscious in our efforts to give.

So we have been given to:

Aurora Borealis

Blue Moon Beer Artfully Crafted by Coors is partnering with us right now for a free class for a handful of winners.

The Liquor Stores that are featuring the partnership are:

Applejack

Argonaut

Tipsy’s

Total Westminster

Total

All you have to do is show up and fill out an entry form to win a trip to Sipping N’ Painting to be held on March 12th. THANKS to Coors and Blue Moon for reaching out to us.

And we would like to give – We have our calendars up for March and April and lots of new paintings to choose from. Check it out at this link. They aren’t all on the website yet but we wanted to give our readers the first shot for signing up. Eventbrite for Sipping N’ Painting

Filed under: Art Thoughts, What's Up Tagged: Argonaut liquour, Art and Wine Denver, Art Therapy, Blue Moon Beer, Coors, Paint and Wine Denver, Paint by Wine, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building, Tipsy's and Applejack, Total Liquor, Total LIquor Westminster

National Western Stock Show Alternative Events

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:52:39 +0000

Sipping N' Painting Tuesday Jan 10th, 2012

Are you visiting Denver during the Stock Show? Would like you to do something unique, creative and have an absolute blast doing it. Sign up for one of our classes while you are here. And remember – Your first drink is on the house (for 21 years of age and over).

Visit our page to see what interests you and – no experience is required. We will walk you through the painting step by step. Below is a link to all of our upcoming events. You can visit our website to learn more about us – you can register on either page. We hope to see you there.

http://www.eventbrite.com/org/384678028

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine, Art and Wine Denver, Denver Happy Hour, Drink and Paint, drink and paint denver, National Western Stock Show, Paint and Wine Denver, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building

Where Artists do their Work

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:37:37 +0000

Seth Godin has the best blog – ever! And I couldn’t resist sharing his blog entry from yesterday – Enjoy.

OUT ON A LIMB by Seth Godin

That’s where artists do their work.

Not in the safe places, but out there, in a place where they might fail, where it might end badly, where connections might be lost, sensibilities might be offended, jokes might not be gotten.

If you work with artists, don’t saw off the limb. Don’t waste a lot of time explaining how dangerous it is, either. No, your job is to quietly support the limb at the same time you egg your team on, pushing them ever further out there.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, What's Up Tagged: Art and Canvas Denver, Art and Wine, art workshops denver, Arts, Canvas and Cocktails, Creativity, Denver Happy Hour, drink and paint denver, Paint and Wine Denver, Paint by Wine, Seth Godin, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building, Visual Arts

Abstract thoughts

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:44:41 +0000

We don’t teach a lot of abstract art at our studio. We have tried but people just don’t sign up – maybe our guests think that abstract looks too hard or to easy. I wanted to share a resource for you to learn how to play with abstract art if that is something you are interested in. It’s a great tool. You can find it by going to Google and searching for “A walk in Abstracts” or you can search for it on You Tube.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

Sipping N’ Painting

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Abstract art, Art and Wine Denver, Denver Happy Hour, drink and paint denver, Learn Abstract Art, Paint and Wine Denver, Paint by Wine, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building, Visual Art

Artists Striving to End Poverty

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:22:12 +0000

Sip N' Paint The Path

Did you know – That you can use Art to help end poverty. There are many organizations that work towards this end. What is amazing to me is how we are culturally working more and more to use those things that bring life to us to provide meals for us. Shop Local, Buy Fair Trade, Purchase jewelry made by families working their way out of poverty in other countries. Microloans. Someone creates with their hands a single item, someone buys it and and poverty is reduced. You do not have to be a “professional artist” – you need to nurture the creative side and then put it to work.

Join the movement:

http://artforthenations.org/ Located in Cherry Creek North

Locally in Colorado -

Worldwide -

http://asteponline.org/2011/

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine, Art and Wine Denver, Art Therapy, art workshops denver, Colorado, Denver Happy Hour, Drink and Paint, Paint and Wine Denver, Poverty, Poverty reduction, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building

Happy New Year More and Less

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:13:57 +0000

Blue Birds Sipping N' Painting

More Art, More Work Life Balance, More time with kids, More time helping others, More time working at being kind (no matter what), More being assertive without being mean, More whole foods, more time management that helps me live my life.

Less junk, less excess, less mindless work, less chaos, less illness (at least in our house!),

Happy New Year!

Kelly Doak

Co-Owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, What's Up Tagged: Art and Canvas Denver, best night out in denver, Denver Government Visitors, denver visitors, drink and paint denver, happy hour denver, Happy New Year, paint and art, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building, Time management, Work and Family, Work–life balance

Give the gift of Art

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:27:48 +0000

One of our wonderful suppliers – Dick Blick – has a website dedicated to giving art supplies to schools. It is super easy to do and is a wonderful way to support the arts for the very young – after all the young are all artists! As we adults should be, but have forgotten. Which is why Sipping N’ Painting exists in case your were wondering.

