A meeting of the minds

As winter break was winding down, my friends and I were looking for ideas to get everyone together and enjoy each others company one last time. With the post Christmas parties and New Year just over, we weren't looking for something crazy yet low key and enjoyable. Finally someone suggested having a painting party. Being into art/painting my whole life, I was immediately in. To others I am sure it sounded strange and childish at first, but it ended up being a fantastic idea. Someones dad was the middle man in selling art supplies so he brought the canvas paper, brushes, and paint, we supplied the creativity. We got our music ready with Abbey Road, Radiohead, and some other mellow tunes. We covered the table with paper to prevent any outside of the box messes. Then everyone sat around the table staring at their blank pages and wondering what to do or how to begin. 6 of us started and encouraged the other 5 or so to join in. The first response was always, "No no I am sooo not creative and I can not paint worth anything! I'll just watch." But we wouldn't let that work, we assured them that you don't need to be artistic to paint, you just have to throw some colors and shapes onto paper and viola, you have a painting. No one is judging your work, just do whatever comes to your head. We ended getting everyone to participate in at least some aspect of this activity, some even doing several paintings. The finished products were amazing! Everyone was calling dibs on others work to take back to school and put on their walls. It was awesome how each piece was so good, yet completely unique in style and colors (even though we all had the same 4/5 colors). You would have never thought this group was filled with people who "say" they have no talent. Simple untrue. That was such a perfect ending to a wonderful break and I know there will be many more painting parties to come. So if you and some friends don't have anything to do, perhaps on a rainy afternoon, stuck inside, grab some paints and paper and just let loose. You might even surprise yourself at the finished product!