Upper West Side Location
April 11, 2016 By Michael Florio
Astorians can learn to paint while enjoying their favorite wine or beer at a new space on 31st Street.
The Paint Place, which offers painting classes and private lessons, opened in late March on the second floor of 31-21 31st St., according to lead instructor Cary Mitchell.
Students at the Paint Place receive all the necessary supplies for a lesson, such as a canvas, brushes and paint. An instructor then walks through the painting process, step-by-step.
“We make it really achievable and really fun,” Mitchell said. “At the end of the class you have a nice piece that you are proud to display.”
However, Mitchell said the Paint Place is not just about teaching the techniques.
“It is about having fun being an artist for a couple of hours,” he said.
The shop offers BYOB classes, where participants 21-years-old and up can bring their own beer or wine to drink while painting.
“It’s not a drunken rowdy party,” Mitchell said. “But a glass of wine while you paint can help open the creative process.”
There will also be family classes held every other Sunday morning, for parents and children to paint together, Mitchell said.
Classes cost $45 per class and can seat up to 60 people.
The Paint Place also offers private events such as group classes, office parties and children’s birthday parties.
One event called “Paint Your Pet” allows participants to send in a photo of their pet and have it professionally sketched. They then attend a class and have an instructor help them paint it.
“After two hours you have a nice customized pet portrait,” he said. “No other studios offer this.”
The Paint Place currently offers public classes Thursday through Sunday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. The plan is to expand to seven days in the summer, Mitchell said.
Private events can be booked seven days a week.
This is the Paint Place’s second location. The first, located at 72nd Street and Broadway on the Upper West Side, opened two years ago. Classes at this location, which can hold about 25 people, are regularly fully booked. This made the owners look into opening a second location.
They decided to do so in Astoria after hosting several offsite events in the neighborhood.
“We love the neighborhood so much,” Mitchell said. “There is a wonderful energy and it is a hip place to be.”
They continue to host offsite events in New York City as well as Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Featured Events
One Comment
I attended a Friday night session two weeks ago with Cary. So much fun and, as a complete non-painter, Cary made the experience fun and enjoyable. Fun night out!!