Anyway – we wanted you to know that you can go to http://www.dickblick.com/ara/ and donate supplies for a school. And you can give close to your home or in a town close to where you live.

Happy Holidays to all of you!

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions Tagged: Art, Art and Wine, Art and Wine Denver, Art Therapy, art workshops denver, Denver Happy Hour, Dick Blick, Dick Blick Art Materials, drink and paint denver, Give the Gift of Art, Paint and Wine Denver, Paint by Wine, Sipping N' Paiting, Team Building

Neighborhood Village

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:15:15 +0000

I am blessed. I am blessed to have an amazing village. A village that is there for my children, for my family, and for me. A village that will offer to do anything for me at almost any time. This may sound hard to believe. Does this even exist in America today? Yes it really does. And not just in my neighborhood. How did we all get to this point? We chose the neighborhood school – where you walk your kids to school and chat on the playground. And it wasn’t popular at the time. But it is growing. My kids fell in love with learning under the care of a neighborhood school – and a lot of that is because of the neighbors. Our neighborhood has grown to be a family. I also have an extended village beyond my neighborhood – that aches when I ache and cheers when I cheer – as we all do for each other at different times. And as we grow and age and send our kids onward. So as I prepare to have surgery in the middle of the holidays – my village is amazing and comforting and willing. It didn’t happen overnight. But I will say – most people in this world want to do good, want to be involved, and want to have a village. Neighborhood Villages are real and thriving all over the place. Your job is to participate, reach out, and be the village for someone else.

Happy Holidays,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine, Art and Wine Denver, Art Therapy, art workshops denver, Christmas, Creativity, Date Night, Denver Happy Hour, drink and paint denver, Education, Family, Home, Neighbourhood, Paint, paint and wine, Paint and Wine Denver, Sipping N' Painting, Team Building, United States, Village

Feeling Tired

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:25:57 +0000

Feeling tired of the rush of the Holidays yet? What if next year – you plan towards the holidays so that you really can sit by the fire, watch snow fall (if you are lucky enough to live near snow), bake cookies with some children, help out without it feeling like – one more thing to do?

And possibly relax and do something creative – perhaps paint.

Happy Holidays,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, Art Therapy, art workshops denver, Creativity, Drink and Paint, drink and paint denver, Feeling Tired, Holiday Fatigue, Holidays, Paint and Wine Denver, Sipping N' Painting, Sipping N' Paiting, Team Building

Open on Christmas

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:47:43 +0000

Nope – we are not open on Christmas. And we are not open on Christmas Eve. I am often jealous of my friends that are Jewish that honor Yom Kippur,Passover, and Rosh Hashannah. They would never think of being open with their stores, restaurants or deli’s. So we won’t be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We will be with our families and friends, making a fire in the fireplace and regaining balance as a small business owner. Balance is crucial to our well-being as people and to our business.

Happy Holidays!

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, art workshops denver, Open on Christmas, Paint and Wine Denver, Sipping N' Painting

Collaborative Business

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:51:07 +0000

In our little niche of the world – we have made a conscious effort to reach out to local small business owners. Business owners that do a similar business to our own. Bring the art experience to the average person – taking art beyond the elite and bringing it to the mainstream. To help people engage that elusive right side of their brain. We are meeting great people and – as is always true – community thrives when connections are made and business models become refined when pushed beyond the comfort of your own thoughts. We are so grateful to be a part of a growing community of like-minded businesses.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, art workshops denver, Collaborative Art Businesses, Paint and Wine Denver, Small Business, www.sippingnpainting.com

Anticipation

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:04:27 +0000

Anticipation: A feeling of what is to come. Sometimes filled with dread, sometimes filled with hopes and dreams. Sometimes scary and full of strange expectations. Participating in something artistic helps us learn patience, perseverance and how to emotionally manage anticipation….with the goal of letting go.

Cheers and Happy Holidays,

Kelly Doak

Co-Owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions

Refund at Sipping N’ Painting

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:54:10 +0000

I received this email today – I have edited it because of length. But we wrote this woman back and let her know that it is people like her that bring hope and joy to this world and keep everything moving in the right direction. This is a beautiful person!

Hi, Kelly and all!

I owe you money. I signed up for a class then I checked your site and it had one less seat left than it had when I began trying to register. I told the young woman that often acts as hostess. The next day I registered for a class for the following day and I received a confirmation, so I knew that it could work.

When I received my bank statement I found that there was only one charge to my credit card. So I owe you. Also, in reading the emails of this past week or so I saw that there are no discounts for fundraising events. The second session I signed up for was for a fundraiser – so I also owe you for that class because I used a discount code.

There are eight or ten paintings I would like to do. Sipping n Painting is addictive!

Thanks Judy for being honest, kind and truthful. Those are qualities we all long to have for ourselves and teach to our children.

Cheers!

