Have you just moved into a new house or office and your walls are rather bare$1 Looking for a splash of color$2 Throw a blank canvas art party as a housewarming, and soon you will have more art than the Louvre in Paris. You supply the paint, the blank canvas, and the inspiration—your guests will supply the art. When your guests arrive, give them instructions that around the house or office they will find a number of blank artist’s canvasses. Have several bottles of acrylic paints set up in a central location, and invite your guests to create art for your walls. How much guidance you give them is up to you. For example, everyone could be given their own canvas or they could be invited to contribute a little bit of inspiration to each piece of art. If you want to emphasize a certain color theme for a particular room, tell your guests your preferences (the hallway canvasses should be black and red only). If you want to group three or four paintings in a series, specify which blank canvasses should be used. Likewise if you want a large piece of art on a focus wall, lean it against the wall. At the end of the party, you are bound to have some art that actually looks good. After all, you probably have walked through a gallery at times and said to yourself, “I could have done that.” Here’s your chance. Color outside the lines. Go crazy. Every child is an artist. Yet as an adult, we too often stifle creativity. A blank canvas art party is a great way for everyone to relax, socialize, break free from their comfort zones, and have a lot of fun in the process. However, some people may still have a hard time letting go and accessing their inner child. Here are a few tips to help set the tone and get everyone ready to create a masterpiece. Invitations - Send out hand-made invitations a few weeks in advance. Get a large sheet of cardstock (white) from your local stationary store. Drizzle a few primary colors across one entire side of your sheet…perhaps in a style reminiscent of Jackson Pollock. Once the paint has dried, cut out a sufficient number of postcard-size shapes to use as your invitations. Write the details for the party on the back of the invitation. Make sure you mention that paint may get on your guest’s clothes, so formal attire is not recommended. Music – People say that music affects your emotions, and art is an expression of emotions. So… choose your music wisely. If you want funky modern art adorning your walls, then find music that reflects this taste. If you want serene, calming art then perhaps your choice should be easy listening jazz. Want a landscape painting or still life? Give your guests a little bit of country. Food – This all depends on your time of day. A lot of artists like to paint in the morning or evening sun, so if this is when your party is, keep it simple and light: pastries and fresh fruit in the morning, and bite-size appetizers in the afternoon. If it is an evening affair, stick with the party favorites: chips and salsa, mini quiches, vegetable trays. Stay away from food that requires two hands (the other hand should be holding a paintbrush). Drink – See above. Coffee, tea, and juice in the morning. Tea in the afternoon. Cocktails, wine and spirits in the evening. A few glasses of a favorite wine or drink will loosen lips and brushes and help your guests relax. Party favors – When your guests arrive, you should give each a brush, an artist’s smock (use old aprons or make some with some ribbon and cheap fabric) and an artist’s palette. These are the kidney-bean shaped plates your guests will use to mix their paint. While you may find some affordable palettes at a discount art supply store, a cut up cardboard box works just as well. Personalize the artist’s smock with your guests’ names to make everyone feel special. Paint – You are strongly recommended to use a water-based acrylic paint. While it does not wash out of clothes with the greatest of ease (hence the artist’s smock), it is a quick-drying paint that is reasonably affordable and can be used for simulated oil painting, watered-down to make watercolors, added to fabric for textile painting, printmaking, transfers, wet-on-wet painting, string painting , and more. Don’t forget to put newspaper or old sheets on the floor or tables. Getting acrylic paint out from carpet is not fun. Your moving blankets work well for draping as well. Canvasses – Art supply stores have these by the box in a variety of sizes. They also have canvas boards that may be more affordable, though often require framing to finish off. If you really want to cheap out, use pre-stretched paper (warning: if it is not pre-stretched, it will wrinkle when the paint dries).* * Colors – This is really up to you. Speak with your art supply store for a good base of primary and contrasting colors. While some artists like to mix their own paints, this takes time and practice. Store-bought colors should suffice. If you have already chosen a latex paint for your walls (or have leftover wall paint from the builder or the last time you decorated), these can be used to ensure color consistency in your rooms. At the end of the party you will have original art, great stories, and a lot of memories. Enjoy. Party Theme Extensions and Variations Finger-painting – Though very, very messy finger-painting can be a lot of fun for children and adults alike. Pre-hung canvasses – Put hooks/nails in the walls where you want your art displayed. Hang the blank canvasses on the wall and let your guests choose their piece. Nude figure drawing – Many models are available for an hour or two of work and charge $5 to $15 per guest. This is a good idea for a bachelorette party for which you want some silly sophistication. Gallery Opening Wine and Cheese – Why have one party when you can have two or more. After all the art works have been created, hang them on your walls and invite your guests back for a subsequent viewing.