Wine Palette customers show off their creations. (Photo courtesy of the Wine Palette.)
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By Michelle Boudin

We can’t all paint like Picasso … or can we?

A new trend is turning everyday folks into artists — at least for a night.

And some say it’s part of a bigger trend that has Charlotte turning into more of an arts town than ever before.

Introducing the Wine Palette: a paint-and-sip studio in Plaza Midwood, where friends are encouraged to grab more friends — and a bottle of wine. Think of it as art class for adults (featuring adult beverages.)

"This is the ultimate happy hour — having a glass of wine and painting and unwinding,” said artist Jacey Britton.

Wine Palette owner Monika Shah said, “It’s usually people who say hey I painted when I was in the 3rd grade, but I want to try it again.”

“In our busy lives, people don't get a chance to just relax and be creative, socialize and have a good time,” she continued, “we offer that option.”

Real artists guide the people with, uh, less experience to creating their own masterpiece.

“It’s funny when they first come in, hesitant, like there's no way I’m going to paint this, then they drink some wine … and their painting is fantastic when they leave,” Britton said.

Wine Palette owners, and sisters, Neha Negandhi (right) and Monika Shah. (Photo courtesy of the Wine Palette.)

“I really have no painting experience so it’s been interesting … how to mix the colors, and use different brushes … and you can paint over your mistakes,” said Wine Palette customer Melissa Megahee.

The Wine Palette opened about six months ago and a handful of other similar shops have opened across Charlotte. The artists — the instructors — think they know why.

“I think that Charlotte’s art scene is coming around and it’s very exciting,” Britton said. “I felt like there wasn't a lot of art in Charlotte, and now we have all the new art museums uptown that weren't here five years ago — and now a sip-and-paint studio … people are definitely taking an interest!”

And, they say, it's just fun.

“I love just having an outlet of doing something creative. I've been that way my whole life and I love to see other people have an option,” said Shah. “It’s very relaxing, very calming, you can have a bad day and pick up a brush — your stress melts away.”

For more information, visit the Wine Palette in person ( 1308-C The Plaza), call (704-334-3111) or click over to the website (www.thewinepalettenc.com). 

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Editor's Note: This article was created as part of the Charlotte Arts Journalism Alliance, a consortium of local media dedicated to writing about the arts scene.

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