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, art classes denver, art workshops denver, character, Paint and Wine Denver, refunds at sipping n painting, Sipping N' Painting, truthfulness

Sipping N’ Painting Finds

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:56:14 +0000

As seen on Life Hacker and Pinterst (and I can’t wait to try this out!). Dried up paint brushes that seem to be doomed to the trash bin – soak in vinegar – then boil vinegar and put brushes into the boiling vinegar for a short time – scrape paint off! Do not do this with Oil Based paints – too flammable…..

Another find – in Food and Wine December 2011. Pigment packets: all natural paints get their color from fruits, vegetables, spices, and flowers. $12 for 6 packets – get it as a gift for the person that doesn’t paint – maybe they will get creative on you. Find these at Globiton.

Cheers!

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpaiting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Acrylic paint, drink and paint denver, gifts for artists, natural paint pigments, Paint, Paint and Wine Denver, Sipping N' Painting, Vinegar

Thanksgiving

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:26:43 +0000

Thanksgiving can be something we feel forced to do – forced to eat a lot, forced to cook certain dishes, forced to spend time with family and forced to take part in things we don’t want to do.

Forced to avoid conversations and make conversations – or just watch football and ignore the “shoulds and shouldn’ts”.

Take time to think about a couple of things this year as Thanksgiving creeps up on you.

Did you give – in other words – did you do any giving – to people outside of your village? Did you give within your village? Did you look for a way to give within your village that would have stretched your understanding of Giving? If you did - “Thanks”. You have helped make this world more beautiful, more relational, and more of what really matters in life – has become a part of your world – and that will spread. So to everyone that has Given – a Special Happy Thanksgiving to you. For the rest of us – think about how you can take part in your village – by giving some time, an ear to listen, or physical help to someone either inside or outside of your village.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, Family, giving, Holidays, paint and drink, Sipping N' Painting, Thanksgiving

Who/What we couldn’t do without.

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:30:40 +0000

We could not do without a couple of our vendors – One is Dick Blick – they are consistently supplying us with our brushes, our canvas, our paint and other supplies. We love their prompt delivery, their shipping procedures, and their products.

We also could not do without Southern Wines. Our Rep is Ashley Rink and we are so lucky to have her guide us through wine tastings and being so easy-going and relaxed to deal with. We love how she let’s us know local wines, artistic wines and good deals for our little studio.

We LOVE the restaurants surrounding us.

Here is a list of some favorites:

Vita - we actually just recently painted a painting of vita from our back window! Best patio view of Denver.

Linger – Great new hang out – love all the retro upcycle they have in their restaurant and bar. Light Bright Pegs – seriously.

Lola’s – A well-known Mexican restaurant – great margs, great happy hour, great food.

The Cellar Bar – Fabulous wine selections and great small plates.

Forest Room 5- Funky, Fun – no rush hang out.

Sushi Sasa – OMG – so goooood.

Chile Verde – Not right from our parking lot – but worth the short drive! Authentic unique DELICIOUS Mexican food with recipes from their families village in Mexico. So different – great service and wonderful family that owns it.

There are many more: Jay’s Bistro, Masterpiece Deli, Root Down, Paris on the Platte, The Ale House, Little Man Ice Cream, and more.

We are grateful to be located in such a fun neighborhood with so many awesome dining options.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine Denver, Chile Verde, Dick Blick, Forest Room 5, Linger, Lola's, paint and art, Sipping N' Painting, Southern Wines, Sushi Sasa, The Cellar Bar, Vita

Working and Playing

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:13:29 +0000

I lot of my work at Sipping N’ Painting is just that – it is work. But a lot of what I do is PLAY! and that makes all the work worth it. And I actually appreciate and like the work because I understand that it leads to the playing.

I get to play with paint, I get to play with ideas, I get to play with concepts, I get to play with painters on a weekly basis.

Hopefully you can play – do the work to get to the playing part.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions Tagged: Art, drink and paint denver, Education, Paint, Paint and Wine Denver, Sipping N' Painting, work and play

Christmas Music – seriously?

The Sipping n' Painting Blog — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:46:19 +0000

Shopping just yesterday and noticed some of the streaming music – and it was Christmas Music. Which is fine and good at certain times but I found it to be so retail. It was not sacred in any way shape or form. Last year I waited to shop till December and I didn’t like that because it left me little time to sit by my tree and contemplate anything sacred. So I’m all about getting ready now for Christmas – I even made my Christmas Cookie list the other day in hopes of getting started. But I do not want to hear Christmas Music in stores. It seemed to steal Christmas – it was like the ultimate Grinch.

Cheers,

Kelly Doak

Co-owner

www.sippingnpainting.com

Filed under: Art Thoughts, Suggestions, What's Up Tagged: Art and Wine, Christmas, Christmas Music, denver paint and drink, denver shopping, Holiday, sacred, shopping for christmas, Sipping N' Painting